DARC Matters – 14 – STUN Urges Protest

Campaigners from pressure group STUN (Stand Up for Newgale) have accused Canada-based engineering, procurement and construction firm AtkinsRéalis and Pembrokeshire County Council of misleading the public over the need for the new Newgale bypass.

They say that by using photos of the only major flood Newgale has ever had – in 2014 – they are “over-dramatising” and “using shock tactics” designed to scare people into supporting an unnecessary £40-60million new road which, if built, would cause devastation to Newgale’s ecology and local countryside and would be a blight on the Brandy Brook valley.

Using professional consultants and a coastal geomorphology expert, STUN says it has put forward an alternative low-cost solution to counter any threat from the sea that would protect Newgale for at least 85 to 100 years.

This comes as AtkinsRéalis is conducting a public consultation on behalf Pembrokeshire County Council which will end on 11 May.

STUN has urged anyone who shares their concerns over the proposed road to urgently email AtkinsRéalis at newgale@atkinsrealis.com before the consultation closes and to copy their objection to STUN contact@stun.wales.

PARC Against DARC, the campaign protesting at the US/UK plan for a space radar station north of Newgale, has similarly urged people to make their views known – since it sees a link between the proposed new road and the access needed to construct such a development.

The Pembrokeshire County Council line given at public presentations in Roch and St Davids earlier this year was that the Newgale bypass scheme has no connection with any Ministry of Defence backing or funding.