Local concerns over defence and services
Samuel Kurtz MS wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP seeking urgent assurances after reports suggested the west Wales military site could be used for accommodation. He also raised the issue directly with Welsh Ministers in the Senedd, who confirmed the Welsh Government has had “no contact” with Westminster regarding any such proposals.
In his letter, Mr Kurtz warned that any move to repurpose Castlemartin would have serious implications for national defence and local services:
“Castlemartin is one of the United Kingdom’s few facilities capable of hosting live firing exercises at battlegroup level. It provides vital training for our armed forces, and any restriction on its use would represent a serious loss of national defence capability at a critical time.”
He also questioned the suitability of the location for residential use, citing limited infrastructure and stretched health services.
UK Government rules out immediate plans
A Home Office spokesperson responded to the concerns with a short statement:
“There are no current plans to use the site.”
The confirmation has eased fears locally, though campaigners and representatives continue to press for clarity on future use of military and public land in Pembrokeshire.
Penally precedent still fresh in memory
Pembrokeshire has previously seen military facilities repurposed for asylum seekers. Penally Camp, near Tenby, became the centre of controversy between October 2020 and March 2021 when it housed up to 250 asylum seekers.
Swansea Bay News reported at the time that then Welsh Secretary Simon Hart MP confirmed the camp would close by March 2021, following months of protests and criticism of living conditions. Inspectors highlighted serious shortcomings, prompting the Police and Crime Commissioner to call for its immediate closure. A subsequent panel also sought answers over the costs of running the facility.
The camp was eventually handed back to the Ministry of Defence and closed in late 2022.
