Drones circling Gwynedd airfield spark fears over 'UK enemies' targeting area

Drone testing at an airfield could put the area at risk of becoming "a target for UK enemies", a councillor fears.

Noisy drones at Llanbedr Airfield were causing "distress" to residents, according to Gwynfor Owen, who represents Harlech and Llanbedr on Cyngor Gwynedd.

Craig ab Iago, cabinet member for the environment said the council does not monitor the day-to-day activities of the airfield tenants and could not comment on the activity of private tenants and landlords.

He asked that residents report noise nuisance so the council could look into it.

At a full council meeting on 24 September, Owen said: "The unpleasant noise that drones make while flying in circles around the village is causing great distress to residents and visitors alike.

"There is also concern about the military use of the site that could put Llanbedr at risk of being a target for enemies of the United Kingdom."

Ab Iago said the council does not have access to detailed information abut the activities or customers.

"This is partly due to confidentiality and the commercial arrangements that are in place between the landlord and the tenants," he said.

"On the question of monitoring or supervision of the site, the Council does not conduct a specific monitoring programme of the airfield's operational use.

"However, activities on the site are subject to the relevant regulatory and licensing frameworks applicable to the operators and their activities."

Ab Iago said he did not think the council had "any powers in relation to the military aspect" but that he would check.

Owen said: "There is a lack of local democracy here, that Cyngor Gwynedd cannot look any deeper into what is happening.

"The Welsh government is the owner of the site and the fact that they have given thousands of pounds in grants to this airfield fairly recently in order to boost the economy, we haven't seen any jobs for local people."

He asked if the council would ask "what monitoring or oversight has taken place" regarding the site by the Welsh government and if the grants were being used correctly.

Ab Iago said he "would discuss it further".