Mystery surrounds an alleged potential change of usage of Penally Camp from a training centre for military personnel to a holding centre for up to 1,000 migrants who are waiting to be granted asylum in the UK.

When contacted by the Observer a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said that they were unaware of the alleged plans, meanwhile Penally’s representative on the local Authority Clr. Jon Preston said that he was aware of the rumour doing the rounds on social media.

“The Home Office will not rule out any under-utilised or unused military base for this purpose, but Penally camp apart from being unsuitable due to its facilities and location is still used as a training camp for the military and supports the live firing exercises on the range,” remarked Clr. Preston.

“All councils in Wales have committed to support people in desperate need which was agreed at a summit hosted by the First Minister last October.

“Some weeks ago I put a question to the council leader Jamie Adams for our March full council meeting asking what he has agreed Pembrokeshire County Council will do to do to support refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria. This subject was then discussed by cabinet last Monday,” continued Clr. Preston, adding that he has asked cabinet member for housing Clr. Alison Lee, who has been appointed the ‘vulnerable people’s Champion’ at PCC for her input on the story but has not yet received a response.

The Welsh Government has set up a Syrian Task Force with the aim of

providing strategic oversight of the resettlement programme in Wales, with the first meeting of this Task force held in November of last year.

Each Local Authority area will be expected to consider its own position in terms of the number of families it is able to take.

When discussing the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme at Monday’s cabinet meeting, as well as it being resolved that Clr. Lee be appointed as the Member Champion, it was also decided that the Head of Housing be appointed as the Officer Champion responsible for developing the Council’s approach within a local context to the Scheme.

It was also resolved at the meeting that a multi-agency group be established led by PCC to determine a Pembrokeshire approach and, as appropriate, deliver a coordinated programme in relation to the scheme.