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Enduring noisy fighter jets is part of Wales’ military ‘contribution’, Tory MP suggests

02 Dec 2021 3 minute read
Robin Millar picture by Richard Townsend (CC BY 3.0).

A Tory MP has suggested that enduring the noise made by fighter jets is part of Wales’ and Aberconwy’s “contribution” to the British military.

Robin Millar, the MP for Aberconwy, has offered his “thanks” to his constituents for the “part they play” by putting up with a “real source of annoyance, and even distress”.

He told the House of Commons that although he would “continue to represent the concerns of constituents who are affected” by the noise of coming from the aircraft based at RAF Valley on Ynys Môn, but added that he “must also recognise that it is the sound of freedom”.

The Conservative politician said there is “no doubt” that the “bucolic idyll” of the “sound of birdsong and insects on a sunny day in Dyffryn Conwy” is being “shattered by the noise of the Texan T1s” , based at the training centre for fast jet pilots.

He also said that he has been “working with colleagues to mitigate this issue”.

Millar said: “There is no doubt that the sound of birdsong and insects on a sunny day in Dyffryn Conwy is a thing of beauty: it nourishes the soul. There is also no doubt that that bucolic idyll is shattered by the noise of the Texan T1s, the basic fast jet training aircraft used at RAF Valley.

“I know that this can be a real source of annoyance, and even distress, to many of my constituents. I acknowledge those concerns and have been working with colleagues to mitigate this issue, moving more flights over the sea rather than the land and reducing the windows during which those flights take place.”

‘Explain’

He added: “I am also encouraging colleagues in the Ministry of Defence to make more effort to explain the work that is happening. This is a partnership—a real relationship that needs communication, and can be helped only through greater and better understanding.

“For now, while I continue to represent the concerns of constituents who are affected by the sound of those swirling, soaring Texans overhead, whether in their homes, in their businesses or on their farms, I must also recognise that it is the sound of freedom.

“This is a real price: a local contribution that many pay daily. It is a real part of Wales’s and Aberconwy’s contribution to our nation’s defence, so in conclusion, I offer my thanks to my constituents for the part they play.”


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Geoff Horton-Jones
Geoff Horton-Jones
2 years ago

Mr Millar please wake up and smell the coffee.

RAF Valley is on our land but is not at this moment in time under our control in Wales

In a hot war situation the bases life expectancy could be minutes

Wales will determine its own future and if you care for her in any way then this nonsense has to stop Join Yes Cymru tomorrow and work for Wales not against us

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

No English military in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be proud it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Eifion
Eifion
2 years ago

I wish people would get this, just accept and be thankful for their rule.
For the great good of the union we should be happy to flood our valleys, build hydro electric power plants in our national parks, place wind turbines on huge swathes of our land, scar our landscape with waste tips from industry,……, then pay for their HS2 vanity project etc.

OK, we may not benifit from these directly but that’s a small price to pay for their benevolence and rule.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Eifion

You nbever did find that “sarky” emoji then? Have a click.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

Since the RAF ran out of money and can no longer afford the fuel the Beacons has become a haven of peace. Long may the Tories continue to bankrupt our unarmed forces.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

He claims the noise of jet fighters is the noise of freedom. No it is not, the sound of freedom, is the noise people make while marching and campaigning on our streets, something that we will no longer hear, as soon as your party in Westminster pass new laws in the police and crime bill. Freedom will be something only the older generation will have known, thanks to the extreme laws your party are pushing, as we move closer to a dictatorship.

A Owen
A Owen
2 years ago

What a load of rubbish he speaks

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

Aren’t we lucky!

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

You must have a different interpretation of freedom than the rest of us Mr Millar. It is the right to chose what we want to do in our lives as well as the right to self government. I’m all for having a military to protect our national interests but as far as I know there is no foreign power threatening Welsh national interests, except for your government that is.

If I was living in Aberconwy, I would quite happily lend my vote to Labour just to get this man unseated. He does not represent the people of Wales at all.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

It makes you wonder what Robin Millar’s Aberconwy constituents were thinking when they elected this Whitehall quisling? They weren’t is the answer.

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago

Anyone remember when Wales had no Tory MP’s? That was at least one thing to smile about.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Well at the risk of making myself a baddy on this one – Mr M has a point but there needs to be greater consultation with host and effected communities – especially those in farming around lambing times. The RAF has and continues to provide an important degree of support to hillwalkers in Eryri and those involved with fishermen and leisure sailing ⛵️ and sea side activities across north and mid Wales. Lives – yes local and visitors do benefit from their skills and mountain and coastal tide knowledge. The noise is certainly noticeable but intermittent in nature – and… Read more »

Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Richard

Rescue services were privatised many years ago and are now based at Caernarfon not Valley.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Paul as one who spends three days a week working / walking on the mountains and in the host communities of Eryri i have put my own personal & political views one side on this one. I am fully aware of the highly skilled and well integrated volunteer, nhs and statitory support offered to those in need of life saving support.on hill anf coast. The role of the RAF and occasionally others from military support has been key to saving many lives. … local and visitors …. The training and topographical / micro weather knowledge has been vital in localised… Read more »

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

London can never make war on a flat country. My TAXES are my “contribution” you ar*e.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

I wonder does he actually spend much time in Aberconwy or even live there or does he still reside in quiet Suffork? There really is no point trying to promote British patriotism it’s turned in English nationalism.

Paul Reynolds
Paul Reynolds
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

Suffolk is East Anglia – which is full of airbases. Hardly quiet.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul Reynolds

That sounds like the ideal place to relocate the one in Aberconwy, then,

Paul Reynolds
Paul Reynolds
2 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

And you wonder why Welsh Nationalism is so unpopular.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul Reynolds

The people of Aberconwy consist of both independence supporters and unionists.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul Reynolds

You’re doing the Unionist case proud – keep it up.

Iestyn Lloyd
Iestyn Lloyd
2 years ago

If a tank was rolling down my street it would not be the sound of freedom. Same goes for the jets.

Arwel J
2 years ago

This is a vile article and takes his words totally out of context. He thanks veteran’s charities in his constituency and Welsh veterans and talks about the workforce at raf valley training best pilots in world. Awful and misleading writing here and its a shame no one has read the speech and just let themselves be led. I would never vote Tory but ig we just listen and say to what we want to hhear we won’t get anywhere.

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago

If they started training over the home counties I wonder how long it would go on for.

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