Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is backing calls for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be recognised as a hotspot for gazing at the stars.

It was announced this week that they are planning to submit a bid for global recognition as a dark sky zone.

Last year Darren called on the Welsh Government to consider establishing a National Observatory for Wales in the dark skies of the Clwydian Range and was disappointed by the Economy Minister’s response that “astronomy is not currently featuring as a high science policy priority”.

He is therefore pleased that the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are pursuing this and is fully supportive of their ambition.

He said:

“As I said in the Senedd Chamber when raising this with the Economy Minister back in October last year, star gazing is a passion of many people in North Wales, myself included.

“The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are blessed with dark skies and would be the perfect location for star gazing.

“If successful it would be the fourth area of Wales to be given a status by the International Dark Sky Association and would attract star gazers to the area from all over the country.

“I will do all I can to support the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in their quest for this global recognition.”