News

Badger and the political animal

Published

10 years ago

March 4, 2015

bearbadger1 WHAT A tumultuous week it has been since Badger put paw to keyboard for his last article. That nice Mr Bryn Parry Jones has been packed off to his Llangwarren stronghold, there to lend his garden and plot hideous revenge. I am sure that you will be shocked to learn, readers, that there is little doubt that Beloved Chief Bryn’s period of absence was not the result of any sudden moral impulse on the part of the Council’s IPPG leader Jamie Adams. No, leaders: Jamie is not a man given to sudden sentiment or hi-falutin’ principle when it comes to matters political and administrative. Jamie will have made his judgement on political grounds. And that, readers, as far as Badger is concerned, is nothing for which Jamie needs to be ashamed. Badger has written before about politics being the art of the possible. And it is the persistent and disturbing series of public revelations about the CEO’s conduct that has made his “period of absence” not only possible but — to Jamie — positively desirable. “Politics” has become a dirty word. It has fallen almost as low in people’s estimation as politicians themselves. How often do you hear David Cameron or Ed Milliband deride each other for “playing politics” about one or another big issue of the day? It is as though even the leaders of political parties want to deny their own political natures and the manoeuvring and complex interrelationships that brought them to positions of power. Politics, readers, is not a game. Still less does it deserve to have any pejorative unpleasantness attached to it. Politics is, at heart, the way of behaving as a member of a group or a member of society. It is related to concepts such as politeness and the way in which we all interact with each other, whether in groups or as individuals. That

readers, is all “politics” of one sort or another. When Badger sees people complaining about there being “too much politics” or sees buffoons like Nigel Farage bounce up and decry politics as being inherently and fundamentally at odds with the interests of the people (whoever he thinks they are!), Badger cringes. The problem is not that there is too much politics but that there is not enough, readers. So when Badger sees Jamie Adams being criticised for making a political decision, it rather strikes Badger that the IPPG leader is being criticised for being a fish and swimming in the sea. That is not to say Badger in any way endorses the [PPG leader, still less the !PPG members. However, within the constraints of the County Council’s political and administrative system, it was necessary for Jamie to reach a decision that would accrue political advantage to him and to his group and he did. And advantage has flowed. Those members of the MPG prone to bitching and grumbling have been shown to be paper tigers. “Prepared to wound but not to strike”, as the saying goes. Over the last week there have been rumours of wars and unrest within the IPPO. People were said to be ringing round, expressing misgivings at the group’s closeness to Bryn and the choppiness of the waters in which they were sailing. All sorts of names were swirling around as being “concerned”. Having gazed into the future the MPG membership has, however, blinked. Recent events have concentrated their minds on the end of their journey on the gravy train. Let’s say you were an IPPO member, readers. Don’t worry, it’s only pretend. Let’s say you were getting not only your allowance but also remuneration for a committee post and a nice cosy appointment to an outside body that provided prestige, payment or both.

You have it pretty cosy where you are. Not exactly money for nothing, but an income that is not dependent on skills, training or even intelligence. Imagine being an MPG Councillor like Daphne Bush, for example. Now, imagine throwing all of that to the winds on a gamble. You do not need a penetrating intellect of the type Daphne possesses to think that you are better staying inside where it is warm and cosy, instead of venturing forth into uncertainty. And that, readers, is also a political decision. Not a very laudable one, certainly; but understandable and human. Because if the ranks of the opposition had been able to present a united and credible front and some sort of hope to potential IPPG defectors that they would not be cast out into the outer darkness or mocked for being Johnny-come-latelys to the cause of virtue, then the political decision to be made by IPPG members would have been and would continue to be that much harder. Badger has quite a lot of time for Councillor Bob Kilmister, leader of the Pembrokeshire Alliance. He at least has some vision for the future. But Bob’s difficulty is that since its launch the Alliance has not attracted a single new member on the Council. Even Stephen Joseph did not join them. The sentiment is good, the message sound, the ability to deliver remains in doubt. Labour leader Paul Miller is a polarising figure, even within his own party. He shows little sign or ability of being able to form the type of coalition necessary to oust the !PPG. Distracted, perhaps, by the prospect of fighting for Parliament within the next few months, he is possibly too tightly focused on the Paul Miller Project than leading an effective opposition. The Conservatives are a negligible force, demonstrably too close to the IPPG — which is, in reality, carrying out an agenda of semi-privatisation of services

and cost cutting which would be heartily endorsed by their own national party. The fact that the group managed to vote three separate ways on one vital issue is evidence that they are less of a party than a loose gathering. There are notable individual voices on the Council, who cling to the principle that it is the duty of an opposition to hold the executive to effective account. It is tragic for Pembrokeshire that the most able of those voices are unable to cohere around a uniting set of principles and offer a real alternative for Pembrokeshire’s electors. To some of those, but by no means all, Badger suggests that high personal principle is all very well, but some low political calculation would serve Pembrokeshire better. It is into the gap the opposition have left to him that Jamie Adams and the WPC have stepped. Jamie Adams, the man whose party ostensibly was formed as a reaction to party politics, has shown that in the jungle at PCC, and in the present circumstances, he is the most political animal of all.

News

Protest in Lampeter to save Wales’ oldest university

Published

18 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Wales’ oldest university staged a march and demonstration last Friday (Dec 20) in a bid to highlight the plight of the Lampeter campus.

The protest, organised by the Lampeter Society, brought together former and current students, along with local residents, to oppose plans by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) to relocate humanities courses to Carmarthen next September.

The rally began at Lampeter Rugby Club at 10:30am, with demonstrators marching to the university campus. Despite the timing—on a weekday and so close to Christmas—organisers reported a strong turnout.

Ieuan Davies, one of the organisers and a Lampeter alumnus from the 1980s, said: “We wanted to show support for the students whose education is being directly affected by these plans, and to remind decision-makers of the devastating impact this will have on the local economy and culture.”

Established in 1822, Lampeter is Wales’ oldest higher education institution. In 2009, it merged with Trinity College Carmarthen and later joined with Swansea Metropolitan University to form UWTSD.

The proposed relocation of the humanities faculty has sparked concerns about the long-term sustainability of higher education in Lampeter. Campaigners argue that losing the faculty would mark the end of over 200 years of academic heritage in the town.

The Lampeter Society has also launched a petition calling on the university and the Welsh Government to create a ‘viable, sustainable plan’ for the campus’s future. The petition requires 10,000 signatures to trigger a debate in the Senedd and can be accessed at https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246410.

Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire

Published

15 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK.

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council.

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates.

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county.

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards.

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”

Community

£1.7m to support families and individuals facing food poverty

Published

15 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FAMILIES and individuals across Wales struggling with the cost of food will receive vital support this winter through £1.7m of additional funding from the Welsh Government. This funding will provide help to those most in need and back community projects working to prevent and tackle food poverty in the longer term.

The funding will:

provide emergency food aid by helping local groups to store and distribute food to people who need it most, while also addressing the underlying causes of food poverty;
support FareShare Cymru by purchasing equipment to store and deliver fresh food during the winter months and running food education activities to help low-income families and individuals manage rising costs; and
strengthen food partnerships in every local authority area in Wales, helping them to address local needs and ensure resources reach those facing the greatest challenges.
The Wales-wide funding will be announced today at Cegin Hedyn community kitchen in Carmarthen. Cegin Hedyn, a Pay What You Can Canteen and Community Kitchen, is part of a network of organisations tackling food poverty, and works with Carmarthenshire Food Partnership, Bwyd Sir Gâr Food.

Bwyd Sir Gâr works closely with groups and initiatives across the region to provide targeted support to those who need it most.

Cegin Hedyn ensures that everyone can have access to fresh, organic, seasonal produce, with produce being grown steps away in their Community Allotment. Bwyd Sir Gâr Food has also been providing vegetables, grown at Bremenda Isaf farm in Llanarthne, to Cegin Hedyn and has been offering mentoring and support to the volunteers at the allotment.

Cegin Hedyn is run by chef Deri Reed. He said: “This funding is a lifeline for communities like ours, ensuring that we can continue to provide fresh, nutritious meals to those who need them most while building a more sustainable and inclusive food system. At Cegin Hedyn, we believe in the power of food to bring people together and create positive change.

“This support will help us expand our reach, grow more organic produce locally, and strengthen the food partnerships that make a real difference in tackling food poverty in Carmarthenshire and beyond.”

Food Sense Wales works closely with Bwyd Sir Gâr and Food Partnerships across Wales to help create sustainable solutions to enable everyone to enjoy healthy and sustainable food.

Katie Palmer from Food Sense Wales said: “By strengthening its support for food partnerships across Wales, the Welsh Government is recognising the importance of building resilience in local food systems – both in terms of diversifying local supply chains, and by building and organising assets and civil society in a way that is unique to the needs of the local community.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: “No one should have to worry about how they’re going to put food on the table. As a government, we are committed to tackling food poverty and ensuring support reaches those who need it most.

“This new £1.7m package of funding will provide both local relief to those struggling with food costs and lay the groundwork for longer-term solutions to prevent food poverty. By supporting emergency aid, food education, and local partnerships, we are addressing this crisis from all angles.

“Local food partnerships are vital in this effort. They work with inspiring projects, like Cegin Hedyn, which not only provides meals for people, but also brings people together and supports the wider community. Their efforts show what can be achieved when local groups and wider networks come together to support those most in need.”

The additional funding builds on the £2.8m the Welsh Government has already allocated to help address food poverty this year, and brings the total to more than £24m invested in this area since 2019.