Politics
Warm homes action a ‘key test’ for next Government
AS COUNTRIES line up to sign an historic climate agreement in New York Friday, 22 April, WWF Cymru has said that delivering warm, well insulated homes will be as a ‘key test’ of the next Welsh Government’s commitment to tackling climate change and delivering a sustainable country.
As of Friday (Apr 22), the Paris Agreement adopted at the COP21 climate summit in December last year will be opened for signatures at the UN Headquarters.
With March being another record-breaking month in terms of global temperatures, leaders will need to go to New York with big new commitments for action, to keep warming under 1.5 Celsius.
Energy used in our homes, including for heating and lighting, is a major contributor to Wales’ greenhouse gas emissions. The residential sector is responsible for around a quarter of emissions covered by the 3% annual reduction target for devolved policy areas.
WWF Cymru believes that a large-scale home energy efficiency programme is a key way to demonstrate a strong Welsh commitment to delivering the deal drawn up in Paris.
The global conservation organisation is calling for a major investment programme from the next Welsh Government, and wants Ministers to set a goal that all homes in Wales meet a decent standard (Energy Performance Certificate band C) by 2025.
It says scaling up measures such as fitting loft insulation and more efficient boilers would bring a range of benefits. Research suggests that as well as reducing emissions, a programme of this scale would create thousands of jobs and cut Wales’ total energy bill by tens of millions of pounds per year, as well as delivering health benefits.
Jessica McQuade, Policy and Advocacy Officer at WWF Cymru said: “As the world unites to sign an historic climate deal, it’s vital that Wales joins all countries in taking action to cut emissions and address this global threat to people and wildlife.
“Making sure everyone in Wales has a warm, well insulated home is one of the most important actions for the next Welsh Government after the elections on May 5. The scale of change needed means this will require significant investment.
“But the major benefits it will bring – for health, jobs and the environment – means there is a powerful case for making it an infrastructure priority.”
“Action on home energy efficiency goes beyond tackling climate change. This joined up approach, with multiple benefits, is central to the thinking behind the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and on delivering its goals. Action on home energy efficiency will be a key test of whether the next Welsh Government is serious about delivering on this agenda.”
News
Return your postal vote and make your voice count
POSTAL votes for the upcoming Police and Crime Commissioner election can be returned as soon as received.
Those registered should have received their postal vote information and now is the time to fill it in and pop it back in the post.
You must complete the postal voting statement and your ballot paper for your vote to be counted.
Your postal vote pack includes full instructions on how to complete the form and voting ballot.
There will be two envelopes – complete the postal voting statement and include your ballot paper in envelope A before placing that in envelope B, ensuring the freepost return address is visible.
This helpful YouTube video shows how to complete the postal vote documents.
If you need help with your postal vote form you can also call 01437 775844
There are some changes to postal vote submission and you will need to complete a form with our staff if you decide to hand your postal vote in to a polling station or County Hall reception.
News
Transport Secretary champions 20mph speed limit changes in Wales
IN a recent address to the Senedd, Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates unveiled a comprehensive three-phase plan aimed at refining the implementation of 20mph speed limits across Wales. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance road safety in residential areas, particularly near schools, hospitals, and other sensitive sites.
Skates emphasised the Welsh Government’s commitment to incorporating the views of Welsh citizens directly into the decision-making process. “We’ve started by listening,” Skates stated, underscoring that the voice of the community is pivotal to the transport policy development. The approach includes a significant public engagement campaign set to run until July, where feedback will be sought from a diverse group of stakeholders including bus drivers, emergency service personnel, businesses, and local council representatives.
The Welsh Government plans to work in close collaboration with local authorities to assess and prepare for the proposed changes. This preparation will involve revising guidelines to determine which local roads might be exempt from the new speed limit, with an updated version expected to be published in July. Following this, councils will initiate detailed consultations from September to ensure community needs are fully addressed.
The phases of the plan as outlined by Skates include:
- A robust national listening programme to gather input on road safety concerns from across the community.
- A partnership with local authorities to prepare for the changes, encouraging public participation in identifying areas where the 20mph limit should be applied.
- Implementation of the changes on the ground, with local authorities adjusting speed limits in accordance with new guidelines and community feedback.
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the primary aim of the policy: “The principal objective is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads. We continue to believe 20mph is the right speed limit in key community areas, and what I am doing now is listening to what people want for the roads in their communities, and pressing ahead with refining the policy.”
Skates also made it clear that the final decision on the extent of change would not solely rest with the Welsh Government but would significantly depend on the input from local authorities and the public. Information on how residents can participate in this consultation process will be provided on the Welsh Government’s website, ensuring that all community voices can contribute to shaping the future of their local transport policies.
Responding to a press release from Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Transport Minister, said: “Whilst I am waiting with bated breath to hear the Cabinet Secretary outline his transport priorities, I fear all this talk of changes to the government’s flawed 20mph scheme is just another example of Labour ministers paying lip service.
“Ministers might be making all of the right noises on 20mph, but if the Cabinet Secretary is serious about listening to the people of Wales, then he will accept that this law was a terrible mistake and repeal it.
“Only the Welsh Conservatives would scrap this disastrous law and get Wales moving.”
News
NRW issues new enforcement notice at Withyhedge
NATURAL Resources Wales (NRW) has taken further enforcement action at Withyhedge Landfill in Pembrokeshire, setting out the urgent steps its operators must take to address the site’s ongoing odour and landfill gas emission issues.
NRW has issued site operators Resources Management UK Ltd (RML) with a further Regulation 36 Enforcement Notice, which requires the operator to deliver a series of actions by specified deadlines – the first due to be achieved by April 21.
The actions include implementing measures relating to gas management infrastructure, further capping areas of the site, and improving interim cover arrangements as the work progresses.
Each step outlined in the Notice must be completed by May 14.
However, the Notice stipulates that most works must be completed before May 8.
The measures are intended to address the odour issues experienced by communities surrounding the site.
Although actions set out in the Section 36 Notice issued in February to prepare and cap a waste cell and install gas infrastructure to contain and collect landfill gases appear to have been completed, the site operator has identified further areas of the site which could be causing problems.
RML submitted their plans to resolve these issues last week.
The proposed solutions informed the actions included in a new S36 notice issued last week.
The new enforcement activity requires the operator to deliver the additional steps they need to take.
If the actions outlined in this new Notice are not complied with, NRW will not hesitate to take further action. The Welsh Government agency will consider all the regulatory tools available, including issuing a Section 37 suspension notice.
A Section 37 Notice would end operations at Withyhedge
Huwel Manley, Head of South West Operations, NRW, said: “NRW is taking additional enforcement action to ensure RML Ltd. takes the urgent action they have identified needed to control the odour issues at Withyhedge Landfill.
“We fully understand the growing discontent from the affected communities, and we feel that it is unacceptable for residents and visitors to the area to continue to be affected by these odour and landfill gas emissions.
“We want to reassure everyone that we are committed to ensuring RML Ltd. deliver the actions they have identified and that they work quickly to resolve this issue.
“While the pressing work required by the operator progresses over the coming days and weeks, the site remains under investigation, and we will continue our regulatory presence.
“Nothing is off the table. If the series of actions required in this Notice are not complied with, we will have no hesitation to take further enforcement action, considering every option available to us under the regulations, including suspending the environmental permit if appropriate.”
Will Bramble, Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely disappointed that RML, the company managing the Withyhedge landfill site, has not delivered the necessary action to stop the completely unacceptable odour emissions.
“We fully support NRW’s additional enforcement action and continue to work closely with them to correct the situation.
“We also support NRW’s intent to take further action should it fail to meet the May 14 deadline, including considering suspending the permit.
“Geotechnology is monitoring under the direction of the air quality cell and liaising directly with residents affected.
“We will ensure the data is made available to the public at the earliest opportunity.”
The controversy over £200,000 in donations to Vaughan Gething’s Labour leadership campaign by companies linked to Withyhedge and a further substantial personal donation by company director David Neal continues to dog Wales’s new First Minister.
As revelations continue to bubble up from under the cap that Mr Gething has tried placing on them, the smell from Withyhedge has reached Cardiff Bay. It is beginning to stink out the Senedd.
More details of that story are elsewhere in this week’s Herald.
NRW requests that instances of odour from the landfill continue to be reported via this dedicated form: https://bit.ly/reportasmellwithyhedge.
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