News

Pembrokeshire farmers’ fears over WG scheme

Published

9 years ago

October 7, 2016

River Cleddau: 2,000 farms affected

WELSH GOVERNMENT plans to introduce restrictions on the activities that farmers can carry out on their land and designated times of the year has been met with scepticism and concern by Pembrokeshire’s farmers.

The Welsh Government has introduced a consultation on its scheme to designate the Haven Waterway and two Cleddaus as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). Farmers claim that the move will increase the costs of production, threaten farms’ viability, and have an adverse effect on the Pembrokeshire Early crop.

WHAT IS AN NVZ?

An NVZ designation places a series of restrictions on farmers’ ability to use certain types of fertiliser on their land at prescribed times of the year. The aim is to reduce the effect that run off from agricultural land has on the environment.

The effects of nitrate pollution on the aquatic environment can be significant. High nitrate concentrations can cause a deterioration in water quality and disturb the ecosystems of rivers and other watercourses. Over enrichment of water can lead to a depletion of oxygen levels leading to a loss of marine life and causes increased toxic and non-toxic algal blooms, which make the situation worse by reducing water transparency. Nitrate pollution can reduce not only the diversity of plant life but also damage fish and shellfish stocks, as the algae consume the available oxygen suffocating other life.

In the worst case scenario, anaerobic (oxygen-starved) conditions cause toxic bacteria to thrive and can create ‘dead zones’.

In order to tackle the threat posed by nitrate pollution, in 1991 the European Union adopted rules governing nitrate pollution and sought to regulate the extent of nitrate pollution entering the environment.

UKIP OPPOSES MOVE

Speaking to The Herald in August, UKIP Wales leader Neil Hamilton told us: “With the imminence of Brexit, it is absurd for the Welsh Government to go ahead with consultations on potential NVZs under the EU Nitrates Directive.

“If implemented, these new zones will adversely affect about 25% of the Welsh dairy herd and 50% of the Welsh potato crop. I will oppose strongly any move by the Welsh Government to impose these zones.

“Farmers don’t need to be dictated to. They know what is best for their land and their crops and they should be allowed to make their own decisions based on personal knowledge of their land and weather conditions.”

Notwithstanding Mr Hamilton’s words, the Welsh Government has decided that now is the time – with Article 50, triggering the UK’s departure/divorce from the EU, due to be activated next March at the latest – to embark upon a round of consultations about the imposition of a regulatory burden based on EU law upon farmers already uncertain about the effect of Brexit upon their incomes.

The rationale underpinning the consultation is based on the environmental principles underpinning the original policy. However, the potential impact of agriculture around the Haven Waterway is significant.

‘EXTREMELY COSTLY’

Pembrokeshire NFU Cymru County Chairman, Walter Simon, said: “Up to 2,000 farmers in in the western and eastern Cleddau river catchments and the Milford Haven estuary could face strict limitations on the use of nitrates on their farms and also face the challenge of a whole host of tough new rules due to potential plans from Welsh Government to extend Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) in Wales.

“The Welsh Government are now consulting on proposals that have the potential to bring in 25% of all the land in Wales which is used for milk production and also half of the area that is used to grow potatoes in Wales under a new NVZ designation.”

Mr Simon explained his members’ concerns: “The potential new rules include strict limitations and restrictions on the amount of livestock manure, slurry and fertiliser farmers can spread on their land, particularly during the autumn and winter months and, in tandem with this, there would be very strict requirements on farmers to keep detailed records.

“Dairy and beef farmers would also be required to have storage facilities for slurry and manure for five months from October to March. This is likely to be extremely costly for farmers to implement at a time when they’re receiving very low prices in the market for their products.”

He concluded by questioning the basis upon which the Welsh Government was advancing the plans at this time: “In the context of the EU Referendum decision, it’s very questionable if the implementation of this EU directive should be taken forward. However, if Welsh Government choose to implement this then NFU Cymru is calling on them to base any new NVZ areas on sound scientific evidence. We will scrutinise the evidence in great detail and we’re willing to challenge government plans unless they are robust and stand up to scrutiny.”

‘LONG TERM DAMAGE’ CLAIM

Responding for the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies AM warned that excessive regulations could do ‘long term damage’ to the farming industry.

The Conservatives’ Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “Farmers across Wales will be rightly concerned about the Welsh Government’s proposed new Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) designations.

“The regulatory burden will do nothing to attract people to farming and the costs attached to these proposals will put a heavy burden on Welsh farmers, at a time when the Welsh Government should be doing more to support our rural economy.

“It seems that both options would unnecessarily and unreasonably affect Welsh farmers.

“That’s why it’s important that a strong message is sent to the Welsh Government and I strongly urge farmers from all parts of the country to respond to this consultation and make sure their voices are heard.”

WG APPROACH LACKS EVIDENCE

FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright, who has been representing the Union in the review process, said: ‘‘The FUW has been involved in the NVZ review and has made successful representations on several designations, which resulted in their removal from the discrete areas option of the consultation.

“However, the number of proposed new designations remain a concern and the FUW continues to reiterate the operational and financial impacts those designations would have upon farms that reside within an NVZ area. Given such costs, there must be full justification for any proposed increases in designation.”

Two options outlined in the consultation include the continuation of the discrete approach to designation or the designation of the whole of Wales as a NVZ. A continuation of the discrete approach would see an increase in the amount of NVZ designations in Wales rise from 2.4% to 8%. This would mean significant changes to NVZ designation in counties such as Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Anglesey.

“The FUW remains resolutely against the option to apply the action programme throughout the whole of Wales as this would require all landowners to comply with the NVZ action programme measures.

“There is a distinct lack of evidence for a whole territory approach and the difficulties and costs associated with regulatory compliance for farms whose land does not drain into nitrate polluted waters, makes this option both unwarranted and unreasonably excessive,” added Dr Wright.

2,000 FARMS COULD BE AFFECTED

Mid and West AM, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Simon Thomas said: “Plaid Cymru understands that up to potentially 2,000 farms that border on the Cleddau tributaries and the Cleddau estuary area would be affected. These farmers would face the need to make huge investments at a difficult time, for example, in slurry storage.

“We have called upon the Welsh Government to provide those farmers with support to meet the requirements without jeopardising their businesses.

“Natural Resources Wales would be tasked with regulating the NVZs. The organisation has faced cuts in the last Assembly Term. We have called upon the Welsh Government to ensure that NRW has the resources it needs to carry out its duties. As much as possible, both NRW and the Labour Welsh Government should work to achieve the aims of the NVZ through voluntary means and must also examine other potential factors outside of farming.”

NFU Cymru is encouraging affected farmers within the county to get involved with the consultation process. A meeting will be held on Thursday (Oct 13) at The Pavilion, Pembrokeshire Showground, Withybush, Haverfordwest, starting at 7:30pm. Access to The Pavilion for the meeting is via Gate 3, which is 200m past the main entrance to the Showground.

News

Two former Labour council leaders join the Greens

Published

13 hours ago

November 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TWO former Labour council leaders in Wales have defected to the Green Party, signalling growing momentum for the environmental movement ahead of next year’s Senedd election.

Robert James, the former leader of the Labour group on Carmarthenshire County Council, and Sean Morgan, who led Caerphilly County Borough Council before resigning from Labour during the recent by-election, were both unveiled as new Green Party members at the party’s Welsh conference in Cardiff on Saturday (Nov 8).

The Greens said the defections reflected a wider shift in Welsh politics, claiming their membership had almost tripled in just two months and was now approaching 6,000.

Party leader Zack Polanski told delegates: “This will be the first of many councillors who we will be welcoming to the Wales Green Party. More breakthroughs will follow.”

Mr James said he had joined a party that “puts people and planet first” and pledged to campaign on tackling inequality, protecting public services, and safeguarding the environment.

Sean Morgan described his move as an “easy decision”, saying: “It has become increasingly clear in recent months that the Labour Party no longer represents the values of ordinary members or ordinary people in this country. That has caused me to question the ethics of remaining in Labour.”

Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said the new recruits showed that the “political tectonic plates” were shifting in Wales.

“This truly demonstrates that we are the bold new voice Wales so desperately needs,” he said. “With the introduction of a fully proportional Senedd voting system in May, the Greens will be pivotal in shaping the next Welsh Government.”

Welsh Labour has been asked to comment.

Cover pic:

Leader of Green Party in Wales: Anthony Slaughter

Health

Pembrokeshire patients among thousands hit by ‘corridor care’ crisis

Published

17 hours ago

November 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Over 10,000 call on Welsh Government to act as doctors warn of unsafe and undignified treatment in hospital corridors

MORE than ten thousand people across Wales have signed a petition demanding urgent action to end the growing practice of “corridor care” in NHS hospitals — including reports from Withybush Hospital where patients have been left waiting for treatment in chairs, trolleys and corridors due to lack of beds.

The petition, supported by both the British Medical Association (BMA) Cymru Wales and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales, was launched after hundreds of nurses and doctors came forward describing unsafe and undignified conditions. It has now been presented to the Welsh Government, and the issue is expected to be debated in the Senedd later this month.

‘Patients waiting on chairs for days’

Health staff say the problem, once confined to emergency departments, is now widespread across Welsh hospitals, including those serving Pembrokeshire.

One senior nurse told The Herald: “We’ve had elderly patients waiting on chairs in A&E for two or three days at a time. They can’t lie down, they can’t rest, and there’s no privacy. It’s awful for them and heartbreaking for staff.”

Doctors and nurses who contributed to the petition described distressing conditions:
“I have seen patients where diagnoses have been missed due to inadequate places to examine them,” said one doctor. Another added: “I routinely see patients on the back of an ambulance, patients whose treatments are delayed because there are no beds or cardiac monitoring spaces.”

Frontline frustration

Dr Manish Adke, chair of the BMA’s Welsh Consultants Committee, said:
“This overwhelming response sends an unequivocal message: the Welsh public, healthcare professionals and patients are united in their concern about the ongoing crisis of patients being treated in hospital corridors.

“This practice exposes vulnerable individuals to a lack of privacy, dignity and essential care, while staff struggle to deliver safe treatment without adequate equipment or support.”

RCN Wales National Director Helen Whyley said the petition’s closure “marks not the end, but the beginning of renewed efforts to restore dignity, safety and high-quality care to all patients in Wales.”

Four key demands

The petition calls for the Welsh Government to:

Record and publish all instances of corridor care to ensure transparency and accountability.
Pause any further reductions in hospital beds until safe alternatives are in place.
Invest in community-based services so patients can be treated closer to home.
Focus on prevention and early intervention to reduce hospital admissions.

Local impact

At Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, staff say corridor care has become a regular feature of winter pressures — but now extends well beyond seasonal peaks.

Sources within Hywel Dda University Health Board told The Herald that emergency departments are frequently running at or above 100 per cent capacity, forcing staff to accommodate patients in waiting areas and temporary bays.

One healthcare assistant said: “It’s not uncommon for patients to be treated in corridors for entire shifts. Staff do their best, but it’s not safe. There’s no privacy, and we can’t always monitor patients properly.”

According to the latest NHS Wales performance data, more than 8,000 people waited over 12 hours in emergency departments across the country in September, including hundreds within the Hywel Dda region.

Government and health board response

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressures facing our health service and the immense effort being made by NHS staff. We are investing in measures to increase patient flow, expand same-day emergency care and improve discharge pathways so patients can leave hospital safely when ready.”

A Hywel Dda University Health Board spokesperson added: “Demand for urgent and emergency care remains exceptionally high across the region. Staff at Withybush Hospital and our other sites work tirelessly to maintain patient safety and dignity, and we continue to prioritise actions that reduce overcrowding, including community care initiatives and faster discharge processes.”

Political reaction

Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Natasha Asghar MS said: “This is a symptom of a health service under immense strain. Corridor care should never become routine, and patients deserve better than to be treated in waiting rooms and corridors.”

Plaid Cymru’s health spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, added that chronic underfunding of social care was worsening hospital gridlock. “We need an integrated plan that tackles bed shortages and social care blockages together,” he said.

Senedd debate expected this month

The petition — signed by 10,533 people — will now be reviewed by the Senedd’s Petitions Committee before being debated later in November.

For frontline NHS workers in Pembrokeshire, the message is simple. As one nurse told The Herald: “Patients in corridors are not numbers. They’re people who deserve care, dignity and respect. We just want the system to let us do our jobs properly.”

Business

Wales’ economy: Swansea hosts 2025 Wellbeing Economy Festival of Ideas

Published

17 hours ago

November 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE MOVEMENT to redesign the economy around people and the planet rather than profit will take centre stage at the Wellbeing Economy Festival of Ideas 2025, being held at Swansea Arena on Wednesday, November 12.

Organised by Wellbeing Economy Cymru (WE Cymru) and supported by 4theRegion and partners across Wales, the event will explore what a fair, sustainable and inclusive economy could look like — and how Wales can lead the change.

The free, one-day festival is open to all, from community leaders and entrepreneurs to students and residents keen to help shape Wales’ economic future.

A call for systems change

WE Cymru says Wales stands at a crossroads. With the cost of living, climate change and inequality worsening, organisers argue the current economic model — focused on growth and extraction — is no longer sustainable.

They say Wales already has strong foundations for change, including the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, a thriving social enterprise network, and growing public interest in moving beyond GDP as the main measure of success.

Festival organisers describe the event as “a call to action”, bringing together thinkers, doers and community groups already putting wellbeing principles into practice.

What’s happening on the day

Keynote address from Derek Walker, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.

Panel discussions challenging traditional ideas about growth and progress.

Exhibitions showcasing Welsh community enterprises, social businesses and local wealth-building projects.

An interactive Open Space session where attendees set the agenda and collaborate on live ideas.

The event will also feature policymakers, academics, local authorities and grassroots organisations discussing how community wealth-building, circular economy models and social enterprise can support jobs, services and climate goals.

Timely debate

Festival director Dawn Lyle, co-founder of 4theRegion, said: “This event could not be more timely. People are struggling with daily costs while billionaires get tax breaks. We can’t fix inequality or the climate crisis without tackling the systems that create them.”

Sian Jones, chair of WE Cymru, added: “Wales is part of the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance and the Wellbeing Economy Governments Organisation. We have a real opportunity to lead on economic development that genuinely delivers for people and communities.”

Mary Sherwood from the Poverty Insight Lab said: “Economic inequality needs to be challenged if we’re serious about wellbeing. We’re bringing the voices of people on low incomes to this event — those whose experiences must shape real change.”

David Kershaw, MD of Posterity Global, one of the exhibitors, said: “I loved last year’s festival. This year, I’m bringing public procurement to the table — because it’s time we saw spending as investing in our shared future.”

Emma Musgrave, of Purple Shoots, added: “We’re excited to show how enterprise can tackle poverty — taking real, concrete action right now.”

Details

Date: Wednesday 12 November 2025
Venue: Swansea Arena, Swansea
Registration: Free, limited spaces – wellbeingeconomy.cymru