Politics

Price calls for decade of decision

Published

7 years ago

October 25, 2017

Adam Price: Set out ambitious policy agenda

ADAM PRICE rallied the faithful at Plaid’s annual conference with a stirring call for a Plaid Cymru administration to turn what he described as ‘a decade of drift’ into ‘a decade of decision’ for Wales.

After first sharing his experiences as an International Election Observer during the Catalan referendum on independence, the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM set out the start of an ambitious policy agenda Plaid Cymru will be exploring for its 2021 Programme of Government.

Mr Price said rather than “wallowing in a trough of Celtic despair” it was “time to turn our eyes to the coming decade.”

Setting out four of the first policies the party’s new think tank, Nova Cambria will study, the party’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure, Adam Price said: “We’ve exported our talent, our hopes, our dreams for too long as a nation. It’s time to turn them into reality here at home. So over the next few months we will task Nova Cambria with working up the detail of the kind of bold ideas that we want to see at the heart of the Plaid Cymru Government of 2021 in which I hope to serve.

“These ideas are based on the things you as members and supporters have been telling us as elected members you want to see in the new Wales we will begin to build.

“That means calling an end to free cash for foreign-owned companies – to little or no long-term benefit to the Welsh economy – and ensuring all future support to business is channelled by an independent Development Bank investing in Welsh-based businesses, not through grants but through loans and long-term equity investments.

“We will abolish business rates and replace them with a system of taxation that is fairer, doesn’t penalise the high street or punish capital Investment. In return for this commitment to help our indigenous businesses, we will also be asking business to work with us for the good of Wales. We’ll create a regional network of Business and Enterprise Councils, business-led organisations based on the model of Continental Chambers of commerce, independent of Government but business deciding what business needs to thrive and prosper in every part of Wales.

“We will introduce a guaranteed youth basic income for all young people between the ages of 18-24 so that young people can study in Higher or Further Education or start a business or spend a year volunteering in a true National Citizen Service – and for those out of work we’ll guarantee a job – so that our young people can give back to our Country but so we can also give to them the foundations they need for their future which is our future too. We’ll use our guarantee to the youth of our Country to attract back the half of our undergraduates that leave our Country every year, many of them never to return. You are our future. And we want you to make your future here.

“We will create financial security for the young as the surest foundation for them to build up their productivity, build on their creativity, and together, build prosperity for all.

“I’m fed up of being a late nation, so we’ll become the first to do this in the world.

“We’ll turn this nation from laggard to leader. One by one we’ll take those league tables that have us languishing at the bottom and we’ll turn the world upside down and our Wales the right side up.

“We’ll do it by the power of our belief. We’ll do it with the steely determination of a people on the path to freedom. We’ll do it with the hopes of generations to come as a guiding light in front of us, and the voices of generations past ringing in our ears.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Business

Call to end ‘fad’ of ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be heard next week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 will consider a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission reads: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cites examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission adds: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

The submission will be considered by committee members at the November 28 meeting.