Politics
Former Secretary of State dies

FORMER Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards, latterly Lord Crickhowell, has died at the age of 84.
Nicholas Edwards was born on February 25, 1934, was educated at Westminster School.
After completing his National Service in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, he read History at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1957.
After leaving University, he worked in finance in the City of London, becoming a director of both an insurance brokerage and the ‘bankers to army and empire’ National & Grindlays.
In 1970, he contested the old County Seat of Pembrokeshire.
The sitting MP, the former Bevanite left-winger Desmond Donnelly, had shifted across the political spectrum to adopt positions even farther to the right than the Conservative Party of the day. Donnelly had resigned the Labour whip in the Commons in 1968 before founding the Democratic Party, whose candidate he was in the 1970 election.
Ranged against Donnelly were both Nicholas Edwards – widely regarded as being foisted onto a constituency with which he had few – if any – links and Labour’s candidate, schoolteacher and Neyland resident Gordon Parry.
In the Conservative’s surprise victory in the General Election, the split in the Labour vote between Donnelly and Parry let the unfancied Edwards through the middle and he won the seat with a majority of just over 1,200.
Edwards was to face Parry as his main opponent in the elections of February and October 1974; on each occasion beating his opponent by fewer than 1,500 votes.
In the Conservative election victory of 1979, Nicholas Edwards was elected with a majority of over 7,700 votes and, in the 1983 landslide, won by just under 9,500 votes.
After the 1979 election, he was appointed to be Secretary of State for Wales, in which role he piloted through the Commons both the formation of S4C as Wales’ national Welsh language broadcaster and began outlining the case for the regeneration of Cardiff Bay, opposed – ironically – at the time by Rhodri Morgan.
He was a noticeable early opponent of the Poll Tax.
He stepped down from the Commons at the 1987 election and was appointed Baron Crickhowell of Pont Esgob in the Black Mountains and County of Powys.
He was, at that time still in his early fifties and, while resuming his business interests, Nicholas Edwards rapidly became active as a major booster for the Cardiff Bay Barrage Scheme and the construction of an Opera House in Cardiff Bay. The Opera House project dissolved in acrimony after the winning entry by the late Zaha Hadid was rejected as too costly to build. However, the regeneration of Cardiff Bay has brought a new centre of prosperity and public life to the Welsh capital.
In 1989, he was appointed Chair of the National Rivers Authority, a post he held until that body’s abolition in 1996 and replacement by the Environment Agency. He was subsequently President of Cardiff University and remained an active member of the House of Lords until last autumn.
Nicholas Edwards’ father had been employed at the Victoria and Albert Museum and later as an adviser to Historic England, it is therefore of no surprise that he was engaged widely within the arts, lobbying successfully for the Welsh National Opera to have a permanent base in Cardiff and became President of the Contemporary Arts Society for Wales.
He married Ankaret Healing in 1963. They had a son, Rupert, and two daughters, Sophie and Olivia.
Tributes have been paid to Lord Crickhowell by fellow Conservative politicians.
Stephen Crabb, former Welsh Secretary said: “I am deeply saddened that Nick has passed away. He was a good friend and offered encouragement to me when I was starting out in politics. Nick was a brilliant MP for Pembrokeshire and left a strong legacy including the building of Withybush Hospital. He will be missed by a great many people across our County.
“My sincerest condolences go to his family.”
Andrew RT Davies said: “Lord Crickhowell was an inspiration to a generation of Welsh Conservatives, and his passing is desperately sad news for his family and friends.
“As a constituency MP he represented Pembrokeshire with huge dedication, and he advanced the cause of Wales around the cabinet table during eight years in government.
“He was a politician of real vision and tenacity, and his most enduring legacy to Wales will be the transformation of Cardiff Bay – which to this day remains one of the most successful regeneration projects the country has seen.”
News
Iconic Tenby seafront hotel renovation to take place

WORKS to improve the appearance of a prominent Tenby hotel which overlooks both Caldey Island and St Catherine’s Island have been backed by the national park.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Martin Phillips of Clarence House Hotel, The Esplanade sought permission for to replace existing signage with “newer, less obtrusive signs,” including a change of the front signage for one incorporating the Clarence’s name and logo.
Tenby Town Council backed the proposals, saying it was a “markedly improved upgrade on the Grade-II-listed hotel, in the town’s conservation area.
An officer report recommending approval said: “There are five new signs proposed as part of this application. These will aim to replace the existing and dated signage currently present on the Clarence House Hotel.
“The Building Conservation Officer has supported the application and has stated that the designs are a clear improvement on the existing situation. The proposed signage is to replace the existing signage with a more modern design; however, this will not impact the heritage of the listed building and has a positive impact on the street scene. The designs are appropriate in terms of design, scale and positioning.
“[Policy] requires that the identity and character of the town and village is not lost. The proposed signage does not compromise the existing character of the building or the streetscape and is therefore acceptable.
“The proposal for new signage for the Clarence House Hotel will have a beneficial impact on the street scene and the conservation area of Tenby. The proposal adheres to all relevant national, regional and local legislation and policy.”
The application was approved by park planners.
Business
Huge slurry lagoon to be built in Pembrokeshire countryside

PLANS to build a new slurry lagoon at a 650-dairy herd Pembrokeshire farm have been given the go-ahead.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Richard Morris of Bowett Ltd sought permission for the construction of the lagoon, and associated works, at Quoits Hill Farm, Bentlass Road, Hundleton, near Pembroke.
A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd stressed the applicant does not intend to increase livestock numbers on farm as a result of this 60 by 35 metre development.
“The Morris Family farm at Quoits Hill Farm and specialise in dairy farming. The farm is home to approximately 650 dairy cows plus followers. The herd is autumn calving with milk sold to Laprino. The home farm is grass based and extends to over 300 acres, with more off lying land utilised for growing winter forage.
“The family have invested significantly in recent years in on farm infrastructure to include a rotary milking parlour, silage clamps and covered feed yards.”
It added: “The proposed development seeks to increase the farms slurry storage capacity to above the five-month storage required by NVZ regulations. The existing slurry store and slurry handling facilities are not adequate to comply with the new regulations.”
It went on to say: “The proposed store will provide the farm with 6452 cubic meters of storage capacity (minus freeboard) which will equate to over 171 days storage. It is proposed to use the existing field slurry store as a lightly fouled water store to collect the parlour washings and reduce the size of the store required. Slurry will continue to be scrapped into the existing yard store and then pumped to the new store when required. This work will be monitored closely to reduce the risk of any leakage.”
It concluded: “The proposed development will enable slurry to be spread during the growing season rather than during more difficult weather conditions in the winter. This will be of benefit to farm efficiency and the wider environment.”
The application was conditionally approved.
News
Huge slurry lagoon to be built in Pembrokeshire countryside

PLANS to build a new slurry lagoon at a 650-dairy herd Pembrokeshire farm have been given the go-ahead.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Richard Morris of Bowett Ltd sought permission for the construction of the lagoon, and associated works, at Quoits Hill Farm, Bentlass Road, Hundleton, near Pembroke.
A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd stressed the applicant does not intend to increase livestock numbers on farm as a result of this 60 by 35 metre development.
“The Morris Family farm at Quoits Hill Farm and specialise in dairy farming. The farm is home to approximately 650 dairy cows plus followers. The herd is autumn calving with milk sold to Laprino. The home farm is grass based and extends to over 300 acres, with more off lying land utilised for growing winter forage.
“The family have invested significantly in recent years in on farm infrastructure to include a rotary milking parlour, silage clamps and covered feed yards.”
It added: “The proposed development seeks to increase the farms slurry storage capacity to above the five-month storage required by NVZ regulations. The existing slurry store and slurry handling facilities are not adequate to comply with the new regulations.”
It went on to say: “The proposed store will provide the farm with 6452 cubic meters of storage capacity (minus freeboard) which will equate to over 171 days storage. It is proposed to use the existing field slurry store as a lightly fouled water store to collect the parlour washings and reduce the size of the store required. Slurry will continue to be scrapped into the existing yard store and then pumped to the new store when required. This work will be monitored closely to reduce the risk of any leakage.”
It concluded: “The proposed development will enable slurry to be spread during the growing season rather than during more difficult weather conditions in the winter. This will be of benefit to farm efficiency and the wider environment.”
The application was conditionally approved.
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