A CALL is going out for people to have their say on Pembrokeshire County Council’s budget for the coming year, 2024-25.
Like all other Councils in Wales, the Council continues to face significant budget pressures – especially in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Alec Cormack, encouraged all those interested in how the Council is funded and how it spends its funds to take part in the consultation.

“It’s very important that we hear from as many people in Pembrokeshire as possible,” he said.
“Like other Councils, we are once again facing significant budget pressures and understanding community and household priorities is vital in helping us to make the difficult choices necessary in setting the 2024-25 budget.
“We look forward to hearing from you.”
The consultation includes a range of proposals on service changes, fees and charges and Council Tax.
To find out more and to give your views go to: https://haveyoursay.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2024-25
The closing date for responses is Wednesday 3rd January 2024

PLANS for nearly 600 solar panels at a Pembrokeshire holiday park have been approved by council officers.

Kiln Park Estates Limited applied to Pembrokeshire County Council to install 589 solar panels, each rated at 400watts, at Kiln Park Holiday Centre, Marsh Road, Tenby.

No objection to the application was made by neighbouring community council Penally.

A report for planning officers said the roof-mounted panels at the holiday centre “would result in positive economic and social benefits through the generation of renewable energy to support the provision of a facility to serve the visitor economy”.

The report added: “The site is located in close proximity to the boundary of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (PCNP), which cuts through the north-east portion of the holiday entertainment centre and the static caravans to the east.

“The PCNP Authority has confirmed that the proposal is sensitively sited on the roof of the complex and would have no impact on the landscape nor special qualities of the National Park and therefore does no object.

“It is considered that the scale and siting of the proposal and use of the materials would not have a significant detrimental impact on the residential or visual amenity of the area.”

The application was conditionally approved under delegated powers, with a condition works start within five years.

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’s Air Quality legislation only awaits Royal Assent after passing its final vote in the Senedd.

The World Health Organisation has described air pollution as the world’s largest environmental health risk and noise pollution as the second largest risk in Western Europe.

The Welsh Government is the first government in the UK to bring forward legislation that requires governmental consideration of soundscapes, and the Bill places a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote awareness of air pollution and to publish a progressive national soundscapes strategy.

The Bill, introduced to the Senedd in March 2023, passed on Tuesday, November 28.
It implements measures that contribute to improvements in the quality of the air environment in Wales and reduces the impacts of air pollution on human health, biodiversity, the natural environment and the economy.

Wales experiences some of the United Kingdom’s poorest air quality, and air pollution presents the nation-state’s biggest environmental risk to public health. The health impacts of air pollution exposure within the country are estimated to contribute to 1,400 premature deaths annually.

The Welsh Government has enjoyed considerable cross-party support during the Bill’s long gestation, with Conservative members repeatedly criticising the failure to bring forward a Bill in the last Senedd term, which ended in 2021.However, despite supporting most of the Bill’s principles, the Conservatives voted against its passage on the issue of road charging.

The Welsh Government has repeatedly claimed it has “no plans to introduce road charging” in Wales.
Mark Drakeford made the position explicit in October. Even with the provisions clearly stated in the Bill – Climate Change Minister Julie James repeated that line during Tuesday’s debate.

The Welsh Government’s line is that although it now has the power to introduce road charging to improve air quality, it will do so, as far as Julie James says, “only as a last resort”.
Welsh Ministers do not “plan” to introduce it unless the “last resort” arrives.

As attempts to defuse electorally difficult issues go, several angels are dancing on a very small pinhead.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservative’s Shadow Climate Change Minister, seized on the road charging issue and claimed the Welsh Government was targeting motorists.

She said: “Throughout the Environment Bill’s passage through the Welsh Parliament, the Welsh Conservatives aimed to make the Bill succeed for the people of Wales by achieving amendments that would make it work better.”

The Aberconwy MS continued: “Nevertheless, with the Labour Government’s Environment Bill introducing road charging for hard-working residents simply trying to get on with their lives, the Welsh Conservatives could not support it.”

A pointed intervention by Plaid MS Llyr Gruffydd diminished the potential for the Conservatives to gain political traction on the issue.

He asked what lessons the Welsh Government had learned from the Conservative Westminster Government’s introduction of road charging in England.

The way the Conservatives chuntered at the gibe underlined its effectiveness.

Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “I am delighted the Senedd has passed the Bill. It demonstrates a collective commitment to support preventative action about air, noise and soundscapes to achieve public health and environmental improvements.
“This Bill enables us to deliver enhanced air quality targets for Wales, with strengthened duties for Welsh Ministers to set out how we will improve our air environment. It also improves our legislative powers to manage air quality better at the local and regional levels. Finally, it sets out important new duties for Welsh Ministers to promote awareness of air pollution alongside ways of reducing its impact.

“We must empower this generation and future generations with knowledge of the impacts of air pollution and the steps they can take to minimise their exposure.

“Now is the time for action. I look forward to continued collaboration with delivery partners, stakeholders and the public to implement the Bill.”

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Sir Frank Atherton, said: “Wales already has a strong track record of leading the way in protecting the public’s health. The Bill shows the dedication and commitment across the Welsh Government to improving the air we breathe and promoting healthy soundscapes.

“We know exposure to air and noise pollution can increase the risk of serious illness, impact our wellbeing, and reduce our quality of life. That is why I am delighted this legislation has become law.

“By making our air cleaner and our sound environment better, we can improve public health for current and future generations.”

As for road charging, it all depends on how much you trust the Welsh Government.