News
One planet scheme to produce furniture and mushrooms in woods
A ONE PLANET DEVELOPMENT scheme to produce furniture and grow mushrooms in a Pembrokeshire wood is expected to get the go-ahead from planners next week.
The application for a smallholding at Cresselly Big Wood, Cresselly, has been submitted by Marcus Beck; it includes the construction of one dwelling, a workshop, barn, compost toilet, garden room, greenhouse, reed bed, pond and attenuation ponds with a parking area and internal tracks, within a five-year phased timescale.
Itis recommended for conditional approval by officers at the February 14 meeting of the planning committee.
It is planned to eventually offer open days and educational courses on site.
A report for planners states: “Employment of permaculture techniques and principles are proposed, to transform the woodland into a smallholding which specialises primarily in timber products and mushroom cultivation.”
The main enterprises are based around timber to make bespoke furniture and growing organic oyster mushrooms, with secondary enterprises relating to honey, charcoal, biochar, eggs, herbs and spices and training days, the report adds.
The scheme has been supported by local community councils Carew and Jeffreyston, with letters of support also received, along with letters of objection, including being out of character and a claimed impracticality of the application.
Planning permission was previously granted on March 1 of last year for a forestry building on the site, work on which has begun, which would form a wood storage building proposed as part of this application.
The report for committee members says the applicants currently produce 10 per cent of their own food needs from honey, eggs, preserves and fruit; growing food produce at a community garden in nearby Lawrenny.
“Based on the information provided it is considered that there is a possibility that the site could grow/rear at least 30 percent of food needs by year five, with the remaining 35 per cent bartered or purchased with income from the land based enterprises.
“Should the applicants cease to use the community garden for growing some of their food, their food needs could still be met from the application site alone.”
The application would be delegated to the head of planning to approve, subject to a string of conditions including a Section 106 agreement ensuring that the dwelling is tied to the land and that the applicants are the occupants of the site.
News
Ruling against language campaigner over English-only parking notice
A COURT in Aberystwyth has this week (May 13) ruled against the language campaigner Toni Schiavone and has allowed parking company One Parking Solution to claim costs in an extended legal dispute over an English-only parking notice. However, Toni Schiavone said he will continue to refuse to pay until he receives a copy of the notice from the parking company in Welsh.
According to the judge, there was no legal basis to force the parking company to provide a Welsh language service. Language campaigners insist that this demonstrates a “serious flaw” in the legislation that protects the rights of Welsh speakers.
Toni Schiavone received the original charge in September 2020 for parking in a private car park in Llangrannog, but refused to pay as he did not receive the charge in Welsh or bilingually, despite sending the company two letters as well as calling them.
The first two cases were thrown out over technical issues, but at a hearing on 26 January this year, One Parking Solution won an appeal to continue to prosecute Mr Schiavone, after the judge ruled that there were no grounds to throw out the first two cases of the court.
Speaking during today’s court proceedings, Toni Schiavone said: “The Welsh language is an official and equal language in Wales and we as Welsh speakers have rights according to the law, and in principle, that should be respected. The request for a Parking Charge Notice in Welsh or bilingually is reasonable and practical. It would have cost around £60 to translate.
“This case could have been resolved very easily and very quickly by providing a Welsh or bilingual Parking Charge Notice. Does not doing so show prejudice against the Welsh language? In my opinion, it does.”
Mr Schiavone told the court that the claimant had behaved threateningly, sending him a letter claiming £10,156.70 in legal expenses a day before his hearing in January as well as another letter with additional costs of over £4,000 two days before today’s case. According to research by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, translating the fine into Welsh would have cost only £60.
The judge Lowri Williams said that Toni had behaved in an “honest, principled” manner during the case, and had shown an “unwavering dedication to the Welsh language and the cause for the language.”
However, she said during her verdict that there was nothing in the 1967 Welsh Language Act, the 1993 Welsh Language Act, or the 2011 Welsh Language Measure to compel the parking company to provide a Welsh language service.
She therefore ordered that Toni pay the £100 charge, as well as £70 for administrative costs, £11.90 interest and £85 for the court fee within 21 days.
After explaining her ruling and order, Toni Schiavone said “I understand, but I refuse to pay.” His statement was met by applause from his supporters in the public gallery.
Following the case, Siân Howys, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Rights Group, said: “Today’s judgment shows that – despite the Welsh Government’s claim – the Welsh language does not have equal status in Wales. The judge has done her work thoroughly and found that there is nothing in the legislation that ensures that Toni’s right to use his own language in his own country is respected.
“It is clear, therefore, that the Welsh Government needs to correct the serious flaw in the legislation in order to ensure that the people of Wales can use the Welsh language in all aspects of their lives.”
News
Cllr Jon Harvey elected Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council
CLLR JON HARVEY has been elected as the new Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.
Cllr Harvey, who represents the Pembroke St Mary North ward, was elected as Leader at the Annual General Meeting of Council held on Friday May 10.
A Town Planner by profession, Cllr Harvey spent 12 years in various Planning Officer roles in Local Government before moving into the private sector and a career at senior level planning, housebuilding and development.
More recently, he was the Head of Development at a Swansea-based Housing Association.
With a love of music and theatre, Cllr Harvey has managed an indie rock band, promoted a number of gigs locally and has staged managed plays including at the Edinburgh fringe.
Married with four grown-up children, Cllr Harvey served as the Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery under former Leader Cllr David Simpson.
Cllr Harvey, who is not affiliated to any group, was first elected to Council in September 2018.
He said: “I am deeply honoured to stand before you today as your new Leader and the responsibility is not one I take lightly.
“I pledge to lead with passion, dedication, integrity, transparency and compassion.
“I am convinced that if we all work together with common purpose and work towards common goals we can make a real difference to the lives of those residents that we serve.”
Cllr Harvey will name his Cabinet in the coming days.
News
New Chairman takes the chains at Pembrokeshire County Council
THE NEW Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council is Cllr Steve Alderman.
Cllr Alderman, previously the Authority’s Vice-Chairman, was installed at the Annual Meeting of Council at County Hall in Haverfordwest held on Friday, 10th May.
Cllr Alderman, who represents Hundleton, takes over from Cllr Tom Tudor.
Cllr Alderman is well respected in the farming community as a lifelong farmer, working with his family until retiring in 2019.
Cllr Alderman has also been Pembrokeshire NFU County chairman as well as a representative on the Welsh NFU Council and numerous other rural and economic development bodies in the area.
Outgoing Council Leader Cllr David Simpson proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr Tudor who also gave an overview of his busy year as Chairman.
Cllr Alderman was nominated by Cllr Tim Evans and seconded by Cllr Pat Davies.
Cllr Alderman, who was first elected in 2019, is not affiliated to any group on the Council.
Upon taking the chains, Cllr Alderman said: “I am extremely proud to be made Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and I aim to represent this Council to the very best of my ability.
“I hope my experience as Council appointed member of the National Park, as well as the various Overview and Scrutiny Committees I am involved in, will stand me in good stead for this important year ahead.”
At the same meeting Cllr Maureen Bowen was elected the new Vice Chairman of Council.
Cllr Bowen, who represents Pembroke Dock Bush and is a member of the Labour Group, joined the Council in 2022.
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