Politics

Water legislation ‘outsourced to Westminster’

Published

3 months ago

September 22, 2024

THE CLIMATE change secretary confirmed proposed UK water legislation will apply to Wales despite concerns about law making being “outsourced” to Westminster.

Huw Irranca-Davies, who is also Wales’ new deputy first minister, told the Senedd he has agreed that the UK Government’s water bill be extended to Wales.

The bill aims to ensure water companies are held to account, with increased enforcement powers for regulators and tougher penalties, including imprisonment.

Mr Irranca-Davies said the bill will grant the regulator, Ofwat, powers to limit bonuses paid to executives and allow Natural Resources Wales to recover costs from water firms.

He accepted changes to the law must reflect Wales’ needs as he committed to working with the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

But former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price pointed out that in a previous incarnation as chair of the legislation committee, Mr Irranca-Davies took a different position.

Questioning the climate change minister, Mr Price said: “You often eloquently made the case for us not outsourcing legislation to Westminster but legislating ourselves here.

“Maybe you could explain … why you’ve failed to persuade yourself of that former case.”

Mr Price called for a root-and-branch review of the governance model for Wales’ water industry, with the climate change secretary suggesting this is not high on the agenda.

Mr Irranca-Davies joked: “On your point of my unusual conversion to actually supporting us being involved in collaborating … you must have been referring to my twin brother, I think.”

The former MP and Defra minister said the Senedd may not have the opportunity to legislate for four or five years, so it was important to seize the opportunity.

But he admitted: “I realise I’m a bit of a poacher-turned-gamekeeper on this.”

Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives’ shadow climate change secretary, raised concerns that Wales could miss out on revenue raised by fines.

She said: “If a company, for either land pollution, noise pollution or water pollution, if they’re fined, that money goes into the UK Treasury.

“And that’s always been used by the Welsh Government as an excuse, almost, that we don’t have the money to clean up our polluted rivers.”

Ms Finch-Saunders, who represents Aberconwy, stressed: “If the pollution has taken place in Wales, we should have that money here in Wales to help clean up afterwards.”

Responding to the statement on September 17, she warned of an environmental crisis with six of the UK’s most polluted rivers in Wales.

She said: “Warnings were issued only this summer for people not to go swimming or in the sea due to poor water quality at 25 Welsh beaches.”

Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow climate change secretary, warned the public continues to feel powerless on the issue of sewage in Wales’ waterways.

She said: “The public deserves more than mere promises of improvement.

“They need to see action and, if necessary, stiff penalties imposed on those companies that fail to reach adequate standards time and time again.”

She reiterated her party’s calls for full devolution of powers over Wales’ water resources.

Ms Jewell, who is the Plaid Cymru group’s deputy leader, also called for action on microplastic pollution which can pose a threat to people’s health.

“These particles have been found in human lungs, breast milk and blood,” she said. “So, what specific steps will be taken to improve monitoring and enforcement with regard to water companies when their practices contribute to plastic and microplastic pollution?”

Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, also raised concerns about research showing “alarming” levels of microplastics in UK rivers.

The Labour MS suggested monitoring riverbeds for microplastic content could be an effective way to police water companies’ practices.

Carolyn Thomas, a fellow Labour backbencher, pointed out that many rivers cross Wales’ border, exemplifying the need to work with the UK Government.

The Conservatives’ Laura Anne Jones called for a ban on combined sewage outflows, “which allow water companies to pump sewage into the rivers”.

She told the chamber: “I grew up fishing and swimming in the River Usk, and I want my children and others to be able to do so.

“My children do now but it does make me wince a bit, knowing what’s coming into our rivers, with visible sewage more and more prevalent, unfortunately.”

Community

Pembrokeshire town 4G phone mast plans withdrawn

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for a replacement 20-metre-high 4G phone mast tower in north Pembrokeshire, which the local town council says would have “an unacceptable adverse impact” on the national park’s beauty have been withdrawn.

In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Cellnex, through agent Telent, sought permission to replace an existing 10m high mast with a new 20m 4G tower with three Vodafone antennae and nine mast head amplifiers, and associated works, on land at Dwr-y-Felin Farm, Fford Bedd Morris, Newport.

The application for a 4G mobile base station for the mobile network operator(s) (MNOs) Vodafone Ltd in conjunction with Cornerstone. The application site is owned / operated by Cellnex UK, a radio site infrastructure provider.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said: “The proposed antenna height of 20m is essential to provide new 4G coverage and replacement 2G and 3G service provision to the surrounding area. 4G radio signals are more sensitive to physical obstructions than older technologies.

“This is because the higher the frequency band the greater the reduction in signal strength, increasing the likelihood of dropped calls and reduced data rates for internet browsing,” adding: “Generally, the higher the signal frequency the more it will be impacted by clutter. It is for this reason that there is the height of 20m is required.”

It went on to say it “should be noted that a radio base station within this location has already been considered acceptable and has become an established feature within the area and the proposed upgrade albeit different in design to support the latest equipment will not be of substantial or detrimental harm to the national park, conservation area or heritage assets”.

Newport Town Council had objected to the application, saying: “The proposed development (if approved in its current form) will have an unacceptable adverse impact on the qualities and special landscape and seascape character of the National Park and also on the special qualities of natural beauty and tranquillity.”

The application has now been withdrawn.

Charity

Flats for veterans to be built at VC Gallery, Pembroke Dock

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to build flats for armed forces veterans on a former Pembrokeshire school yard/playing field next to veterans’ charity the VC Gallery has been approved by county planners.

In an application before Pembrokeshire County Council, veterans’ charity The VC Gallery sought permission for eight flats in two blocks of two-storey buildings, including wheelchair accessible flats, for Armed Forces veterans on land to the east of the former St Marys Catholic School site, Britannia Road, Pembroke Dock.

The former school, which closed in 2019, is currently used as the VC Gallery, itself an expansion of veterans’ charity the VC Gallery’s home in Haverfordwest, set up by Barry John MBE.

Documentation, through agent Pembroke Design Limited included a supporting statement by Barry John MBE, which it says “explains the issues that veterans face after leaving the services, the need for dedicated housing provision, the support that VC Gallery’s staff and volunteers provide and the gaps in current provision which the proposed development will help address”.

It added: “Although the development will provide and encourage independent living for its tenants, essential physical and mental support will be provided by the staff and volunteers in the VC Gallery as required, in accordance with individual veterans’ needs. Many will need a high level of support and the close proximity of the flats to the facilities and people on hand in the adjacent VC Gallery is therefore critical to the proposal’s purpose.”

Mr John’s statement said: “We want to create a unique offer to Armed Forces veterans in Pembrokeshire by offering up not just quality accommodation in a gated and safe environment but to also have a bespoke peer mentoring service.”

He added: “Working alongside our stakeholders The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the OVA (Office of Veterans Affairs) we have secured a grant to draw up plans and to look at how the secured land at the VC Gallery Pembroke Dock can be turned into a bespoke housing solution for Armed Forces Veterans.

“We have Service level agreements with the local authority for specifically supporting tenancy in veterans which will also extend to giving vital counselling services. Our work with the health board and provision for peer mentorship also gives us great grounding for effective help on a practical level for the veterans’ village but we will need a more designated package around the housing we provide to include both mental health and also maintenance (something we don’t have at present).”

His statement finished: “We think the need is great, we have the land, we have the skills for care and the ambition to help. It would be a project above all social housing enterprises, and we want to make a go of it.”

Politics

Call to stop councillors being employed by MPs and MSs

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to stop senior Pembrokeshire county councillors being employed by MPs or Senedd members is to come under greater scrutiny at a special council committee.

In a Notice of Motion submitted to the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy said: “While it is acceptable for Cabinet members to hold other employments, no serving county councillor should hold a Cabinet position within Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) while simultaneously being employed by a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of the Senedd (MS).

“Cabinet members hold executive responsibilities, and such dual roles risk potential conflicts of interest, particularly if Cabinet decisions conflict with the policies of their employer, often a political party. This concern is heightened in a council where most members are Independents.”

Cllr Murphy’s notice of motion was heard at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council where it was agreed the matter be referred to a future constitutional review committee.

In the registration of interests for the eight members of Leader Cllr Jon Harvey’s Cabinet, only Cllr Joshua Beynon, deputy leader of the Labour Group and Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies, lists a politician as an employer, in his case newly-elected Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell.

Responding to the notice of motion, Cllr Beynon has previously said: “This motion, which appears to target my unique position as a Cabinet Member for Finance and part-time parliamentary employee, raises serious questions about its fairness, legality, and intent.

“At its core, this is a politically motivated motion that seeks to undermine the principles of fairness and freedom. It attempts to dictate lawful employment choices of councillors, disregarding the importance of balancing public service with individual rights. Such an approach risks creating a chilling effect, discouraging capable individuals from serving in public office in the future.”