News

Adams: ‘We can move on from Bryn controversy’

Published

9 years ago

November 28, 2014

Jamie Adams:
There is life
after Bryn

THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD met with Independent Group leader Jamie Adams on Thursday (Oct 30). In an extensive interview with Herald Assistant Editor Jon Coles, the council Leader spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing Pembrokeshire and its council. The recurrent theme of the interview was the limit on what could be done in a time of long term uncertainty over the council’s future and the constraints placed on the council’s budget. Beginning with how he proposed to move on from the events of October 16, when following an impassioned debate councillors approved a six-figure settlement to be paid to their Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones, Councillor Adams said: “There has been a very different feel at County Hall the last few weeks. There has been a storm outside the Council the last few weeks, but there is a sense in itself that the Council is healing from within.

I have had more constructive and positive conversations with members of the opposition. In light of that, I am confident that the council can move on from the controversy involving the Chief Executive.” Looking at the question of the vacancy within his own Cabinet, Jamie Adams told us: “I made it clear when I appointed Alison Lee to Cabinet that I saw it as an opportunity to engage with the wider membership. I have two or three credible options to fill the vacant Cabinet post from both within and outside the Independent group.

I am quite relaxed about where that person comes from but I am determined to get the best person for the role.” The Herald then raised the sore point of the council’s response to the South Wales and West Wales Shoreline Management Plans and the future of Pembrokeshire’s coastal communities: “We are mindful that there are ongoing budget requirements within the council supported by the Welsh Government, but I am afraid funding is not following through. We do not have the capacity to deliver some of the solutions to deliver some of the solutions to protect those communities in peril from rising tides.

Acknowledging the challenge to the main link between Haverfordwest and Saint Davids, deemed unsustainable in even the short term, Cllr Adams said: “The A487 is going to be quite a challenge. We intended to use some of the coastline mitigation funds the council received after last winter’s storms towards resolving the infrastructure issue. But it took a long time to get it through the Welsh Government that this was an urgent requirement. We are going to need a wider consultation on the transport links to the Saint Davids Peninsula, as the current alternative route is proving too difficult for HGV’s and buses.

I am confident the Trunk Road Agency can help us. We have variable message signs on the A40 at Redstone Cross and if we can direct some of the HGV traffic from that point via Letterston then it might help us manage that process. But it is not a great solution, as once we put HGV’s on that road we encounter difficulties.” The problem with local government reorganization was also discussed, The Herald’s question was answered with one from Jamie Adams: “Will services cost less or will they improve?

If we cannot answer either one or both of thus positively, I do not see how we can justify change. I think that it is only the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay that supports Council mergers, the other parties reject it and I am aware of Labour MP’s who are sceptical.” On defending Pembrokeshire, Jamie Adams confirmed that his preferred outcome was no change to Pembrokeshire’s autonomy: “Pembrokeshire is distinct. The brand is strong and synonymous with being a brand of quality. You cannot day the same of other counties.

Pembrokeshire has particular qualities and a defined status that other counties do not.” Jamie Adams revealed that the ongoing public consultations about future services had given members of the Cabinet an insight into the issues that concerned the Pembrokeshire public: “I have to confess that I took part in one on Thursday (Oct 16) (the evening of the vote on Bryn Parry-Jones’ settlement) which was particularly challenging. It has been interesting that the matters which councillors think are important to the public are not always those that people find important.

There are occasions that there have been more robust exchanges between two members of the public with opposing views than there have been between my Cabinet colleagues and the same members of the public. “By and large what has come across clearly are concerns about senior officers’ pay and councillors’ remuneration. There is a commitment to look at the whole cost of senior management. “In terms of where we go, the opportunities to trim around the edges is no longer there, we are going to have to look more dispassionately at the services we provide and what communities can provide” The full interview can be seen online at pembrokeshireherald.com

Farming

Animal health and welfare workshops help family farm shape future business

Published

13 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AN eagerness to learn new skills and knowledge is helping mother and son Dianna and Iestyn Spary to continually improve their livestock farming enterprise and build a financially sustainable business fit for the future.

Technical expertise and good business sense are not qualities the Sparys lack since embarking on an impressive number of Farming Connect workshops, covering a range of animal health and welfare topics.

“It’s been an amazing opportunity, we have learned so much that we can apply within the day to day running of our farm and herd, and we can draw on that knowledge as we look at developing new enterprises and diversifications,’’ says Dianna.

She is the fifth generation of her family to farm at Goytre Farm at New Church West, Chepstow, Iestyn the sixth.

Together they farm 110 hectares, running a Hereford-cross beef suckler herd and also rearing beef cattle purchased as baby calves, including more recently British Blues, taking these through to slaughter.

Although they have been immersed in agriculture all their lives, they recognise that it is an industry that is constantly changing as new research and ideas are rolled out and applied.

This is where the Farming Connect workshops have been so incredibly valuable, says Dianna.

“You are never too old to learn, things are changing all the time. If we hadn’t got involved in attending the workshops, we would never have known about some of those new ways of doing things.’’

From learning how to maximise suckler cow productivity and protecting youngstock health to understanding diseases such as Johne’s and bovine TB, the animal health and welfare training workshops have been “enormously valuable’’, she adds.

The pair have tapped into Farming Connect accredited training courses covering areas such as calf management, health and housing, body condition scoring and safe use of veterinary medicines.

“You name it we have done it,’’ says Dianna.

They were announced the winners of the 2023 Farming Connect Animal Health and Welfare Award at the Lantra Cymru Awards in January.

The knowledge gained through Farming Connect workshops and training has helped inform changes in the business.

“We now monitor cattle weights more closely and have introduced different ways of feeding,’’ Dianna explains.

“We have also been revamping all the cattle sheds and have a couple of new ones that will be going up.

“We’ve also invested in calf jackets and if there are any drops in weights, we are more responsive with feed intakes, little things like that.’’

Iestyn has also benefited from a number of sheep-related topics offered through the animal health workshops.

Through the Farming Connect Advisory Service, they have received specialist veterinary advice on their Herd Health Plan with a focus on incoming stock and biosecurity. They have also had guidance on soil health through the soil clinic.

The Sparys largely use traditional farming methods at Goytre Farm where they have several hay meadows.

All feed is produced on-farm. “By doing everything in-house we know exactly what we are feeding and that’s important to us,’’ says Dianna.

That distinctiveness, which sets them apart from some of the more mainstream farming systems, has given them the confidence to consider establishing a diversification into meat box sales, what Dianna describes as a ‘farm to fork’ approach.

Working with a local butcher who has an abattoir licence, they hope to do everything on-site, from slaughter through to hanging the carcass for 28 days, and then selling cuts direct to the consumer.

“We have also spoken to a chef who is going to produce some recipe cards for us to include in the boxes along with a bit of history of where the meat has come from,’’ says Dianna.

Another future project could be converting stone barns in the farmyard to holiday accommodation.

To help focus their minds on their plans, the Sparys will get guidance at a Farming Connect diversification surgery; they have also signed up for a ‘planning a diversification’ training course and will attend a ‘Dos and Don’ts of Diversification’ event in the coming weeks.

For Iestyn, another form of diversification, into agricultural contracting, has provided a secondary income stream.

His customer base is largely farms with smaller acreages with crops that require harvesting or spraying.

Farming Connect has helped with this process too as Iestyn has gained his Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides (PA1) and Safe Application of Pesticides Using Vehicle mounted Boom Sprayer Equipment (PA2).

He also offers field maintenance and fencing and works on a neighbouring farm during the lambing season.

This is where Farming Connect has again helped; through the animal health workshops, he has covered modules advising on the prevention of lambing losses and lameness, improving lamb performance post-weaning and parasite controls.

Dianna says the opportunities available through Farming Connect have really helped to drive the family farming business forward.

“We have a good relationship with our local Farming Connect development officer Lisa Powell, she has been brilliant in giving us advice on which courses and workshops are right for us and signing us up for those,’’ she says.

All your achievements, training and knowledge transfer activities are saved within your personal, online Storfa Sgiliau account, the unique, online professional development tool, available for you to view and download at any time from your BOSS (Business Online Support Service) account.

Education

Lib Dem leader meets student union after scrapping of teacher training

Published

17 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Tom Sinclair

Last week, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds visited Aberystwyth University to meet students following the announcement that the University will be scrapping their Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) program.

The announcement comes after the publication of an Estyn inspection report last year, which found that the institution had “been too slow” when it came to prioritising student support.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have now called for the University to produce and implement an action plan that will enable the reintroduction of this course at the earliest opportunity, as well as for the Uni to rectify any similar shortcomings in other training programs.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“Aberystwyth university has long been seen as a cornerstone of education here in Wales, and its role in shaping the future of Welsh-medium education is pivotal.

However, the decision by the Education Workforce Council to withdraw accreditation for their teacher training program now puts this at risk.

The report published by Estyn rightfully identified several flaws in the Uni’s approach to supporting student teachers, along with requiring the University to make significant improvement.

The decision of the EWC suggest that these improvements have not been made.

We are now calling on the University to get their act together, fix the shortcomings in this program and begin plans to reintroduce the course as soon as possible.

Commenting, a spokesperson for the Welsh Young Liberals said: “There was an overwhelming lack of support, especially for Disabled Students, which has been consistent since 2020.

Previous lecturers were always late, and assignments were marked late and inconsistently.

As a joint honours student my timetable is very erratic, and this has an adverse effect on my wellbeing.

This does not however, mean that the course should be cut, Aberystwyth university should be looking to improve the course and help deliver the next generation of teachers.”

Commenting, the Welsh Liberal Democrat PPC for Ceredigion Mark Williams said: “The reputation of Aberystwyth University as a well-respected centre of education is rightfully a source of pride for many residents here in Ceredigion.

This is why it is so dis-heartening to hear that the Uni have failed to take the recommendations in the 2023 Estyn report seriously, leading them into the embarrassing position of losing their accreditation which risks delivering a severe blow to the future of Welsh-medium education.

The lack of foresight from the Uni in this regard is deeply worrying and I hope that, for the sake of both the students and the wider community, they take all the steps needed to restart the course at the earliest opportunity.”