NEW polling suggests voters in Wales want stronger action on climate change, nature recovery, clean energy and pollution ahead of next month’s Senedd election.

Climate Cymru, a coalition of organisations, communities and campaigners, said the findings showed public concern remained high as Wales prepares to go to the polls on Thursday, May 7.

The polling, highlighted by Climate Cymru partners including Friends of the Earth Cymru, WWF Cymru and RSPB Cymru, found that six in ten people in Wales said they were worried about climate change.

Concern was even higher among younger people, with 78 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds saying they were worried.

The research also pointed to growing concern about the impact of climate change on daily life, including extreme weather, food insecurity, poverty and the wider economic consequences for communities across Wales.

Climate Cymru said the findings showed strong support for practical measures including warmer homes, home energy efficiency schemes, community-led renewable energy, and the expansion of solar and wind power.

The Friends of the Earth Cymru polling found that 81 per cent supported funding for home energy efficiency, 75 per cent backed community-led renewable energy, 83 per cent supported solar power, 72 per cent supported offshore wind, and 65 per cent supported onshore wind.

Nature recovery was also highlighted as a major public priority.

RSPB Cymru polling found that 74 per cent of people in Wales supported legal targets for nature recovery, while 76 per cent wanted governments to do more to tackle nature loss. A further 77 per cent said they wanted to see more wildlife thriving in local green spaces.

WWF polling found strong support for action on water pollution, with 87 per cent backing measures to tackle river pollution, 81 per cent supporting a target to halve freshwater pollution by 2030, and 79 per cent supporting the restoration of seagrass, saltmarsh and oyster reefs.

Climate Cymru said Wales had seen a 20 per cent decline in wildlife since 1994, with one in six species threatened with extinction nationally.

A Climate Cymru spokesperson said: “The message from the public is clear: people want political leaders to match the scale of the climate and nature crises with bold, practical policies that improve everyday life.”

The coalition is calling on all parties contesting the Senedd election to commit to clean energy, warmer homes, stronger legal protections for nature, urgent action on river pollution, and support for nature-friendly farming.

A CALL to change Pembrokeshire farmland to a garden and wildflower meadow has been given the go-ahead despite it falling under a condition restricting the loss of such agricultural land.

In an application recommended for approval at the April 21 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Peter Jones sought permission for a change of use from agricultural land to garden, vegetable growing area and wildflower meadow/grove at Old Furzton Cottage, Maidenwells, near Pembroke.

The application was before committee members rather than being decided by officers under delegated powers as it was contrary to a policy of the development plan but was being recommended for approval.

An officer report for committee members said: “The proposal is for the change of use of the land to enable the agricultural field to be used for domestic purposes in conjunction with the dwelling known as Old Furzton Cottage. The land subject to this application is located outside of the curtilage of Old Furzton Cottage.

“Justification has been provided with the application to explain that the occupiers of the dwelling have a desire for a larger garden area to provide additional space for growing of fruit, salad and vegetables, tree planting and wildflower planting.”

One potential sticking point was the proposed site, some 0.4ha of land, falling into a Grade 3a agricultural land classification, defined as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land, which has tight planning controls against its potential loss.

The report added: “The use of the land at present is for agricultural purposes including making of hay and grazing of livestock, as such the land is underused for agricultural purposes. The development subject to this application would enable some agricultural use to continue, with the production of food from the site.

“Further to this there would be a net benefit to green infrastructure and biodiversity on the site. For these reasons there is justification for the small loss of BMV land.”

At the meeting, committee chair Cllr Mark Carter read out a submission form the applicant, who was unable to attend the meeting, saying the land had been purchased from Pembrokeshire County Council with the intention of creating a low-intensity and environmentally sustainable form of development.

Local member Cllr Steve Alderman said his first concern had been the loss of the BMV land, but pointed out the proposal would offer “massive biodiversity increases,” moving approval.

Members unanimously backed approval of the scheme.

A CALL for a further time extension for the implementation of a waste recycling facility in north Pembrokeshire has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

In an application recommended for approval at the April 21 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Llew Rees of Gamallt ready mix concrete, through agent SLR Consulting Ltd, sought an extension of time, for the development of the facility on land adjoining Clunderwen Depot, Nevern Road, Glanrhyd, some 4km from Cardigan.

The application followed two previous successful time extension calls for the 2007-approved material recovery facility.

An officer report recommended approval, subject to a lengthy string of conditions including the scheme be commenced within 12 months of the decision date and no more than 24,999 tonnes of material be accepted.

“This section 73 application is to extend the commencement time limit for the previously approved Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) therefore the principle of the development has been previously considered, although some time ago in relation to the original permission.

“Whilst this is a section 73 application, because the commencement period has passed (as of March 22, 2025), granting this application would essentially give another opportunity for the proposal to be implemented.

“A refusal would mean that a new full planning application would be required as there is no longer an extant planning permission at the site. Therefore, whilst the consideration of section 73 applications is limited to those specific matters applied for, section 73 applications also need to consider the acceptability of the principle of the development as a new planning permission for the development would be issued, albeit with a one-year commencement of development timescale.”

It went on to say: “As confirmed in the original application, the Glanrhyd development is intended to focus on Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, suitable for the production of recycled aggregate, which would then be complementary to the applicant’s wider quarrying interests, and waste recycling aligned to the farming community in terms of the recycling of wood (for use as sawdust for animal bedding), composting of green waste, and recycling of tyres, none of which are catered for in the immediate local area.

“There are similar facilities to this, further afield in Pembrokeshire, but these are mostly south of Glanrhyd in Haverfordwest, Withybush and Milford Haven. However, the applicant highlights that these are some distance from the location of the proposed development and so would not be sustainable in terms of managing these waste arisings in the North Pembrokeshire area.”

It added: “The facility will make a positive contribution to the sustainable management of waste in Pembrokeshire and will help to drive the percentage of recycling up for the county.”

Moving approval, local member Cllr John T Davies said: “This proposal has been around with the county council nearly as long I have,” adding the details in the extensive report for members and the one-year extension was “reasonable”.

The application was conditionally approved.