Politics

KIP-Con coalition not ruled out

Published

9 years ago

March 14, 2016

THE LEADER of the Welsh Conservatives has failed to rule out a potential deal with UKIP as part of a ‘rainbow coalition’ following the Welsh Assembly elections in May – after publicly calling for Plaid Cymru to confirm that they would not enter a coalition with Labour.

At the UKIP conference in Llandudno, both party leader Nigel Farage and Welsh leader Nathan Gill expressed hopes that UKIP AMs could work with other parties.

Mr Gill said: “We welcome the opportunity of doing what’s right for Wales and if that was the right decision, if we could really between us work it out, work as a cohesive group of three parties or two parties – and actually really believe that we can improve the lot of the people of Wales then of course we’d do it because we are about making the lives of our fellow citizens better.”

Whether or not Labour or Plaid Cymru would work with UKIP is debatable, especially as both parties are campaigning for the Assembly elections on a pro-EU membership basis. It is unlikely that what the Conservatives repeatedly refer to as ‘Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party’ would do business with UKIP, and would probably form a minority government – as they did this term – instead.

Having ruled out a coalition with the Welsh Conservatives, it would be surprising if Leanne Wood considered entering a ‘rainbow coalition’ with UKIP. The party suffered a loss of popularity after the 2007 coalition, and it is assumed that the fallout from a UKIP coalition would be at least as damaging.

Which leaves the Welsh Conservatives. Nathan Gill praised Andrew RT Davies for his stance on the EU, saying that the Welsh Conservatives’ leader was ‘very brave and patriotic in what he has done’.

Mr Farage went even further. In a speech at the party conference, he said that UKIP would be going into the assembly with ‘a constructive mentality’: “If we can work with other people and that delivers better results that’s good.”

“The fact that Davies has taken the stance that he has taken, probably long-term makes it easier to work with them. We will be entirely pragmatic.”

When questioned by the national media, Mr Davies was somewhat unwilling to discuss post-election deals. However, he added that he ‘regretted’ other parties (read Plaid Cymru) had not ruled out any deal with Labour.

“I think the one thing that unifies all parties that aren’t in Government here in Wales in the Assembly is that Labour is the problem,” he added.

A deal with UKIP could be problematic should any senior members, especially Mark Reckless, watch Mr Davies’ speech to the Conservative Party conference last year, in which he emphatically stated that UKIP was ‘not the answer.’

In this speech, Mr Davies reserved much of his ire for strategy director Mr Reckless: “When the good citizens of Rochester and Stroud gave Mark Reckless the boot in May, they saddled him to us – he has come now to be a candidate in next year’s Assembly elections,” he said.

“He is a part-time resident in Caerphilly, for goodness sake!

“I have to say, as you go out, there will be collection buckets at the door, so that you can give generously so that we can boot him back over to you, and you can do with him what you will!”

Last year, Mr Davies challenged Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood to rule out entering a coalition with Welsh Labour, and accused her of hypocrisy when she failed to do so.

The Herald asked Mr Davies if he could indicate whether or not he would be prepared to enter into a coalition with UKIP, bearing in mind their similar views on EU membership. We also asked if Mr Davies still stood by the remarks made in his conference speech. At the time of going to press – three days later – we had received no reply, and a voicemail message left with the senior press officer went similarly unanswered.

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Business

Call to end ‘fad’ of ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be heard next week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 will consider a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission reads: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cites examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission adds: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

The submission will be considered by committee members at the November 28 meeting.