News

No extra funding for National Marine Plan

Published

5 years ago

November 14, 2019

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT announced its new Welsh National Marine Plan on Tuesday, November 12. However, it will provide no extra resources to already over-stretched planning authorities to fund the extra workload imposed by it.
Councils and other planning authorities will be left to fund the Government’s grand vision from existing resources.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the Welsh National Marine Plan, Minister for the Environment Lesley Griffiths said the plan aims to ensure our seas are ‘abundant with life’ and can provide ‘clean, green, and safe energy’ for people across Wales for the next 20 years.
The Government hopes its plan will put Wales at the forefront of tackling climate change through renewable energy sources and help safeguard and manage important fishing stocks and aquaculture production. It claims harnessing natural assets will make a significant contribution to achieving the Welsh Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050, whilst also protecting marine ecosystems and minimising the impact on the environment as the seas get busier.
The plan contains policies targeted to the key uses of Welsh seas from fishing, to tourism and recreation, ports and shipping, undersea electronic cables and the collection of sand for use in construction. These policies aim to ensure the coastline and abundant ecosystems work alongside developments, rather than compete for marine space.
The Welsh National Marine Plan will work in tandem with the forthcoming National Development Framework, which is also a 20-year plan.
The Welsh Government claims that the two plans will ensure strategic planning for both land and sea.
The plan also develops closer relationships with neighbouring countries to ensure the sustainability of the seas around Wales, particularly on cross border areas like the Severn and Dee estuaries.
From Tuesday (Nov 12), planning decisions by local authorities and other relevant bodies with the potential to affect the Welsh Marine Plan Area will need to be taken in consideration of the Welsh National Marine Plan.
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “This is our first step in ensuring we utilise our seas to the best of their potential, without harming our marine and coastal environment.
“It’s important to point out this is a living, active plan, not a plan to be put on a shelf to gather dust and be forgotten.
“The far-reaching plan has been developed through extensive collaboration with those working in the marine sector and is a significant milestone in our ambitions for the sustainable management of our seas.
“This plan sends a clear message on how we are planning for a more prosperous and resilient Wales where our seas will be abundant with life, as well as providing us with clean, green, and safe energy that will enrich the lives of the people of Wales.”
Clare Trotman, the Marine Conservatory Society’s Policy and Advocacy Manager (Wales) said: “We welcome the first National Marine Plan for Wales. This marks a significant step in the management of Welsh waters, providing guidance to regulators and developers on how Welsh seas should be used over the next 20 years. The Marine Conservation Society has worked hard to ensure that this first plan recognises the need to protect wildlife and marine natural resources for future generations, and avoiding the growth of marine industry ‘at any cost’.
“The tough job now will be to ensure that the Plan is implemented and used by regulators and other marine users, and not left on a shelf to gather dust! Resource from the Welsh Government should, therefore, be provided to support understanding and use of the plan, as well as for monitoring and updating.”
The Herald asked the Welsh Government what extra resources it would provide to councils and other planning authorities to follow through on the policy’s aims and ensure local compliance with the demands of a policy made by the national government over such a long period.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have been working with local authorities and other decision-makers to ensure they are aware of developments within the Marine Plan and the implications this would have for them when the plan is adopted. The WNMP provides guidance to support existing regulatory processes and no additional funding is necessary to support implementation.”

News

Ruling against language campaigner over English-only parking notice

Published

6 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

6 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

6 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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, 10^th 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.

Pictured: Standing, left to right are: Will Bramble, Chief Executive; Cllr Thomas Tudor, former Chairman; Cllr David Simpson, former Leader. Seated front left to right are: Cllr Simon Hancock, Presiding Member; Cllr Jon Harvey, Leader; Cllr Steve Alderman, Chairman; Cllr Maureen Bowen, Vice Chair; Mrs Chris Simpson, wife of Cllr David Simpson.

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.