News

A course is to be offered in Narberth in September 2010 for anyone who may be interested in learning more about natural history or the environment. More details here .

Dr. Michael J. Isaac, Department of Adult Continuing Education, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea,

SA2 8PP, Tel. (+44) 01792 295337 Fax. (+44) 01792 295751

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PLAID CALL FOR POWER STATION JOBS BONANZA

Plaid Cymru in Pembrokeshire are calling for urgent action to be taken to ensure that the new Pembroke power station becomes the focus for an eco-friendly business park and takes all steps possible to minimise its environmental impact.

In a joint statement, Plaid’s candidates for the two Pembrokeshire seats, Nerys Evans and Rhys Sinnett, say that the argument should not be about if the power station should be allowed to run, but how the benefits to Pembrokeshire’s economy and environment can be maximised, if the right technology and strategy is put in place.

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire candidate Nerys Evans AM, said:

“Plaid Cymru does not oppose the building of the Pembroke power station. We welcome the jobs that will be created at the plant but we want to maximise ALL the benefits to the county from this development.

This is simply a matter of using the waste heat for the economic advantage of Pembrokeshire instead of just dumping it in the Haven, with scant regard for the environmental impact that will follow. The quantity of waste heat which will be generated is enormous, around two gigawatts and, frankly, it would be an economic and environmental tragedy to simply pour it into the sea.

“We are promised 100 new jobs from the power station. If RWE creates partnerships with a number of key business sectors, waste heat from the power station could help create a great many more jobs.”

Rhys Sinnett, Plaid candidate in Preseli Pembrokeshire said:

“Plaid members have been at the forefront in getting this issue addressed by the company. We are optimistic that with the right work at this stage we will have four times the employment that the power station alone would have provided and therefore four times the benefit to the county.

“Sectors like horticulture, wood chip and pellet drying, advanced anaerobic digestion and innovative fuels from biomass could all tap into the waste heat and be provided with a very cheap source of energy to run their facilities. These are just some options for using the hot water that will be produced by the power station.

“Now is the time for the County Council in partnership with RWE to really market to possible spin off opportunities for local green job creation alongside the power station site and ensure that we get the best for Pembrokeshire.”

"Plaid Cymru in Pembrokeshire will take this issue up urgently with the Minister for the Economy in the National Assembly to try to kick-start an effort to give Pembrokeshire an eco-jobs boost that is desperately needed.”

Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales. www.plaidcymru.org

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National Assembly for Wales - Sustainability Committee, Inquiry into Flooding in Wales: February 2010

The Sustainability Committee in the National Assembly for Wales, of which I am a member has today launched its report on flooding. Please find attached a copy of the report along with a speech I have given today for your information.

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of the report with me please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Angela Burns AM / AC, Welsh Conservative Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire/ Aelod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro, National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, Cardiff Bay / Bae Caerdydd, Cardiff / Caerdydd, ,CF99 1NA , www.angelaburnsam.com

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Transition Narberth Changing Times News Update Extract (full copy here) February 2010

At the recent open meeting 2 sub-groups were established; A Food Group and an Energy Group. A Hearts, Mind and Soul Group will hopefully have its first meeting very soon. Anyone wishing to be involved in these exciting initiatives please e-mail chrislawrence@cooptel.net

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The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Management Plan 2009 - 2013 is now available on the National Park Authority's website, at http://www.pcnpa.org.uk/website/default.asp?SID=1159&SkinID=5 (English) and http://www.pcnpa.org.uk/website/default.asp?SID=1165&LangID=2 (Welsh).

The document is currently with the publisher; in the interests of conservation and efficiency we intend only a limited print run, but please contact me if you need a hardcopy.

Michel Regelous, Management Plan Officer/Swyddog y Cynllun Rheoli Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority/Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro , Llanion Park/Parc Llanion , Pembroke Dock/Doc Penfro , Pembrokeshire/Sir Benfro , SA72 6DY , 01646 624827 www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk / www.arfordirpenfro.org.uk

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Transition Bro Gwaun’ is a community initiative promoting local economic and social resilience in response to the global challenges of resource depletion and climate change. NEWSLETTER No 23 can be viewed here .

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Cwm Arian Renewable Energy Project has released a Press release about a funding grant of £500,000.

With all the tremendous community and voluntary work in the area around Hermon, Glogue and Llanfyrnach they have clinched an important grant pot called Low Carbon Communities Funding. See the Press Release here

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Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth (FoE) have issued a list of their forthcoming events and this can be read here

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The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has just published it’s January 2010 Funding Newsletter and it can seen here .

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Local Environmental Quality Projects Bidding Documentation 2010-11 Please find the documentation for WAG Local Environmental Quality Project Funding. (Invitation Email, Guidance Notes , Application Form, LEQ Bidding Document, Project Summary). Please note that all applications will need to be in by 5th March 2010.

Michael Delahunty, Policy Officer/ Swyddog Polisi .Phone/Ffon 029 2043 1746 . Fax/ Ffacs 029 2043 1706

mdelahunty@wcva.org.uk www.wcva.org.uk

The Environment Partnership of Carmenthenshire has secured the Cynnal Cymru / Sustainable Wales – ‘Green List’ Exhibition for Carmarthenshire during the month of March. The exhibition is a collection of photo case studies depicting individuals and projects on the Welsh Green List 2009. All the projects are based in Wales and promote sustainability in some way and range from businesses to community groups to charities. The exhibition has recently returned from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC, promoting sustainable projects from Wales. Basically, the exhibition will consist of 21 framed A2 photos with an A4 supporting document and a video and audio description of some of the projects.

If you would like to host the exhibition for an event you may be organising during March then please let me know urgently. I am programming the calendar for the month currently and dates are filling up fast.

Owen Jones , Coordinator / Cydlynydd Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership

Tel .01267 245552 Mob. 07976507017

http://www.thecarmarthenshirepartnership.org.uk/environment

http://www.partneriaethsirgaerfyrddin.org.uk/amgylchedd

Community Scale Renewable Energy Generation Programme. If you are interested in this and would like to have any more information other than that in the CSREG update, or the programme website , please do not hesitate to contact the programme team on this email address. Also here is the Expression of Interest Form which you need to submit if you would like to apply to the Programme.

Steve Arnold, Assistant Programme Manager, Energy Saving Trust/Ymddiriedolaeth Arbed Ynni

Tel/Ffon: 029 2047 5960, Fax/Ffacs: 029 2046 8341,

Steve.Arnold@est.org.uk http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

1 Caspian Point/1 Pentir Caspian, Caspian Way/Ffordd Caspian, Cardiff Bay/Bae Caerdydd, Cardiff/Caerdydd
CF10 4DQ

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Pembroke Power Station Environmental Permit Application You may be interested in the Environmental Permit application for the RWE Pembroke Power Station, or be contacted by other interested parties. We are expecting to receive an application in the near future. The attached letter and the two FAQ documents English and Welsh (plus our Permit Fact Sheets English and Welsh ) explain how our decision making process works, and how you and other organisations and members of the public can get involved.

If you have any queries not addressed in the attached documents please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Roland Long, Team Leader Environment Management Pembrokeshire

01437 783060 roland.long@environment-agency.wales.gov.uk
P Keep energy use lower by wearing more layers this winter, rather than turning up the heating

P Defnyddiwch llai o ynni y gaeaf yma trwy wisgo rhagor, yn hytrach na gwresogi rhagor

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Sue Leonard of PAVS brought these attachments to our attention – as she feels progress is being made in terms of off-shore wind farms, by the sound of it. This fits very well with the commitment made by the Spatial Planning group to progress Marine Renewable Energy as a key theme. Documents can be read here for R3 Final document , Roger Bright’s Round 3 speech , and the Bristol Channel Zone .

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Transition Narberth have published their latest newsletter that can be read here .

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The Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) domestic grants scheme will end as of 31st March 2010 for applications for small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems, but anyone claiming the £2,500 grant before then will ALSO be fully eligible for the proposed feed-in tariff as of 1st April 2010, but time is running out and funds may become exhausted before that date. Details here .

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The CPRW have released a Press Release and Statement sent to WAG about the possible loss of prime agricultural land under the LDP currently being developed by the PCC and NPA. Read the Press Release here and the statement here .

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A Press release on the appeal heard on 11th November 09 on the Coedwig Blaen Llwydiarth project in Pembrokeshire. Details can be read here .

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The Prince of Wales RainForest Project has updated it’s reports and can be viewed here http://www.rainforestsos.org/content/home/

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Pembrokeshire County Council have issued this

Joint Supplementary Planning Guidance on Planning Obligations & the Pembrokeshire Affordable Housing Delivery Statement The guidance and statement can be read here.

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Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru gives qualified support to One Planet Development as part of response to TAN 6. Their response can be seen here.

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The Haverfordwest Going Plastic Bag Free group needs a treasurer! Can anyone help out with some spare time and a willingness to input numbers into excel?

Please contact Sally on 07766 213606.

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Ippr eNewsletter- recent recepients of the Green Think Tank Award 2009. See it here

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Natur Cymru’s £500 Writing Challenge Inspired by Nature

The challenge is to write a thousand word article on a subject of topical environmental or wildlife interest in Wales which inspires you. The winner will receive a prize of £500 donated by WWF Cymru and the first four runners up will receive a subscription to Natur Cymru.

Natur Cymru is the quarterly magazine dedicated to the environment and wildlife of Wales. The purpose of the competition is to stimulate debate and encourage contributions from anyone with a passion for our natural world in Wales. Articles will be judged by a panel which will be looking for:

· Originality of content

· Use of plain language (Welsh or English)

· Balanced presentation of argument

· The degree to which the article engages with the reader and captures the imagination

In writing the article entrants should be targeting an audience that is interested in wildlife and the environment but not necessarily an expert.

The competition is open to anyone apart from staff on Natur Cymru. Articles, along with illustrations (if any), are to be submitted by email to info@naturcymru.org.uk by 31st March, 2010. The winning article will be published in the Summer edition of Natur Cymru. If you have any questions about the competition please send an e-mail to: huw.naturcymru@btinternet.com Poster can viewed here

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The Proposed Badger Cull - information is available about the responses so far to this WAG action.

Proposal on Animal Health . Badger Watch & Rescue letter to AM’s.

Badger Watch response to WAG Consultation . Tony Edwards letter on cattle movement.

If you agree with all these then please sign the RSPCA's petition to protect the welfare of badgers at http://www.backoffbadgers.org.uk/

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nfpSynergy How charities can build awareness online, a free report on the Code of Good Governance, a governance survey, a Gift Aid petition, and the eternal question; what do fundraisers want? It's all in our latest e-Insight bulletin here

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FITS Consultation

The summary document as submitted to DECC is now on the website at the following location.

http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/en/renewableenergy/reprojects/fitworkshop

It is also posted in the forum. http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/en/forum

You need to register if you wish to add anything or comment on posts.

Jake Hollyfield, EcoCentre

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Dear All / Annwyl Bawb

Please find WCVA's members' e-briefing attached English here and Welsh here. Ffeindiwch e-hysbys aelodau WCVA yn atodedig os gwelwch yn dda.

Diane Roberts

Senior Information Adviser/Uwch Ymgynghorydd Gwybodaeth

WCVA help/Cymorth WCVA

Helpdesk/Lein gymorth 0800 2888 329

Tel/ffôn 01970 631124 Fax/ffacs 01970 631121 Minicom 0808 1804080

droberts@wcva.org.uk www.wcva.org.uk www.volunteering-wales.net

www.sustainablefundingcymru.org.uk

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Please see attached letter from Stephen Crabb MP supporting the 11:10 campaign details here

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Permitted Development Rights for Domestic Micro-generation

Dear All, Just a brief note to advise that I have (at last) got around to studying in detail the new WAG legislation just promulgated at the start of this month (Sept) by Jane Davidson re the introduction of new permitted development rights in Wales for the installation, alteration or replacement of certain domestic scale micro-generation equipment, incld. both roof and wall mounted and stand-alone PV and thermal solar panel installations, as well as for CH or bio-mass installation furnace flues and for ground and water sources heat pumps.

Robbie Manson. NAEG

Permitted Micro generation and The Town and Country Regs

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Hi all,

As you probably know The Welsh assembly Government is hoping to exterminate badgers over a wide area of Pembrokeshire, against current scientific advice. Whether badgers are implicated or not, a perfectly satisfactory alternative solution, 'Vaccination' will be available, at the same time as the cull of badgers will probably commence, May 2010. Vaccination will take badgers out of the bTB equation once and for all. The Welsh Assembly Government has been warned by top government scientists that culling badgers could make bovine TB worse.

Please find attached the 'Pembrokeshire Against the Cull' posters (PAC). Please join the PAC and support the campaign. These Posters can be printed out by any office/ home printer or forwarded to other groups/people electronically.

Yours sincerely, Geoffrey Laurens

A4 and A3 posters here.

Badger Cull Press Release The Assembly Government has agreed to a cull of Badgers in North Pembrokeshire -

for details see here

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Here is a letter and information on Low Carbon Communities Challenge from Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability & Housing, Welsh Assembly Government.

English version and Welsh version.

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Here is a Transport Consultation from WAG led by Ieaun Wyn Jones. Link below.

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/transport/ntp/?lang=en

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Dear All

Following our recent discussion re National Parks attitude to small and medium scale renewable energy installations in the Park, especially wrt wind turbines, I thought you might be interested to read the clutch of decisions handed down recently by the Planning Inspectorate in three cases where the Parks had refused permission for small domestic scale turbines in the Park.

In two of them two different the Inspectors have over-turned that decision and allowed the appeal. However, in a third case where the site was prominently above Sandy Haven, the same Inspector dismissed the appeal.

Appeals allowed are both for 1.8 kW turbines at Spring Hill, The Ridgeway, Manorbier and Blaen Cleddau, Mynachlogddu respectively decided on 13/08 and 11/08 by Inspectors Gwyn Thomas and Clive Nield , where as Insp. Nield dismissed the Sandy Haven appeal also on the 11/08.

Details including grounds appear at the end of the attached Report on Enforcement Matters due to be considered by next week's Development Management Cmmttee of the PCNPA.

Robbie Manson. Pdf report cna be seen here

10:10 Campaign

Everyone's looking for something to do about climate change. What’s needed is something straightforward, immediate and meaningful. I think I've found it.

Today I joined thousands of individuals and organisations from across the country to unite behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in carbon emissions during 2010. It’s called 10:10, and everyone can be a part of it. (TENP has joined the campaign as of 2/9/09)

Cutting 10% in one year is a bold target, but for most of us it’s an achievable one, and is in line with what scientists say we need right now. By signing up to 10:10 we’re not just promising to reduce our own emissions – we’re becoming part of a national drive to hit this ambitious goal country-wide. In our homes, in our workplaces, our schools and our hospitals, our galleries and football clubs and universities, we’ll be backing each other up as we take the first steps on the road to becoming a low-carbon society.

To find out more and sign up go to www.1010uk.org To read coverage of the campaign from the Guardian go to www.guardian.co.uk/10-10

Richard Barnett

FIT for Purpose Conference Report

I have compiled all the reports and videos etc. for the conference.If you were at the Conference or have an I

nterest in the subject please visit this link

http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/fit-for-purpose-conference-report.html

The video files are very large and unfortunately I cannot

keep them on the server for ever, so if you think you will

want a visual record of the event please download the files

if you can.

Jake Hollyfield, Eco Centre.

WAG. Climate change strategy - Programme of

action consultation

To read the Welsh Assembly Government document

please click on this pdf file climate change strategy .

"Towards Zero Waste"

Please participate in our online consultation for the new

draft Waste Strategy for Wales - "Towards Zero Waste".

This can be found at http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/

environmentandcountryside/wastestrategy/.

Consultation is an integral part of the process of

developing the new draft Waste Strategy as is our

opportunity to hear your views on our proposals. We

look forward to receiving your comments.

Kate Reed, Waste Strategy Review Branch , Welsh

Assembly Government

Tel: 02920 466115, Email: kate.reed@environment-agency.wales.gov.uk

The Welsh Assembly Governments new

eBusiness programme

The Mid and West Wales Chamber has a new team of ebusiness Consultants that can provide advice and

support under the Welsh Assembly Governments new ebusiness programme. There are a number of ways in

which your business can benefit from the initiatives on

offer.

The online Business IT Guide gives straightforward information about how to profit from using technology.

The guide directs you to business focused answers in

the form of FAQs, best practices, articles and case studies. To access this free guide visit

www.business-support-wales.gov.uk/bitg .

You can get support from an independent and impartial consultant to undertake an ICT diagnostic or business

health check. At the end of the process, you will be

equipped with a report outlining potential solutions and opportunities to drive your business forward.

Businesses that need to extensively integrate new or improved ICT systems can draw upon eBusiness

Support; Your dedicated Welsh Assembly Government Project Manager and independent impartial consultant

work together to bring a package of support specific to

the businesses requirements.

Funding is available to qualifying businesses. Eligibility

for the programme is subject to Welsh Assembly

Government criteria and their approval.

If you would like to discuss the programme further, please contact: Catherine Pottinger, eBusiness Project Manager

on 01554 779910 ext. 49

or email: ebusiness@mwwc.org.uk .

Alternatively you can contact the Welsh Assembly Governments FS4B Contact Centre 03000 6 03000

or visit www.business-support-wales.gov.uk

Daniel Rodger,The Business Centre, Stebonheath Terrace, Llanelli,

SA15 1NE, Email: drodger@mwwc.org.uk

The Welsh Assembly Government launches a revised Sustainable Development Scheme Rhodri Morgan a

nd Jane Davidson launched the Assembly’s updated Sustainable Development Scheme, One Wales: One Planet on 22 May 2009 at the Hay Festival.

The revised Scheme sets out WAG’s new vision of a sustainable Wales and their future priorities for sustainable development. A copy of this new document is available at

http://cymru.gov.uk/topics/sustainabledevelopment/

publications/onewalesoneplanet/;jsessionid=L6ryKd

RNG54z2g4VYG5BnXhcLTLz2LCP5mJ0KGw7qrywyc

Mvq1T9!-845036832?lang=en

The Pembrokeshire Biodiversity Partnership

newsletter from the Pembrokeshire County Council’s Biodiversity Partnership is attached here . It includes lots

of useful information and also a large programme of

activities and talks- please read it.

The link below gives a very useful and interesting recording

of an Institute of Public Policy Research Climate Change Network meeting. Please click here .

Welsh Council for Voluntary Action has released a document advising groups and organisations on where

to go to get help on preparing for Climate Change.