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PARK SOCIETIES LOBBY WELSH ASSEMBLY

The Friends joined with the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia Societies together with the Campaign for National Parks (CNP) on July 6th 2010 to present our proposals to political parties in Wales . We are asking the political parties to include the proposals in their manifestos for the 2011 elections for the National Assembly for Wales. The  meeting was held at the Senedd at Cardiff Bay  in the presence of several Assembly Members and representatives from the National Park Authorities, Countryside Council for Wales, Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales , and other interested organisations. The Friends were represented by chairman, Graham Morgan, vice chairman, Peter Heard  and committee member, John Ratcliffe.
The meeting was chaired by Sara Edwards, a CNP vice-president.  Dr Norma Barry, CNP Head of Welsh affairs outlined the four main proposals:
1. To enable National Park Authorities to play their full part in promoting enjoyment of National Parks, statutory responsibilities for management and improvement of rights of way should be transferred to them along with the necessary resources.
2. Funding should be made available for projects to engage and involve people from under-represented groups in visiting and benefiting from National Parks.
3. In the context of the Making the Connections agenda and in order to  ensure coherent delivery of National Park Management plans, consideration should be given to Park Authorities  playing a key role in the management and delivery of the Glastir agri-environment scheme within their areas.
4. In the light  of the proposal contained in the Welsh Assembly Government’s Policy statement on National Parks and National Park Authorities, and the Making the Connections agenda, the management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves in National Parks should be transferred from the Countryside Council for Wales to National Park Authorities together with the necessary resources.
These proposals were supported by comments by Gareth Clubb, Director of Snowdonia Society . The formal proceedings were brought to a close with a characteristically wide ranging and vigorous overview of the Assembly Government’s aspirations for  National Parks in Wales by the Environment Minister, Jane Davidson AM. Although she will not be standing in the elections next year, she congratulated us on being the first lobbying group to have made a pitch for inclusion in the 2011 political manifestos. It remains to be seen whether the early bird catches the worm! 

Friends support undergrounding of Cables at Strumble Head

The Friends of Pembrokeshire National Park are  totally supportive of the National Park project to underground the power cables at Strumble Head so long as there are reassurances that the ground will be reinstated to  its original lay-out and condition.

We understand that Western Power agreed that its business plan for 2010-2015 will 'include a reasonable level of investment to undertake specific projects.' We strongly welcome this action and urge Western Power to embark on many more such projects in sensitive areas in the National Park.

Friends of the National Park urges Council to shelve Wear Point Wind Turbine application

In a letter to every member of the Planning Committee, the 500 strong association, ‘Friends of Pembrokeshire National Park’, points out the prematurity of the Wear Point Wind Turbine application when much more exciting and appropriate sources of renewable energy are being explored near St Davids.

Referring to the Tidal Energy project in Ramsey Sound, a spokesman for the Friends said: ‘ Tidal energy seems to be more efficient, cheaper to install and virtually invisible. The application for gigantic intrusive wind turbines at Wear Point at this stage is completely misplaced when there are sources of renewable energy under development which are more suitable for the County. The present application should be deferred until the outcome of such projects is known.’

Ends

Note to Editors:
1. The Friends of Pembrokeshire National Park is an independent voluntary association committed to help protect, conserve and enhance the National Park for all to enjoy. Further information is available from the bilingual website www.fpnp.org.uk
2. Queries about this press release should be directed to John Ratcliffe. Press Officer, FPNP, Tel. 01348 811 568.

Any information on this site is given in good faith, errors and omissions excepted, in the belief that it was accurate at the time it was first published. The Friends cannot accept any liability for any inconvenience or damage caused as a result.