Last year, in response to public concern about the possible health effects of mobile phone technology, the Government set up an independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones and Health to access existing research on transmissions from telecommunication masts and base stations. The report of the Group, The Stewart Report was subsequently published - and recommended, amongst other things, that full planning permission should be required for all new telecommunications masts. The National Assembly welcomed the Stewart report and has accepted many of its recommendations - in particular the precautionary approach with regards to health effects. A consultation paper has now been issued to seek views on proposals to amend certain planning legislation - a copy of which will be sent on request. Responses have to be received by the Assembly by 5th January 2001.

We would welcome the views of members, particularly with examples of good and bad practice.

As this Bulletin was being prepared, we heard that the CROW Bill passed through the House of Lords and is now heading back to the Commons for that House to consider the Lords' amendments. Given the Government's majority and with no defeats for the Government in the Lords, and with a guillotine motion in operation this should merely be a formality.

The Planning Guidance (Wales) Technical Advice Note (Wales) 20 The Welsh Language - Unitary Development Plans and Planning Control was published in the Summer.

As the Note says: "In some areas both the number of Welsh speakers and the use made of the language is increasing, but in other areas there is decline. The future well being of the language across the whole of Wales will depend on a wide range of factors, particularly education, demographic change, community activities and a sound economic base to maintain thriving sustainable communities. The land use planning system should also take account of the needs and interests of the Welsh language and in so doing can contribute to its well being."

The Note explains how this can be done. It has been sent to those holding the Planning Advice files and will be sent to others, on request.

We now receive, from the Planning Inspectorate, a weekly list of the appeals which have been lodged It is difficult to know how to disseminate this information to Branches, but if there is a particular application where an appeal is expected you can ask Head Office to check the weekly list. We are told that these lists will eventually be on the Planning Inspectorate's Web-Site.

The WTB endorsed the following revised policy in September.

"The Board opposes the introduction of commercial wind turbines and wind turbine power stations in both the primary designated areas and on natural sites that are clearly visible from the primary designated areas. We consider that elsewhere proposals should demonstrate that there will be no detrimental effect on tourism."

The Woodland Trust and the Ancient Tree Forum have teamed up to create a new web site dedicated to veteran trees. The site will be a mine of useful information for conservation experts and enthusiasts alike. Ancient trees harbour a unique array of species as well as having cultural and aesthetic value. The Acioent Tree Forum website can be visited at www.woodland-trust.org.uk/acncient-tree-forum

Flora Guardians are Plantlife volunteers who monitor rare plant populations in the field, take part in practical conservation workdays, or help to warden Plantlife reserves. The Flora Guardian Action Pack provides a host of information about volunteering with Plantlife, focusing on species monitoring work. It includes background botanical information as well as advice on health and safety and site access. If you are interested in becoming a Flora Guardian by helping Plantlife to keep track of rare plants on the ground, then call Tim Wilkins on 0207 808 0116.

• Guidelines on setting up a walking for health scheme
  
  
• Opportunities to learn from what others are doing
  
  
• Access to evidence about the health benefits of walking
  
  
• The latest findings on how to motivate people to walk
  
  
• Tips about useful techniques such as fitness testing and evaluation
  
  
• Training
  
  
• Grants to set up walking for health schemes (£300,000 is available)
  
  
• Accreditation for schemes
  
  

For an Information Pack or for further details contact John Arwel Watkins, CCW's Recreation and Access Policy Officer at Plas Penrhos, Ffoedd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ Te. 01248 385 686 E.Mail j.watkins@ccw.gov.uk

A new survey carried out by the Countryside Council for Wales reveals that walkers on the Offa's Dyke National Trail provide a significant boost to the rural communities along the way.

The survey found that long distance walkers spend an average of nearly £24 a day on accommodation, in local shops and on transport in the local area. Walkers completing the whole Trail take an average of 13 days - thus contributing around £300 each to the economy of the borders.

Almost two thirds of long distance walkers and a quarter of day walkers use local bed and breakfasts. Whilst the car is the most popular form of transport to get to and from the Path, 40% use a train at some point in their journey and 25% use local bus sarervices.

If you use your bicycle for journeys which qualify as business journeys, and your employer does not pay you an allowance, you can claim a deduction for allowable cycling costs. You can do this simply by claiming 12p a mile for each mile you travel on a business journey.

Alternatively, you can claim for your actual costs of cycling on business journeys, including a proportion of any repairs or replacement parts and capital allowances for some of the cost of the bicycle. To support a claim for actual costs, the Inland Revenue advise that you will need to keep receipts for all your expenses.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and the meetings are expected to last just over 2 hours. After the close of each meeting and following a short break, the Chairman, Chief Executive and Senior Officers will be available to answer questions on agenda items discussed.

Copies of the agenda are available a week before each scheduled meeting and can be obtained from CCW Head Office. Tel: 01248 385629 Fax:01248 385506 E-Mail: b.roberts@ccw.gov.uk You can request papers from selected agenda items in advance on condition that they are kept confidential until the meeting. Please let CCW know if you will be attending in order that they may make the necessary seating arrangements and have an adequate supply of the papers.

Contact with Assembly Members

There will be an agenda item on each CPRW Council meeting for a report to be given on the contact made between members and Branches and Assembly Members. Please report any contact made to Head Office.

Committee Changes

Following the recent re-shuffle, the membership of the Subject Committees has changed. Chair of the Environment, Planning and Transport Committee is Richard Edwards and the other members are John Griffiths, Tom Middlehurst, Karen Sinclair, Geraint Davies, Helen Mary Jones, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, David Davies and Mick Bates. Sue Esssex remains as the Assembly Secretary.

Membership of the other Subject Committees will be sent, on request.

Planning Decision Committees

The Standing Order which determines how the Assembly will determine:

• Appeals under Section 78 of the town and Country Planning Act 1990 (in those cases where the Assembly has recovered juristriction to determine the appeal from the appointed Inspector);
• Applications for planning permission which have been called in by the Assembly for decision under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
• Applications to confirm an Order made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 has been published.

These appeals or applications will be decided by a Planning Decision Committee elected for the purpose. The Committee will consist of four members of the Environment, Planning and Transport Committee who have completed a course of relevant training and who have agreed to be bound by the current Code of Conduct. The Standing Order sets out who will be excluded (local members, for example) and how the balance between the political parties will be achieved. A copy of the Standing Order will be sent, on request.

Assembly Web Site

Meetings in 2001

Meetings of the Executive Committee take place on the last Saturday in January, the 2nd Saturdays in May and September and the 1st Saturday in November.

Meetings of Council take place on the 2nd Sat, the 4th Saturday in June (same day as the AGM) and the 3rd Saturday in November.

Therefore the meeting dates for 2001 will be:

Elections to the Executive Committee

At the November meeting of Council, John Edwards was elected and Alun John Richards re-elected to the Executive Committee.

Following this election there are still two vacancies on the Executive Committee - one vacancy until November 2001 and one until November 2003. Elections to fill vacancies can be held at any Council meeting.

Candidates must be voting members of Council, a full list of which will be sent on request. Nominations should be received at Head Office 28 days in advance of the Council meeting and should include the name of the candidate, the proposer and seconder. It is the duty of the proposer to ensure that the candidate is willing to stand.

Membership of the Executive carries certain responsibilities as the members are the CPRW Charity Trustees. An explanatory leaflet will be sent to any member considering standing for election.

Position of Honorary Treasurer

Michael Skuse has indicated that he will be standing down as Honorary Treasurer at the June 2001 AGM. The search is therefore on for a replacement. Any member willing to consider standing for election to this position is welcome to telephone the Director for an informal chat.

2000 AGM

The minutes of the AGM held on 24th June 2000 have been prepared and will be sent, on request.

400 Club

CPRW's new Deputy Director and other staff changes

At the same meeting of Council, CPRW's Chairman Elizabeth Colwyn Foulkes was delighted to announce that Helen Sophia Mrowiec had been appointed to the new post of Deputy Director as from January 2001. It was particularly gratifying, she said, that at last CPRW had been able to enable one of its younger members of staff to progress their career within the organisation.

This promotion does however leave the position of Liaison Officer vacant and such is the value attached to this post within the development of CPRW that the Executive Committee endorsed the proposal to commit the organisation to enable it to advertise a further two year position. Details of this vacancy are enclosed.

Carys Matthews' role at Head Office has developed into that of Office Manager including the membership administration and financial reporting. This has left Jenny Smith, the Assistant Director, with more time to develop her work on information providing and managing the campaigns.

Copies of the new job descriptions will be sent to those holding the Branch Handbook.

Rural Wales Magazine

The Executive Committee decided at its November meeting that three editions of Rural Wales Magazine would be published in 2001.

Spring Edition: Copy Date:19.1.01 Inserts to be received by:23.2.01 Publication:5.3.01

Image Group

At the September meeting of the Executive Committee there was a lively discussion on 'Rural Wales Magazine' and the whole question of CPRW's image. There was some criticism of the magazine mainly related to the style and presentation. A panel, under the Chairmanship of the President, was established to look into all of CPRW's publications and how we present ourselves in general. Any comments would be welcomed by the Panel and should be forwarded through Head Office.

Branch Stationery

Several Branches have recently requested their own version of Branch stationery. At present, Head Office supplies a local printer with the 'Conservation Wove' paper which he overprints with the logo and name of the organisation. As branches request headed notepaper, he then overprints his supply with the name of the Branch and the name of the Chairman and name and address of the Secretary. Branches are only charged for the cost of this overprinting.

At this stage, we would like to keep this arrangement and therefore the corporate image of CPRW, including the bi-lingualism. But if any Branch has suggestions for improving the Branch stationery, we would be happy to pass the details on to the Image Group for their consideration.

Branch Committee Agendas and Minutes

A reminder please to let Head Office have copies of the Agendas and Minutes of the Branch Committees. It is important that members the Executive Committee (as the Charity Trustees) can see these at any time so that they are fully aware of the work of the whole organisation.

Could you REACH out to find new volunteers for your Branch Committee?

REACH is an organisation that finds voluntary jobs for experienced managers and professionals. The volunteers are usually retired, working full or part-time or taking a career break and now find that they have time to give. If your Branch currently needs a secretary, treasurer, planning secretary, membership secretary or press officer, REACH might be able to help fill the vacancy. For further information contact Helen at Head Office.

Christmas Quiz

What voluntary organisation is this? It's not CPRW but we can dream....

In 1995 they employed 20 staff and their income was £650,000. In July 2000 they employed 130 staff and their projected year-end income was £8 million.

A free year's membership of the CPRW 400 Club to the first correct answer received at CPRW Head Office.