As a contribution to global efforts to prevent climate change running out of control, the United Kingdom should plan for a reduction of 60% over the next 50 years in the amounts of carbon dioxide it produces by burning fossil fuels. This is one of the key conclusions of a major report published in June by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. The report - 'Energy- The Changing Climate' - explores what that will mean for industry and ordinary households, and how government policies need to change.

The primary purpose of the report is to look much further ahead than the UK's draft Climate Change Programme. The Commission highlights the difficulties there will be in maintaining a 20% reduction beyond 2010, let alone making much larger reductions. It emphasises the need to start now on making reduction of carbon dioxide emissions a key factor in the planning and design of power stations and buildings of all types, many of which will still be in use in 2050. Ways have to be found of achieving sustainable solutions within liberalised energy markets, in which the emphasis has so far been on minimising price per unit in order to maximise sales of energy.

To show the scale of the changes required to achieve a 60% reduction in UK carbon dioxide emissions, the Commission describes four scenarios for 2050 representing various combinations of approaches. It emphasises that these scenarios are illustrative but all of them involve a reversal of the previous trend of growing energy use, and in three of them the total amount of energy used would have to be much less than today.

Energy - the changing climate is available from the Stationery Office (Cm 4749 , price £27.00), or the full text of the report can be downloaded free of charge from the Commission's website - www.rcep.org.uk A free summary of the report is also available on the website and up to 10 copies of the printed version can be obtained without charge from Rosemary Ferguson (tel: 020 7273 6637, fax: 020 7273 6640, e-mail: rosemary.ferguson@rcep.org.uk) CPRW has a library copy of the report which is available on restricted time loan.

Tough statutory targets for recycling; developing new markets for recycled waste; turning public sector purchasing green; giving more producers responsibility for recycling of used products; and enlisting householders in the drive to recycle and compost more waste will hopefully improve the UK's record of having one of the worst recycling rates in Europe. This was the message from Environment Minister, Michael Meacher when he published the Waste Strategy for England and Wales in May. He announced that more re-use and recycling schemes would be eligible for support from the proceeds of the landfill tax credit scheme. Under the Waste Strategy, the aim is that local authorities will recycle 17% of their waste by 2003, almost double the current amount, and by 2015 at least 33%. The targets will be reviewed and made even tougher if technology improves. The UK is also committed to cutting landfill of biodegradable waste by around 6% by 2020.

Part 1 (price £10) sets out the vision of sustainable waste management and offers a strategic overview of waste policy. Part 2 (price £20) provides further data on the nature and quantity of waste production; provides detailed background to the policies in Part 1, describes progress made since the last waste strategy in 1995, sets out arrangements for a number of waste streams and describes the existing facilities for managing waste in England and Wales.

Waste Strategy 2000 - England and Wales can be obtained from The Stationery Office or can be viewed at www.environment.detr.gov.uk/wastestrategy .

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status has long been considered the Cinderella of countryside designation when compared to the protection offered to National Parks. However, Government proposals, announced in June, could change all that.

Government amendments to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill currently before Parliament will:

• strengthen the conservation and management of AsONBs, in partnership with local authorities;
• provide an option to create statutory AONB Conservation Boards, when there is sufficient local support; and
• require the adoption of a Management Plan for each AONB.

The long awaited Technical Advice Note (Wales) 6 - 'Agriculture and Rural Development' was issued in June. This cancels the previous TAN(W)6 - 'Development Involving Agricultural Land and Annexes B - F and the Appendix to PPG 7 'The Countryside and the Rural Economy'.

The new TAN(W)6 is subdivided into several sections including:

• General agricultural considerations
• Re-use/adaption of rural buildings
• Farm diversification development
• Planning permission requirements (and Permitted Development rights) connected with agricultural development
• New dwellings for agricultural occupation
• Horses and planning.

There are a number of new approaches in the advice which include:

• Conversion of buildings - the previous policies on conversion related to redundant buildings in the countryside.
• Agricultural diversification - small farm based operations such as timber and food processing are mentioned as deserving of support.
• Agricultural dwellings - for the first time, the TAN recognises that the granting of planning permission for a new dwelling for a farmworker is a concession which should not be abused. Local authorities should scrutinise applications with the aim of detecting attempts to abuse the concession.
• Keeping of horses - the TAN explains that the definition of agriculture includes "the breeding and keeping of livestock". Land can be used for the grazing of horses if horses are turned on it with a view to feeding them from it but not if they are kept for recreation or exercise.

Copies of the new TAN(W)6 will be sent to all those listed as holding the Planning Advice files.

At its meeting in June, CPRW's Council agreed its new 2000 policy on Land-Based Wind Installations. This will now become the Annex A to its overall policy on Renewable Energy Installations. Copies of the new policy will be sent to all Branch Secretaries. A copy of the complete policy will be sent to others, on request.

The draft of a new Information Leaflet - Wind Turbine Development (General) was also distributed at the Council meeting. This is the fourth in a series of information leaflets which we will be producing on a variety of topics. These will be ready at the Royal Welsh Show and will be distributed after that event.

Also available is the summary of a talk originally given by CPRW's Director, Merfyn Williams, to the Conwy Valley Civic Society in May. It has been updated since then and is illustrated with tabulations supplied by our retained consultant, Geoff Sinclair. Copies are available, on request.

The Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) reports that two Conservative MPs, David Maclean and Eric Forth, have tabled 58 amendments to the Warm Homes Bill which, unless they are withdrawn before the next debate on 21st July closes, will block it from becoming law. This is despite the fact that the Bill is now supported by over 500 MPs and that these very two MPs were invited onto the Committee to consider it.

ACE suggest that people might write to the Conservative Associations responsible for selecting these two MPs (addresses available on request) with copies being sent to Rt. Hon. William Hague. They feel that without concerted action, not least from their own Party, the minority view of these two MPs will wreck the Bill.

Our Anglesey Branch report a case of a caravan being replaced by what looks like a chalet and recently a bungalow (complete with porch, veranda, chimney and window boxes) passed the CPRW office window being carried by a caravan transporter.

Apparently, these structures comply with the definitions of a caravan within the legislation but we would be interested to hear from any readers who have noticed this growing phenomenon. Photographs would also be greatly appreciated.

The Woodland Trust accepts that they cannot just buy any woods that come under threat from proposed development and that they must get more involved in the planning system. They invite CPRW branches, members and others to let them know of any threats to ancient woodlands. Contact Rory Francis on 01690 760159.

BBC2 recently screened a programme 'This Land Under Siege' which followed the successful campaign to prevent the Theme Park being built in open countryside near Newport. CPRW members figure prominently in the programme. We have a video recording of the programme, available on loan.

Each year the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust offers opportunities for British citizens to travel overseas to undertake study projects related to their trade, profession or particular interest. Thus, they widen their experience, make contacts and bring back knowledge to the benefit of their work and community. If awarded a Fellowship, a grant to cover expenses, return air fare, daily living, travel expenses within the countries will be paid.

This year the categories include:

• Projects in Australia - any personal or professional field of interest or endeavour
• Farmers, Farm Workers, Horticulturists, Foresters and others involved in the Rural Economy.
• Young People (under 25) - projects which encourage personal development as well as benefitting the community.
• Workers in Ecological Management (including Ecotourism) and Marine Conservation.

Application Forms available from:

Plantlife - the British wild plant conservation charity - have written to CPRW to say that they have a scripted slideshow presentation 'Talking Flowers' that explains the challenge of the task that Plantlife has and what is being done to meet that challenge. The presentation lasts about 45 - 60 minutes. They have a network of speakers who are willing to give the presentation to groups of people. Contact Plantlife if you would like further details or how to book the presentation.

Plant Life,
21 Elizabeth Street,
London SW1W 9RP
Tel 0207 808 0100 Fax 0207 730 8377 E-Mail: enquiries@plantlife.org.uk

BBC Radio Wales (93-104FM/882 & 657 MW) and the Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival invite you to help them find the glow-worms in Wales by joining the Great Millennium Glow-Worm Hunt. Further details from Head Office or contact the Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival on 01646 650110.

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

Please let them know if you will be attending in order that they may make the necessary seating arrangements and have an adequate supply of the papers.

A CPRW Study Conference 'Landscape and Agriculture - change and/or continuity?' is being held at Plas Tan y Bwlch in the Snowdonia National Park between 1st and 3rd September. The conference will have two main aims:

• To assess the effects of the changes now occuring in our countryside especially in the context of agriculture
• and to re-affirm the qualities of the Welsh landscape that CPRW wishes to protect.

Full details including an application form are available on this Web site

Nantgwyddon Landfill Site

The Welsh Assembly has decided to hold an independent investigation into the Nantgwyddon landfill site in the Rhondda which has plagued local residents with problems for many years.

Assembly Member, Geraint Davies, leading the debate for Plaid Cymru, told the Assembly of the noxious smells that emanated from the site. He said that flies of "Egyptian proportions" invaded loval people's houses and people living near the dump suffered from health problems.

CPRW drew attention the problems at the site in an article, written by Jill Evans (now an MEP) in the Autumn '98 issue of Rural Wales Magazine.

Environment Secretary, Sue Essex proposed an Assembly investigation rather than a public one as, she said, it would be better value for money. She estimated that a public investigation would cost between £3m and £5m.

Assembly Web Site

CPRW's new exhibition, featuring marvellous photographs of the Welsh landscape by Ivor Russell, will be featured at the CPRW stand in the countryside Care Area at the Royal Welsh Show (24th - 27th July). Do come along and visit our stand - find the otters and we will be close by.

The exhibition will then move on to the National Eisteddfod in Llanelli (5th - 12th August) inside the 'Llan a Lli' Pavillion (Y Babell Angylchedd).