Announcing the postponement of the March meeting of CPRW's national Council meeting, the Director, Merfyn Williams, said:

"As an organisation whose aim is to 'protect rural Wales' it would be totally irresponsible of us to draw together people from all parts of the country to discuss matters of interest that pale into insignificance in comparison to the Foot and Mouth crisis.

"Agriculture will never be the same again following this crisis and CPRW will be keen to re-think carefully the longer term ramifications to the industry. Unfortunately, this disease represents the worst aspects of the way the industry has been going over a number of years. The whole emphasis has been on production, and ever cheaper production, which has created high risk situations that exacerbate outbreaks of salmonella, BSE and now Foot and Mouth.

"In fact, this is as much an economic disease as it's a biological one. It does not affect the animals for that long but it certainly has an effect on the quality of the produce and, of course, since it is so contagious, on the amount of the produce. With current practices leading to fewer and larger farms, fewer and larger abattoirs and animals being transported ever further, it is clear that the economic ramifications are horrendous.

"We need therefore to look again at how the industry should be run to prevent this sort of thing happening again and to protect our environment, our small farms and, above all, our rural communities."

We recommend to readers an article written by Libby Purves (currently President of the Council for National Parks) which appeared in The Times on 13th March - a copy of which will be sent on request.

The long-awaited Planning Policy Wales (PPW) has appeared in draft form for consultation.

The document has been informed by the work of the Land Use Planning Forum on which CPRW's Director, Merfyn Williams, represented Wales Wildlife and Countryside Link. The Forum presented their report 'Development of Planning Policy in Wales' (www.wales.gov.uk/polinifo/planning) to the Assembly's Environment Minister, Sue Essex, in July last year. The draft PPW has also taken account of the views and recommendations of Assembly members, Committees, other bodies and individuals.

Draft PPW takes account of, and supports, all the strategies of the Assembly which relate to the use and sustainable development of land. When issued in its final form, it will replace 'Planning Guidance (Wales) Planning Policy (First Revision) which was issued in April 1999.

The period for consultation will last until Friday 27th April. Copies of the draft are available from Hawen Jones, Planning Division (2a) Tel. 029 2082 3869 Fax. 029 2082 5622 E-Mail. Hawen.jones@wales.gsi.gov.uk or can be downloaded from the Assembly's Website www.wales.gov.uk/polinifo/planning/consultationpapers If readers would like to contribute to the CPRW response, please send comments to Head Office by 17th April.

Ever since the system of planning advice in Wales was severely curtailed in 1994, by John Redwood, then Secretary of State for Wales, CPRW has been campaigning for a complete and radical overhaul of planning guidance that would reflect the country's physical characteristics, appreciate its environmental quality and recognise its rich cultural diversity whilst providing the framework for economic prosperity. We will be examining the draft carefully to see if this document fulfils these aspirations - but we can tell from a brief glance that we are certainly going down the right road!

Draft Planning Policy Wales contains a welcome chapter 'Flood Risk and Climate Change' which was not present in its predecessor. In this draft it says that the Technical Advice Note 'Development and Flood Risk' will be revised to advise planning authorities how to adopt the precautionary principle when formulating development plan policies on development and flood risk. It refers to the Environment Agency's policy 'Policy and Practice for the Protection of Floodplains', their report on the recent floods and their flood plain maps - all of which can be viewed at www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Minerals Planning Policy Wales (MPPW) has been published.

MPPW sets out the land use planning policy guidance of the National Assembly in relation to mineral extraction and related development in Wales, which includes all minerals and substances in, on or under land extracted either by underground or surface working. Policy guidance for marine aggregates is not included.

The guidance should be taken into account by Mineral Planning Authorities in the preparation of their unitary development plans. It may be material to decisions on individual planning applications, including mineral review applications, and will be taken into account by the NAW and by Planning Inspectors in the determination of called-in applications and appeals.

MPPW replaces Minerals Planning Guidance (MPG) 1 (1988) General Considerations and the Development Plan System and the following parts of other MPGs:

• MPG2 (1988) Applications, Permissions and Conditions Paras 7 - 10
• MPG3 (1994) Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal All except Annexes
• MPG6 (1989) Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England Paras 9-32; 39; 40; 52
• MPG7 (1989) The Reclamation of Mineral Workings Paras 3 & 4
• MPG10 (1991) Provision of Raw Material For the Cement Industry Paras 22-31; 38-63

Copies of MPPW will be circulated to all those holding the planning files.

The European Commission has adopted a new Action Plan for the environment for the next 5-10 years, 'Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice'. There are four areas where the Commission says new effort and impetus is needed and it proposes to take strong action to:

• Tackle Climate Change
• Protect nature and wildlife
• Address environment and health issues
• Preserve natural resources and manage waste.

While this 6th Action Plan establishes the Commission's priorities for action over the next 10 years, it will review progress after 5 years, updating the Programme as necessary to take account of new developments and information.

Specific information on the Action Plan, the full text, executive summary and a promotional booklet can be found at www.europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/environment/index_en.htm

The European Parliament and Council of Ministers have agreed the Water Framework Directive (WTD). This is a critical piece of legislation and potentially a major milestone in safeguarding the provision of water both for the environment and for people. The overall aim of the WFD is to protect all surface waters and groundwatrer in the EU through a common framework approach, based on the river basin as the management unit. Common objectives, principles, terminology and basic measures will be directed to ensure availability of water for drinking and socioeconomic purposes, protection of the environment and the alleviation of floods and droughts. To achieve this, the specific environmental objectives of the WFD include preventing the deterioration of ecological quality and restoring polluted surface water and groundwater, in order to reach 'good' status by 2015.

River Basin Management Plans will include certain EU-wide 'basic measures', such as the implementation of EU legislation covering wildlife and pollution (such as the Birds and Habitat Directives), water pricing policy and promotion of sustainable use of water.

A useful source of information on the Directive (including the full text) can be found at www.wwffreshwater.org/initiatives/wfd.html

The Countryside Council for Wales have published a free leaflet 'New Access to the Countryside in Wales' which outlines the main access provisions of the new Act. They have also produced a very useful briefing, 'Frequently Asked Questions on the Access Provisions of the CROW Act. Both are available from the Recreation and Access Section of CCW Tel. 01248 385500.

The Open Spaces Society helped to obtain a clause in the Act which will save some open spaces from development. The relevant clause will make it easier for people to register land as a 'new green' if they have used it for informal recreation for 20 years. The new law alters the legal definition of a green so that, provided some people who use the green come from that area, the land is capable of being registered. It removes the need to define a precise locality from which users come.

See also article by Vice-President, Lord Williams of Elvel, in Spring 2001 Rural Wales Magazine.

A 'Campaign Diary' was published in the Spring 2000 edition of Rural Wales Magazine (a copy of which will be sent, on request) which listed all the applications for wind power stations with which CPRW had been involved in recent months.

Since that edition was published, the ground-breaking Public Inquiry held in Carno finally closed. Four separate Sessions were held - the first three into individual applications in Montgomeryshire with the final Session looking into the cumulative impact of each or all the applications going ahead or any combination of them. A full report will appear in the summer edition of Rural Wales Magazine.

During March CPRW took part in the Public Inquiry hearing the Appeal against refusal at Wogaston Farm in Pembrokeshire.

An application for 4 x 1.3MW turbines at Mynydd Llanelian, Bryn y Maen, Colwyn Bay has been submitted to Conwy County Borough Council and CPRW has submitted a holding objection.

Councillors at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council did not accept their officers' recommendation to refuse the application at Gelligaer Common but the application was called-in for determination by the National Assembly.

In Carmarthenshire, a community project, 'Awel Aman Tawe', secured funding from the DTI (amongst others) to undertake consultation to see whether people in the area want a community-owned wind farm. (See pages 6/7 Spring 2001 Rural Wales Magazine) The results of a referendum revealed 57.5% in favour and 42.5% against. Not exactly an overwhelming majority but the group now say that the next step is to raise funding for a planning application. CPRW will be supporting the local Tairgwaith Action Group who want to protect their very special place on the edge of Mynydd Du and the Brecon Beacons.

It is now unlikely that the Public Inquiry into the Mynydd Hiraethog Scheme in Conwy will start before October and consideration is being given to cojoining it with the Tir Mostyn/Foel Goch scheme. The CPRW Public Meeting scheduled for 5th April will now take place later in the year.

Some other applications are effectively 'on hold' as many Councils have cancelled meetings and site visits are impossible whilst the Foot and Mouth restrictions are in place.

Announcement from the DTI

As this Bulletin was being prepared, Peter Hain, Energy Minister, issued statements regarding the mechanism that is being introduced to replace the NFFO system. This is called The New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA).

What he was saying was that renewable energy projects that had secured contracts under NFFO 3, 4 and 5 but failed to get planning permission would be allowed to change locations (portability). On March 22nd, in answer to a question from Jackie Lawrence MP (Preseli Pembrokeshire) who raised concerns about schemes near the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, he said:

"I am well aware of the beautiful countryside in my Hon. Friend's constituency, indeed I may even visit it with her in the next few weeks. We are anxious to ensure that renewable projects, in particular offshore and onshore wind projects are sensitively located. I assure her that NFFO portability will encourage transfer of projects to less sensitive areas. In addition, the increased pay-out price for renewables will encourage wind farm projects to be located al lower levels. That should reassure her and her constituents."

Does it reassure CPRW?

Applications are invited for team membership for forthcoming exchanges in the UK and North America. The Exchange aims to provide a challenging learning opportunity for experienced professionals and volunteers and help local stakeholders find answers to current countryside issues. The scheme is supported by the Countryside Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales amongst others.

Each year the Exchange brings together teams of experienced professionals from both sides of the Atlantic to spend 7 to 10 days in selected localities in the UK and North America. The key theme is 'Managing Change in the Countryside'. Each team works with its hosts to produce and present practical advice and recommendations that will help them move forward.

If you want to find out more, apply to be a member or to host an Exchange study, please contact: CEI Associates Ltd Tel. 0161 274 3337 E-mail: cei@cei-associates.org

The Tree Council's Community Trees Fund 2001 provides support for community and voluntary organisations, community councils and individuals to plant trees on community land or land which the public has access to.

Projects have to be 'high quality' ones which have been properly researched. The costs should be between £100 and £700 and 50% should be sources from elsewhere. The deadline is 30th June 2001. Planned starting dates should be between 21st November and 2nd December. Contact the Tree Council Tel 020 7828 9928 www.treecouncil.org.uk

4th April 2001 Cardiff 6th June 2001 Llandrindod Wells 11th July 2001 Fishguard 19th September 2001 Bangor 31st October 2001 Swansea 12th December 2001 Welshpool

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.

Glas Cymru is a new company which was formed last year with the sole purpose of acquiring Welsh Water. As a "company limited by guarantee" Glas Cymru has no share capital and therefore no shareholders. Individuals appointed as Members of Glas Cymru will carry out the normal corporate governance role of shareholders, but they will not receive dividends nor will they have any other financial interest in the Company.

Glas Cymru is now seeking applications from individuals who have an interest in Welsh Water and have the experience, knowledge and skills to carry out this important corporate governance responsibility.

Further details can be obtained from the Company's website www.glascymru.com, via email members.admin@glascymru.com or by writing to Glas Cymru at 1 Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3PW.

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.

Environment Development Fund

The National Assembly for Wales has developed a new grant scheme called The Environment Development Fund (EDF) for innovative, sustainable projects, which involve local communities. Up to £250,000 will be available through the Countryside Council for Wales for each of three years to be divided equally between the five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in Wales. A similar scheme has already started in the three National Parks.

Local Authorities, voluntary, community and partnership groups are all eligible to apply for funds as long as the proposed project meet the aims and objectives of the scheme and is located in or has direct relevance to an AONB. Private businesses or individuals may also apply providing they are able to demonstrate a clear benefit to the wider community and AONB.

Projects should:

• and economic issues through public participationbe sustainable - link social, environmental, cultural demonstrate that they have genuine local support have direct community or youth involvement
• support one or more of the objectives of the scheme be complementary to key local and national strategies eg Local Agenda 21, AONB Management Plan bring organisations together to tackle problems.
• The project must also comply with any relevant regulatory requirements eg planning permission, building regulations.

A flyer is being produced to give further details of the scheme and CPRW will be holding a stock of these leaflets when they become available.

Policy towards the calling in of planning applications

The following is the text of the NAW policy:

"Our policy is not to interfere with local planning authorities' jurisdiction unless it is necessary to do so. Local planning authorities have the responsibility for day to day planning control in their areas and they should be free to carry out those duties in a responsible manner.

On occasions it will be appropriate for a decision to be taken by the Assembly rather than by the local planning authority. The Assembly's powers to call-in planning applications for it to decide are used selectively. Applications are considered on a case by case basis and call-in will generally only be considered where an application raises planning issues of more than local importance which would include issues which:

• Are in conflict with national planning policies;
• Could have wide effects beyond their immediate locality;
• May give rise to substantial controversy beyond the immediate locality;
• Are likely to significantly affect sites of scientific,
• nature conservation or historic interest;
• Raise issues of national security; or
• Raise novel planning issues.

Most planning appeals are determined by Planning Inspectors under powers statutorily transferred to them. The Assembly has powers to recover planning appeals from the Inspectorate and determine them itself. Our policy is to use those powers only where it is appropriate to do so. Recovery of appeals is based on the following criteria:

• Residential developments of over 9,000 square metres;
• Major proposals for the winning and working of minerals;
• Proposals for major developments which could have wife effects beyond their immediate locality;
• Proposals giving rise to substantial controversy beyond the immediate locality;
• Proposals which raise novel planning issues;
• Proposals which raise significant legal difficulties;
• Proposals to which a Government Department has objected; or
• Cases that can only be decided in conjunction with a case over which an Inspector has no jurisdiction."

Branches are reminded that all requests for planning applications to be called-in should be made through Head Office.

Farm Diversification

New research commissioned by the National Assembly has found that the planning system does not hinder farm diversification. The report explores how the existing system affects farm diversification and suggests possible improvements. The report notes that farmers identify the availability of finance and the ability to access grant aid as greater constraints on farm diversification than the planning system. It also says that the extent of farm diversification in Wales is limited and is largely confined to tourism development. 'Farm Diversification and the Planning System' is available from the NAW Tel. 02920 825111

Assembly Web Site

Web Site about the Assembly

www.wales-legislation.org.uk

This website, managed by Cardiff Law School, contains the only comprehensive explanation of the functions of, and the subordinate legislation made by, the National Assembly. It is regularly updated and access is currently free of charge.

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 Saturday in March, the 4th Saturday in June (same day as the AGM) and the 3rd Saturday in November.

Therefore the meeting dates for 2001 will be:

Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held at 2pm on Saturday 23rd June following a meeting of Council. The meetings were to have been held at Carno Community Centre in Montgomeryshire. For obvious reasons, the venue has been changed and the meetings will now be held in The Music Hall in the centre of Shewsbury - a town which can be reached by public transport from all areas of Wales. The railway station is just a short walk from the Music Hall which is also extremely well served by Park-and-Ride schemes. Full details of the venue and rail timetables will be sent out with the Agenda at the beginning of June.

Elections of the following officers will take place at the AGM: 

President, Vice-President(s), Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and Treasurer.

 The Executive Committee have nominated Mr Roger Jones OBE for election as President and our current President, John Elfed Jones, for election as a Vice-President. Roger Jones is the BBC's National Governor for Wales and Chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales.

Elizabeth Colwyn Foulkes has nominated Morlais Owens (currently a Vice-Chairman) for election as Chairman.

There will be six vacancies for election to Council. Rona Harper, Howard Ray and Alun John Richards' terms come to an end but they can stand for re-election.

Nominations should be received at Head Office by Friday 18th May and should include the name of the proposer and seconder. The consent of the nominee should be obtained before the nomination is made.

Elections to the Executive Committee

There are currently 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 whom 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.

400 Club

The Spring 2000 edition of Rural Wales Magazine was made possible by the vital support of CPRW's 400 Club, which, since it was launched, has raised over £3,000. Since the last Branch Bulletin Mrs Margaret Evans and Ivor Russell have been lucky winners in the monthly draws.

There are still vacancies in the Club and an application is enclosed with this bulletin. You do not have to be a member to take part and you do not have to limit yourself to just one membership.

CPRW's new staff structure

 Helen Sopohia Mrowiec took up the new position of Deputy Director in January (See Branch Bulletin 65) and now that the staff has settled down into the new structure we thought it would be helpful to list the staff and their main duties so that members and others will know with whom to make contact:

Head Office based staff:

Director - Merfyn Williams

• Overall strategy
• Brussels/Westminster/NAW Liaison
• National Campaigns
• Policy Development
• Management of staff
• Principal spokesperson
• Rural Wales Magazine

Deputy Director - Helen Sophia Mrowiec

• NAW Liaison
• National Campaigns
• Management of staff
• Funding Partnership Finance
• Consultations
• Fundraising and recruitment

Assistant Director - Jenny Smith

• Campaigns Co-ordinator
• Rural Wales Magazine
• Library and Information Services
• Public Relations including Web-Site
• Branch Bulletins
• Secretariat for national CPRW meetings including constitutional matters

Liaison Officer - Deb Wozencraft

• Implementation and development of CPRW's LA21 Strategy
• Partnerships with national organisations
• Rural Wales Awards

Office Manager - Carys Matthews

• Office Management
• Membership Administration
• Financial Reporting
• Branch Mailings

Other staff:

LA21 Officer for north Wales - Sue Walton (works from home. Tel. 01766 771041) Supports and develops the following branches' commitments to LA21:

• Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Wrexham, Flintshire, Meirionnydd, Denbighshire and Conwy
• LA21 community involvement in those areas.>
• Organises workshops and training days

LA21 Officer for mid Wales - Tanya Christenson (based at Brecon Beacons National Park Offices. Tel. 01874 610745) As above but in the following areas: Brecknock, Radnor, Montgomeryshire and Ceredigion.

(Tanya works on National Park LA21 initiatives for 2 days a week)

All members of staff are available and more than willing to assist and advise Branches and individual members on all aspects of CPRW's work.

Rural Wales Magazine

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.

No winner of the Christmas Quiz

The question posed in the last Branch Bulletin was:

"What voluntary organisation is this?

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."

The answer is 'The Soil Association' and what does that say to us as to the future of agriculture?