Glyn Davies (Welshpool, CPRW): Recently, I accepted the Presidency of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW). Inevitably, this has inspired me to think about what this well established body, endowed with such an evocative name, should be about. While it's an honour to be offered the position, it's important that anyone taking it on has a sense of purpose, an idea of what he or she wants to achieve. I also think it important to limit ambition to that which is sufficiently realistic to have a genuine influence on policy makers and decision takers.
In particular, I don't want us to talk about issues that matter only to ourselves. I want us to be heard, which will not be the case if we are perceived to be 'against everything'. For example, we cannot be against new housing, new business premises or the improved transport infrastructure that Rural Wales needs if it is to economically successful. We have to acknowledge that these developments are necessary. However, we can reasonably demand that they be implemented in a way which minimises negative impact on our landscapes.
To have real influence, CPRW must engage both at the national and the community level. I want us to be a conduit for the expression of 'local' opinion. Top priority for the CPRW at present should be to resist the threat to 'local' services. In the last few weeks, Gwynedd County Council has announced plans to close 29 village schools, and the Post Office has announced the first tranche of sub post office closures it will be obliged to close in the near future. Also, across Wales, the closure of community hospitals remains a threat, only temporarily put on hold following last May's change of Government in the National Assembly. All of these in their individual and cumulative ways are going to impact on the whole of Wales. Of course, we have to recognise the pressures on local services arising from demographic and behavioural change, but people want to keep their services local whenever possible. I have a real sense that government, both national and local, doesn't listen as much as it should. We must try to make sure that they do listen.
An issue that has dominated CPRW over recent years has been the Assembly Government's policy decision to strongly promote on shore wind farms. We have opposed this policy because we do not believe that the benefit it brings justifies the damage that it will inflict on the landscapes of Wales. Just as damaging, from my perspective, is the undermining of local democracy inherent in the Assembly Government's TAN 8 (planning guidance) document, which identifies seven large tracts of the Welsh countryside where Local Planning Authorities will not be able to resist proposals new wind farms. TAN 8 represents a 'full frontal' attack on the 'local' voice.
Another huge challenge to local democracy are the proposed reforms at the heart of the UK Government's proposed Planning White Paper. Having prided itself on fuelling a "bonfire of quangoes" (whether real or imaginary), we now find this same Government proposing a new "super quango" to make decisions about major developments. Having devolved planning powers to the Assembly, Westminster is now seeking to wind them back in. This is not the democracy of decision making which CPRW believes in or advocates!
So whether it is defence of local services, or campaigning to maintain the capacity of 'local' opinion to influence policy, I see a role for CPRW to engage through promoting local empowerment and adding force to the 'local' voice. This seems a worthy objective for any new President.
