SUPPORTING FARMING UNION CALLS

Neil Hamilton, AM for Mid & West Wales, and Leader of UKIP Wales is urging the Welsh Government to listen to the experts when considering measures to improve water quality.

 Mr Hamilton, a member of the Senedd’s Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs committee, said he cautiously welcomed an announcement from the Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, who said they were prepared to explore voluntary options, jointly funded by Natural Resources Wales and NFU Cymru, to develop a draft water framework.

She also said they would be looking at whether they could provide farmers with the flexibility to achieve environmental outcomes in a way which is best suited to individual businesses.

Mr Hamilton said:

“I fully support the farming unions on this as our farmers are the ones who know what is best for the land, not politicians.

 “This announcement comes on the back of proposals to introduce an all-Wales Nitrate Vulnerable Zone from January 1, 2020, which I totally oppose.

 “Welsh Government should listen to the experts – the farmers themselves. We need a targeted and proportionate approach to tackle recurring incidents of pollution in intensively farmed areas.

 “The priority of Welsh Government should be fair and proportionate to all farms, many of which are small family ran businesses which should not be made to suffer from top-down, ill-informed Government regulations.  This pan-Wales approach places an unnecessary burden on small farmers.

 “Unfortunately, Welsh Labour has a record of disregarding hard evidence and expert advice from stakeholders and have revealed themselves to be no friend of rural Wales.

Whether it’s banning shooting on public land, the failure to eradicate Bovine TB or to halt draconian fishing by-laws, Welsh Government have failed rural Wales at nearly every juncture.”

 The proposal to introduce an all Wales NVZ zone would see severe restrictions, including slurry storage requirements; limiting the periods during which farmers can apply slurry – a crucial nutrient for grass growth – onto their land; as well as preparing detailed plans and recording keeping which will be subject to inspection.

NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board Chairman Hedd Pugh said the lack of openness and communication about proposed new regulations to the farming sector was alarming and has been a source of significant concern to members, contributing considerably to current levels of stress and anxiety.

“There can be no doubt that the threat of whole territory NVZ is weighing very heavily on farmers’ minds. Welsh Government must not proceed on the false assumption that whole territory NVZ will be effective in improving water quality, he said.

NFU Cymru Deputy President Aled Jones, said NFU Cymru categorically rejects any proposals which include the introduction of the Nitrates Directive and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones across the whole of Wales.