Welsh Government’s broken promises and betrayal over NVZ

Wales is to transition to a nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) covering the whole of the country from  April I, a decision described by Janet Finch-Saunders MS as a “… betrayal, and a kick in the teeth for the Welsh farming sector when it least needs it”.

The Welsh Government – propped up by the LibDems – said it had given Welsh farmers four years to take steps to agricultural pollution but, with incidents reportedly averaging more than three a week, said it will impose severe new regulations from April 1. The Farmers’ Union of Wales and NFU Cymru have also blasted the decision.

Mrs Finch-Saunders, the Shadow Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said:

“We’re 10 months into this crisis, a crisis that has had a dramatic effect on all sectors of business including farming, and the Environment Minister decides to take these steps now, hitting farmers when they’re down. It’s especially worse, a betrayal in fact, because she had previously said she wouldn’t look at doing this while we were still going through the pandemic.

“Time and again, over so many issues, the Welsh Government has taken a blanket approach to a problem forcing everyone to suffer. This time its farmers who are going to endure the government’s inability to deal – in a proportionate way – with what the farming industry acknowledges is a problem.”

“There is real despair within our rural communities at the lack of understanding by Labour of issues outside Cardiff Bay, and today’s announcement is a real kick in the teeth for the Welsh farming sector when it least needs it. The Minister must reverse this decision immediately, or face alienating further still Welsh farmers.”