Wales Farmer 8 COUNTRYSIDE APRIL 2014


Support for community woodland


ACOMMUNITYwoodland group has shared its plans for the future with a localMP. Having endorsed an application for grant


funding for the PontrhydfendigaidCommunity Woodland project, Ceredigion MP Mark Williams joined the group at Coed y Bont to walk the forest. “It was good to see Coed y Bont for myself,”


said Mr Williams. “Not only is the site a beautiful one, but the


project has a real community focus with local volunteers committed to care for the site and its wildlife, making it accessible for people of all ages, with a range of walks. This also repre- sents an important wildlife resource for local schools and the tourist sector.”


Seven jobs go as park looks to make savings


SEVEN jobs are set to be lost at Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, as it looks to save £650,000 in


the next two years. The six compulsory and one voluntary redundancies have


been formally approved, along with a raft of other cost saving measures as the authority looks to accommodate the impact of a 13.06% cut in funding. Chief executive for the park authority, John Cook said: “We are a relatively small and close


knit family and each job loss will be felt across the whole authority. “We have made many difficult decisions to reach this year’s budget but none more so than the loss of posts.” Authority


chairman Julie James added: “We were deter-


mined to explore every avenue before we resorted to redundan- cies. It’s not easy for the staffthat are affected, but the process is necessary, if we are to prepare ourselves for the financial pres- sures that lie ahead.” Other cost-saving measures


include less money for the Sus- tainable Development Fund and rights of way projects and closure of Llanthony Priory public toi- lets.


The closure of the Abergaven-


ny Tourist Information Centre was also approved, although dis-


cussions are ongoing with stake- holders to secure an alternative option. The withdrawal of theBeacons


Bus service is also proposed, but the authority will consider this following the completion of an equality impact assessment.


Call to arms for unveiling of Women’s Land Army statue


FORMER members of the Women’s Land Army orWomen’s Timber Corps are being invited to the unveiling of a new bronze memorial. Another £20,000 needs to be


raised in order to unveil the memorial sculpture of two young girls dressed in uniforms, linking arms, at the National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield this


autumn. Eunice Finney, press officer for


the Women’s Land Army Tribute said: “It is high time these fantas- ticwomen were recognised as they changed the face of agriculture during the war. We were import- ing 60% of our food before the war and after the war we began exporting 60% of the food pro- duced in this country. Fresh local


food is as important these days as it was in the war years.” Any former members of the


Women’s Land Army orWomen’s Timber Corps can register an interest to attend the unveiling of the tribute by downloading an application formfromwww.wom- enslandarmytribute.co.uk on the memorial page, or by sending their name, address and telephone


number along with two first class postage stamps to: WLA Tribute Unveiling Ceremony, c/o Amer- ton Farm and Craft Centre, Stowe by Chartley, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0LA by May 1st.


Relatives of former serving members who wish to attend the ceremony are also invited to apply.


Welsh planning bill condemned for threatening future of village greens


ALEADINGpressure-group for the protection of green spaces has condemned plans that could threaten the future of village greens in Wales. The Open Spaces Society has


TRIBUTE: A clay model of the planned bronze sculpture.


responded to the Welsh Govern- ment’s draft Planning Bill, which proposes to prohibit the registra- tion of land as a town or village green where it has been identified for development. Landowners


could also


deposit statements with the regis- tration authority, challenging people’s use of the land for recre- ation. At present, local people can


apply to register land as a village green if they have enjoyed it for 20 years for informal recreation, without being stopped or given permission. Once registered, the land is protected from develop- ment.


Nicola Hodgson, case officer For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


for the Open Spaces Society said: “These proposals strike at the heart of local communities, pre- venting them from securing the land they have long enjoyed. Many peoplewon’t even be aware that land is threatened with development until it is too late to save it.” The society has suggested that planning authorities must be sat- isfied that land is not capable of being registered as a green before


it is allocated for development. The society also believes that amending existing regulations would help speed up the village green registration process and cut red tape. Nicola added: “We fear that a


change in the law could put a stop to communities being able to secure the land they love. We have many examples of groups who are trying to register greens to do just that.”


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