Wales Farmer 8


DIARYdates April


6th: West Wales Area Club point to point, Lydstep, Tenby. 12th: Wales YFC Field Day, IBERS, Aberystwyth. Competitions include ATV handling, fencing, stockjudging and efficiency with safety. 12th: Ystrad Taf Fechan point to point, Ystradowen, Vale of Glamorgan. On A4222 between Cowbridge and Pontyclun. 12th: Builth Wells Ploughing and Hedging Society ploughing match, Gilfach Farm, Llangorse, Brecon. Contact 01982 553649 or 07773908087. 19th: Llangeinor hunt point to point, Pyle. 19th: Llangolman Vintage Ploughing Society ploughing match. Venue to be confirmed. Contact 01437 541301. 21st: South Pembrokeshire Hunt point to point, Lydstep, Tenby. 21st: Carmarthenshire Ploughing Society ploughing match. Venue to be confirmed. Contact 01570 481421. 26th: Barley Saturday, Cardigan. Stallion, harness and vintage show, including spectacular parade of stallions through town centre. Judging starts at 11.30am, parade through town centre starts at 2pm. Contact 01239 841524. 26th-27th: Wonderwool Wales, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. Seventh annual Wonderwool Wales festival, including Welsh and British artisan products, hands-on woolschool workshops and events showcasing the best in Welsh and British wool and natural fibres. Contact 01938 820 495 or 01873 821 205, or email


enquiries@wonderwool wales.co.uk. Go to wonderwoolwales.co.uk 27th: Tivyside Hunt and Carmarthenshire point to point, Lydstep, Tenby.


●Interested in becoming a community farming correspondent? Email wfeditor@wales farmer.co.uk or call 01437 761759 to find out more.


OPINIONS APRIL 2014


Agriculture affects every part of society


By Debbie James


IF FARMING were a circus act it could well be the juggler. Or the tightrope artist perhaps. All too often it is wafer thin margins and the consequential financial balancing act that is synonymous with Welsh agriculture. It was heartening therefore to read a set of recent figures emblazoned in black and not the red of negativity. Farmers in Wales and the rest of the UK have defied the recession


by contributing an additional £8.6bn to the economy. In fact UK agriculture’s contribution to the economy increased by a whopping 54%


WALES FARMER CONTACTS


Managing edi- tor: Holly Robinson holly.robinson@ walesfarmer.co.uk


Farmer editor: Rhiannon


Llewellin 01437 761759 wfeditor@wales farmer.co.uk


Reporter: Debbie James 01646 661395


info@debbiejames media.com


Advertising: Aaron Byrne 01437 761798 aaron.byrne@ walesfarmer.co.uk


between 2007 and 2012. Politicians and retailers who skim over the economic significance of agriculture do so at their peril. We are used to hearing about the profits of that broker of farming producers – the supermarkets. What mustn’t be forgotten is that it is farming that underpins those returns. I am proud to be immersed in farming; it is one of the most honourable professions, the foundation of all mankind.


H


All too often that all- embracing term, modern farming methods, is used to paint a disparaging picture of 21st century agriculture. What the consumer mustn’t forget is that we have all contributed to the intensification of techniques that make farming more efficient. As a society we rail against rising food prices and as a consequence farmers have embraced systems and technologies that make groceries cheaper. Food is becoming


scarcer globally due to a growing population and dwindling farmland supply. Reform of the Common Agriculture Policy is very much the topic of the moment, but what the consumer is perhaps slow to realise is that we are already in a post-CAP era. Many sectors of farming operate to world market prices, therefore we must accept the inevitability of price fluctuations. Every individual has a vested interest in the food and farming sector; it’s the one industry that everyone buys into, every day.


We want to hear from you!


AVE you got any farming news? If so, we want to hear it. You can send your stories and pictures on any agricultural-related matter, from showing


success, top mart prices and diary dates to your equestrian or countryside news. In the upcoming editions we’d also like to feature your readers’ letters, so if there’s something you want to get off your chest now’s your chance. To get in touch, email wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk or call the Wales Farmer newsdesk on 01437 761759. Photographs should be sent as .jpg files, at least 1MB in size.


To appeal or not to appeal – the options PLANNINGmatters


FOLLOWING the refusal of a planning application, the applicant has the right to appeal to the Welsh Government


(Planning


Inspectorate) to reconsid- er the proposed develop-


ment. Applications can be refused


for a variety of reasons, however there needs to be a firm policy stance within national policy or an adopted plan to justify the refusal (quoted in the refusal notice). The three main methods of


appeal are: - Written representations - Hearings - Public inquiries The method of appeal will


depend on the complexity of the case, the reason(s) for refusal (or enforcement) along with the appellant’s and planning author- ity’s preference. In some cases


consideration will also be based on the requests of the Planning Inspectorate. Awritten representation is the


simplest form of appeal. The applicant (or agent) can submit a written statement to the Plan-


In his regular column for Wales Farmer, WAYNE REYNOLDS, director of Atriarc Group, offers an overview of the alternative ways to appeal a refusal of planning permission.


ning Inspectorate stating the rea- sons why they feel the applica- tion meets the criteria outlined in national or local planning policy. This method is often used for more straight forward applica- tions, for example, house exten-


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


sions or minor commercial alter- ations. The inspector will then review


the site, the council’s refusal report and the written appeal before making a final decision. Planning hearings are typical-


ly focussed towards more com- plex cases, where there is a need to openly discuss the positive and negative attributes of an applica- tion in light of planning policy. The process begins with the submission of a hearing applica- tion and later followed by the appellant submitting a written statement of case. The local authority will then be offered the opportunity to submit a report, before further comments are invited from both parties on the submitted reports. Upon receipt of the final


reports, the hearing would typi- cally be held in a local authority office, where both parties can state their case to the inspector.


A public inquiry is generally


only used for larger, more con- troversial, applications, or ones of significant local (or national) interest. This method is similar to the hearing method, however as the cases are generally more complex; the case is typically pre- sented by an appointed barrister who will question and examine the local authority’s reasoning in light of planning policy and applicable case law. Whichever method is used, it


is important that a clear, sound statement of case is presented. Strict time limits also need to be adhered to, to avoid unnecessary delays or costs being incurred by either party. Further guidance on the


appeals process can be found on the planning portal website, or for further details or enquiries contact Wayne Reynolds on 01994


220667 or wayne@atriarcgroup.com. email


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