54 Letters


THE HERALD FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3 2017


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A CHOICE


DEAR SIR, The future of all nations depends


upon two conflicting ideas. The EU is founded upon the concept of different nations cooperating more and more closely in high ethical principles of shared standards of law, trade, security, social justice and mutual respect, supported by 27 countries. Brexit preaches sovereignty as it


retreats into isolationism, but even the Prime Minister believes and has stated that the primary motivation of most of Brexit supporters, which she is eager to gratify, while talking quite misleadingly about far-fetched trade possibilities, is the mean-spirited resentment against all foreigners, unless they are rich. These are two completely opposed


attitudes to the other inhabitants of our planet. If you have a serious concern for the life chances of your grandchildren, where would you pin your hopes? The desperation of the fearful refugee is pitiful. But the uncaring indifference of prejudiced and xenophobic Trump/Brexit citizens is an even more deplorable, pathetic mental state, and a threat to world peace.


C. N. Westerman Brynna Mid Glam


ISOLATION AND OLDER PEOPLE


DEAR SIR, Age Cymru is Wales’ largest and


leading charity for older people and our vision is an age friendly Wales where all older people can enjoy later life.


We are working on a project about


older people and isolation and we’d like to speak to your older readers about their experiences of isolation. There are many reasons people


can become isolated, including bereavement, illness, changes to local public transport services or a lack of facilities and places to meet up in their communities. If any of your older readers have


experienced isolation, we want to hear from them. Please call Age Cymru’s External


Relations Manager, Iwan Rhys Roberts, on 029 2043 1562 for a chat during office hours, before Friday, February 17, or email policy@ agecymru.org.uk. Age Cymru works nationally


and locally through its network of independent local Age Cymru partners.


Ian Thomas Chief Executive, Age Cymru Blackbridge by Ceri Block


DIFFERENT WORLDS


DEAR SIR, We all recognise that ‘Alice in


Wonderland’ is a children’s fantasy, and one wonders if Carmarthenshire Council planners are living in a fantasy world of their own when forcing business man Bobby Bazalgette, of Brechfa, to take down solar panels fitted on his barn in the vicinity of his listed building. I am aware of the merits of solar panels, having had a 4kW PV solar system fitted to our property, but whether or not Mr Bazalgette is being treated in a fair and just way regarding listed buildings overlooks (no pun intended) a very significant and enigmatic decision: that of Carmarthenshire Council giving their blessings for two separate industrial sized wind farms in the… wait for it… Brechfa Forest area of Wales - with wind generators 34 metres taller than St Paul’s Cathedral (111metres). There is to be a 28 wind generator farm in Brechfa Forest West at Afon Pib, with each generator 145 metres in height, and a 12 generator wind farm near Abergorlech, Brechfa Forest East (Carmarthenshire County Council Planning Committee approved the planning application for Brechfa Forest East at theirDecember 17, 2013 meeting). How do the council justify these


questionable decisions which will blight acres and acres of beautiful Welsh countryside - a treasure, without question, to both locals and tourists alike. What will folk the other side of Offa’s Dyke make


of it all? Are the council blind to this despoliation of their very own enchanting countryside? Then what of deforestation and local democracy with the council apparently ignoring local opposition groups? Additionally, knowledgeable and intelligent people are fully aware of the engineering deficiencies of wind-driven generators when it comes to delivering a secure electrical energy supply. I wonder if the council planners realise the terrible toll wind farms take on wild birds and bats. Putting this detail into the search engine of a computer reveals a cruel and uncivilised world – truly unforgivable and ‘Save the Eagles International’, for example, is a very informative site and should be visited by everyone. Indeed, it needs emphasising that bats are protected in law, so will the wind farm owners be prosecuted when the aerial carnage commences at Brechfa? Perhaps bird and bat societies will care to comment, object and possibly take action – it would also be interesting to hear what the RSPB has to say on the subject as their silence is deafening.


Dave Haskell Cardigan Ceredigion


TRAVELINE CYMRU


DEAR SIR, Traveline Cymru is a


government-backed service which gives free advice on how to travel in Wales by bus and train. It is now determined to make itself better


known to the public. Your free advice can be accessed


by email at www.travelinecymru,co. uk, or by phone at 0800 464 0000. It is quite detailed; for bus stations at places like Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, it tells you which bus stand to go to. It is particularly useful if you need to change between bus and train. If necessary, it tells you how long it takes to walk between the rail and bus stations. From talks I give to interested


groups, I know that actually public transport services are better, and fares are less expensive, than most people realise. Our rail services are doing well, with the number of Pembrokeshire rail passengers almost doubling in the last 10 years. In contrast, bus services are in crisis throughout Wales; in 2016, three large Welsh bus companies (including Silcox), and several smaller ones, went out of business. Last year, I used buses in and around Aberystwyth, Pwllheli, Bridgend, Carmarthen, Abergavenny, and Monmouth, so I know that it is not only in Pembrokeshire that outside the rush hours there are few passengers except seniors with their free Senior Bus Passes. I am one of 10 people appointed


to the South Wales customer panel of Traveline Cymru. We do not deal with complaints


about the services; these should be taken up with the company concerned. If not satisfied, then write to Bus Users Cymru, PO Box 1045, Cardiff CF11, call 0300 111 0001 or visit wales@bususers.org. Our function is to help Traveline


Cymru make itself better known, and to improve its service to the


public. Suggestions for this are always welcome. If more people use the buses


and trains, this in itself leads to improvements in their services. It also helps car drivers as it reduces congestion on the roads. It leads to a better environment for all by reducing air pollution. So, everybody benefits!


David Watts Milford Haven


FARMER TO STAR IN BBC SHOW


DEAR SIR, I’m a hill farmer and camp


aigner for the best of Welsh food and farming, and I want to let you know about a new TV series starting on BBC One Wales on Monday (Feb 6) at 8.30pm. It’s called ‘Gareth Wyn Jones -


Milk Man’, so, as you can see, it’s all about milk. Most of us drink it every day, and in the UK we consume over nine billion pints every year. But have we forgotten where it comes from? I don’t think people really know how much work goes into getting milk onto that shelf. Milk has helped shape the Welsh


countryside and our way of life. The dairy industry is a key piece of that jigsaw - but recently the industry faced another crisis and milk prices reached record lows. Over the past 15 years, the


number of dairy farmers in Wales has halved - on average three farmers leave the industry every month - and the traditional family dairy farm is in serious trouble. Milk is now a global commodity and dairy is big business at the


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