”a victory for common sense and our future heritage” says Cllr Nancy Matthews

 The Welsh Assembly Minister , Jane Davidson, has upheld the decision of Flintshire County Council to impose a Prohibition Order on Bryn Gwyn Quarry, Gwernymynydd. 

In July 2007 elected members of Flintshire County Council took the brave decision to impose this order, which would prohibit working at the dormant quarry in Gwernymynydd. 

The owners DP Williams Holdings lodged an objection to the Order which resulted in a Public Inquiry held in February, April and May this year. 

The Minerals Planning and Legal Services Departments of Flintshire County Council worked tirelessly throughout the winter supported by the communities of Gwernymynydd and Nercwys and the surrounding villages to prepare a case to put before the Planning Inspector.  

Gwernymynydd Cllr Nancy Matthews said: “We have heard today that the Minister has upheld the Order, a victory for common sense and our future heritage, which ensures the future well-being of local communities.  “Our heartfelt thanks must go to the officers of Flintshire County Council for their work towards this decision which sets a precedent throughout Wales and for the rest of the United Kingdom.”

ENDS

 A report into the future education provision in Flintshire carried out by the Wales Audit Office and presented to the Council’s Executive last month (August 5^th, 2008) exposes yet more Labour failures local Lib Dems have claimed. The report highlights the lack of planning by the previous Labour administration, the absence of a strategy to address the future provision of education across the County and key decisions put off by an Executive “lacking the morale fibre” to tackle the big issues say the Lib Dems. 

The Audit Office also identified that in addition to a backlog of £35million of work needed to improve the condition of schools and to address disability access, the full cost of the work required to make Flintshire schools fit for purpose remains unknown. 

Additionally, spending on Flintshire schools was forecast to be among the lowest in Wales at £215 per pupil compared to an average across the country of £400. 

Cllr Carolyn Cattermoul, Lib Dem Education spokesperson, said: “This report is a damning indictment of the previous Labour run Executive and exposes yet more failures and their lack of morale fibre when faced with making tough decisions. 

“Slowly, but surely, the skeletons are beginning to emerge from the cupboards as the full extent of Labour’s mismanagement at County Hall is gradually becoming known to the new Executive. 

“The scale of the task facing the new Coalition administration is a huge one but I am confident that collectively we can rise to the challenge and under Arnold Woolley’s leadership we can turn these problems around. 

“We have had to listen to constant sniping and petty attacks from the Labour party since their fall from power in May. 

“But faced with the growing evidence of the failings on their watch and under Cllr Shotton’s leadership, maybe it is time for them to take a long hard look at their own performance over the past ten years before commenting further on ours over the last four months.”

ENDS 

Flintshire councillors Nancy Matthews and Richard Jones recently visited a pioneering waste processing facility on Merseyside that turns household rubbish into renewable energy.

 The mechanical heat treatment plant, operated by Orchid Environmental on behalf of Merseyside Waste Authority, is one of eight pilot demonstrator projects across the country funded by Defra to explore new methods of dealing with household waste. 

The facility is contracted to process 50,000 tonnes of municipal waste per annum, although it has the capacity to increase that to 80,000 tonnes annually, and reduces the level of waste that would have otherwise gone to landfill by up to 90 per cent. Up to 45 per cent of the waste is converted into biomass fuel products that are being trialled in various industries, while another 20 per cent of the waste is eventually recycled. The remainder is lost as moisture into the atmosphere.  Cllr Matthews said: “The visit was extremely useful for both Richard and me, providing us with an opportunity to see close up one of a series of new technologies in action. “In order to reduce landfill – and thereby minimise the year on year increases in landfill taxes – and to help increase our recycling performance we must look at and consider all emerging new technologies that can help us achieve that goal. “This process is one of many that are currently being considered by councils everywhere and one that has many benefits worthy of serious examination alongside other strategies being developed.” 

Cllr Jones added: “The pressure on Councils to reduce landfill while also increasing recycling is huge and we must evaluate every possible solution if we are to achieve our targets while minimising the impact of landfill tax on local residents.”ENDS

Flintshire Lib Dems have declined to nominate any members to sit as substitutes on the planning committee claiming their approach is “consistent and principled” after they voted against an amendment to allow deputies to be used.

Following a thorough review of the planning committee by consultants Pricewaterhouse Coopers, the issue was discussed at a recent Council meeting when the amendment – against the advice of the Council’s Constitutional Committee – was carried by a majority vote of councillors.

But the Lib Dems did not support the amendment, preferring to support the option to not have any substitutes in line with the recommendations and advice of Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Lib Dem group Leader, Cllr Robin Baker, said: “:While we understood the arguments for using substitutes as a group we felt we could not support that option and our view was that no substitutes was a better alternative to protect the integrity of the planning process.

“We respect the decision was a democratic one but as it was not a position we agreed with we felt it would be hypocritical to then nominate three substitutes from our group.

“We are therefore taking a principled stance on this issue that is consistent with the group’s position throughout this debate as we feel there is ample opportunity for Ward councillors to make representation on behalf of local residents without putting themselves in jeopardy of fettering their discretion on planning matters.”
ENDS

Flintshire Lib Dems are urging local residents facing post office closures in their area to lobby local politicians and respond to the Post Office before the 15th September deadline opposing the proposed closures.

The announcement on Tuesday means that around 20 per cent of the county’s post offices face the axe unless a strong case can be made for the Post Office to rethink their plans.

The news comes only days after a House of Commons select committee warned that outreach services, set up to fill the gaps left by the closures, will fail because of a lack of cash.

Outreach facilities are being proposed in 14 communities across the region to offset the impact of closures but this latest report highlights that funding for them to be viable may be inadequate.

And the Lib Dems accused the Labour government – and local Labour MP’s – of being determined to destroy the Post Office network across Flintshire.

Cllr. Robin Baker, Leader of Flintshire County Council’s Lib Dem group, said: “Post Offices provide a vital service, particularly to vulnerable people and rural areas. When they close, other services often follow suit, with devastating consequences for the community.

“Mobile offices are being offered by the Post Office, but these wholly inadequate replacements will not provide anything like the kind of service people in rural areas rely on.

“Outreach services are a poor relation to proper post offices. The Government seems to think it can get post offices on the cheap this way. However, even outreach services need to be properly funded.

“At this rate many areas will end up with no post office services whatsoever. Ministers are presiding over the managed decline of our post offices.

“Local MPs – including Delyn’s MP David Hanson - have let down local residents by voting against a motion in the House of Commons in March that would have brought an end to the closure programme in Flintshire.

“I would urge everyone affected by these proposals to write to MP’s David Hanson and Mark Tami, lobby their local councillor and write to the Post Office before the 15th September to let their views be known,” he added.

Responses to the consultation should be sent to
Steve Geraty
Network Development Manager
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk

The recent increase in energy prices just re-confirms the need for all of us to be far more efficient in the way we mange power our homes. It may have seemed ‘cheap’ and unecessary to shut doors and close the curtains, but not anymore. This government has done little to assist in any short to medium term plan for energy conservation or communication of an understandable public message in support of the things we can do to benefit not only our planet for the future but also our pockets today. Look at the list below and maybe these can go some way to help you save.
With gas & electric prices rising, this is a good time to remind/alert us all how we can save money and the planet using the top ten tips below.

Gas prices up 35%
Electric prices up 20%
10 ways to help you save energy, money, and help prevent climate change. You could save around £270 per year*.

1 Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent. You could save around £50 per year.
2 Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
3 Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
4 Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
5 Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
6 If you’re not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
7 Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).
8 A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!
9 Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be up to £60 over its lifetime if you?re replacing a very high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
10. Do a home energy check at the ‘www.energysavingtrust.org.uk’ link. Just answer some simple questions about your home and the Energy saving trust will give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £270 a year on your house hold energy bills.

I hope these tips help you to keep your money in your pocket

Nancy, in her role as the Executive Member for Waste Strategy and Management, recently attended the launch of a state of the art mini power station that has started generating electricity from waste in Flintshire.
Developed on the former landfill site at Brookhill quarry, the eco-friendly plant has been installed by AD Waste and wil generate power from methane and other gases given off as a by-product of decomposing waste.
AD waste will use 10 per cent of the electricity generated for its nearby site while the remainder will be sent to the national grid providing enough power to supply the needs of several hundred homes.
Nancy said: “This is an interesting example of using waste gases to produce energy which demonstrates the ongoing life of a closed landfill site.
“It will help Wales – and Flintshire – meet national targets to use more renewable energy sources and cut down on fossil fuels.
“The Government has set a target nationally for 10 per cent of energy needs to be met from renewable sources by 2010 and I am delighted we are already doing our bit here in Flintshire to contribute to that goal,” she added.

Local Lib Dem campaigner Cllr Nancy Matthews has welcomed the Health Ministers’ decision to establish a new neurology unit in North Wales.

Nancy said: “After originally being lead to believe that patients would have to travel to South Wales for treatment, I am absolutely delighted for our area and the region at the announcement of the planned Neurological Unit in North Wales.

“I welcome the Health Minister’s common sense and good judgement in this case and look forward to these plans being delivered through the North Wales Office, taking into account the costing of the plans.

“Edwina Hart has listened and acted positively in a situation which should never arisen.”

Flintshire Liberal Democrat Councillors are calling for radical improvements in recycling if the County Council is to meet ambitious targets of 40% recycling and composting of municipal waste by 2010.and 70% by 2025.

The call came after Cllr Nancy Matthews, the new Executive Member for Waste Strategy and Management for the coalition administration, joined waste leaders from across Wales at a meeting in Cardiff to discuss the mounting pressures on local authorities.

Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing was also present at the meeting with the Cabinet Members with responsibility for Waste to discuss how they can improve recycling facilities and proposals for meeting Welsh Assembly Government waste targets.

Cllr Nancy Matthews said: “Despite early successes in Flintshire and making reasonable progress in our initial recycling plans it would appear that listening to other local authorities’ improvements they have caught us up.

“My vision is to put Flintshire a the forefront of waste management, rewarding residents for good practice and realising efficiencies that can save them money by making less to landfill our motto.

“Every council in Wales must aim high when it comes to waste reduction. While we face significant financial pressures in meeting targets around recycling, composting and the management of waste services, we have to embrace waste management as a key priority and tackle it in a creative way so that it is self-sufficient in the long term.

“Our recycling record to date is a clear indicator of the councils’ investment in recycling services and commitment to encouraging a cultural shift in consumer behaviour so that the public make use of the services available to them and therefore send less to landfill.

“However, we have to be realistic about what is achievable and an ambitious 70% recycling target by 2025 means we must looking at every feasible option.

“It also means we need a strategy that will deliver step change and radical improvement, coasting along is not enough to get us where we need to be.”

Flintshire Lib Dem Group Leader Robin Baker added: “This is certainly a key issue for our group and one that we will be discussing in the coming weeks with our coalition partners. I am confident we will be able to come to a consensus on our joint approach to tackling this agenda, along with other key issues we face.”
ENDS