{"id":9118,"date":"2023-09-01T07:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T06:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/chief-executive-blog-september-2023\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T22:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T21:44:15","slug":"chief-executive-blog-september-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/cy\/chief-executive-blog-september-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Chief Executive Blog &#8211; September 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_0  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>The time has come to incorporate the Habitats Regulations directly into Welsh law.....<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_section et_pb_section_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_section_regular et_block_section\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_row et_pb_row_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_2_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_0 et_pb_has_overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-scaled.jpg\" class=\"et_pb_lightbox_image\" title=\"\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1565\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"hopuse\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-scaled.jpg 1565w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-783x1024.jpg 783w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-768x1005.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-1174x1536.jpg 1174w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-1080x1413.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-1280x1675.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-980x1282.jpg 980w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hopuse-480x628.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1565px) 100vw, 1565px\" class=\"wp-image-5848\" \/><span class=\"et_overlay\"><\/span><\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_1  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Competent Authorities in England will now be required to assume that wastewater from new housing developments will not adversely impact protected sites.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_1 et_pb_has_overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-scaled.jpg\" class=\"et_pb_lightbox_image\" title=\"\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1132\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"20220718_160201ed\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-scaled.jpg 1132w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-166x300.jpg 166w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-566x1024.jpg 566w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-768x1389.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-849x1536.jpg 849w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-1080x1954.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-980x1773.jpg 980w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220718_160201ed-480x868.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1132px) 100vw, 1132px\" class=\"wp-image-4775\" \/><span class=\"et_overlay\"><\/span><\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_2  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Here in Wales the First Minister and his Government have recently committed themselves to nutrient neutrality.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_2 et_pb_has_overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-scaled.jpg\" class=\"et_pb_lightbox_image\" title=\"\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1203\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"20200929_114809 copy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-scaled.jpg 1203w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-176x300.jpg 176w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-602x1024.jpg 602w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-768x1307.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-902x1536.jpg 902w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-1080x1838.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-980x1668.jpg 980w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20200929_114809-copy-480x817.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1203px) 100vw, 1203px\" class=\"wp-image-5850\" \/><span class=\"et_overlay\"><\/span><\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_3  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Nutrient neutrality does not apply to the majority of rivers in Wales which are not designated but which are the heart and soul of our communities and towns.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_d4_element et_pb_column_3_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode et-last-child et_block_column\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_4  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>Friday 1st September, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>This week's announcement by the UK Government has shocked the environmental sector. In summary, it recommends amendments to the Habitats Regulations which would require Competent Authorities in England to assume that wastewater from new housing developments will not adversely impact protected sites. A proposal, such as this one, undermines the very foundations of EU-derived environmental law in the UK. What else should we turn a blind eye to?<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Here in Wales, water and the environment is devolved to the Welsh Government, a Government that has made commitments to the nature and climate change crisis, supported a Better River Water Quality Taskforce which is bringing about change and a First Minister-led commitment to nutrient neutrality and phosphate reduction in our rivers.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_testimonial et_pb_testimonial_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode clearfix  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module et_pb_testimonial_no_image\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-image:url('https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Gail-Davies-Walsh-copy.jpg')\" class=\"et_pb_testimonial_portrait\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_description_inner\"><div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_content\"><p>This week's announcement by the UK Government undermines the very foundations of EU-derived environmental law.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"et_pb_testimonial_meta\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_5  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Most recently, the First Minister of Wales called for all sectors to 'own their impact' and to act fast. Afonydd Cymru has raised concerns that the current pace is just too slow. We have spoken with the Welsh Housing Federation and with many developers in Wales, and we totally understand their frustration as much as our own that the step-change in water quality that we need to see is not happening at the rate it needs to. Furthermore, their contribution to the overall pollution load is very small. But, amending legislation to forever ignore their impact eats away at the core purpose of the regulation to consider cumulative impacts in a catchment.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Nutrient neutrality never stopped homes or agricultural developments being built, a point missed by many this week, it just required homes to be delivered a different way. This is a great opportunity to do things differently, to achieve homes that are affordable not just at purchase but in the longer-term, that are more water efficient, nutrient and drainage neutral and biodiversity-enhancing. There are different ways to deliver the outcomes, without changing the legislation that should be affording our rivers the protection they need.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The major impact on our rivers is from agriculture and water company discharges. These sectors are within a regulatory framework that has failed our rivers. Improvements have not been made because the permitting and policy frameworks are not supporting the solutions required. We raised these issues here in Wales in July 2022 but there has been no significant progress by those responsible to address them. We have a water industry sector partially permitted, but not always operating to those permits and with failing assets. The necessary investment required is constrained by the same Governments that are now blaming the sector for failing.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_testimonial et_pb_testimonial_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode clearfix  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module et_pb_testimonial_no_image\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-image:url('https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Gail-Davies-Walsh-copy.jpg')\" class=\"et_pb_testimonial_portrait\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_description_inner\"><div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_content\"><p>Where are the equivalent action plans from the agricultural sector to reduce its impact on water quality?<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"et_pb_testimonial_meta\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_6  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>And where is the equivalent published action plan for the agricultural sector? We have been led to believe by unions that our farmers will not consider payment for nutrient reduction, tree planting or nature-friendly farming, and yet schemes, led by farmers, are growing apace which perhaps suggests otherwise. If the unions are right, then the long-awaited farming payment schemes in England and Wales are not going to deliver the nutrient reductions required and no step change will come as a result. Perhaps, focus would be better spent on this conundrum?<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>This week's announcement promised an Action Plan for the Wye. And this is where it all gets very interesting because all these announcements and changes are limited to England. The Water Act means they don't even apply to Welsh Water assets in England, as these come under the devolved Welsh Government policy. It fails to recognise, again, the river Wye as a catchment which flows between two countries; it fails to realise that no change in English legislation will impact the source of pollution which originates in Wales. We are not even sure if it will recognise that solutions to this problem cross political boundaries. And until it does, we fear the same reasons for lack of action and lack of change will continue. The Wye is not the only cross border river. The Severn and the Dee, need cross border management too (although they barely seem mentioned these days).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_testimonial et_pb_testimonial_2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode clearfix  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light et_block_module et_pb_testimonial_no_image\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-image:url('https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Gail-Davies-Walsh-copy.jpg')\" class=\"et_pb_testimonial_portrait\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_description_inner\"><div class=\"et_pb_testimonial_content\"><p>This week's announcement of a Wye Action Plan yet again fails to recognise that it is a cross border river and that changes in English legislation will not affect the source of nutrient pollution in Wales.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"et_pb_testimonial_meta\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_7  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>And through all of this, absolutely no-one has given any thought to the non-designated rivers which are actually at the heart and soul of our communities and towns in Wales. Nutrient neutrality never applied to any of these and there have been no housing restrictions in any of these areas. These rivers are too often ignored, suffering the same impacts through development, being the disposal ground for unwanted slurry from their neighbouring SAC rivers and the sinks for much urban and highway pollution. It is no wonder that many of our rivers are devoid of the fish and habitat that we should have a right to see.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>We cannot urge our own Government enough to remain steadfast in their commitments and to ensure that, in Wales at least, its policies are delivered while ensuring the protection and enhancement of our precious water environment. It is surely time to encompass the Habitats Regulations directly into Welsh law.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_image et_pb_image_3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1264\" height=\"839\" src=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"sig2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2-1080x717.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2-980x650.jpg 980w, https:\/\/afonyddcymru.cambrianweb.dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sig2-480x319.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1264px) 100vw, 1264px\" class=\"wp-image-5148\" \/><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_8  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>More Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/100000-more-homes-to-be-built-via-reform-of-defective-eu-laws?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&amp;utm_source=0da15698-47d7-42b7-9cc2-34dcd9686587&amp;utm_content=immediately\"> \"100,000 more homes to be built via reform of defective EU laws.\"<\/a> GOV.UK announcement, 29 August 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_text et_pb_text_9  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">Posted: <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The time has come to adopt the Habitats Regulations directly into Welsh law&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8350,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70,61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ceo-blog-cy","category-newyddion"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - 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