The Madness of King George

Take a look at the picture above. It may look like an industrialised,
toxic nightmare. In fact it's a playing field. Children and adults relax
and engage in recreation here.

Parc Ynysderw was originally a tinplate works in Trebanos, in the heart of the Swansea Valley. In the 1970s and early 80s it was reclaimed, the remaining waste tip was "capped" and a new school was built on the site - Cwmtawe Comprehensive.

The remainder of the site was dedicated in 2003 as "King George V" Playing Fields, charitable trusts set aside for the enjoyment and social benefit of the community. As such it plays host to numerous sporting events, along with big cultural festivals such as the Swansea Valley Agricultural Show and the Pontardawe Festival.

It also now plays host to the biggest high pressure gas pipeline of it's kind in Western Europe.

200 years of industrialisation have deeply scarred the valleys of south wales, and the tender wounds of time are slow to heal. Now they are being torn open again - by a new wave of energy projects that will criss cross the once tranquil countryside of our nation.

As a King George V playing field, Parc Ynysderw is held in trust jointly by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the National Playing Fields Association. It's now clear that Neath Port Talbot knew about this project at least 3 years ago. The NPFA, on the other hand, have never been consulted.

Enquiries from both local residents and the NPFA about the level of compensation recieved by Neath Port Talbot Council from National Grid have been met with silence. And because an alternative venue could not be found, 25 years of history have come to an end with the winding up of the Swansea Valley Agricultural Show.

Enquiries to the Environment Agency about the actual levels of contamination on the fields have also largely been met with silence. After 6 months of hassle from local residents the Agency finally coughed up and revealed that there was at least some contamination present. 6 months which by happy coincidence takes National Grid a large step closer to completing construction of their pipeline and burying it away from the public eye. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

There is only one thing that will force the EA to do it's job and ensure that all the necessary safeguards and consents are in place, and that's sustained public pressure. The EA have got to at least maintain the pretence that they care about people's health and cleanliness of environment.

So why not give them a shout? Hassle them. Ask them if NG have submitted a Risk Assessment for working on a contaminated site. Ask them if NG have agreed a Waste Management Plan with the Agency - and the Local Authority. Ask them if there is a Pollution Prevention Plan. Or an Emergency Response Plan? As them if Nacap Land and Marine have a license to work on the site.

With a new school term in progress, once again Nacap Land and Marine are busy at work on the fields, and once again children are playing and studying next to an unregulated site. Don't let Neath Port Talbot Council or the Environment Agency get away with it.

Contact;

Ged Davies, Environment Agency,

South West Area Office,

Maes Newydd,

Llandarcy,

Neath

West Glamorgan

SA10 6JQ

E-mail; ged.davies@environment-agency.gov.uk

Will Watson,

Director, Environmental Department.

Neath Port Talbot Council.

E-mail; <environment@npt.gov.uk>

Welsh Assembly authorises destruction in the Geopark.














An innocuous series of public advertisements in last Thursdays Western Mail reveals the Welsh Assembly's true level of commitment to protecting the land and heritage of Wales. The Assembly have issued a series of certificates authorising permission for National Grid to compulsorily purchase areas of common land in the Brecon Beacons.

One of these areas is Mynydd Myddfai, in the heart of a Geopark and UNESCO World Heritage site.

Under the Government of Wales Act, responsibility for "special types of land", including common land, was devolved to the Welsh Assembly. It's curious therefore that senior Assembly officials and ministers, including pro-devolution Carwyn Jones, are denying these powers exist.

No less than 7 areas of common land lie in the path of the pipeline. Many of them are designated nature reserves and open access areas, important resources of tourism and recreation for their localities. The Assembly had the power to open public local inquiries into National Grid's plans, but as with all else, it has chosen to bow to political expediency and push these proposals through with a minimum of fuss and enquiry. At every bend and turn of this project, senior AMs, including so-called "Social Justice" Minister Edwina Hart, have passed the buck to the DTI.

Yet the Assembly's real powers are quite clearly laid out in internal memoranda put out to advise the Assembly's own Ministers and officials. It's curious that Carwyn Jones of all people - a barrister by trade - should choose to ignore these memoranda, and risk running in the face of the law in the process.

After all, he signed them.

Heddlu'n Beio Pensiynwyr am Godiad Trosedd yn Y Sgiwen!

Os mae'r Heddlu yn mynnu ar actio fel ryw fath o gwmni ddiogelwch preifet i National Quid, falle dylse NQ yn talu am swyddogion ychwanegol - yn lle talwyr treth Castell Nedd Port Talbot...

If South Wales police insist on acting like National Quid's private security firm, then maybe National Quid should foot the bill for extra coppers - rather than the cash-strapped council-tax payers of Neath Port Talbot...

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/2000localinfo/neathguardian/news/tm_headline=pipeline-protesters--to-blame-for-rising-crime-&method=full&objectid=18694477&siteid=50082-name_page.html#story_continue