The Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has written to the Welsh Government to urge that they “give the voluntary approach a real chance” before imposing a Wales-wide NVZ. 

In a cross-Parliamentary letter organised with Virginia Crosbie MP (Ynys Môn), and signed by eighteen Welsh Conservative Members, it was outlined that the Blue Flag Farming approach was not backed by Welsh Government when farmers applied for funding through the RDP Sustainable Management Scheme. Ministerial responses to reports and letters over the Water Standard and the Wales Land Management Forum Sub-group on agricultural pollution were also not forthcoming. 

Commenting on the letter, Janet said: 

“Following two Senedd debates and a vote on annulling, I have joined with my Welsh Conservative colleagues in writing out to the First Minister to once again ask him to listen to the Agricultural industry and to concede that the proposed NVZ is a regulatory overstep that should be halted. 

“As I have tried to make clear in my series of representations to this devolved administration, the Regulations are already having a detrimental impact on the mental health of many in agriculture. Given that this concern was also raised in their own Explanatory Memorandum, the continued pursuit of the NVZ should alarm us all. 

“Sadly, instead of actively engaging with the Welsh farming sector as they sought to provide actionable recommendations on how best to protect the environment, no detailed reply was issued to the Water Standard and the Wales Land Management Forum Sub-group on agricultural pollution. 

“Our letter urges the First Minister to renew his trust of our land custodians and give the voluntary approach a real chance. It is not too late to recognise the serious plight of our Welsh farmers and reel in this regulatory misstep.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:  

• Please find a copy of the joint letter attached.  

Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS