The environment of Wales is very diverse and includes some of Europe’s most sensitive sites as well as some severely degraded areas. Local authorities provide a wide range of essential local services that contribute to the protection and enhancement of urban and rural environments alike.
They are responsible for the identification of contaminated land, they lead on pollution prevention/control, working closely with the Environment Agency (EA). They are often the lead for taking forward biodiversity work in their areas and also for implementing the Countryside Rights of Way Act, managing sites of special scientific interest and working with the Countryside Council for Wales and other partners on Area of Outstanding of Natural Beauty. Other areas of activity include remediation of contaminated land, opening up access in our countryside and flood protection and defence activity.
Regeneration can sometimes be portrayed as an activity that is in conflict with protection of the environment. Certainly, poorly thought through regeneration schemes can have negative environmental implications (e.g. through poor design, poor choice/sourcing of materials, generation of additional traffic and congestion, use of valuable land/habitats). However, local authorities are now taking a much more holistic view of regeneration, recognising that protection and enhancement of the environment should be an integral part of regeneration efforts. This requires a corporate approach within the local authority and good partnership working with other agencies and local communities.
Key Issues
A prosperous environment can contribute to economic and social well-being. The challenge for the environment is one of profile. This is because issues such as dog fouling, litter can appear trivial compared to issues of ill-health, lack of employment and high crime. However, tackling the causes which impact on our environment can have a positive effect on people’s health and bring investment into the area.
Climate change has been recognised as the most important environmental issue and by some has been regarded as an even greater threat than terrorism (Sir David King, Government Scientific Advisor). The Stern Report showed that there is an economic case for taking action to address climate change, given the negative impact it could have on the economy if no actions are taken. Climate change issues affect not only our energy policies and how we reduce carbon emissions, but how we respond to a more volatile weather system with the likelihood of more floods, and also how our trees, shrubs and animals respond to a warmer climate. These are areas where local government, should, and does play a central role.
On the regeneration front, two key WAG documents were issued during 2010:
WLGA View
The Wales Environment Strategy sets the context for a clean and vibrant environment in Wales recognising the national and global impact that residents in Wales have. Local authorities though, as community leaders have a key role to be local environment champions, to lead by example and recognise, highlight and emphasise the key role a prosperous environment has in meeting other local outcomes and delivering other policies.
We need to raise the profile of the environment and see it as an equal to economic and social issues. Local government also has to work in partnership with other agencies to provide a seamless and integrated service. To enable these relations the WLGA has a strong partnership with both the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales. We have signed Memorandum of Understandings with both organisations and sitting beneath the EA/WLGA “Working Better Together” rest technical, service-specific protocols which illustrate how local government and EA will respond and work together to tackle environmental issues.
In relation to regeneration activities, there is a growing recognition of the need for development to be sustainable. Traditional ‘growth-based’ models are being questioned in light of the concept of ‘One Planet living’ (see more detail on our sustainable development pages). This calls for a different vision of future economies, where resilience in terms of local communities is a central consideration. It also puts a spotlight on social enterprise which runs on a business model but is motivated primarily by social or environmental objectives.
WLGA Spokespeople
- Cllr Dyfed Edwards (Gwynedd): Environment, Sustainability and Housing
- Cllr Chris Holley (Swansea): Regenerataion and Europe
- Cllr Bob Wellington (Torfaen): Transportation, Planning and Networks
WLGA Deputy Spokespeople
- Cllr Matthew Evans (Newport): Waste
- Cllr Jeff Edwards (Merthyr Tydfil): Economic Development
- Cllr Ray Quant (Ceredigion): Planning
- Cllr Mel Nott (Bridgend): Transportation
For more information contact: Tim Peppin