As plans for an eco-village in Pembrokeshire are turned down by councillors, Mick Bates AM, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment, urges the Assembly Government to support zero-energy developments across Wales:

“Wales has a statutory duty to promote sustainable development and we should be leading the way on this issue. 

“Instead we are failing to meet our targets for generating renewable energy, carbon emissions in Wales are the highest in the UK and we are turning down developments which enshrine the very concept of sustainable living.

“The low impact settlement proposed by Lammas is an exemplary model of sustainable living which would enhance the local environment, benefit the local economy and make best use of natural resources to generate their own renewable energy and support a livelihood for the village residents.

“I am disappointed that the proposal has been rejected.  People have worked hard on these plans.  As the UK Government are announcing a competition to develop eco-towns across Britain, Wales should not cower in fear of ‘opening the floodgates for similar proposals’ but should tear down the barriers and let the proposals flood forward.

“In Powys we have another zero energy development project being proposed by the WyeZED group who hope to build an affordable, community owned and environmentally friendly village in Newbridge-on-Wye.  The environmental focus and community spirit that are key to this project epitomise the ethos that we need to become a more sustainable society.

“Affordable rural housing is a major problem in many areas of Wales.  These settlements offer an innovative solution as we move forward and try to resolve the rural housing crisis.

“Wales should be leading the way on zero carbon developments and the Assembly Government and local authorities should be supporting such pioneering proposals that can help move Wales towards and greener and more sustainable future.” 

End / Diwedd