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Top story
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Jones calls for research menu
Welsh universities need to get together and work out the priority areas for research, deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said this morning. He said the Welsh Assembly Government had a right to establish the basic principles behind research that could generate jobs and wealth. He invited institutions to come up with a “menu” of research options. He told the Institute of Welsh Affairs conference on science policy: “Because we are a small country we have to work a lot more together. Wales isn't capturing its fair share of research and development money. We've got to decide the areas we want to concentrate on.” Jones also hinted that the Assembly Government would rethink the way it uses European structural funds. “We want to leave a legacy that leaves our research base stronger and more resilient,” he said.
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Development
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Biomass to provide one watt in five
Wales will generate at least a fifth of its electricity from plants and waste by 2020, according to targets drawn up by environment minister Jane Davidson. The Bioenergy Action Plan for Wales aims to generate at least 5 terawatt hours of electricity – 20 per cent of current needs – from renewable biomass within 11 years. Biomass will also be used to provide 2.5 terawatt hours of usable heat energy – 3 per cent of current needs. Biomass includes plants, trees and vegetations as well as sewage and animal waste. It is regarded as “carbon neutral” as it absorbs the same amount of carbon while growing as it produces when burned. Davidson said the plan would create 1,000 jobs. The Assembly’s new offices in Aberystwyth and Llandudno Junction will use biomass heating.
Healthy work for Midas
Midas Construction Wales has won two jobs from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University NHS Trust worth £4m. They are a new-build mental health rehabilitation centre in Quarella Road, Bridgend, and an education centre at the town’s Princess of Wales Hospital. Both projects are scheduled to be completed this autumn and are on land belonging to the ABM Trust, the largest trust in Wales covering a population of 600,000 and employing 16,000 people.
Car plant plans delayed
Plans for a car factory at Llanelli, backed by the Welsh Government Assembly, have been held up after the Assembly Government was asked to call them in. The request came the day before Carmarthenshire Council was expected to consider and approve plans for Connaught Motors’ sports car plant in the town. The Welsh Industrial Partnership, which includes the Assembly Government, applied for planning permission for a 25,000 sq ft industrial unit on land at Llanelli for Connaught. Carmarthenshire’s head of planning Eifion Bowen said: “No details have been provided as yet but it is understood that it is related to the issue of the water quality in the Burry Inlet. Carmarthenshire is awaiting further clarification.”
Tourism plan for Neath valleys
Neath Port Talbot Council is to invest in rural tourism and regeneration schemes. The council won £1.5m from the Rural Development Plan for Wales (RDP), administered by the Welsh Assembly Government. The cash will go on grants for accommodation providers; tourism development co-ordinators for the Neath, Dulais, Swansea and Amman valleys; transport; and various community schemes. Council leader Derek Vaughan said: “We can look at how tourism can bring benefits to valley communities and how we can encourage entrepreneurs to start up local businesses.”
Bont scheme gets the nod
Swansea Council has backed a £40m regeneration scheme for Pontarddulais put forward by developer Hygrove Holdings. The redevelopment of the former Western Power/Swalec depot town’s St Teilo Street will be anchored by a 45,000 sq ft Tesco store supported by 49 homes for Coastal Housing Group, public open space linking the store to the town centre and a new road transport system. The second stage will include the final phase of the bypass, playing fields for football and rugby, and opening up old paths. Hygrove, based in Swansea, is backed by David Huw Francis and Robert John Sullivan. Architectural and planning advice was provided by Boyes Rees.
Partners sought for deprivation groups
The Assembly Government is to set up two local partnerships to administer the Deprived Area Fund, which is backed by the UK’s Department of Work and Pensions. It has invited bids for the new partnerships with the aim of developing local solutions to tackling unemployment. The two new partnership areas and details about how funding will be allocated will be announced in April. Skills minister John Griffiths said “The fund provides an opportunity for partners in the private, voluntary and statutory sectors to work together to help local people gain valuable skills and experience that will hopefully lead to employment.”
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Enterprise
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Princely scheme brings academics to Wales
The University of Wales has set up a £11.4m project to attract the world’s top academics to work with Welsh companies. The Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships programme will offer each PhD student a stipend of £20,000 per year, a research grant of £5,000 and free tuition. The 100 top graduates recruited will undertake research to enhance the innovation potential of Welsh business. The programme is backed by the Prince of Wales, the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts and the Welsh Assembly Government.
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Regulation
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No modification to GM opposition
Growers of genetically modified (GM) foods will have to keep them separate from traditional crops and may have to pay compensation for contamination under rules being drawn up by rural affairs minister Elin Jones. The regulations will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland. The Assembly Government will seek views on GM-free zones, banning GM crop cultivation in national parks and sites of special scientific interest, and will propose a statutory national register and requirement to inform neighbours and landowners about GM crops. Jones said: “The Welsh Assembly Government’s position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation. It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach.”
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