With the announcement that the Welsh and UK Governments have united to create a £1 million fund to transform the River Wye, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Climate Change Janet Finch-Saunders MS highlighted that this demonstrates that the two governments see the need for the 33 rivers of Wales to be treated on a case by case basis, yet no money is allocated to 32.
Commenting on the announcement of £1 million to transform the River Wye, Janet said:
“Wales has 33 rivers, along with many lakes and smaller watercourses, yet the Welsh and UK Governments are only uniting to co-operate on improving 1. What about the other rivers in Wales?
“The decision by two national governments to target just one river indicates that each one should be treated on a case by case basis. I would agree with that, and therefore highlight again how wrong it is that the Welsh Government is subjecting all farms in Wales to the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021.
“That there is an obsession by both governments at either end of the M4 with targeting farmers is apparent when you look at the main aims of this new cross-border research programme. They specifically refer to “farming practices” but make no direct mention of pollution caused by water companies.
“Where there is evidence of illegal agricultural pollution, that should be stopped. Where there is evidence of water companies polluting rivers, that should be stopped. We need more action, not more talking shops.
“The £1 million would be better spent on upgrading water treatment plants beside watercourses in Wales. However, when considering that angling and associated river tourism brings in visitors and much needed employment and revenue to the Welsh rural economy, estimated to be worth £150 million each year, £1 million, which equates to 0.6%, is actually a very, very small drop”.
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Gyda'r cyhoeddiad bod Llywodraethau Cymru a'r DU wedi uno i greu cronfa gwerth £1 miliwn i drawsnewid Afon Gwy, tynnodd Gweinidog dros Newid Hinsawdd yr Wrthblaid dros y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Janet Finch-Saunders AS, sylw at y ffaith fod hyn yn dangos bod y ddwy lywodraeth yn gweld bod angen trin 33 o afonydd Cymru fesul achosion unigol. Fodd bynnag, nid oes unrhyw arian yn cael ei ddyrannu i 32 ohonynt.
Wrth sôn am y cyhoeddiad o £1 miliwn i drawsnewid Afon Gwy, dywedodd Janet:
"Mae gan Gymru 33 o afonydd, ynghyd â llawer o lynnoedd a chyrsiau dŵr llai, ac eto mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU yn uno i gydweithredu i wella dim ond un. Beth am afonydd eraill Cymru?
"Mae'r penderfyniad gan ddwy lywodraeth genedlaethol i dargedu un afon yn unig yn dangos y dylai pob un gael ei thrin fel achos unigol. Byddwn yn cytuno â hynny, ac felly'n tynnu sylw eto at ba mor anghywir yw hi fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud pob fferm yng Nghymru yn ddarostyngedig i Reoliadau Adnoddau Dŵr (Rheoli Llygredd Amaethyddol) (Cymru) 2021.
"Mae'r ffaith bod yna obsesiwn gan y ddwy lywodraeth ar naill ben yr M4 gyda thargedu ffermwyr yn amlwg wrth edrych ar brif amcanion y rhaglen ymchwil drawsffiniol newydd hon. Maen nhw’n cyfeirio'n benodol at "arferion ffermio" heb sôn yn uniongyrchol am lygredd a achosir gan gwmnïau dŵr.
"Pan fo tystiolaeth o lygredd amaethyddol anghyfreithlon, dylid atal hynny. Pan fo tystiolaeth bod cwmnïau dŵr yn llygru afonydd, dylid atal hynny. Mae angen mwy o weithredu, nid siop siarad arall.
"Byddai'n well gwario'r £1 miliwn ar uwchraddio gweithfeydd trin dŵr wrth ymyl cyrsiau dŵr yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, wrth ystyried bod pysgota a thwristiaeth afon gysylltiedig yn dod ag ymwelwyr a chyflogaeth fawr ei hangen yn ogystal â refeniw i economi wledig Cymru (yr amcangyfrifir ei fod yn werth £150 miliwn bob blwyddyn) mae £1 miliwn, sy'n cyfateb i 0.6%, mewn gwirionedd yn swm bach iawn, iawn".
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
