Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has spoken yesterday on the dire condition of rivers, lakes and seas across Wales.
In 2023, a total of 115,525 discharges were counted in Wales, with untreated sewage being discharged for over a million hours through storm overflows.
Responding to a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Huw Irranca MS, it was made clear that the Welsh Government are not doing enough to approach this complex and multifaceted problem.
Issues remain around enforcement and fines applied by regulatory bodies in Wales, such as NRW, with fines sometimes being issues sporadically and sparsely or even when fines are issued the revenue for them is being sent to the Treasury in London.
Commenting on the statement Janet said:
“I am pleased that the Welsh Government are determined to try and solve the complex issue of pollution in our waterways. However, I am unimpressed with their approach and attitude.
“The Welsh Government has consistently overlooked innovative approaches to address this issue, remaining stuck in a narrow and linear mindset.
“One approach that I have been advocating for is Project Madoc. A 12-month feasibility study, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, evaluating the economic, environmental, and social viability of creating a sustainable seaweed cultivation and processing industry in Wales using native species.
“It found that seaweed farming can have a net-positive effect on the marine environment, improving water quality, enhancing coastal protection and boosting biodiversity. Within this decade, Wales has the potential to build a £105 million industry, contributing £76.3 million to the economy and creating close to 1,000 jobs.
“However, the Welsh Government are still being overly cautious and reluctant to embrace these progressive and innovative projects.
“Not only this, but Welsh Ministers are still unable to get a grip of improving our water infrastructure which seems to be leading to so many of these discharges.
“What I am keen for is that the revenue for fines by regulatory bodies in Wales for Welsh environmental breaches remain in the Wales and are not sent to the treasury in London. To me this seems completely unfair with Westminster pocketing this money that could, and should, be spent on improving our water infrastructure.”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi siarad ddoe am gyflwr enbyd afonydd, llynnoedd a moroedd ledled Cymru.
Yn 2023, cyfrifwyd cyfanswm o 115,525 o ollyngiadau yng Nghymru, gyda charthion heb eu trin yn cael eu rhyddhau am dros filiwn o oriau trwy orlif stormydd.
Wrth ymateb i ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd, Huw Irranca AS, fe'i gwnaed yn glir nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud digon i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem gymhleth ac amlhaenog hon.
Mae’r problemau’n parhau ynghylch gorfodi a dirwyon sy’n cael eu cymhwyso gan gyrff rheoleiddio yng Nghymru, fel CNC, gyda’r dirwyon hyn yn cael eu rhoi yn achlysurol os o gwbl a hyd yn oed pan fydd dirwyon yn cael eu talu, mae'r refeniw ar eu cyfer yn cael ei anfon i'r Trysorlys yn Llundain.
Gan gyfeirio at y datganiad dywedodd Janet:
"Rwy'n falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn benderfynol o geisio datrys problem gymhleth llygredd yn ein dyfrffyrdd. Fodd bynnag, dydw i ddim yn hoff o’u hagwedd na'u hymddygiad.
"Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi anwybyddu dulliau arloesol o fynd i'r afael â'r broblem hon yn gyson, gan gadw at feddylfryd cul a hen ffasiwn.
"Mae Prosiect Madoc yn un dull rydw i wedi bod yn ei argymell. Astudiaeth ddichonoldeb 12 mis yw’r prosiect, wedi'i ariannu gan Gronfa Forwrol a Physgodfeydd Ewrop, ac mae’n gwerthuso hyfywedd economaidd, amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol creu diwydiant trin a phrosesu gwymon cynaliadwy yng Nghymru gan ddefnyddio rhywogaethau brodorol.
"Canfu y gall ffermio gwymon gael effaith net-gadarnhaol ar yr amgylchedd morol, gwella ansawdd dŵr, gwella amddiffyniad arfordirol a hybu bioamrywiaeth. O fewn y degawd hwn, mae gan Gymru y potensial i adeiladu diwydiant gwerth £105 miliwn, gan gyfrannu £76.3 miliwn i'r economi a chreu bron i 1,000 o swyddi.
"Fodd bynnag, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i fod yn or-ofalus ac mae’n amharod i gofleidio'r prosiectau blaengar ac arloesol hyn.
"Nid yn unig hyn, ond dydy Gweinidogion Cymru ddim yn gallu cael trefn ar wella ein seilwaith dŵr sy'n ymddangos fel pe bai'n arwain at gymaint o'r gollyngiadau hyn.
"Yr hyn rwy'n awyddus i’w weld yw bod y refeniw o ddirwyon gan gyrff rheoleiddio yng Nghymru am dorri rheolau amgylcheddol yng Nghymru yn aros yng Nghymru ac nad ydyn nhw’n mynd i'r trysorlys yn Llundain. I mi, mae hyn yn ymddangos yn gwbl annheg gyda San Steffan yn pocedu'r arian hwn a allai, ac y dylai, gael ei wario ar wella ein seilwaith dŵr."
DIWEDD
