Post by highplains on Nov 19, 2005 12:00:36 GMT -1
THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY WALES; PRESSURE GROUP UPDATE
Just a few lines to let you all know how things have been progressing as far as the pressure group is concerned.
I met the North Wales AM Brynle Williams on Friday 18th November 2005 to discuss the pressure group and to request his support in our efforts to increase the number of enforcement officers policing our rivers, particularly in North Wales.
Just to put you completely in the picture, I was surprised how easy it was to make contact with Brynle, once he knew why I wanted to speak to him. I expected a stereotype politician, overflowing with his own self importance and reluctant to speak to the likes of me. In fact I met a very friendly and ‘human’ politician who seemed genuinely interested in our cause and who wanted to know all about it. He is a working farmer himself with a genuine interest in the countryside, he is also well aware of the importance of country pursuits to the economy of Wales. Then, just to confirm that I could not have found a more appropriate standard bearer for the cause, he told me that he has been appointed shadow for Environment, Planning and Countryside in the Assembly. It could not be better!
We met for a full hour and he listened with interest to all the points I raised from comments on the performance indicators for the Environment Agency Wales to the many points raised on the forum.
When I asked Brynle if he was prepared to support us, he thought for a moment. He wanted to make it perfectly clear that he was more than willing to fully support the principle of improving the policing of our rivers and would look towards organising means of pressurising the Assembly and Assembly Members directly.
We agreed that the pressure group would prepare a fully detailed paper listing all relevant information for Brynle to use to lobby support in the Assembly and this he has promised to do. The intention is to provide this detailed information by early January in time to start to apply pressure from the beginning of the new year.
To those of you who think the timescale is a little slow may I just say that we must try to build a solid case based upon solid information. We need to be sure of our facts and be sure to exclude rumour and innuendo.
May I also take this opportunity to thank:
Hoppy: for his consistent support and encouragement.
Silver Stoat; for educating me in the wonders of editing and working the forum.
Steve Evans; for waiting patiently on the side lines to ‘get stuck in’ and help.
Lets all hope that this is the start of a process that will help protect our fish, our fisheries and all those who enjoy them.
Please keep up the pressure on the Environment Agency Wales, and the EA over the boarder if they deserve it as well.
Don’t forget to add to your catch return for this season ANGLERS DEMAND MORE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY BALIFFS ON OUR WATERS.
Regards and thanks for all your comments.
.
Highplains
Just a few lines to let you all know how things have been progressing as far as the pressure group is concerned.
I met the North Wales AM Brynle Williams on Friday 18th November 2005 to discuss the pressure group and to request his support in our efforts to increase the number of enforcement officers policing our rivers, particularly in North Wales.
Just to put you completely in the picture, I was surprised how easy it was to make contact with Brynle, once he knew why I wanted to speak to him. I expected a stereotype politician, overflowing with his own self importance and reluctant to speak to the likes of me. In fact I met a very friendly and ‘human’ politician who seemed genuinely interested in our cause and who wanted to know all about it. He is a working farmer himself with a genuine interest in the countryside, he is also well aware of the importance of country pursuits to the economy of Wales. Then, just to confirm that I could not have found a more appropriate standard bearer for the cause, he told me that he has been appointed shadow for Environment, Planning and Countryside in the Assembly. It could not be better!
We met for a full hour and he listened with interest to all the points I raised from comments on the performance indicators for the Environment Agency Wales to the many points raised on the forum.
When I asked Brynle if he was prepared to support us, he thought for a moment. He wanted to make it perfectly clear that he was more than willing to fully support the principle of improving the policing of our rivers and would look towards organising means of pressurising the Assembly and Assembly Members directly.
We agreed that the pressure group would prepare a fully detailed paper listing all relevant information for Brynle to use to lobby support in the Assembly and this he has promised to do. The intention is to provide this detailed information by early January in time to start to apply pressure from the beginning of the new year.
To those of you who think the timescale is a little slow may I just say that we must try to build a solid case based upon solid information. We need to be sure of our facts and be sure to exclude rumour and innuendo.
May I also take this opportunity to thank:
Hoppy: for his consistent support and encouragement.
Silver Stoat; for educating me in the wonders of editing and working the forum.
Steve Evans; for waiting patiently on the side lines to ‘get stuck in’ and help.
Lets all hope that this is the start of a process that will help protect our fish, our fisheries and all those who enjoy them.
Please keep up the pressure on the Environment Agency Wales, and the EA over the boarder if they deserve it as well.
Don’t forget to add to your catch return for this season ANGLERS DEMAND MORE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY BALIFFS ON OUR WATERS.
Regards and thanks for all your comments.
.
Highplains