http://www.cla.org.uk/rss/News_Wales.xml Rural News from the CLA en-gb Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:37:55 GMT Copyright: © 2013 CLA, http://www.cla.org.uk http://www.cla.org.uk The alternative holiday accommodation such as Shepherd huts, Gypsy caravan's, Tipi and Yurts are all incredibly popular across Britain these days and are becoming the preferred living quarters for the growing number of festival goers: they also offer a great diversification opportunity for many farmers/landowners to take an income from. CLA members Margot and Anthony Porter hosted a Farm Diversification day for over 30 CLA members last month and explained that they had researched a number of different options in the alternative accommodation sector on their 130 acre mixed organic farm Ty Gwyn in Radnorshire, but were keen to have something that could extend either side of the holiday period. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1014052/ With six new bills on the horizon, and significant implications for rural businesses inevitable CLA membership has a deep pool of expert opinion for the Government to draw on. Speaking at the evening reception at the Pierhead in Cardiff last night (Tues, 11 Jun) which the Association hosted, Mr Griffith stressed the need for fully rural proofing the legislative programme ahead. "We could end up stifling the rural economy for a generation," he says, adding that for a vibrant rural economy regulation had to be structured in a way that supported both conservation and business. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1014051/ Two major CLA lobbying successes that result in reducing planning regulations in England has made it easier to bring agricultural and office buildings back into productive use. CLA Wales urges Welsh Government to adopt a similar approach immediately to stop Welsh rural businesses falling further behind. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013924/ Residents in Powys are being urged to report any incidents of illegal off-roading they witness. Illegal use of motorised vehicles is widespread across Wales, and Powys is by no means an exception. Now the Powys Community Safety Partnership (CSP) wants the county's residents to join in the efforts of tackling illegal off-roading in the local countryside. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013913/ The CLA Game Fair is looking for two young members to do front-desk, media registration and general administrative work for the press office team in the Media Centre prior to and during this year's CLA Game Fair which is being held at Ragley Hall Warwickshire on 19-21 July. Successful applicants will receive payment, accommodation and expenses. If you or members of your family might be interested in this opportunity, please contact CLA Communications Director Ollie Wilson on ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk or call 0207 235 0511 Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013912/ As the world's largest countryside show, the CLA Game Fair generates around £80million for the regional and wider rural economy with upwards of 144,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitors. The event takes place from Friday, 19 July to Sunday, 21 July, and will see a team of 600 contractors put up six miles of fencing, lay 20 miles of cabling, erect 55,000 sq. ft. of tents and put down 10 miles of water pipes pumping 10,000 gallons of water per hour. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013911/ We strongly urge members to contact the office to let us know of any flooding experienced on their ground after encountering one of the wettest years in living memory in 2012. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is putting flooding high on its agenda and wants to tackle the challenges through greater collaboration and shared information. To find out the extent of the devastating impact that flooding can have more information is needed to pinpoint specific areas most vulnerable. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013910/ With this year's SPS application just past, Single Farm Payments are high on the agenda for farmers and many should take this opportunity to consider protecting their payment by locking in an exchange rate now. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013909/ The CLA has responded to the European Union-wide consultation "A common approach to reducing the harm caused by criminal use of firearms in the EU". The consultation has been designed to inform the European Commission about whether action is needed at European level to reduce the threat of firearms to people living in the EU. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013908/ CLA Wales would like to arrange a visit to Brussels so that Welsh members can experience what and where major decisions are made regarding, amongst many other things, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013907/ "We will continue to lobby Welsh Government on the concept of a part farm agri-environment scheme which we believe will deliver greater environmental benefits compared with a whole farm scheme," says Sue Evans, Policy Director for CLA Wales. Fri, 24 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013906/ Two major CLA lobbying successes that result in reducing planning regulations in England has made it easier to bring agricultural and office buildings back into productive use. CLA Wales urges Welsh Government to adopt a similar approach immediately to stop Welsh rural businesses falling further behind.Both proposals, announced last week, will come into force 30 May and will mean that farms and rural businesses in England will be able to convert existing buildings which are presently empty or unfit for purpose, to suit modern purposes and benefit the rural economy Tue, 14 May 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013790/ Finding competitive insurance for your land and business can be a challenge. CLA Insurance Services (CLAIS) offers CLA members excellent service and a new competitively priced enhanced landowner's policy with pollution cover as standard. Find out more about how CLAIS can help you to find the right policy for your needs by calling 01234 311211 or register your interest at www.clainsurance.co.uk/Register Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013591/ The Welsh Government is looking to appoint two new members to the Snowdonia National Park Authority to provide effective leadership for the Park Authority and to help develop its strategic plans for the future. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013590/ Creative Rural Communities (CRC), the Vale of Glamorgan Council's rural regeneration initiative has added £215,000 worth of funding from the Welsh Government for farming families in the rural Vale following the success of its Pride in Our Farming Families scheme in 2011. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013586/ A casual vacancy has arisen for any qualifying person who would like to come forward for co-option onto the board. You need to either own land falling in the district or be nominated by a land owner to act as their representative. The co-option will last until the next election which is due in the autumn of this year. If interested please contact: Leigh O'Connor on 01691 830079 or email: pidb@btconnect.com Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013585/ Following publication of the European Commission's proposals to amend the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive in December 2012, the CLA has been lobbying at national level to ensure the Government understands the depths of our concerns over these proposals. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013584/ CLA Wales has received feedback of excess holiday accommodation in some regions where members are being: Struck by Empty Property Business Rates Refused permission to lift planning conditions and let holiday cottages as domestic housing Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013583/ CLA Housing Adviser Danielle Troop has met with the Welsh Government Officer leading on the delivery of the 2013 Welsh Housing Policy to express an interest in affordable housing by cross-subsidy from open market housing. Although yet to be proposed in Welsh Government literature CLA has been asked to propose pilot projects. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013582/ Minimum energy performance ratings in the private rented sector are the subject of intense lobbying by the CLA. We are currently the only organisation representing the owners of traditional properties on the Department for Energy and Climate Change's (DECC) Secondary Regulation Working Group. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 GMT http://www.cla.org.uk/RSS/RN/1013580/