WALES: Bates finds holes in Labour environment plans
Mick Bates, Welsh Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, takes the Labour Assembly Government to task over its environmental policies this week.
Mr Bates has analysed the State of the Environment report jointly produced by the Assembly, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency.
He has identified a series of omissions from the Assembly Government's environmental action plan.
Top of the list are a failure to produce planning guidance for sustainable energy projects and a neglect of the impact of industry and business on climate change.
Mr Bates has put forward 10 amendments to what he describes as the Labour Assembly Government's short-sighted reaction to the report, in an Assembly debate on Wednesday.
He said today: "The report is right to point out that improving the natural environment is a long term aim. But before any change can happen, the government has to make a start. The omissions from the Government's programme undermine the process."