Wednesday, November 13, 2013

BBC News - National parks visitors spend £1bn according to report

BBC News - National parks visitors spend £1bn according to report: "However, he added: "People come to the national parks because of the landscape and the people who live there - they don't come because of the national park authorities."

The Authorities do nothing for the communities as far as social and economic wellbeing is concerned, the fact that people visit and spend in these areas is not directly attributable to the existence of a layer of local government, however the effect of a restrictive planning regime costs the regions many more £millions in lost business opportunities, Llanbedr airfield being a case in point!


Simon Hart is a breath of fresh air with regard to the elitist concept of national parks where the less affluent cannot afford to visit and the residents suffer from what international human rights observers describe as ‘soft eviction’ and ‘voluntary resettlement’, the problem with Wales is that well over 50% of the land area is a protected landscape, this is unsustainable and of no economic benefit to the indigenous population.

'via Blog this'

Friday, November 8, 2013

Fear for future of tourist information centres as visitor numbers fall by 7,000 - North Wales Weekly News

Fear for future of tourist information centres as visitor numbers fall by 7,000 - North Wales Weekly News: " Although the future of the visitor centres had not yet reached the “critical point”, Mr Williams said their future was just one aspect that the SNPA was looking at in the way it assessed its effectiveness."

The whole concept of national parks needs to be revisited, can we Welsh afford them?

'via Blog this'

Friday, November 1, 2013

Language campaigners demand re-think of Welsh budget - Wales Online

Language campaigners demand re-think of Welsh budget - Wales Online: "According to the draft budget, spending on the language  will fall from £25,076,000 this year to £24,376,000 in 2014-15, falling further to £23,511,000 in 2015-16. That would be a cut of £700,000 next year and £856,000 in the following year."

How many affordable homes could we build every year for that sort of money?

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

New affordable housing initiative in Wales delivers hundreds of homes | Europe | News

New affordable housing initiative in Wales delivers hundreds of homes | Europe | News: "The Welsh Housing Partnership initiative has now bought more than 400 properties in local authority areas across the whole of Wales, with more than £46 million of investment."

400 eh, wow, we only need another 90,000

'via Blog this'

Monday, October 14, 2013

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Wales’ legacy of ill-health could dash our hopes of prosperity - Wales Online

Wales’ legacy of ill-health could dash our hopes of prosperity - Wales Online: "Dr Hussey said: “Poverty harms health and the impact may worsen, at least temporarily, with the economic downturn and benefit reform. Poor health in turn places a significant burden on the economy."

Decrepit housing and people packed into them like sardines doesn't help.

'via Blog this'