Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM / AC
Datganiadau'r Wasg
Nid yw'r dudalen hon ar gael ar hyn o bryd
13 July 2006
Local AM calls on landowners to take advantage of financial schemes
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr's National Assembly Member for Wales has called on landowners to make use of the grants available for the preservation of hedgerows. Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM was speaking after recently joining local lorry driver Eifion Jones to see the problems with overgrowing hedges.
Mr Thomas said:
"There is a problem with overgrowing hedges that are encroaching onto the roads and making driving difficult. There are two schemes available to assist landowners in the maintenance of their land boundaries and I would advise all landowners that qualify for these schemes to take full advantage of them."
Mr Thomas added:
"Both schemes provide financial aid for landowners and give assistance in planting new hedges, maintaining existing hedgerows and training landowners in the preservation of their boundaries. I would welcome any landowners that would like to know more to contact my office."
Diwedd / Ends
Notes to Editors
WRITTEN ASSEMBLY QUESTION TABLED ON 04 JULY 2006 FOR ANSWER BY THE MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND COUNTRYSIDE ON 11 JULY 2006
Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) : Will the Minister make a statement on the responsibility of cutting roadside hedges and detail any funding available to landowners. (WAQ 47528)
Transferred for answer by the Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks
Andrew Davies: In general roadside hedges mark boundaries to property and as such their maintenance is the responsibility of adjoining landowners, not the highway authority.
Exceptionally a highway authority may be responsible for a hedge if it was created to mitigate the environmental impact of a new scheme and cut other hedges to maintain the safety of road users, where the owner is in default of a notice properly served to that effect under Section 154 of the Highways Act 1980.
There are two schemes providing funding for hedges on agricultural land:
Tir Goval, a scheme sponsored by the Countryside Council for Wales pays for the planting of new hedges but currently closed to applications pending a move to Assembly Government administration later this year; and
Tir Cynnal, a scheme administered by the Rural Payments Division of the Environment Planning and Countryside Business Unit, provides for the preservation of hedgerows and includes a training element to equip landowners with the skills necessary to cut and lay hedges to ensure their preservation.
For further information contact Owen Hathway on 01269 597677 or 07921146442
