Nick Ramsay AM explores National Park project work

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority was delighted to brief the Assembly Member on the latest sustainable projects it has enabled in the areas of Abercrave, Pontneddfechan, Talgarth and Myddfai.  Mr John Cook, Chief Executive and Mr Julian Atkins, Director of Countryside and Land Management for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority introduced Mr Ramsay to some of the National Park Authority’s key initiatives including Fforest Fawr Geopark, Waterfalls Country, Collabor8 and its pump priming work in helping to set up The Green Valleys initiative which is now operating independently within the Park.

Commenting after the visit Nick Ramsay AM said:  “The work the National Park Authority is doing is really impressive – there is so much going on it is hard to take it all in on one visit.  I am particularly impressed with the enabling role the National Park Authority is taking on green energy. The micro-hydro installation we saw on Mr Howell Williams’ farm at Abercrave shows just what can be achieved with imagination and determination.  I will be suggesting to my colleagues that they should see the work being done and hope we can arrange another visit later this year.”

Mrs Margaret Underwood, the National Park Authority’s Member Champion for Biodiversity said: “It has been really good to show Nick just a fraction of the work we are doing to help support local communities and businesses. We have been really successful is using limited sources of funds such as the sustainable development fund to lever in additional resources for a whole range of green energy projects.”

Mr Julian Atkins, Director for Countryside and Land Management said, “Mr Ramsay was very interested in our wide-ranging projects particularly our work on small scale renewable energy development.  He was obviously very knowledgeable on the local and national issues we are facing and we feel that the visit was highly beneficial.  We look forward to hosting future site visits with Mr Ramsay and his colleagues later in the year.”