Friends of the Earth Pembrokeshire met with Angela Burns, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, to discuss how we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time build a local green economy.

Angela was concerned to go forward with positive projects that are innovative and create jobs at the same time.

One example here is the Glanrhyd Solar Village which has just opened but has got great potential to be replicated in other places in Pembrokeshire and Wales to provide affordable eco-housing. An idea that was discussed was to turn the Brawdy army base that is due to close into a green energy park where innovative renewable energy projects could be based and developed.

Angela was also keen to build on the good track record of recycling in Wales and work on introducing a bottle deposit scheme.

A very problematic development that Friends of the Earth are concerned about and campaigning against is the planned waste and wood gasification plant in Blackbridge, Milford Haven. This plant is not sustainable and will cause further harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and Angela Burns shared these concerns. It is not too late to take action, and residents have until February 2 to object to the proposal (Go to biofuelwatch.org.uk/2017/egnedol-gasifier-objection).

Bettina Becker, of Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth, said: “The discussion was really constructive and we were pleased that Angela was very proactive and wants to support the projects we discussed. We will stay in dialogue and hope for more action to bring exiting and truly sustainable projects to Pembrokeshire, as well as working to prevent unsustainable developments such as the planned Blackbridge plant.”

The meeting was held in Angela’s Tenby office and was part of an all-Wales ‘speak up’ on climate change campaign, organised by Stop Climate Chaos Cymru, aimed at all Assembly Members and Welsh MPs in their own constituencies and regions.