Stop Press. Snow expected. Life as we know it ends.

Sitting in the head's office this afternoon at Newtown High School, talking about a magnificent Estyn Report - which I'll post about tomorrow. There's a press embargo. Sun was shining gloriously outside. Women were out walking with their babies. Snow almost disappeared. Not quite the weather where a man's fancy turns to love - but not far short of it. And then the call came through from 'County Hall'. I couldn't believe it to begin with. Thought it was a joke. A decision has been taken that every school in Powys is shut tomorrow. The education of our children has been suspended.

Good job this attitude didn't exist in 1963. The education system would have been closed down for three months. The only positive thing to be said about this is that at least its a decision. It must be one awful weather forecast tomorrow. Better go out and buy some extra provisions in case we have to hunker down for a few weeks. I wonder what effect this decision will have on the Council's school transport budget?

The Reader

Went to see 'The reader' tonight. It was a powerful film, starring Kate Winslett, David Kross and Ralph Fiennes. It was heavy. Not sure what it was trying to say. I do have a strong interest in the Second World War and what led the German nation to follow Hitler in the 1930s. How could any nation stand aside (unknowingly?) as its Government slaughtered millions of innocent people in a Holocaust. I think this film was trying to say something about how human failings can lead to terrible events. It revolves around a woman and a young man who remain silent because they have shameful secrets they don't want to disclose - with destructive consequences for them both. No laughs at all, a bit of raunchiness to lighten the first half of the film. But I enjoyed it.

We were warned

During the recent US Presidency election, two warnings about a Barack Obama victory stuck in my mind. The first was about his commitment to significantly increase the number of troops in Afghanistan - perhaps with Britain expected to pick up part of the increase. We know that 'the surge' changed the direction of the war in Iraq, and this may have influenced Obama. But Afghanistan is not Iraq, and its not next door to Pakistan. Anyway I'm not qualified to take up a firm opinion on this, but the person who warned me that this was a most unwise policy is a man with Cabinet experience. He told me that he expects the US President to change his mind.

The first warnings about the second issue came from Dr Christopher Woods on my blog. He kept informing us that Obama was into protectionism in a big, big way - concluding that this would damage the economies of the US's trading partners, including Wales. It was certainly one of Obama's main election pitches. We're soon going to find out to what extent he meant it. Boris Johnson has written a splendid article today, which informs us that President Obama has enacted a Buy America Act, which restricts the $850 billion that forms his 'financial stimulus' to businesses which use American steel. I don't know whether the final decision has been taken or not.

This is very bad news for the rest of the world. Tit for tat action against the US will follow. Today, there is a deafening amount of sabre-rattling. In Britain we are watching the fallout from Gordon Brown's ridiculous claim that he supported 'British Jobs for British workers'. And we are hearing US commentators making aggressive and dismissive noises about China. I'm just watching John Bruton, ex Prime Minister of Ireland refusing to believe that Obama is not going to veto this - and went on to concede there will be retaliation if he doesn't. Could it be that some of the shine may come off Barack Obama rather more quickly than we were expecting.

Its no big deal anyway.

Its a bit like an obituary. Today's reports in the Western Mail here and here could have been written months ago. Just stored until confirmation of death. The responses from the quoted are all so predictable. Only Don Touhig seems to be missing. One point that seems to be being ignored is that the power to enact all the measures in the proposals included in the Legislative Competence Order already exist - but at Westminster. And don't tell me that Westminster would never enact such legislation. The most onerous , both in terms of cost and disruption to the way things were was the Education Act in 1988 (I think) which made the teaching of Welsh compulsory throughout Wales - and it was a Conservative Government at Westminster which enacted that. In years to come the 1988 Act will stand as a monument to the life and work of Lord Roberts of Conwy. Compared with what he did, the current proposals are piddling around the edges.

The Wrong Debate

Been very disappointed by today's discussion about, and coverage of, the Welsh Language Legislative Compensation Order (LCO). There seems not to be a clear understanding of the difference between an LCO and a 'measure' (new law). The current debate is not about what new linguistic requirements that may or may not be placed on the private sector. That debate would come later, if and when a majority of Assembly Members decided that's what they wanted to do. The current debate is about where the responsibility for taking decisions about Welsh Language legislation should lie. Should it be a matter for the UK Parliament at Westminster, or should it be a matter for the National Assembly in Cardiff.

As it happens, I would be very reluctant to put any extra costs on businesses in Wales at present - and for the foreseeable future. And I would expect a majority of Assembly Members to agree. I don't know what my party's approach to the Welsh Language LCO will be, but personally, I can see no reason to oppose it. There may well be changes needed to the LCO, but in principle, I welcome the idea of the National Assembly of Wales deciding on the status of the Welsh Language. It will be interesting to see whether my colleagues agree with me.

If the LCO is passed, a 'measure' to change Welsh Language legislation may be proposed at some future date. If we do reach that stage while this blog is still alive, I will be making two points. Firstly, it would be madness to impose additional significant costs on private businesses in Wales - particularly at a time when businesses are under pressure and jobs are being lost. And the second point I'd make is that the' big stick' of legislation is not the route to success. The key to the future of the Welsh Language is using it. Ask yourself. How many people do you think learned to speak Welsh as a consequence of some bureaucratic Welsh Language Scheme. The answer I suspect is 'none'. Its early years education that delivers our bilingual nation. And using it whenever possible. If I'm in the company of someone I know to be a Welsh speaker, I use it. And so often I see fully bilingual Welsh speakers in the Assembly delivering a speech in English. I accept that the media 'soundbites' need to be in English, but not the rest. So much easier to brandish the 'big stick' than to take personal responsibility.

Nixon reincarnated.

I'm just watching the Prime Minister being interviewed from Davos on the Politics Show. The likeness is uncanny. Its exactly like watching Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon. Nothing at all to do with Nixonian wrongdoing of course. No reason to think Gordon Brown is anything but an honest man. But the long rambling answers, completely divorced from the questions that Jon Sopel is asking! According to the Prime Minister, everyone else has been making mistakes except him. Some newspaper reports had led us to believe that he was going to admit some culpability for the failures in the regulatory system which allowed the banks to succumb to irresponsible madness - but No. Since it told us that Britain is the worst placed economy to cope with the financial crisis, even the International Monetary Fund is no longer worth listening to. When the film credits rolled at the Shrewsbury multi-screen last week, the cinema goers were feeling sorry for Nixon. Having watched our Prime Minister today, I feel sure that it will not be long until the British people begin to feel sorry for him as well.

The Welsh Language LCO

Tomorrow, the National Assembly Coalition Government is going to inform us of the content of the Welsh Language Legislative Competence Order. The media have already had copies. I expect most of my visitors will read no further. Constitutional issues are a minority interest. But Lord Elis Thomas, the Assembly's Presiding Officer is very excited about it. His excitement revolves around whatever new measure (new law) the Assembly Government might introduce later this year. But first, the Legislative Competence Order has to complete its passage through the bizarre process prescribed by the 2006 Government of Wales Act. This is the constitutional process by which power is passed to the Assembly to enable the creation of the new measure that is causing Dafydd El so much excitement. Lets consider this.

To go back the beginning. When the 2006 Act was passed, AMs and MPs looked upon this new creature from different perspectives. I believe we were sold different stories. At the time, my perspective was that of an Assembly Member. I believed that the Act envisaged proposals for the transfer of power to the National Assembly (LCOs) being considered by both Houses of Parliament only to ensure that the proposal fell wholly within a devolved field. If it did, there would be no discussion about what it might be used for. I accepted there was scope for disagreement arising from differing interpretations. For example, is a ban on smacking an education issue, or a law and order issue? This is how the House of Lords saw things as well. But not the MPs. They want to know what the Assembly Government might do with the new power, and to make a judgement about whether or not they approve.

I've seen much criticism of MPs for their approach. Matt Withers has really gone to town in today's Wales on Sunday, and called for the abolition of the Welsh Affairs Committee. I do not agree with Matt about this. I cannot know it, but I strongly suspect that MPs were reassured that they would have the right to debate the content of LCOs during the passage of the Bill - even if its not written into the Act. From the MPs perspective, they are only doing their job - the job they were told that they would be required to do. I've always described the position as a recipe for conflict - a constitutional crisis waiting to happen. My concern about this issue is a major part of the reason that I want to become an MP myself. And we've had one 'disagreement' already, relating to a housing LCO. I did not agree with the way it was resolved - which involved a reserved power being retained by the Secretary of State, granting an involvement in the measure creating process which no-one had envisaged. I thought that the LCO should have been rewritten, rather than the principle of a reserved power concede - but its too late now. The precedent has been set.

I'm looking forwards to reading the LCO, and learning what powers the National Assembly is asking for. And I'm looking forwards to the discussions on it in the Welsh Affairs Committee as well. Lets hope it can be sorted without any recourse to more reserved powers. Even more, I hope that the people of Wales don't become contemptuous of politicians arguing over incomprehensible policy details about imposing additional costs and responsibilities, while Welsh jobs and businesses are going down the pan.

Black Clouds on Council's horizons

Over the last few days, Councils across Wales have been debating and agonising over what level of Council Tax to levy in 2009-10. Its not been easy. On the one hand there's the desire to deliver good public services and the advice of officers to raise the necessary money. But there's also the knowledge that their constituents will be living on lower incomes in the coming year and cannot afford increases beyond inflation. Personally, I believe inflation will be around 1% through the relevant year, so an increase in Council Tax of 2% seems entirely reasonable. Where I live in Powys, the Council opted for an increase of 3%. This is going to mean difficult decisions for councillors. But nothing compared with what I expect it to be over the next few years. Tomos Livingstone has written a good piece in today's Western Mail on the background to this issue, though relating it to the National Assembly.

Britain is in a place that she hasn't been before. Our Government is borrowing (and printing) money as if there's no tomorrow. But there is a tomorrow, and this money has to be repaid. Even worse, some of the capital funding anticipated in future years in being rushed forward to bolster what's called the financial stimulus. So that's another financial hole down the road. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will have no option but cut back public spending significantly, probably from 2010 onwards - irrespective of which party forms the Government. The Pre-Budget Report projections are now fantasy, and the revisions we will hear in Darling's budget speech in March are going to be horrific.

Since the Assembly 'block grant' (as calculated by the Barnett Formula) is about 5% of the Chancellor's budget allocated to devolved services. So the cutbacks will feed directly into the Assemby's budget. And it gets worse. The Social Security budget is bound to explode as a result of the recession, and that isn't devolved - so there will be even less money for the services that are. And if Obama demands a bigger contribution from Britain towards the war effort in Afghanistan, the Defence budget will grow above inflation as well. And when the Assembly Government is faced with a huge hole in its spending plans, guess where it will find itself forced to cut back most to balance its 'impossible' budget. You got it - local government. The instinct will be to raise more tax - and the only way that the Assembly Government can raise taxation is indirectly, through the Council Tax. And it gets worse. Because only a relatively small percentage of council spending comes from the Council Tax element of Council funding, gearing will exaggerate the impact on Council Tax bills.

Next time we have one of our Conservative 'team meetings' here in Montgomeryshire, we will hopefully have a debrief on last week's Council Tax debate. I'm going to be saying that we've seen nothing yet, and its time to have a root and branch look at Council spending. And its time to start thinking about it now.

In praise of Young Farmers Clubs

Was guest speaker and award presenter at Abermule YFC's annual dinner dance last night. Seem to be spending a lot of time with YFCs at the moment - and very happy to do so. I owe the organisation a lot. In the recent Islwyn Davies Memorial Lecture, entitled 'The Culture of Montgomeryshire', the speaker, Paul Loveluck of Wales Tourist Board/Countryside Council/National Museum fame described the YFC movement as a 'finishing school'. Nice description and apt. But in my case I'm not sure that it actually 'finished', but it certainly transformed.

Last night's do was in the Community Centre, the scene of what (with typical modesty you might snidely remark) I can only describe as personal triumphs. Abermule is in the middle of Montgomeryshire, and the Centre was where all county YFC competitions used to take place. The stage on which I stood (mouth dry and knees shaking) to win my first public speaking competitions is still there. The clock on the far wall, which I imagined speaking at, is still there. And my seat last night was in roughly the same spot that I sat, when my nom-de-plume, Taurus ap Thomas was called out as the winner of two eisteddfod chairs - when, by tradition I had to be dragged up protesting to the stage. But I digress - as Frankie Howard used to say.

On yesterday's edition of Dau o'r Bae on Radio Cymru, we were asked where we might find a Welsh Obama. My fellow panelist, Myfanwy Alexander suggested that he (for he read she) might be discovered within the Young Farmer's Clubs movement. There is just so much wonderful talent there. The thought that immediately entered my mind why any of these talented young people would want to become politicians, bearing in mind the bucketfuls of contempt that would immediately be poured upon their heads. Another panelist, Daran Hill, normally a man of great wisdom completely lost it. He mentioned Kirsty Williams. Only other person I've heard say that was Mick Bates - and I think he was joking. Will Daran's reputation for good judgement ever recover I ask ?

Anyway, congratulations to Robin who organised last night, Rhiannon who chaired it with authority and charm, Ella for introducing me through poetry, and Luke, Glen, Abbie, and Mathew who got special awards. There were other performances worthy of mention as well. Dylan - in recognition of his retaining the title, Stud of the Year. Gareth - for completely forgetting about the 'Grace' until we were into the main course. And Roger Jones - for his contribution to the livestock industry. The mountain of food he managed to build on his plate at the buffet was a masterpiece of constuction. There were 71 people there, and it was exactly the same mix of wild youth and wise heads that I remember from decades ago. In fact today's wise heads were the wild youth of then. That's how the YFC movement works.

2.99% it is then.

Edna Mopbucket's been on - laughing like a drain. Never known her so jolly. When she told me it was all thanks to the Lib Dems, I was worried. The sheer symbolism of Edna deserting me would do very bad things to my confidence. And then she explained. I didn't think it was that funny - but I suppose you had to be there.

Edna's working full-time for Powys County Council at the moment. When I asked her if she was one of these thousand plus employees on over £30,000, she audibly snarled down the phone something about 'peanuts' and the b******s wanting to charge for parking her car. In truth she only took the job because of this thing she's got for Councillor Bob Mills. Goes all gooey when I mention his name. And she knew he'd be there today. Anyway back to the story.

It was budget day at County Hall. The motion from the Management Board, which had been put forward by the Lib Dems and the Montgomeryshire Independents was an increase in Council Tax of 2.99 %. I'd been expecting two amendments - an increase of 3.99% from the Powys Independents, and just 2% from my lot. I guessed that the two amendments would probably lose, with the motion to carry. The Conservatives knew that if their amendment was lost, the arithmetic demanded they vote for the motion - or the Council would be in the same boat as the Scottish Parliament. No budget at all.

And then the fun started. The Lib Dems began talking about an amendment. That's right - to their own motion! Even dafter it involved charging Council employees for parking their cars. Edna reckons they were beaming with pride - coming up with such a brilliant wheeze. She reckons she heard one of them say "Bound to make the papers - that's all that matters". Then someone said this must be put in writing, and the only bit of paper they could find was the back of a canteen menu that Richard White happened to have in his pocket - or so Edna said. I never know when to believe her. Everyone started laughing. Then they took a break so that one of them could write it out, and photocopy it for everyone. But no-one could read the writing, and the figures didn't add up. People were laughing so much that a doctor was sent for - so Edna says. Then someone asked what the union response had been to this idea. The poor Lib Dem leader looked as if a rat had run up his trouser leg. They hadn't thought of that. And then someone asked what plans the Lib Dems had to stop staff parking on the grass, or in the nearby Metropole car park and taking up all the free car parking in the town. Questions were coming in thick and fast. The whole chamber was erupting in joyous laughter. Then they started falling out amongst themselves, and the Lib Dem leader started dancing around wildly. The rat was clearly sinking its teeth into something tender! The amendment wasn't so much withdrawn as forgotten about. Took ages to calm things whole. I'm sure Edna exaggerates sometimes. It sounds as if it was almost as ridiculous as the political column of the Daily Sport.

Edna told me that all the Conservative speakers were polished and persuasive - so much so that the Montgomeryshire Independents abstained on the Conservative amendment. Everyone opposed the Powys Independents amendment, and everyone but them voted for the 2.99% increase in Council Tax. So 2.99% it is. But fair play to the Lib Dems. They brought joy and hilarity to what would otherwise have been an austere debate.

Janet Ryder's Resignation.

I'm surprised that so little seems to have been made of the resignation of Plaid Cymru's education spokesman, Janet Ryder. Seems to me that this is a significant issue in Welsh politics. Janet has been one of the leading Plaid AMs since the Assembly was established, and was one of the 'curry house four' who decided that it was time for Ieuan Wyn Jones to resign (which he did a lot more quickly than they wanted, and then stood again and won). Anyway, she undoubtedly qualifies as a heavyweight in Plaid Cymru terms. And there are surely others who agree with her.

I'm told this row has been rumbling on for a while. The issue concerns the Coalition Government's proposals to overhaul the education of 14-19 year olds. We know that Janet has been in the Assembly committee dealing with the legislation, when she's been hauled out by Plaid whip, Chris Franks, before a vote. Janet has been voting with the Conservative and liberal Democrats on amendments to improve the legislation. I don't know what the precise disagreements are about, (this report doesn't inform us) but its clear that Janet Ryder thinks the Minister's proposals are so badly flawed that she's resigned rather than vote for them. There's a real split here in the Coalition. Perhaps it should be seen as very worrying for Wales' National Assembly that a resignation of this importance should generate so little comment.

Catching Up

Increasingly people are asking me whether I think I will win Montgomeryshire at the next election. "I reckon that I'm in with a chance" is my stock response. And because over-confidence is just not 'Montgomeryshire' I try to change the subject to one of the important local issues that are the basis of my 'campaigning strategy'. My theory is that no matter what, some good for Montgomeryshire will come out of my candidature. But just in case I'm elected, I am taking much more interest in what happens at Westminster - which is why Welsh Questions has become a matter of increasing interest to me. Lets look at some of yesterday's issues.

David Davies' question about the Welsh Language Legislative Competence Order that we are expecting to be published next week caught my eye. Must admit that I'm worried about this - from the perspective of wanting to see the Language continue to flourish. Fundamental to my opinion over many years has been that its successful future depends on the support of those who do not speak it. Once too many people feel that 'Welsh is being rammed down their throats' (a phrase I've heard too often), much of the goodwill that has underpinned the advance of the Welsh Language in recent years will dissipate. Most people have accepted the compulsion that secures the place of Welsh in the school curriculum - one of Lord Roberts of Conwy's greatest achievements, and crucial to the increase in numbers of Welsh speakers. I just hope that an argument about extra financial implications for private businesses of an LCO, at a time when many thousands of Welsh jobs are being lost will not put the advance that is being made by Yr Iaith Cymraeg into reverse.

Another question that I noted was from Don Tuohig. "When families across Wales are concerned about their future, does my Rt. Hon. friend think anyone gives a fig about the All Wales Convention. It is wasting £1 million of taxpayer's money, calling shambolic meetings, showing videos that give a distorted picture of Wales, and pandering to those who think the big issue of the day is independence". At least he didn't mention dishing out free curries! As far as I can see, and in his much more gentle way, Paul Murphy sort of agreed with him. And then Alun Michael rose to his feet and said that the current system of transferring power to the National Assembly was working like a dream. I really don't know which of the three would have worried Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, Chair of the Convention, and Lord Elis Thomas the most.

Wrongdoing and Regulating against it.

Been to see Frost-Nixon tonight. Enjoyed it. Particularly enjoyed the references to Sardi's in New York as the restaurant where only the very special find a welcome. Well, Mrs D and I've eaten there, and I had oysters for starters. But back to Richard Milhous Nixon. Both he and political wrongdoing are in fashion. Bankers have been behaving like casino hustlers - as a result of Gordon Brown's creation of an ineffective and complex regulatory system. Reckless fat cats did wrong for money. There must be better regulation is the cry - and the people applaud. Politician's expenses should be better regulated is another common theme. Sadly, it can be no other way, though personally I reckon transparency is the best disinfectant. And now shock-horror, some of their Lordships are accused of wrongdoing for money. Again the answer is said to be better regulation of these 'ermine clad rippers off of the system'. The BBC even offer us all an opportunity to have our say on all this regulation.

I don't believe that regulation is all its cracked up to be. It cannot cover all the angles. Sure, it might catch the odd hapless Lord who can't see the difference between being paid for giving political advice, and being paid for trying to amend laws. But it won't catch the worst offenders - those who know how to cover their tracks. Effective regulation requires some genuine self regulation as well - with buckets of shame. The current focus on regulation as if its a complete answer means that if its 'approved' or 'within the rules', its seen as OK. Well, its not. You know when its wrong. It takes a rugby player to know that there has to be the self-regulation supplement. Only way the game can survive. The depths of a scrum is a murky fetid place, where devilish deeds are done. Its possible to put a man to death, and pretend its an accident. The game depends on self regulation, with help from the ref and the camera.

I will admit my guilt. I have stamped on helpless opponents - and punched them on their noses. I remember the No 7, (went on to play for England) who had forgotten his boots and played in trainers. I stamped on his foot at every lineout. And I once bit a second row, though in my defence he was threatening my manhood at the time, and I had no other means of defence/attack. And I've had these things done unto me. But even in the midst of the most fierce battle, there was self regulation too. I never kicked anyone in the back, or stamped on anyone's head, or gouged anyone's eyes. Temporary discomfort was OK, but permanent injury was not. Which brings me to Martin Corry.

Corry was England captain. That's a special position. Young players look up to him. And now he's been cited by the Ospreys for gouging. If he's guilty, I hope they throw the book at him. Brian Moore wrote a good article condemning the gougers in Monday's Telegraph. Moore is one of these commentators that I 'love to hate', but he writes well - and knows his stuff. He shares my view that there can be no greater crime than gouging (trying to blind a fellow player) on the rugby field. Though Australia's Rugby League's Tom Hopoate comes close. To quote Brian Moore "After one game three North Queensland players claimed that during tackles, Hopoate had tried to ram a finger up their anus in an attempt to make a quick play-the-ball. Once the claim was made public, several of Hopoate's previous opponents came forward saying this had happened to them, but they had been too embarrassed to mention it." In his defence Hopoate claimed that he was only administering the schoolboy prank known as a 'wedgie', as if this was perfectly OK. Glad I didn't go to the same school. Rather like Nixon he felt able to justify to himself the most despicable act - until it was put to him in a way he couldn't avoid. That was Frost's skill. Tom Hopoate was found guilty of 'unsportsmanlike behavior'. In my opinion there must have been a case for the sharia approach - amputation of the offending finger.

More on Wind Farms

Celtpower, a private sector energy company, want to knock down the 103 wind turbines at the Llandinam Wind Farm in Montgomeryshire, and replace them with about 40 much bigger turbines. The electricity produced will increase from around 30 megawatts to between 90-126 megawatts. In order to transport this extra power to the National Grid, Celtpower has agreed a deal with Scottish Power which involves a new 12 mile, 132 kv cable from Llandinam to Welshpool - passing close to the village of Kerry. Unsurprisingly, the people who live near Kerry, whose properties lie close to the proposed new line, do not like it - do not like it one bit. Earlier tonight, I joined a meeting between representatives of Celtpower and some of the local objectors.

The issue is too complex to explain in a single post, but it boils down to a matter of timing. Celtpower has submitted a planning application for the new turbines, has asked Scottish Power to provide it with a connection to the National Grid (which it is obliged to do) and wants to get on with it - because it makes business sense. So we have this new 132 kv cable. Now if we could persuade Celtpower to wait about 5 years, it would probably connect to a new National Grid 'hub' near the village of Carno instead - and there would be no line going anywhere near Kerry. This is because National Grid in going to build a new (grotesquely hideous landscape-destroying) 400 kv cable from somewhere in Shropshire, up through one of Montgomeryshire's beautiful valleys to somewhere in the Carno area. Most of the other proposed wind farms that are going to despoil the landscapes of Montgomeryshire are going to have to await the new 400 kv cable (probably 2016) - but not Celtpower. The company does not want to wait. Personally, I do not blame it, or any of the landowners who accept the payments available. I blame the Assembly Government for creating what is a totally shambolic position. In 2004, it adopted a policy which encourages wind farms to be built in an area, even though there is no means of transferring the power to the Grid - epically stupid, even by Assembly Government standards. Its only now this shambles is being addressed. Kerry is one of the villages expected to pay the price.

In passing, another interesting point that I appreciated only tonight. Its obvious if you think about it. When the existing 103 turbines at Llandinam are removed, the huge blocks of concrete on which they stand will remain in place, and lots of huge new holes are going to be excavated and filled with hundreds on tons of new concrete to serve as bases for the new turbines (and these blocks are going to be the size of sports grounds). The old bases are not good enough. That's as much mental anguish as I can take for one night. For those of us who love the landscapes and countryside of Montgomeryshire, its all just too depressing.

Street Lighting Again

When I blog about Montgomeryshire issues, I look for wider application. And today I've been involved in discussing two such issues - street lighting and wind farms (which will feature in my next post). This afternoon, spent an hour talking to the Chief Executive, plus the relevant portfolio holder and service manager at Powys County Council about street lighting. Powys has become the street lighting capital of the Council world - as famous as Tokyo and Vegas. The way it happened was not very smart, but there's no argument about it. Powys has become a street lighting laboratory. No good moan about it. We are where we are. I hope this pioneering spirit continues.

But first let us return to the beginning. In 2007 (or thereabouts) the cost of electricity was flying (why is a separate question) and councillors thought it would be a sensible idea to turn off one third of its street lights - and an appropriate budget was set. Personally, I was not opposed to that. But a councillor insisted there should be consultation. It took several months. The price of this consultation was delay. And by the time the consultation was over, the only way to meet the budget was to turn off two thirds of the lights instead of one third. And that's what the councillors did. No more consultation. They just did it - and consulted later. A review of what they did is now underway. Enough sparks flew to launch an Olympic Games. And one can understand the reluctance to consult again, because only a handful of community councils responded first time round. But enough of history. Where to go now.

For some time the Council's street lighting officers have been considering replacing existing lights with LED arrays. There's been one shining down on Builth Wells for a while. They run on 25% of the electricity needed to run existing street lights - green, economical and common sense. But it costs over £100 to convert each one, and around £400 to buy each new one. As it must, the Council is researching the best product and provider. Now, with budgets pip-squeakingly squeezed, its going to be difficult to find the upfront cost. But I'm told that the payback period is only 18 months. There's got to be a way of doing this - either with deferring some other investment for a year, or timing the change over two years. And when the running costs are quartered it will be possible to turn some lights back on again. In 10 years time, I reckon all street lights will be LED arrays. I wonder whether the Powys Pioneers will be the first to reach this state.

Legacy of Bush and the British ?

There's an article by Nick Meo on page 32 of today's Sunday Telegraph that must bring joy to the hearts of anyone who reads it. Its a wonderful news story, which inevitably means that it will receive almost no coverage, and I can't even find a link to the Telegraph on-line site. Its titled 'Basra dares to hope as the city is born again'. Its a long article, and I'll select just five short quotes from it.

Speaking of the freedom with which he and his wife now stroll around on Basra's corniche, Mr Hassan said

"But now we come here all the time and in the afternoon its so crowded, you cannot find a seat in the cafes. Basra has been reborn. The militias have gone, the people are happy, and we have our city back again."

"The mood has lifted business in the city too, raising hopes of reconstruction and an economic take-off, financed by Iraqi oil. It has even fuelled a property boom, perhaps the only one in the world now, with top end house prices almost doubling over the past year."

And referring to next week's elections in Iraq - "Lamp posts and vehicles across the sprawling city of one million are plastered with posters of the candidates. Most are well fed men in suits, not the scowling fundamentalists whose stars are waning. A quarter of the candidates are women."

"Frustratingly for the British, though, after years of fighting, they had only a minor role in the military operation ordered by the Iraqi Government last March which drove out the gangs, and allowed the transformation of the city to happen"

"US Navy Captain, Robet Lansden, who arrived in Basra two months ago to construct a bridge put the American philosophy succinctly "Once you've finished killing the bad guys, its time to spread the love"

There's nowt so odd as folk.

You do read of the oddest things in newspapers. Yesterday I learned from the 'Weekend' section of the Telegraph that in the 17th century, medical opinion was that what we might call 'overly passionate' people could be cured of this affliction by a transfusion of the blood of a more docile animal. The first ever blood transfusion was administered by the physician to King Louis XIV, when he transfused sheep's blood into a young Frenchman. While the report tells us that he survived, it does not tell us what happened to his libido. I feel quite certain that if I'd been that young man, it would have put me right off. Samuel Pepys later describes similar treatment for a Cambridge graduate, named Arthur Coga, who received 20 ounces of sheep blood into his body. Again its reported that he lived, but was a 'little cracked in the head'. What really surprises me about this is that sheep's blood should have been used. I've been a sheep farmer all of my life, and without wishing to be overly nationalistic, I've known a healthy Welsh ram, cover 50 females in a day. Why not use the blood of a Giant Panda, whose aversion to 'passion' has been a matter of international curiosity for years.

The same article informs us that the word 'Toady' derives from the 18th century, when some fellow used to swallow toads as a confidence trick. His mate, who's described as a 'quack doctor' then produced a 'magical elixir', which stimulated recovery. Personally, I wouldn't have bought any of this miracle cure, but have resolved not to eat a toad in the first place.

Before we start mocking our ancestors, we should note that last Tuesday, the Telegraph reported that in the remote village of Tamil Nadu, two local Indian girls entered into marriage with frogs. Vigneswari and Masiakanni wore traditional bridal saris and gold jewellery for the weddings which are conducted as part of a centuries old 'Pongol' harvest tradition to prevent the outbreak of disease. Hundreds of villagers in the Pallipudpet region walk to the temple carrying the brides on their shoulders. The two frogs were also carried, but they were tied to sticks decorated with flowers. The tradition is based on the Hindu god Shiva, who turned himself into a frog after a row with his wife, Parvati. Personally, I reckon it would have been a smarter idea to have turned her into a frog instead. Anyway, Parvati's anguish caused terrible disease to spread around all the local villages. The problem was resolved when the villagers found Shiva the frog and persuaded Parvati to marry him/it. As our Berriew friend, Frank Dixon often says, "There's nowt so odd as folk".

The Garden in mid/late January

Posted about our witch hazels a few weeks ago, but was so stunned by this one today that I thought it deserved a second outing. Its hard to believe that such wonderful colour is available in mid/late January.

The combination of Cornus, Hamamelis in variety and the Betula 'utilis' is almost as colourful as a summer border, with none of the work!

And this is what most of us associate with the start of the gardening year. They're not really out yet, and will probably make another appearance in a fortnight or so. We do grow a few fancy snowdrops, but these are just the common variety which stir the plantsman's interest in what's to come in almost every garden in the land.

The Lake Vyrnwy Hotel

Its a great place to leave worldly troubles behind. And the offer of the top notch evening meal and a bottle of champagne thrown in with an overnight stay was too good to miss. So yesterday afternoon we drove off to the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, and left those worldly troubles behind. This was the view from our bedroom window. Its probably the scene most widely used to promote Wales as a tourist destination. All I took with me was a book, a toothbrush and Mrs D. Even mobile phones don't have a signal.

Denis Healey talking sense - mostly.

Now that some economic pundits are anticipating formal advice being given to the British Government by the International Monetary Fund, its worth listening to the opinions of the last UK Chancellor who was the recipient of such advice in the 1970s. Simon Heffer reports on a cracking interview with Lord (Denis) Healey in today's Telegraph. I'll just refer you to a few quotes. Remember that this is a dyed-in-the-wool old socialist, who threatened to squeeze the rich until the pips squeaked. He thinks that "Cameron's a pain in the arse", (that's the bit I didn't agree with) and still claims to be backing Gordon Brown. Now read the quotes and imagine what he might say if he'd abandoned partisanship.

"I wouldn't particularly blame Gordon. I would have made the same mistakes." That's my favourite quote. Its just a pity he didn't list them.

"But it (the Bank of England) should have continued to regulate the banks..."

When asked whether the 45p tax proposal was a gesture aimed at cheering up the core vote, he said "I think probably so.Because what I learned as Chancellor was that the rich man can nearly always find a way of avoiding tax that are legal, and in any case the amount raised is very small, and it does encourage people to leave the country."

When asking if he regretted raising income tax so high when he was Chancellor, he said "I think so, yes. The main effect was to get people to invest abroad."

"We've got far too many people working in the public sector.....There's probably twice as many people working in the public sector as necessary......I think Gordon will get around to doing something about it now."

And then there were two bits of advice to the Prime Minister that I hope he will take serious note of;

"There's no question that had we been in the Eurozone, we'd have been hit harder. Look at the riots in Greece caused by unemployment. I don't think it would be sensible for us to lose the right to devalue our currency. With us having so much trade outside of Europe, to be tied to the Euro exchange rate would be damaging. I wouldn't be in favour of entering the Euro in principle, but more than that the pragmatic arguments against are overwhelming."

And on the timing of the General Election "waiting until the last minute is a risk. I think he ought to go at least a year before".