A chapter in the prolonged conflict between Llanelli Borough Council and the conservation lobby seems now to be reaching a conclusion. The revocation order of the deemed permissions to develop Pembrey Saltings, issued by the Welsh Office, has now been confirmed. The discontinuance order into the removal of the road and other works, however, is scheduled to go to public inquiry in the New Year. Even at this late stage, surely it would be better for both sides to get together informally to strive for a mutually acceptable solution eg the establishment of a statutory Local Nature Reserve to embrace the whole site. In this way further public money and council official's time would not be wasted and the wildlife may be able to continue living in its rightful habitat, undisturbed.
Another burning issue is that of the Loughor Barrage proposal. It is not generally realized that not only will there be profound changes to the wildlife up-river of the barrage site but that its effect on tidal flow and sedimentation will be felt at least 5km downstream, causing an increased silting and Spartina problem down as far as Whitford Point. This is almost bound to have a detrimental effect on the existing mud flats, presently the principal feeding ground of thousands of waders, which, in turn, will detract from the interest of the Wildfowl Trust refuge, currently being established, partly funded by the Borough. As has so often been the case in recent years, it is only after the increased research and recording of the native flora and fauna, spurred on by the urgency of a proposed development, that the realization of the importance to wildlife of a particular site is established. Although the importance of the Loughor Estuary and Burry Inlet was previously acknowledged, current work riot only endorses these views but has highlighted points of particular importance and stimulated areas for further study.
The Machynys area is a third concern for members of the society. Despite long-term assurances from the Borough Council that three remaining ponds, remnants of the former dune-system of pre-industrial days, would be safeguarded from development, one pond has recently been partially filled-in to make way for a new access road and the others are ear-marked to suffer a similar fate. These ponds are of great botanical and ornithological importance, holding as they do, such locally rare, coastal freshwater-wetland plants as Frogbit and Mare's-tail and waterfowl including Water-rail. Further assurances have been offered that new ponds will be excavated within the proposed golf-course area which will be developed to encourage their wild life interest but man-made habitat can never totally replace that evolved naturally. One of the existing ponds is notable as the only site in Carmarthenshire where Ivy-leaved Duckweed grows, recorded here first by James Motley, the Swansea botanist, in about 1850. Are we to believe the authority's promises this time or is this species yet another to be exterminated by the developer?
It is very easy to knock the council in everything they attempt and it is always the controversial issues that attract the most publicity. However, a lot of good and imaginative development has been started in the borough in the last few years. Congratulations are well deserved in these cases.
One such is the Llanelli Flower Festival which is now an established event on the first weekend in September. Now more than just a flower show, it has grown into family entertainment covering many aspects of country life. The society will be represented again this year with its own stand in the environment marquee.
The programme, covering the society's activities until March, is printed on the back-cover of this newsletter. May I urge you to support as many meetings as you can, a wide variety of subjects is offered and I am sure you will find something to interest you. The next newsletter will hopefully appear in early December, so if you have any comments, contributions or articles for inclusion, please send them to me by mid-November at the latest.