The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) has released a comprehensive eight-point manifesto today, outlining the charity’s demands for the next Welsh Government ahead of the Senedd elections on May 7.
The document calls for a strategic shift in how Wales approaches its environmental and energy goals, emphasizing the need to strike a balance between rapid decarbonization and the preservation of the Welsh landscape. Central to the proposal is a move away from onshore infrastructure in favour of offshore and localized energy solutions.
Energy and Infrastructure
A significant portion of the manifesto focuses on the “fair transition” to clean energy. CPRW is urging political parties to commit to generating the majority of Wales’ renewable energy via offshore wind and rooftop solar by 2030.
Key infrastructure demands include:
Sustainable Solar Expansion: A nationwide rollout of solar panels on residential and public rooftops, rather than using farm land to create solar fields in Welsh rural areas.
Underground Cabling: The introduction of legislation to prioritize underground electricity cables over traditional pylons.
Tidal Power: Investment in tidal energy as a long-term renewable pillar.
Environmental Governance and Conservation
To address biodiversity loss and pollution, the charity is advocating for structural changes within the Welsh Government. This includes the appointment of a Nature and Climate Change Commissioner and increased funding for Natural Resources Wales.
The manifesto explicitly seeks to expand protected land areas to meet or exceed the UK-wide target of 30% by 2030. Additionally, the group is calling for legally binding measures to mitigate pollution in Wales’ river, lake, and marine systems.
Community and Heritage
Looking toward the charity’s centenary in 2028, CPRW Chair Jonty Colchester noted that the upcoming Senedd term would be “critical” for the country’s natural heritage. To support rural accessibility and tourism, the manifesto proposes a ring-fenced fund dedicated specifically to the maintenance and improvement of public footpaths.
“Protecting the countryside is not a niche concern,” Colchester stated, arguing that the landscape is fundamental to the Welsh economy and culture.
The release of this manifesto sets the stage for rural policy debates as parties begin to finalize their platforms for the May election. Both English and Welsh versions of the full document have been made available to the public in English here and Welsh here.