The TAN 8 process was a WAG process, not a Forestry Commission Wales process, so I don’t feel that we give them too much of a hard time for what has been imposed on them (as well as on us who are being directly affected in the process).

WAG might well claim that the targets to deliver on renewables were set by Westminster, so ‘passing the buck’ comes to mind!

There does seem to be a feeling that TAN 8 was something of a disaster. Perhaps there is some hope that, with good constructive input, our voices will be listened to.

I look forward to some lively debate at the conference.

I have no faith in the Welsh govt’s consultation process after responding to the TAN (Technical Advice Notice) 8 proposal in 2004. This TAN set out the renewable energy policy for Wales.

However I will respond to the recent consultation as a matter of principle.

When the Welsh Govt CONsultation for TAN 8 was launched, the largest ever response to a TAN consultation was received. The policy essentially dismissed all forms of renewable energy, except for industrial scale wind farms. The Tan proposed that 8 designated areas were identified as being suitable for very large scale wind farms.

Each of the 8 identified areas for wind farm development contain large areas of Forestry Commission Wales managed land owned, since devolution, by the Welsh Assembly. Much of this land was obtained by compulsory purchase using tax payers’ money.

Well over 80% of those organisations and individuals who responded to the TAN 8 consultation opposed the plans set out in TAN 8 for many valid reasons. However, from what I noticed in the final document, the Welsh Govt chose to ignore the points raised by those who took the trouble to respond to the consultation. TAN 8 was implemented with no apparent changes made to the original proposals.

Several years later I discovered that all the revenue (ground rent for each wind turbine and perhaps a percentage of revenue generated by the outputs of the wind farm) generated by wind farms planted on Forestry Commission managed land, will go to the coffers of the Welsh Govt. Could this be the reason that consultees to TAN 8 were ignored in 2005? I don’t know … I’ll let you decide for yourselves.

Then they need to see some headline as to how those old functions will either continue or change – and what realistic options are. Then they can comment effectively. Another way is to use some ‘close to home’ case example – such as a proposal to plant up an upland reservoir area with conifer woodland – what is the Forestry Commission’s role, what would CCW cover, what would Environment Agency cover – and how would revised single environment body make for better outcomes?

I fully agree that the communications plans behind consultations leave them flat and uninteresting to all but the most driven/fanatical/bothered. If a government is serious about participatory democracy then an open and understandable discourse needs to be adopted and the diversity of interest groups engaged needs to be expanded.

Hopefully the Llais y Goedwig conference will inspire more people to comment on these consultations, to get to grips with the issues and make their voices heard.

That said – Westminster consultations also tend to get low response rates even if the policy area is one over which the UK government has high influence. Barriers include the boring / nerdy nature in which many policy debates are framed, and the appalling outreach effort by central govt – who are usually very happy just to deal with a narrow set of established interest groups.

A way to disturb this cosy system is to organise for higher levels of participation from outside the usual suspects. So sounds like your conference is much needed and timely.

Thanks for responding!

These are good points that you raise. There has been criticism in the past that consultation questions have been framed in ways that only really allow people “in the know” to answer, and prevent the lay person getting involved unless they have loads of time to trawl through the documents and get up to speed on the issues. This may be the case for some consultations and it is part of the territory, you’ve got to expect technical discussion when it comes to policy decisions. But, what is the point of open consultations if people can’t engage with them either because of time or jargon? Have a look at the Sustaining a living Wales consultation, it’s set out in an online form that is easy to find your way through and the questions aren’t loaded with policy terms. Also, if time is the problem, Llais y Goedwig will be submitting answers to both consultations over the next few months, this gives more people the chance to get involved and speak through the voice that is Llais y Goedwig. Watch this space for more on the Llais y Goedwig response and shout if you want to be involved! Adam