The Countryside Alliance attended the Plaid Cymru conference in Llandudno, the first conference for Plaid as the party governing Wales. The conference was, as expected, very well attended with organisations from all sectors there to make use of the opportunities conference provides, meeting Ministers, Senedd Members and colleagues from other organisations.

There was a significant rural focus in the motions put forward for members to agree. The Senedd group’s motion on food security and resilience noted the effect of the conflict between America and Iran on global food supply chains, the continuing effect of climate change on UK food production and global supply chains as well as the crippling effect of increased food price inflation.

They called on conference to support the Plaid Cymru government on its plans to develop a new national food strategy, to improve food security, to make greater use of public procurement and to support Welsh food and drink producers. Plaid Cymru members were also asked to support further measures, such as to examine whether food price caps should be introduced for basic foods; to support cooperatively owned shops and supermarkets; and to support community growing schemes, market gardens, farmers markets and local and small-scale horticulture. Members were asked to agree with the Government working with food banks and food share schemes to support vulnerable families and reduce food waste.

Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 and Planning Policy Wales provide the overarching frameworks for planning and regional development policy in Wales. These were developed under the previous Labour Welsh Government and reflects their approach to priorities for regional and spatial development. The conference was asked to support Plaid Cymru’s intention to review the Future Wales document and to reform or replace these frameworks as appropriate, so planning in Wales becomes more community-led and reflective of communities’ real needs.

Another motion was to establish an independent veterinary school for Wales in Aberystwyth. Wales has seen a shortage of farm animal vets, while veterinary undergraduates spend only their first two years of study at Aberystwyth University before having to transfer to the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire and London for the remaining three years. Plaid Cymru believes this lowers the chances of graduates returning to Wales after they have qualified.

The conference motion entitled “Sustainability” drew attention to the climate and nature crisis, our abundant natural resources such as wind and water, Wales’s production of sustainable and nutritious foods, and its heavy industrial heritage, as well as challenges of economic opportunity and public services faced by those living rurally. Members were asked to support a total of six measures: developing a new climate and nature plan for Wales, providing greater community benefit from Welsh renewables, supporting Welsh farmers over the long term, and developing a new national strategy. Conference was also asked to support them continuing to seek justice for coalfield communities and pursuing full funding for cold tip remediation from the UK government. Finally it was asked to support rural proofing for all Welsh government policies and programmes. This is something the Countryside Alliance has long called for, and we have recently engaged with the Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability on that very issue.

All in all it was a strong conference on rural matters and we look forward to working with Plaid Cymru as a government in maintaining the fabric of rural life. Some policies bring cause for concern and we are raising our concerns as and when needed. For now, however, the conversations at conference were positive for the subjects that arose.