Latest news with #CrypticCreaturesoftheCreuddyn
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welsh Labour spends £250,000 on moth-counting project
The Labour-run Welsh Government has come under attack for spending almost £250,000 on a project to count moths. The two-year project, called Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn, will survey the moth population living in limestone habitats on the Creuddyn peninsula in the north of the country. The programme, being delivered by the Heritage Fund, was given a £248,348 grant last February from the Government's Nature Networks Fund and will involve working with schools. The Welsh Government said the collaborative initiative would help protect rare and at-risk invertebrates such as the micro-moth, which measures about 2cm in diameter. But councillors have described it as a misuse of funds at a time when budgets for public services are being tightened. Louise Emery, a Conservative councillor in Llandudno, told Wales Online: 'Whilst local authority budgets are really being squeezed, the Welsh Government finds money for projects such as Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn. 'On its own merit, in its own little world, I can see some benefit to that, but in the grand financial picture of what local authorities are facing, I find it incredible that they can find money for a project like this but we can't find money for basic public amenities such as toilets, or looking after our parks and gardens or highways.' Cllr Emery also drew attention to the issue at a conference organised by the Welsh Conservatives, saying: 'It is always about priorities. 'So we need to say as the Welsh Conservatives, who will be in power in 2027, that we need to focus on the absolute basics of what we do at local authorities: collect the bins, educate your children and look after your vulnerable, and fix your highways.' A Welsh Government spokesman said: 'The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project was awarded £248,348 as part of the Nature Networks Fund in February 2024. It is a collaborative initiative led by Conwy county borough council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Butterfly Conservation. 'The project is carrying out surveys, and protecting rare and at-risk invertebrates such as the micro-moth, which has been found in abundance in its only known Welsh habitat. This work will inform future habitat management and conservation strategies.' The project also found 1,109 caterpillars of the horehound plume moth on the Great Orme in Llandudno last year. Sion Dafis, the project manager, said at the time: 'This project will provide an interesting picture of invertebrate life in the area, and we want to involve the local community in making their own discoveries and raise awareness of the need to conserve habitats.' Charlie McCoubrey, the leader of Conwy council, said: 'This is a grant-funded project. It's important to note that grant funding is for specific projects and cannot be spent on other services. Whilst grant funding is available, we will continue to apply for it.' The funding comes at a period of heightened scrutiny over Welsh Labour's policy decisions, which have often proved to be controversial. The Government has faced intense criticism for its blanket 20mph speed limits, which were reduced from 30mph. A petition against the limits on the Welsh Government's website gained almost half a million signatures – the largest recorded there – and forced Lee Waters, the devolved minister behind the policy, to step down from his front-bench post. On Wednesday, Jane Hutt, Welsh Labour's chief whip, prompted further accusations of a 'war on motorists' when she suggested the Government would be open to reducing some speed limits to as low as 5mph. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
North Wales Live
20-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Welsh Government's £250K grant to 'count moths on the Great Orme is crazy'
A Llandudno councillor described the spending of £250,000 of taxpayers' money on 'counting the number of moths on the Great Orme' as 'crazy'. Speaking at a Conservative Party conference in Llangollen last week, Cllr Louise Emery raised the issue of a grant paid by Welsh Government to Conwy County Council. The 'Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn' is a two-year project focussing on invertebrates associated with limestone habitats on the Creuddyn peninsula. Delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government, the project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme and involves working with schools and the community for the benefit of invertebrates. Cllr Emery, though, believed Welsh Government money could be better allocated to councils at a time when many local authorities are struggling to make ends meet and cutting front-line services. "We are seeing a lack of investment in roads, and it is priorities. The worst one I've heard of is £250,000 counting the number of moths on the Great Orme – crazy!' she said at the conference. 'So there is money. It is always about priorities. So we need to say as the Welsh Conservatives, who will be in power in 2027, that we need to focus on the absolute basics of what we do at local authorities: collect the bins, educate your children, and look after your vulnerable, and fix your highways, essentially." Speaking later, Cllr Emery elaborated on the comments made at the political conference, explaining it was Welsh Government who allocated the funds spent on the project. 'My point I was making at the Conservative conference was about priorities and that there is money available from Welsh Government but only for certain things, so whilst local authority budgets are really being squeezed, Welsh Government finds money for projects such as the Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn,' she said. 'On its own merit, in its own little world, I can see some benefit to that, but in the grand financial picture of what local authorities are facing, I find it incredulous that they can find money for a project like this, but we can't find money for basic public amenities such as toilets or looking after our parks and gardens or highways. "So it's not that I'm against the project in itself, but it is a priority where you allocate money to. This is not Conwy revenue money. I was saying there is grant money available, which I think should be prioritised, supporting local authorities properly.' A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project was awarded £248,348 as part of the Nature Networks Fund in February 2024. It is a collaborative initiative led by Conwy County Borough Council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Butterfly Conservation. 'The project is carrying out surveys and protecting rare and at-risk invertebrate such as the micro-moth, measuring about 2cm across which has been found in abundance in its only known Welsh Habitat. This work will inform future habitat management and conservation strategies." Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, council leader said: 'This is a grant-funded project. It's important to note that grant funding is for specific projects and cannot be spent on other services. Whilst grant funding is available, we will continue to apply for it.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Welsh Government's £250K grant to 'count moths on the Great Orme is crazy'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Llandudno councillor described the spending of £250,000 of taxpayers' money on 'counting the number of moths on the Great Orme' as 'crazy'. Speaking at a Conservative Party conference in Llangollen last week, Cllr Louise Emery raised the issue of a grant paid by Welsh Government to Conwy County Council. The 'Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn' is a two-year project focussing on invertebrates associated with limestone habitats on the Creuddyn peninsula. Delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government, the project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme and involves working with schools and the community for the benefit of invertebrates. Cllr Emery, though, believed Welsh Government money could be better allocated to councils at a time when many local authorities are struggling to make ends meet and cutting front-line services. "We are seeing a lack of investment in roads, and it is priorities. The worst one I've heard of is £250,000 counting the number of moths on the Great Orme – crazy!' she said at the conference. 'So there is money. It is always about priorities. So we need to say as the Welsh Conservatives, who will be in power in 2027, that we need to focus on the absolute basics of what we do at local authorities: collect the bins, educate your children, and look after your vulnerable, and fix your highways, essentially." Speaking later, Cllr Emery elaborated on the comments made at the political conference, explaining it was Welsh Government who allocated the funds spent on the project. 'My point I was making at the Conservative conference was about priorities and that there is money available from Welsh Government but only for certain things, so whilst local authority budgets are really being squeezed, Welsh Government finds money for projects such as the Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn,' she said. 'On its own merit, in its own little world, I can see some benefit to that, but in the grand financial picture of what local authorities are facing, I find it incredulous that they can find money for a project like this, but we can't find money for basic public amenities such as toilets or looking after our parks and gardens or highways. "So it's not that I'm against the project in itself, but it is a priority where you allocate money to. This is not Conwy revenue money. I was saying there is grant money available, which I think should be prioritised, supporting local authorities properly.' A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project was awarded £248,348 as part of the Nature Networks Fund in February 2024. It is a collaborative initiative led by Conwy County Borough Council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Butterfly Conservation. 'The project is carrying out surveys and protecting rare and at-risk invertebrate such as the micro-moth, measuring about 2cm across which has been found in abundance in its only known Welsh Habitat. This work will inform future habitat management and conservation strategies." Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, council leader said: 'This is a grant-funded project. It's important to note that grant funding is for specific projects and cannot be spent on other services. Whilst grant funding is available, we will continue to apply for it.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. Public notices in your area
