Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:00 pm on 29 January 2019.

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Photo of Gareth Bennett Gareth Bennett UKIP 2:00, 29 January 2019

I think, First Minister, of course, theoretically, you're right, there is a need for balance, but I'm not sure how much balance there has been in this particular case. Of course, we're not necessarily just looking at that case. But I do think there is an issue with local democracy at stake here, and I do feel that the people who live near Hendy do need more than warm words; they actually need to feel that the Welsh Government is likely to listen to them and to listen to their concerns. Of course, UKIP's position is that we support local referenda for major planning decisions so that local residents do have the final say.

Do you think, if the Welsh Government proceeds with this turbine plan, that the residents in Hendy, and in other theoretical cases where there are similar planning issues—do you really think they're going to believe that the Welsh Government is listening to them? Do you think that people anywhere else in Wales facing planning problems would feel that the Welsh Government was listening to them?