2. What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage new green spaces in south-east Wales? OQ58154

Llywydd, I thank the Member for that question. Our Local Places for Nature programme has created over 300 green spaces across Wales in the last year alone. Twenty-two of them have been developed in Newport, including the work, which I know the Member will be familiar with, undertaken at the Pill community allotments.

Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Just over two years ago, I raised in this Chamber the terrible state of the infamous road to nowhere in my constituency—a piece of land that's been blighted by fly-tipping on an industrial scale, with 100 tonnes of rubbish stretching as far as they eye could see. I'm so glad to say that we've moved on since then, following some great work by Newport City Council and local volunteers. The land is now clear of the rubbish and is in fact being reclaimed by the community. Through the dedication and commitment of those local volunteers, particularly formidable campaigners Sue Colwill, Caroline Antoniou and Helena Antoniou, they are now transforming the road to nowhere into a road to nature. They're striving tirelessly to improve access ways and footpaths, working alongside the council and conservation groups, such as Buglife Cymru and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to turn this area into a nature reserve that everyone can enjoy. This transformation embodies so much of what Welsh Government is striving to do in terms of biodiversity, the climate emergency and green spaces, but it has in no way been an easy process for those involved. So, how does the Welsh Government plan to ease the process in which local communities can reclaim land for green use, and will the First Minister join me on a visit to the road to nature, so he can see for himself the fantastic work being done, and to meet those dedicated volunteers?

Llywydd, I thank Jayne Bryant for that. I remember her contribution of that time ago, because, as I recall it, it was in the context of the new powers that were being provided to local authorities to tackle fly-tipping—proposals brought forward by my colleague Lesley Griffiths. And I know that, in turning the road to nowhere into a road to nature, those powers have been used by Newport council and by those local community activists who have done so much to transform what was a particular blight on the landscape of that part of Newport. I've seen pictures recently myself put up by the group of the transformation, showing what it was like before they started work, showing the fantastic green spaces that are being provided now, highlighting the work that the council is doing to provide greater access to the road, so people can now enjoy it. I'd be very pleased indeed to join Jayne Bryant on a visit to the site. And in thinking of her question about how we can make it easier for people to take part in these sorts of activities in the future, it seems to me that a very good place to start would be by learning from the people who've been involved in this scheme, hearing from them about any barriers that they may have faced, and ideas they will have for how that could be improved in the future. And I look forward to meeting them when that visit can be arranged.

I thank Jayne Bryant for raising this issue. Llywydd, whilst it's important that we create new green spaces for people to enjoy, it's also important that we protect and enhance existing green spaces too. Now, back in March of this year, revised plans were submitted for a large solar farm on the Gwent levels. This came after the original plans were rejected by the Welsh Government, due to their potential impact on the area, which is of course a site of special scientific interest. Llywydd, we all know that we need more sources of reliable renewable energy, but this mustn't come at any cost, and such developments should, as much as possible, work with nature and the environment rather than potentially being detrimental to them. First Minister, what action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that new developments and infrastructure projects don't unnecessarily reduce the amount and accessibility of green space available to communities? And what consideration have Ministers given to strengthening planning rules to ensure developments are net contributors to the natural environment?

I thank Peter Fox for that additional question, Llywydd. I know that he's got expertise of his own; he was the leader of Monmouthshire County Council when the council created a solar farm, a scheme that the Welsh Government was very pleased to support. So, I know that he will have seen for himself the balance that has to be struck between renewable energy developments, which are absolutely necessary, and their impact on the local environment.

It is very good, Llywydd, to hear a voice on the Conservative benches here looking to preserve the environment of the Gwent levels. It's not always been the policy of that party, as we know. But, as you have seen, and Peter Fox pointed to that example, where there was a proposed development that the Minister felt did not weigh up properly the benefits and the disbenefits of it, she was prepared to take action and to prevent those developments from taking place. So, I give the Member an assurance that the Welsh Government continues always to weigh up those many factors, both the positive reasons why renewable energy developments could be given the go-ahead and also the impact that they have on the local environment and the need to strike that balance in each case.