TIME FOR A FUEL DUTY REGULATOR

Rapidly rising fuel prices have prompted calls for the introduction of a fuel regulator. While we are all getting hammered by high fuel prices, the situation is worse in the more rural areas of Wales. The introduction of a fuel regulator who would cut fuel duty when prices spike unexpectedly, freezing the price at the pump. George Osborne, in the Budget later this month should introduce a genuine fuel duty stabiliser, something that is supported by motoring organisations and the Federation for Small Business, this would cap the price of petrol at the pump if it increases beyond expectation.

The Chancellor should also look at extending the rural fuel duty derogation which is currently being trialled in parts of Scotland where 5p per litre is cut from the bill. Plaid (and the SNP) have long recognised this problem and have been pushing for it in Budgets in 2005 and 2008 with widespread support from real people outside parliament. New Labour ignored the problems of rising fuel prices, the Conservatives simply lifted the idea, watered it down and re-branded it as their own.

We are all suffering from the consequences of the massive hike in the cost of fuel recently, not all of it down to the rising cost of oil. The Tory-led Government's VAT increase and fuel duty hike last year merely pushed the price of a litre up. Businesses and especially families in rural areas, where a car is a necessity not a luxury are facing the pain because of these choices. For the short-term we need to have a fuel duty stabiliser and a special price for fuel in rural areas, but we also need to diversify and invest in renewable energy alternatives to reduce our reliance upon oil and other fossil fuels.

YES TO SAVING OUR OPEN SPACES

I am very pleased to support the Open Space Society’s 10 point action plan to preserve, protect and safeguard our public open spaces and rights of way. The Open Space Society has been active since 1865 and has fought hard to preserve common land, village greens, footpaths, public rights of way and access and our open spaces for the enjoyment of the public. What with being a keen hill walker to support this worthwhile campaign to further the good work done over the years to protect our historical and public rights of way throughout England and Wales.

The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest national conservation body. They campaign to create and conserve common land, village greens, public paths and open spaces, throughout England and Wales. Their members include individuals, organisations and local authorities at all levels. They advise on and assist in the protection and enhancement of paths and open spaces.

They are by law consulted on all applications for works on, or exchanges of, common land, and for the alteration of public paths. Paths and open spaces are vital to us all. They provide opportunities for quiet recreation close to home and further a field, they promote health and well being and, by their use, may generate income for the local economy.

Open Spaces Society’s ten-point action plan for the 2010 general election

• a right of appeal, and a requirement to provide suitable alternative land, before public open space is taken for another purpose,
  
• law change to give county and unitary authorities a duty to take action against unlawful works on common land,
  
• legislation throughout England and Wales to enable people to reclaim ‘lost’ commons for the common-land registers,
  
• a timetable for processing town and village green applications, so that legitimate applications are swiftly resolved (and mischievous ones swiftly rejected),
  
• requirement to include on planning-application forms questions about the existence of public rights of way, common land and town or village green within or adjacent to a proposed development,
  
• law change to require an independent review to protect users’ rights when there is an opposed order to gate an alleyway, and to prohibit the use of permanent gating orders,
  
• repeal of the provision for seeking changes to footpaths and bridleways in the magistrates’ court, as this is intimidating and costly to members of the public,
  
• swift implementation of the new English coastal route and associated access land (the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009),
  
• greater use of agricultural subsidies to secure new rights of public access, and ensure existing public paths are not obstructed,
  
• all public paths in England and Wales recorded, open and easy to use, with a formal definitive list of all public highways, from roads to footpaths.