Blaenau Gwent councillors welcome new wildlife protection proposal
Blaenau Gwent councillors have welcomed moves to update and enhance protection for Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) in the region
Moves to update and bolster the protection of important sites for wildlife and biodiversity in Blaenau Gwent have been welcomed by councillors.
At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s Economic Development and Environmental Management scrutiny committee, councillors received a presentation on a proposal to adopt new Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) criteria.
The presentation was given by ecologist Nadine Morgan, who told councillors that there are currently 154 SINCs in the county borough and more could be added in an ongoing review up to 2030.
SINCs are sites that are protected for their biodiversity interest:
but the guidelines for them in Blaenau Gwent are “over 20 years old”, hence the need to update them.
The wildlife protected within SINCs is important at a county or regional level, whereas Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) protect wildlife of national importance.
But unlike SSSIs, SINCs do not have legal protection; instead, they are protected through local and national policy.
Ms Morgan said: “We are working in partnership with neighbouring local authorities, in particular Torfaen, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, to develop a project which aims to protect and enhance SINCs across the mid-valleys area.
“They constitute an important ecological resource and an important haven for wildlife and the local community to enjoy.”
She explained that adopting the updated criteria would help contribute to the council meeting the requirements of the Local Nature Recovery Action Plan.
Cllr Lisa Winnett (Labour – Blaina) is the chair of the council’s Planning Committee.
Cllr Winnett said: “It’s a fantastic report and I welcome this, especially when we’ve been dealing with our LIRs (Local Impact Reports).”
LIRs are produced by Blaenau Gwent planners when dealing with Developments of National Significance (DNS), which include wind turbines.
In recent years, the area has seen several DNS proposals which are dealt with by Welsh Government planning inspectors, with the council feeding in by producing an LIR as a consultee rather than decision maker.
Cllr Winnett continued: “We need these SINCs as well to help strengthen our cases with our wildlife, peat bogs and everything.”
Cllr Wayne Hodgins (Opposition Independent – Brynmawr) pointed out that the work is funded by the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature grant, which comes to an end in March 2027.
Cllr Hodgins said: “I just wonder, as it’s a programme to 2030, what are we putting in place for this work to continue?”
Ms Morgan explained that the council is already looking at other “potential sources of funding” in case the Welsh Government nature grant dries up next year, which could even include applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Cllr Hodgins said that was “good to hear” and asked if councillors could have maps of where the SINCs are.
Ms Morgan said: “We have 154 across the whole of Blaenau Gwent.
“We’re surveying them all and getting the records up to date to make sure it aligns with all the new criteria and legislation.
“When I have a new up-to-date layout of all the SINCs plus where potential new sites are identified, I will be able to share that.”
The committee voted to support the new criteria.
The report, with comments from the committee, will now go in front of senior councillors at a future Cabinet meeting for a decision, probably in June.