Scientists are to investigate whether severe flooding near Aberystwyth has contaminated land with harmful metals from abandoned mines.
River banks that have stored toxic metals such as lead, zinc and cadmium for generations, could have been eroded and the toxins washed down stream.
A team from Aberystwyth University will survey the catchments areas of the rivers Leri, Rheidol and Ystwyth.
There are fears the pollution could pose a risk to land, animals and crops.
Parts of Ceredigion were flooded by 5ft (1.5m) of water with record high river levels in parts on Saturday.
A major clean-up operation continues in Aberystwyth and the nearby villages of Talybont, Dol-y-Bont and Llandre and other areas affected by the flooding.
The Met Office has confirmed that more than a month's worth of rain fell in the Aberystwyth area on Friday.
“Start Quote
End Quote Prof Mark Macklin Aberystwyth UniversityThere are concerns that farmland has been contaminated and this could pose a risk to animals and crops”
Mark Macklin, a professor of physical geography at Aberystwyth University, said the force of the flood waters could have eroded river banks which stored harmful metals.
These metals could have flowed down stream and been deposited on the flood plains.
"Much of Ceredigion was affected by metal mining, but most of it finished before the start of World War I," he said.
"As a result of the mining, rivers and river banks in the area have been contaminated from the mines themselves right the way down to the sea.
"There are concerns that farmland has been contaminated and this could pose a risk to animals and crops," he added.
"We're starting a survey of the flood plains on Tuesday. We'll take fresh flood deposits, such as silt, and they will be chemically analysed. We will hopefully have some answers in a month or so."
Meanwhile, planning consent given to homes built on a floodplain in Aberystwyth might have been considered differently if an application was submitted today, a planning chief has said.
“Start Quote
End Quote Russell Hughes-Pickering Ceredigion council's assistant director of planningThe planning system is more cautious than when the permissions were granted in 1994 for the development of the Parc y Llyn area”
Properties in Parc y Llyn were given the go-ahead in July 1994.
The area was flooded at the weekend forcing businesses and retailers to temporarily close. However, the homes on the site were not flooded.
Planning guidelines, TAN 15, were changed in 2004.
"The planning system is more cautious than when the permissions were granted in 1994 for the development of the Parc y Llyn area," said Russell Hughes-Pickering, Ceredigion council's assistant director of planning.
"I suspect there would be a different approach to the housing application - the retail perhaps not, they are less vulnerable."
He added that the planning system was "more cautious than back in 1994".
Mr Hughes-Pickering said "the defences worked in this case" but the retail outlets, like Morrisons and a newly opened B&Q, were flooded.
Significant damageThe houses are built on raised ground.
Environment Agency Wales said flood risk was an important factor which was considered in all relevant planning applications.
A spokesperson said: "Our role has been to advise local authorities on planning applications in line with Welsh government's planning policy Wales, and taking advice from its technical advice note TAN 15."
One of the services affected by the flooding in Aberystwyth was Ystwyth Medical Group.
Its medical centre in Llanbadarn Fawr, which has 9,000 patients, has been relocated temporarily after suffering significant damage.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New Berkhamsted base for Ladies (From Watford Observer) - Watford Observer
Watford Ladies to play home games at Berkhamsted FC from next season
1:07pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in Sport By Anthony Matthews
Watford Ladies will be playing football in Herts again from next season after announcing Berkhamsted FC will be their new home ground.
The county's only FA Women's Premier League Club have been based at Northwood FC but Ladies manager John Salomon said: "We are delighted to be setting up a partnership with Berkhamsted FC. I have been really impressed with the facility and staff at Berkhamsted and feel that this is an exciting time for our club.
"Northwood FC have been great hosts for us and I would like to thank them personally for everyone they have done for us during our time there. We felt it was time for a change and wanted to bring Premier League football into Hertfordshire, where our Community Sports & Education Trust is operating and I feel this is a very positive move for our club."
Berkhamsted came seventh in their first season in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division and director Grant Hastie said: "It is great to see FA Women’s Premier League action back in the town after an absence of a decade or so. We are very pleased to welcome to Broadwater, Watford Ladies and the famous clubs that they compete against. We are confident that the venture will be well supported."
The Golden Girls went on a superb run at the end of the season, taking 16 points from seven matches to not only retain their top-flight status but also finish seventh.
Watford are now looking forward to pre-season, which culminates in a home clash with Women’s Super League side Liverpool.
The game will take place at 3pm on Sunday, August 12 and ticket information will be released in late July.
The FA Women’s Premier League season starts the following Sunday, with fixture information to be released later this summer.
Source: www.watfordobserver.co.uk
Scotland - Scotsheep 2012 - Meattradenewsdaily (blog)
The Duke presented the NSA Scotland Silver Salver to RHET stalwart, Jimmy Warnock, Sandilands, Lanark for his services to the Scottish sheep industry.
The Duke then toured the event, escorted by NSA Scotland chairman Jimmy Sinclair, visiting NSA Scotland, QMS Scottish Sheep Strategy, the Wool centre and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and calling in at the North Country Cheviots, Scotch Mules and Blackfaces en route.
Elsewhere, Cab Sec Richard Lochhead was kept busy, firstly on the panel at the seminar on CAP reform, then on to The Morrison’s stand and ‘Ready, Steady, Cook!’ where he pitted his culinary skills against those of BBC ‘Countryfile’ presenter Adam Henson.
The result was a diplomatic draw!
MEP Alyn Smith took part in a seminar on reducing bureaucracy which is a hot topic among sheep farmers.
Fellow panel member Brian Pack has been tasked with finding ways of cutting red tape and we await the outcome with great interest.
NSA Scotland is indebted to our hosts, Morrisons, for allowing us the use of an excellent venue; to the sponsors of Scotsheep for their generous support; to the Scotsheep committee and chairman Neale McQuistin, for the time, energy, ideas and labour which made a superb event run like clockwork; to Morrisons farm staff who could not do enough for us; and to everyone who turned out in the rain to support the event and make it a record attendance.
Meat Trade News Daily Supporting British Pig Farmers
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.
Source: www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk
Cardiff City fans must back owners says manager Malky Mackay - BBC News
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has said supporters must trust the club's Malaysian owners after the change of colours from blue to red and the introduction of a new badge.
The club said the changes are part of a "major and significant" investment pledge from the owners.
Mackay says the club are in a better position as a result of the changes but understands some fans' objections.
"We've got to trust our backer," Mackay said.
Malky Mackay Cardiff City manager“I absolutely get the fact that the red or blue debate goes on and some of our fans will feel it's moving away from tradition”
"Everyone's trying to do their best for the football club going forward."
Cardiff will be wearing red rather than blue home shirts from next season after investors Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Dato Chan Tien Ghee pledged their commitment to the club.
Chief executive Alan Whiteley said the driving force behind the move was to put Cardiff on a firm financial footing, with the aim of gaining promotion to the Premier League.
"Obviously it's going to be different but change is constant in life. If you embrace and go with it then success can happen," Mackay told BBC Sport Wales.
"I absolutely get the fact that the red or blue debate goes on and some of our fans will feel it's moving away from tradition.
"But on the other side of that I've also been at Watford where we were two hours from administration and that being the case it's a scary place to be.
"If we don't have backing from a major financial backer then there's a good chance that could happen to football clubs.
"But at the end of the day I think we've got to be realistic that we've got Tan Sri [owner Vincent Tan] is actually backing our football club.
"He's someone who could have left the football club after the play-off final against Blackpool [and] could have walked away at that point.
"He could have walked away a year later when we didn't make it [and] could have walked away this summer."
Mackay said he was flattered to have been linked with the managerial role at former club Norwich City after Paul Lambert left the Canaries to join Aston Villa.
Norwich have since appointed Chris Hughton and Mackay insists he still has work to do at Cardiff City.
"[Norwich] is a club, that's well documented, is close to my heart," he said. "I had a long and successful period there.
"I do know the owners Delia [Smith] and Michael [Wynn Jones] well and I know that the chief executive has done a very good job at the football club.
"But I've got a project that I've started here, a project I'm working with really good people at this football club.
"I'm enjoying living in south Wales and working for Cardiff. This is a club that I want to push forward."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Chance to meet mayor (From Watford Observer) - Watford Observer
Dorothy Thornill to answer residents' questions
2:14pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in News
Residents will have the opportunity to meet with the town’s mayor next week to discuss issues that are affecting them.
Dorothy Thornhill will be on hand at Town Hall on Tuesday, June 19 to answer people’s questions.
The elected mayor will also be holding a phone surgery between 10am and noon on Monday, July 2.
For more information or to book an appointment call 01923 278371 or email themayor@watford.gov.uk.
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