Reports round-up

Reservoir campaign makes a big splash

Campaigners in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, have beaten back plans to drain Cupwith reservoir into a muddy puddle.

The reservoir is a well known local moorland beauty spot near Slaithwaite.

For generations it has been used as a picnic site and for wild swimming. It is known locally as “the secret seaside”. It is also an important industrial archaeology site.

The Dartmouth Estate, which owns the moor didn’t want to pay for repairs—but Kirklees council has now turned down its proposals. Protesters were out in strength at the planning hearing.

The Cupwith Reservoir Action Group has held several protests, despite the cold weather. Some supporters even braved the ice to go for a dip in the reservoir, which got lots of coverage in the local media.

Martin Jones

Nominations open in Unison election

Nominations open this week for the elections to the Unison union’s national executive council.

All the seats are up for election this year. The nomination period ends on Friday 22 February.

Protest at farm workers’ wage cull

Farm workers in the Unite union protested at the Oxford Farming Conference last week, ahead of a speech by Defra secretary Owen Paterson.

The government has decided to scrap the Agricultural Wages Board from October of this year.

Unite says this will hit the incomes, conditions and living standards of some 140,000 agricultural workers.

Rally speaks up for the Welsh language

Over 150 Welsh language supporters rallied in Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday of last week. The protesters held up signs saying, “I want to live in Welsh” in Welsh.

The group handed out copies of its ”living manifesto” of policies to increase the number of Welsh speakers and its use.

It follows census results that show a decline in the use of the Welsh language, and BBC’s decision to remove Welsh language music from Welsh station Radio Cymru.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and others addressed the crowd. Further rallies are planned over the next few weeks.

Richard Morse