'Virtue signalling nonsense!' Wales advised to create dog-free zones to make countryside less racist

In its report to the Welsh Government, Climate Cymru BAME has advised authorities to establish "dog-free areas in local green spaces" as one of several proposals aimed at making outdoor spaces more inclusive.

The guidance will be used by Welsh Government policy teams who are "developing and implementing" anti-racist plans, following Labour's 2022 Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

The Government has concluded that ethnic minorities face "barriers" to accessing outdoor spaces due to "exclusions and racism".

However, the North Wales Africa Society's recommendations specifically highlighted concerns raised during focus groups about dog presence in public spaces.

"One black African female stated that she feels unsafe with the presence of dogs," the society's report noted, mentioning issues with "dog fouling on the floor" as a concern among participants.

These recommendations have formed part of a broader assessment of "racism relating to climate change, environment, and rural affairs" commissioned by the Welsh Government.

A Cardiff Bay report published on November 6 also revealed that "some participants expressed apprehension about visiting the countryside owing to their racial or religious identities."

Additionally, the report noted "concerns of the lack of understanding and relationships by the wider white population particularly in rural areas, from personal experiences."

The reports also highlighted concerns about food growing initiatives in Wales being predominantly led by white individuals.

One submission from Green Soul noted that food growing groups are run by "majority White/British/Welsh individuals" and "older white people".

There were complaints that environmentalism is "essentially a white middle class issue" with groups dominated by people from a "white middle-class background".

The perception that growing food in gardens or allotments is an activity "dominated by middle-aged white women" was identified as another barrier.

Climate Cymru BAME suggested directing ethnic minority residents to "community led" food growing groups as a potential solution.

Other barriers identified included poor transport access to non-urban green spaces, as well as concerns about air quality in towns and cities.

Some respondents noted that "green spaces are not respected in areas where there is a bigger population of ethnic minority people".

Welsh Conservatives criticised the conclusions of the report, with its Cardiff Bay leader Andrew RT Davies stating: "This kind of outdated virtue signalling nonsense is completely out of touch with the needs of the people of Wales."

"Labour is stuck on yesterdays thinking, the kind that is being roundly rejected globally. Time to turf them out," Davies added.

In response, a Welsh Government spokesman defended their position, saying: "We are committed to creating an anti-racist nation by 2030."

"Our Anti-racist Wales Action Plan is built on the values of anti-racism and calls for zero tolerance of all racial inequality," the spokesman added.