Yearly Archives: 2015

Saith Seren: Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s Response

Reply

Dyfodol i’r Iaith were very disappointed to hear that Saith Seren is due to close next month. The venture has been arranging and promoting Welsh medium events and gigs in Wrexham since 2012.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith believes that Welsh Language Centres such as this provide an ideal and entertaining means of promoting the use of the language. They also provide an opportunity to learn Welsh and promote confidence in its use in areas, such as Wrexham, where the opportunities to use Welsh as a natural medium can be comparatively scarce.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“It’s a great shame that Saith Seren has to close.

 

Establishing Welsh Language Centres is an important part of making Welsh a living language in areas where there are fewer speakers. The Welsh Government has accepted this principle, and have started to contribute to the establishment of such centres. While this is to be welcomed, what is needed now is a robust plan to establish Welsh Language Centres across Wales.

 

The hundred and more Language Centres in the Basque Country provides us with an example to follow. These are supported by central and local government, and by organisations responsible for teaching the language to adults.”

 

The Planning (Wales) Bill

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As the Environment and Sustainability Committee prepares to discuss amendments to the Planning (Wales) Bill this week, Dyfodol i’r Iaith are pressing for greater consideration of Welsh language needs in relation to individual applications.

While Dyfodol is appreciative of the willingness already expressed to strengthen the language within the planning process, the organisation also believes that any ambiguity regarding the position of the Welsh language as a consideration in individual applications should now be removed.

This principle needs to be securely established within a mechanism that gives due consideration the language.

Speaking on behalf of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, Emyr Lewis said, “This has been a constant demand from Dyfodol and other language organisations, and this ambiguity needs to be settled once and for all.”

“This Bill provides an opportunity to provide the same protection for the Welsh language as that already given to considerations such as the environment and conservation; our priority now is to persuade our politicians to verify this.”