Category Archives: Dyfodol

DYFODOL CALLS FOR A ROBUST SYSTEM TO ASESS THE IMPACT OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WELSH LANGUAGE

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith have again highlighted the need for more attention to be given to the Welsh language when deciding on planning applications.The organisation is aware that Redrow Homes, which is responsible for the Goetre Uchaf development in Bangor, is marketing new homes directly to potential buyers outside Wales. One of the English advertisments encourages buyers to “move to North Wales”, while endorsing the areas’ natural resources.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“This marketing strategy clearly shows who the target buyers are for such developments, and confirms our anxiety over the The Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary’s approval of a similar development of 336 houses in Pen y Ffridd.

A small number of homes in Goetre Uchaf have been designated as affordable units, but until we have a satisfactory framework for assessing the linguistic implications, this can only be seen as a token gesture. We would therefore again emphasise the pressing need for a a robust and powerful framework and methodology to assess the true impact of such developments on the Welsh language.”

DYFODOL CONDEMNS THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON THE PEN Y FFRIDD DEVELOPMENT

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith have expressed their disappointment that the Welsh Government is about to approve the development of 336 new houses at Pen y Ffridd in Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor. This was announced in spite of local and county opposition to the plan, and the findings of an independent assessement, which concluded that the development would be to the detriment of the Welsh language in the Penrhosgarnedd area and beyond.

This case demonstrates that the Welsh langugage is not being given a high enough priority, and in Dyfodol’s opinion, it constitutes a further argument for the language to be given a stronger statutory role within planning matters.

DYFODOL’S MEETING WITH THE EDUCATION SECRETARY AND WELSH LANGUAGE MINISTER

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At this key point in the development of the Welsh Language Strategy, and of pressing need for a meaningful process to ensure that the aim of creating a million Welsh speakers is reached, Dyfodol was grateful of the recent opportunity to meet with Kirsty Williams and Alun Davies.

If we are to realise this vision, then clearly, education, a significant growth in Welsh-medium education, and ensuring a suitably-qualified workforce will be essential. This was our main message for the politicians and civil servants. In addition to this, we also stressed the importance of structures and policies which encourage a positive response to the language at all levels; from the Welsh Government to local authorities, to sharing the message of the benefits of Welsh education amongst parents and soon-to-be parents. This was set firmly within the context of ensuring that that the planned million speakers be given opportunities to learn Welsh to a high standard and be given opportunities to use it across a wide range of situations and experiences.

We received a positive hearing and were encouraged by the Government’s confirmation of the need to raise language and cultural awareness and to promote the Welsh language beyond the classroom.

It was also confirmed that Aled Roberts’s report on Welsh Language in Education Strategic Schemes (i.e. the local authorities’ schemes) is expected within the next few weeks. We repeated our opinion that these schemes need to be overhauled. One important improvement would be to significantly extend the current three year cycle to facilitate the long term planning of Welsh language education. We would also call for language monitoring to start from when the child enters the education system, rather than at 7 years old, as is the current requirement.

We will await the White Paper, which is due to be published this summer for more information on the Government’s plans and for further details regarding the establishment of an Agency to promote the language.