Category Archives: Housing

MEETING THE WELSH MINISTER 31/01/17

Reply

We had an useful meeting with Alun Davies and his officials on Friday morning, January 31st. Here are the matters we discussed and some of  the responses received:

It was agreed that more attention should be given to the Welsh language in the context of the community.

Matters including in-migration, housing planning, education, teaching Welsh to adults, the language on the high street and within work were all given attention.

Welsh Language Agency

The Government have £2 million to spend this year, but there is no agreement for next year. A White Paper will be published for the new Bill / Welsh Language Measure and this will provide an opportunity to to establish a Welsh Language Agency.  Alun Davies favoured an arms’-length Agency.  If this years’ expenditure is successful, it is hoped that this will lead to a stable Agency, with the possibility of it growing into a wider-reaching body which can bridge the work of the different Government departments. An announcement on the Bill is expected before Christmas, following the consultation on the White Paper.

Our points on promoting the language were welcomed, and can be worked upon this year:

  • Promoting Welsh language education
  • Promoting the Welsh language with prospective parents
  • Expanding the development of Welsh Language Centres to include cafes / pubs in smaller towns and villages
  • Rewarding organisations across all sectors for their use of the language
  • An ongoing promotion campaign with shops, cafes and pubs, encouraging them to display signage that customers are welcome to use the Welsh language
  • A cost-effective translation service

Government officials said that the Welsh Government is currently working with the Language Commissioner and Mudiadau Iaith on a pilot scheme for promoting the language within small businesses.

TAN 20

There was an understanding of the need to consider the language in relation to individual housing developments even though they might already be part of Local Development Plans.

Government officials said that they hoped that ongoing work with Horizon (Wylfa) would yield a language impact assessment methodology, that could be used throughout Wales. Dyfodol have already been in touch with Lesley Griffiths, Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs regarding TAN 20, and we will be requesting an update, as soon as this work is completed.

Welsh Education

It was agreed that local authorities’ Schemes were vague, and that the Government need to review the majority of them, and then discuss their contents with the Councils. It was agreed that it was not useful to set a target to increase the number of 7 year-olds in Welsh education within 3 years, as these children will already be within the system.  The Minister was anxious to see stronger Schemes.

The Government Officials said that they expected an improvement in the Welsh language skills of pupils in English-medium schools following the introduction of the continuum . We are however doubtful that this will be significantly successful.

DYFODOL I’R IAITH’S OPPOSITION TO HOUSING PLAN

Reply

Dyfodol i’r Iaith have stated their opposition to a plan to raise 69 new houses in Coetmor, Bethesda. The plan will be discussed by Gwynedd Council’s Planning Committee next Monday (June 15th), and the Planning Department have recommended that it be approved.

Dyfodol believes that this plan is totally inappropriate and insensitive to the linguistic needs and profile of the area. According to the 2011 Census, Bethesda is one of the areas where the Welsh language continues to hold its ground, with over 70% of the community able to speak the language.

The organisation has suggested that its members in Gwynedd express their opinion on this matter by joining the Pwyllgor Diogelu Coetmor (Coetmor Preservation Committee)’s protest, which will meet outside the Council Chamber before the Planning Committee.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s Chair said:

“It is essential that we safeguard the Welsh language in its heartlands, and take every practical step to ensure that it remains the natural medium of communication within these communities.

This case illustrates the key relationship between planning policy and protecting community language. It also demonstrates the importance of the recent victory in relation to the new Planning Bill, which allows consideration of the Welsh language within individual planning applications. This was a victory for which Dyfodol had lobbied earnestly.

VICTORY FOR DYFODOL ON THE PLANNING BILL

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After two years of persistent lobbying to give attention to the Welsh language within the Planning Bill, Dyfodol’s efforts have finally come to fruition. The Welsh Language is now part of the Planning Measure and a statutory consideration, which will transform the way in which housing plans will be treated by local authorities in Wales. This was all won through discussion and persuasion.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith began lobbying in the light of weaknesses in the TAN20 regulations which gave local authorities limited rights to consider the Welsh language. This was followed by a slightly stronger TAN20, but one that still did not give consideration of the language a strong statutory basis.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith met with Carwyn Jones, the Prime Minister three times, and many times with the Government’s planning officers. A presentation was made on the matter to the senedd and contact was made with Assembly Members of all parties.

Success was achieved in convincing the politicians of the need to include the Welsh language within the Bill. Evidence provided by Meirion Davies, a member of Dyfodol’s Board, on the effect of the current house planning structures was a significant contribution. Following this came a detailed discussion on satisfactory wording. During these and former stages, Emyr Lewis’s guidance to the politicians was of key importance. An amendment wording that was clear and simple was successfully arrived at.

As Dyfodol yr Iaith led the public debate, discussing with politicians and officers, doors opened without pushing. Many steps still lie ahead of us, but for now, we can be rightly proud of our achievements