Cymdeithas yr iaith have received a complaint regarding the attitude of the Blacks store in Betws-y-Coed towards the Welsh language. On Friday 24/03/06 Mr Dilwyn Llwyd of Caernarfon and his partner went to the store with an inquiry. Mr Llwyd received a disrespectful and racist reply.

The member of staff said that Mr Llwyd had been very offensive and rude because he had asked the question in Welsh, and that he did not have the right to speak Welsh to people. Mr Dilwyn Llwyd said:"The attitude of the store towards the Welsh language is unacceptable. Attitudes like this belong in the history books, not behind the counter."This is yet more proof of the need for a New Welsh language act. Over the past few weeks Cymdeithas yr Iaith have been contacting stores and businesses throughout Wales, with most replying stating that they do not offer a bi-lingual service because there isn't a law requiring this. Dewi Snelson, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Officer, North Wales, said:"The situation in the Blacks store is disgraceful. The people of Wales should have the right to receive services, information, facilities and goods in Welsh. This is another example of the need for more robust legislation to promote the Welsh language. We cannot depend on the whims of private companies to provide services through the medium of Welsh. It is a basic right.""We call on Rhodri Morgan and the Welsh Assembly Government to tackle this necessity and we ask once again for a discussion on the need for new legislation. We are also asking Blacks and the member of staff to apologise personally to Mr Llwyd, a formal apology on paper to Cymdeithas yr iaith and to meet with us so we can ensure that it will never happen again."Assistant told me off... for using Welsh Daily Post, 31/03/06