Appeal over cuts to Welsh-medium playgroups in Wrecsam

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg has called on Wrecsam's council not to cut the finance to Welsh-medium playgroups.

Mudiad Meithrin provides services including playgroups, baby and toddler groups, and childcare in Welsh throughout the county. The council wants to cut it's contribution of £23,000. Cymdeithas yr Iaith have written to
the Welsh Language Commissioner asking for her opinion on the possibility that sending children to Welsh-medium playgroups is more costly than English-medium provision.

Aled Powell, chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith's Clwyd division said, "These cuts would have serious effects on children's opportunities to develop the ability to speak Welsh, especially those from less affluent backgrounds. It's vitally important that every child in the county is able to enjoy and communicate in Welsh from their early years if we are to build a society where Wales' unique language flourishes. These cuts would be a serious set-back for parents wishing to choose Welsh-medium education for their children. Such a budget cut discriminates between our two languages by treating Welsh less favourably than English. This move would possibly contravene the 2011 Welsh Language Measure and we have therefore written to the Welsh Language Commissioner asking that she intervenes."