Several council leaders have warned the Welsh Government about missing a 'historic opportunity' to strengthen the Welsh language if they do not change their proposed Planning Bill, in an open letter released today (Friday, 7th November). 

 

The letter has been signed by the leaders of Bridgend, Wrecsam, Conwy, Ynys Môn, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire councils along with other senior councillors. The open letter from the seven leaders follows correspondence from Carmarthenshire council's leader calling on Planning Minister Carl Sargeant to put the Welsh language at the heart of the Bill. 

 

In the correspondence, councillors call for three main changes to the Bill: make the Welsh language a statutory consideration so developments can be approved or blocked on the basis of their language impact alone; ensure that local councils can decide on housing targets based on local needs independent of central government in Cardiff; and establish a statutory purpose for the planning system so it can be steered in a direction that's beneficial to the environment, the Welsh language and tackles poverty.  

 

Warning of the impact of failing to change the Bill, the leaders say: "If this historic opportunity is lost to ensure a planning system which reflects the needs of Wales, it would endanger our ability to strengthen the Welsh language in our communities for a number of years to come." 

 

Welcoming the council leaders' statement, Tamsin Davies, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg sustainable communities spokesperson commented: "Momentum is definitely behind our campaign, and by now I think it will be impossible for the government to refuse changes to the Bill - there's too much opposition. We have provided Welsh Government with a large number of options for clauses to include in the Bill, and we will be meeting them again next week to discuss it further. We do really hope they will change their minds.  

 

"We need a Bill that benefits people, rather than one that's convenient for civil servants. Like these council leaders, we want to see a system which bases the number of new houses on the needs of local communities, rather than national targets, with decisions being made locally. The Welsh language also needs to be made a statutory consideration in the system; as the leaders have said in the letter, there needs to be clarity that councillors can refuse or approve developments based on their language impact. With the law behind it, the Welsh language could thrive in our communities over the years to come."  

 

The news comes as Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg presents hundreds of cards from members of the public calling for changes to the planning bill to the Assembly's Environment committee as part of their consultation on the legislation which closes today. 

 

Letter Text:

 

Annwyl Weinidog,  

 

We write to urge you to re-consider the contents of the Welsh Government's Planning Bill in order to create a planning system which answers Wales' needs through tackling poverty, protecting our environment, and strengthening our unique national language.  

 

The state of the Welsh language is very fragile at a community level. As you know, at the moment, there is no means for councillors, under the present statutory framework, to permit or refuse developments on the basis of their impact on the Welsh language alone. That situation needs to change through the Bill, given that the matter cannot be solved without legislation. If this historic opportunity is lost to ensure a planning system which reflects the needs of Wales, it would endanger our ability to strengthen the Welsh language in our communities for a number of years to come.  

 

We are concerned as well about the number of ways in which the Bill proposes centralising power in Cardiff, we strongly believe that councils should have the freedom to set housing targets based on local needs independent of central government. Again, the Bill's framework must devolve that power as well as establishing a new process which leads and supports us in assessing that local need in a thorough way.   

We also agree with your committee of experts that there needs to be a statutory purpose for the planning system, which gives direction to the system, and explains that protecting our environment, getting to grips with poverty and strengthening the Welsh language are some of the foundations running right through the planning system.   

 

Yours, 

 

Cllr. John Nott, Leader, Bridgend County Borough Council 

Cllr. Jamie Adams, Leader, Pembrokeshire Council  

Cllr. Mark Pritchard, Leader, Wrexham Council 

Cllr. Kevin Madge, Leader, Carmarthenshire Counil 

Cllr. Dilwyn Roberts, Leader, Conwy Council 

Cllr. Ieuan Williams, Leader, Ynys Môn Council 

Cllr. Ellen ap Gwynn, Ceredigion Council 

Cllr.  Phil Edwards, Conwy Council Cabinet 

Cllr. Sian Gwenllian, Gwynedd Council 

Cllr. Bob Parry, Ynys Môn Council 

Cllr. Victor Hughes, Ynys Môn Council 

Cllr. Ann Griffiths, Ynys Môn Council