Cymdeithas yr iaith have slammed Eatonfield Group - Housing Development Company for getting up to the 'tricks of their trade' in Pont-Tyweli, Llandysul. The company plans to build 50 houses in the small village of Pont-Tyweli, withpermission granted to build 31 of the houses 16 years ago. Eatonfield have ensured that the granted planning permission is still valid by cutting a hole in the hedge and arguing that this is evidence that the work to build the houses has already commenced.

Further to this they have commissioned an independent company to undertake a language impact Assessment on the effect that only 19 extra houses would have on the Welsh language, because of the existing permission for the other 31.Angharad Clwyd, Dyfed Organiser Cymdeithas yr Iaith and Pont-Tyweli Resident said:"This is complete nonsense and totally unacceptable, the language impact assessment should have either studied the effect 50 new houses would have on the Welsh language or should have compared the effect a further 31 houses would have to the effect a further 50 houses would have. This assessment was a waste of time and money. You cannot compare the current situation with a further 19 houses as the 31 houses have not yet been built.""There is great opposition to this planning application in the village of Pont-Tyweli. It is obvious that in a village of 120 houses there isn't the need for 50 extra houses over a 3 year period. The concerns of the villagers include the effect the development would have on the community and the Welsh language. On this basis Llangeler Community Council commissioned theirown Welsh Language Impact Assesemnt by a language expert, Dylan Bryn Roberts - his findings were very different to those of the assessment prepared by Eatonfield.""A very successful meeting was organised last night (Wednesday) that discussed the next steps in the campaign to oppose the development. A vigil will be held tonight at 6.30pm on the field of the proposed development with villagers and members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith present to highlight the injustice and to oppose the development."Cymdeithas yr Iaith have now written to Eatonfield to demand that they treat the local community fairly by commissioning a new language impact assessment that study the effect 50 new homes (a potential 150 extra people) would have on the Welsh language in the village. Cymdeithas have also demanded that the planning application is treated as a new application as that would give the freedom to the planning officers to look into the need today for a further 50 houses in the village. If Eatonfield do not accept, Cymdeithas will be forced to take direct action against the company. Cymdeithas and villagers are also calling on Carmarthenshire County Council's planning department to turn this application down.Background:* The controversial plans to build 50 houses in the small village of Pont-Tyweli,that comprises of only 120 houses, over a period of 3 years were firstly submitted in December 2006.* These plans were withdrawn and re-submitted in April 2007.* The traffic department of the County Council refused to recommend the application, but following discussions with Eatonfield and their plans to create a new roundabout at the narrow junction near the Half Moon Public House in Pont-Tyweli the traffic department have given their blessing.* It looks like the plans will be discussed at the planning committee meeting on the 20th of December.