Cymdeithas yr Iaith has responded with dismay to the news that two non-Welsh speaking directors have been appointed by Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd.

Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg in Gwynedd-Môn, who co-ordinated a protest in January against downgrading the housing association’s language policy, commented:

“There are a very high percentage of the housing association's tenants who speak Welsh - it should be an essential skill for jobs like this. The decision risks undermining efforts to strengthen the language, not only in this area, but also in other parts of our country who look to us for leadership. The Welsh language is an essential skill not only in Gwynedd, but across Wales, and it's about time for every organisation, whether it's a local authority or a housing association, to start realising that, and implement that policy.”

“Gwynedd council has a long and very honourable record of working internally through the medium of Welsh, we are firm in our opinion as a movement, this would never have happened under the council housing ownership, rather than the current external boy. Unfortunately, more and more of our public services are being sold to companies and private bodies these days, which in our opinion certain to follow that fewer Welsh language services are available. The answer is simple, give enough resources to Gwynedd Council so that they can keep public services in public hands. All this underlines the need for social housing to come back into public ownership.”