Language campaigners have expressed concern over BBC bosses’ lack of ambition for their Welsh language services today, saying that a new independent Welsh language provider is needed.

The news comes following Radio Cymru’s ‘national conversation’ about how the station should develop over the years to come. Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg has responded by arguing that the fact the corporation has doubled the number of English language stations it broadcasts in Wales since the start of the 90s proves the BBC is not committed to its Welsh language services.

Because of that, the group calls for a new Welsh language broadcaster which is independent of the BBC. According to the campaign group: “We can’t trust the BBC to ensure the future of broadcasting in Welsh after it has treated its Welsh language services as second rate for decades. The BBC should release finance … from its coffers to establish new interactive services by new multi-platform providers, free from the BBC’s British straight jacket.”

In its correspondence to the British Broadcasting Corporation, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s Broadcasting group chair Greg Bevan says: “We are very concerned BBC managers in Wales aren’t doing enough to fight for expanding the corporation’s Welsh language services as they should. We also note that the pattern over recent decades has been to manage decline the Welsh language services, while there’s been a significant investment in English language services.

“As a corporation, the BBC have failed to deliver for the Welsh language. There are a number of individuals who work, or have worked, for the corporation that are extremely supportive of the language, but we see that the corporation has a structural problem that limits the growth of their Welsh language services and instead prioritises developments on a British level.”

“We are not convinced that BBC managers, following the national conversation, will attempt to secure the necessary funding to ensure that the service will be sufficiently expanded. They have already said that it will not be possible to establish another radio station… before turning to the corporation’s Trust, they have limited their options for developing Welsh services. We strongly recommend the establishment of a new, multi-platform broadcaster that will be free from the BBC’s conservatism and lack of ambition.”

Speaking today Greg Bevan added: “The BBC is institutionally anti-Welsh-language. Having doubled the number of English-language stations they broadcast in Wales, they’re now cutting the hours and budget of the only Welsh-language radio station in the world. For the language to flourish we must demand our own free and independent broadcaster.”

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s response to BBC Radio Cymru's 'national conversation'