The Welsh Government's failure to take account of the Welsh Language Commissioner's advice may mean that the Planning Bill has to be scrapped, according to campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith, who have taken legal advice on the matter.  
 


The 2011 Welsh Language law states that the Government must give "due regard" to the written advice of the Commissioner, but, as they have ignored the language in the Bill, the Bill could be repealed in a legal challenge.  


Commenting on the fact that the organisation has taken legal advice on the matter, Jamie Bevan, Chair of language pressure group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said "We do not take this kind of step is not something we take lightly, but the Government has had several opportunities to change its mind, and declined to do so every time. We are still hopeful that they will change their mind after the fierce opposition from council leaders and others. We have received heartening counsel, and there is a strong chance that the Government has run a flawed process."  
 


Meri Huws, Welsh Language Commissioner, wrote to the Government in February this year and last year with advice on the Planning Bill, highlighting the weaknesses and inconsistencies of the present system's approach to the language, and recommended four amendments to the Government's plans.

Despite First Minister Carwyn Jones' promise, in a policy document published in June, to consider "to take every practical step to reinforce the Welsh language within the planning system", the Planning Bill published in October did not reflect the Commissioner's advice.  
 


Jamie Bevan added: "Despite all the advice, Carwyn Jones has chosen not to make the language central to this legislation. This Bill should reflect Wales' unique needs in order to improve the environment, strengthen the Welsh language, and tackle poverty. We can't afford this copy and paste job from the system in England, it could be the death knell of our Welsh-speaking communities otherwise."