Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg has welcomed the news that the Welsh Government has decided to allow councils to increase council tax on second homes.

The language group called for raising council tax on second homes in its Maniffesto Byw (Living Manifesto) which was published earlier this year in response to the Census results.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg spokesperson Cen Llwyd commented: “This is very welcome news. However, we would like the right for councils to raise the tax even further. It’s very clear that second homes have a negative impact on several aspects of community life, such as the sustainability of local services and the Welsh language. It’s right that councils should be given the freedom to reflect that effect in their tax policies - we expect them to react positively to this new power. It’s one of the more than thirty policy recommendations in our Maniffesto Byw and is supported by groups such as the GMB. Indeed, we have been campaigning on this since the seventies.”

“Out-migration and in-migration are some of the factors which impact most on the state of the language in our communities. According to the Census, there was an enormous fall in the number of communities where over 70% of the population speak Welsh. Allowing councils to raise taxes on second homes is part of a package of planning and economic changes needed to ensure that everyone lives in Welsh. ”