‘Human dam’ to prevent the collapse of Welsh communities

At 1pm on Saturday, 10th of July, hundreds of Cymdeithas yr Iaith supporters are expected to form a "human dam" across the Tryweryn dam near Bala, as a sign of the group’s determination to prevent the collapse of Welsh communities as a result of the housing crisis.

 

Supporters will sign a statement calling on the Welsh Government to "take urgent and radical action to ensure that local communities can control the housing market and planning process in order to secure homes for their people.” Addressing the crowd at that historic site will be: Dafydd Iwan, Delyth Jewell MS, Cian Ireland (who was the Labour candidate for Dwyfor-Meirionnydd at this year’s Senedd election) and Branwen Nicolas (who was imprisoned for twelve months 30 years ago to this year for her part in Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s campaign for a Property Act).

 

A spokesperson on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s 'Wales is not for sale' campaign, Osian Jones, said:

 

 "We can't wait yet more decades for the Government to take decisive action: our communities are being torn apart as young people are forced to move because such a large proportion of the houses are bought at inflated prices by richer people, often using them as holiday houses or second homes; without strong communities, the future of the Welsh language looks bleak. Tomorrow (Friday, 21 May), we will start to count down 50 days to the date of the rally by announcing every day names of prominent people who will be coming to the rally to sign the call on the new Government. Mark Drakeford has already pledged to take action to prevent the injustice, and Cymdeithas yr Iaith will be campaigning to ensure that a series of radical steps are taken to tackle the situation, as opposed to token gestures. Our communities can't wait any longer."

Click here to access the event page on Facebook