The Dyffryn Teifi branch of Cymdeithas yr Iaith has sent a message to the First Minister to thank him for his interest in the Valley, but have called for action to save local services in order that young people can settle in the area.

In June 2013, Edwina Hart established a Task and Finish Group to look at how the Local Growth Zone could be beneficial to the Teifi Valley. Among the group's recommendations was the pilot scheme of a series of surgeries for local businesses to see how to make the best use of the Welsh language in the interests of their business; and make funds available for marketing, promotional material and bilingual and Welsh signage. The committee's recommendations were submitted to the Government in December last year; and after a period of over six months of consideration the Government accepted the recommendations and responded to them in July this year.
Cymdeithas understands that the intention now is to establish a committee that will oversee the implementation of the recommendations and move plans forward.

18 year old Gwenllian Llwyd of Talgarreg who is a member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith said:
"The government is moving painfully slowly in light of the crisis facing the Welsh language and communities in the Teifi Valley. Our villages are losing services such as schools and shops, and towns risk losing banks and leisure facilities like the swimming pool. young people will not want to make their home in communities without services, and these problems are undermining efforts to promote the economic growth of the area. We ask that you intervene to ensure that banks such as the NatWest does not close branches in Llandysul, New Quay and Llanybydder until arrangements such as a fully bi-lingual mobile banking unit is available; and to intervene to prevent the Local Authority from breaking its promise to open a new swimming pool at the school under construction in Llandysul.
We ask that you direct this new committee to devise a strategy to protect services in our communities in Dyffryn Teifi.”

The story in the press:

Call to save local Services - Tivy Side 24/10/2014