LANGUAGE CAMPAIGNERS’ ‘WEEKEND OF ACTION’

LANGUAGE campaigners engaged in a ‘weekend of action’ to highlight the second homes crisis facing parts of Wales.

Members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire flew bilingual banners saying that Wales is not for sale.

The flags were draped over the Menai Suspension Bridge and at other roads.

One of the campaigners said: “Displaying flags in both languages means that we reach people who may be thinking of buying a holiday home or already have one. Second homes are only part of the problem, but it’s timely at the begining of the holiday season to draw attention to second houses, and the roads were very busy.

“There was a lot of support too – people waving and beeping their horn. The housing problem is something that is a concern for a lot of people.”

On Friday campaigners flew the banners from Pont y Borth (Menai Suspension Bridge) and on Monday the banners were on a busy road near Carmarthen towards Pembrokeshire.

Earlier this year, a range of new tough measures on second homes and holiday lets were announced by the Welsh Government that will come into force in April 2023.

They will see the maximum level of council tax on second homes and long-term empty dwellings tripled from 100% to 300%.

Properties that are available to let for at least 140 days, and that are actually let for at least 70 days, will pay rates rather than council tax from next year. The change will increase these thresholds to being available to let for at least 252 days and actually let for at least 182 days in any 12-month period.

The measures will seek to address the issue of second homes and unaffordable housing facing many communities in Wales, as set out in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. Councils will be able to decide the level which they feel is appropriate for their individual local circumstances.