New approach to Welsh language has wide support
CARMARTHENSHIRE Council has voted unanimously for a motion that aims to protect and develop the Welsh language in the county.
The motion calls for developments of five or more houses in rural areas and 10 or more in urban areas to consider the impact that their development will have on the Welsh language.
Developers will now have to consider the Welsh language in their planning in an aim to address the decreasing numbers in Welsh speakers in Carmarthenshire.
Councillor Alun Lenny, who chaired the council’s planning committee said: “Planning applications are subject to many consultations, but bats and butterflies have more status than the Welsh language in planning applications. There should be a consultation on language impact.”
The Carmarthen Town South councillor explained: “Recent large housing developments of thousands of homes around Carmarthenshire have seen an increase in non-Welsh speaking migrants moving to the area, which has sparked concern over protecting the Welsh language.
“Add to this the fact that we are hemorrhaging thousands of young Welsh-speaking people up the M4 as they are moving away to university and college and then not moving back to the area.”
The approach is in line with the Welsh Government’s target to create a million Welsh speakers by 2050 and devote time to develop the status of the Welsh language in the county.
More jobs and affordable housing is aimed to be created, in order to entice more Welsh-speaking young people to move back to the county.
Llanelli’s £200 million Wellness and Life Science Village, which received planning permission last week, aims to support the motion by providing 1,900 jobs in Carmarthenshire’s largest town.
The approach aims to enable more development in rural, farming areas where there are a higher concentration of Welsh speakers.
The approach is part of a wider strategy to provide 1,000 more affordable homes in Carmarthenshire in the next two years.
Speaking to the council, Cllr Lenny said: “Now is the time to develop the status of the Welsh language in the county.
“Providing houses the right locations essential.”
The approach received unanimous backing by the opposition.
Cllr Lenny added: “The Labour opposition group very strongly agreed with the motion which I was very glad about - to receive cross party support.”
Councillor Tina Higgins, speaking on behalf of the opposition, added: “After the last census results the council set up a working group to save the language in Carmarthenshire.
“At the time, the Leader wrote to the Minister asking for the Welsh language to be considered as part of TAN 20.” in is