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New blow for Welsh language communities from European courts
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<a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/by-date/21-05-2013">
21 May 2013 05:44
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<p>A European Court of Justice ruling for the Flemish region of Belgium may have an impact on Welsh language communities</p>
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A European Court of Justice ruling for the Flemish region of Belgium may have an impact on Welsh language communities
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<p>Planning policies aimed at protecting the Welsh language have
received a blow as a European court ruling appeared to make it more
difficult for authorities to implement them.</p><p>The ruling comes as
two campaign groups expressed concern at what they see as the lack of
protection afforded by the Welsh Government to the language.</p><p>A
judgement issued by the European Court of Justice in a case brought
against the Flemish region of Belgium concluded that a stipulation that
property must be sold to local people was an infringement of freedom. </p><p>It
said: “Such a measure may ... discourage residents of one member state
from making investments in immovable property in other member states,
and thus constitutes a restriction on the free movement of capital.”</p><p>Gwynedd
property consultant Evan Owen said: “This ruling confirms that
authorities which try to stop people buying property on affordability or
language grounds are acting unlawfully. </p><p>“In my view, the Welsh Government’s affordable housing policy is dead.” </p><p>A
Welsh Government spokesman responded: “We aim to provide more housing
of the right type and offer more choice. This includes communities’
needs for affordable housing. </p><p>“Our planning policy therefore
requires local planning authorities to address their identified need for
affordable housing in planning their provision for housing, while
recognising the constraints of the market. </p><p>“To achieve this local
authorities should assess the need for affordable housing in their area
and take this into account in formulating their policies and in taking
decisions on individual applications.” </p><p>“This includes ensuring that the affordable housing provided remains accessible to those who cannot afford market housing.” </p><p>Meanwhile
the Welsh Government came under fire from two Welsh language groups for
refusing to call in a decision to grant permission for the construction
of nearly 300 houses at Penybanc, near Ammanford.</p><p>Dyfodol i’r
Iaith (Future of the Language) had asked Carl Sargeant, who has
responsibility for planning, to call the application on the grounds that
it would harm the Welsh language in Carmarthenshire.</p><p>The group’s
chair Dr Heini Gruffudd said: “We were told by the Government that they
could consider the effect of a development on forestry, the countryside,
water resources and the environment, but not its effect on the Welsh
language.</p><p>“The Government has consulted with bodies representing
those interests, but not with the Commissioner for the Welsh language
who has expressed her concern regarding the development. It’s apparent
that the Government has no regulations that would allow it to consider
any impact on our language.”</p><p>In view of the delay in issuing a
redrafted TAN20 – the Government’s Technical Advice Note on planning and
language – Dyfodol i’r Iaith has called for its immediate publication.</p><p>Dr
Gruffudd added: “In the meantime the Government should call in every
plan involving more than 50 houses until the new TAN20 is operational.
Without planning guidance on the language, and without the language
being a factor in calling in planning proposals, the Welsh language is
totally defenceless.”</p><p>Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) also expressed grave concern.</p><p>The
group’s sustainable communities spokesman Toni Schiavone said: “Cases
like this highlight the major weaknesses in the housing system,
weaknesses which undermine the community and the Welsh language. </p><p>“People
want to live in Welsh, and that means living in a Welsh- speaking
community. But because of developments like this, that will be
increasingly difficult.” </p><p>In response to criticism that it was not
doing enough to protect the Welsh language in the context of planning
issues, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “It is not possible to
comment on the issues arising from an individual case. All requests for
the Welsh Ministers to call in an application will be considered
individually against the criteria published in Planning Policy Wales.”</p><p>“The
Welsh Government has no plans at present to introduce a blanket call-in
policy for certain types of application.” Iaith Byw [a language policy
document issued by the Welsh Government] makes a commitment to ‘finalise
the review of planning policy and associated technical advice on the
Welsh language’, and this is reflected in the Welsh Language Strategy
Action Plan for 2013-14.”</p><p>“Welsh Government policy on this issue
is reflected in TAN 20 and Planning Policy Wales. TAN 20 is currently
being refreshed and a revised version is due to be published later this
year.”</p>
</div><a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-blow-welsh-language-communities-3901514">http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-blow-welsh-language-communities-3901514</a><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>
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