[lg policy] UK: Peter Rogers refusing to attend Anglesey Council in Welsh language row

[Harold Schiffman]

 Peter Rogers refusing to attend Anglesey Council in Welsh language row

   -  Dec 18, 2014 20:00 <http://www.dailypost.co.uk/by-date/18-12-2014>
   - By -->

 Aberffraw councillor claims the island authority has been sending him
Welsh only correspondence which he is unable to read

  <http://www.dailypost.co.uk/newsletters/daily-bulletin>
   HADYN IBALL [image: Councillor Peter Rogers]
Councillor Peter Rogers

A councillor is refusing to attend council meetings because he claims he is
being sent Welsh only correspondence.

Peter Rogers a former, AM and one of two members covering Bro Aberffraw
<http://www.dailypost.co.uk/all-about/aberffraw> on Anglesey Council
<http://www.dailypost.co.uk/all-about/anglesey%20council>felt he had “no
choice” but to introduce a self-imposed ban.

He accused council officials and “certain councillors” of excluding him
from internal correspondence by “deliberately” sending monolingual
information in the medium of Welsh, in which he is unable to read.

However, Anglesey Council strongly refute these claims, adding that the
council operates a bilingual policy which is overseen by the language
commissioner.

But Cllr Rogers said he has no intention of going back in the forseeable
future: “After living on Ynys Môn for 40 years it should be obvious that I
have no problem whatsoever with the Welsh language.

“But the council has a bilingual policy and officers are contravening their
own policy by not providing English translation. This is something I’ve
tried to rectify for some time but nothing is changing.”

Cllr Rogers, a member of the Revolutionist Group, added that he had no
problem with the council’s translation equipment at official meetings and
his dispute was with internal communication with officers.

But despite his self-imposed withdrawal, he reiterated his intent to work
hard on behalf of constituents in the ward.

Backing his stance, group colleague Cllr Jeff Evans said: “Peter is someone
who tirelessly works on behalf of his constituents, and I am aware that his
decision to withdraw from all council committees has not been taken lightly.

“Peter is honest, open, forthright and vociferous in challenging issues he
believes to be wrong and not in the interests of the community. Alas he
feels that issues he raises are not appropriately responded to, both in
time and content, and is unprepared to accept or condone, standards that
are, in his opinion, below that which should be expected.”

In response to Cllr Rogers’s claims, chief executive Richard Parry Jones
explained: “There have been a few recent instances where Cllr Rogers was
copied into Welsh e-mail correspondence, not directly relating to him, but
these were translated for him when brought to my attention.

“I would totally refute Cllr Rogers’ accusations that officers are using
the Welsh language against him. We operate a bilingual language policy,
which we adhere to and is monitored by the Welsh Language Commissioner.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/in-your-area/peter-rogers-refusing-attend-anglesey-8312278


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