Hundreds of people protested in Anglesey on Saturday, September 17 over the second homes crisis. The Nid yw Cymru ar Werth (Wales is Not for Sale) rally took place at 1pm outside the Anglesey Council offices in Llangefni.
The event was organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, which accused the Welsh government of "dragging their feet" in implementing its promise to manage second homes and holiday accommodation in areas where young people cannot find a place to live. Osian Jones, one of the organisers, said: "Our intention is to encourage local authorities such as Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy to use the new powers that the Welsh government is offering them to manage second homes and holiday accommodation to their full potential from April and to start the preparation for that now."
From April next year, local authorities in Wales will have new powers aimed at clamping down on the affordable housing crisis. These will include three new planning-use classes — main home, second home and short-term holiday accommodation. Councils will be able to insist on planning permission for a change from one class to another, control the number of second homes and holiday accommodation in any community, and increase land transaction tax for second homes and holiday accommodation.
