Welsh language campaigners protest against second homes

Hundreds of people turned up to protest in Llanrwst on Saturday to show their stance on the current housing situation in Wales. Cymdeithas yr Iaith have called on the Welsh Government and Welsh local authorities to do "everything possible" to support the people of Wales and reduce the impact of second homes on predominantly Welsh-speaking communities.

According to the 2021 Census, the number of Welsh speakers in Wales had fallen by 24,000 since the last census in 2011 and showed a particular decline in the Welsh language heartlands.

In Conwy, for example, the number of Welsh speakers fell from 29.2% in 2011 to 25.9% in 2021 according to the results of the recent census. Beryl Wynne, one of the organisers of the rally, said that this was partly because people are having to leave their communities: "We are losing our stock of houses because people are not able to compete on the open market which sees houses as a means of making profit, not as homes.

"We are losing our stock of houses as they become second homes, holiday accommodation or AirBnBs, and to wealthier people fleeing the cities. As a result many young people in the area cannot afford to buy or rent a home locally, and they are forced out.

"The results of the Census have shown that the problems facing the Welsh communities of Dyffryn Conwy, Hiraethog and Uwchaled also threaten our villages throughout the country. So it's time for the Government to act."

Many like Beryl Wynne have blamed this decrease on the influx of second homes and holiday lets in Wales. From April 2023, local authorities will be able to charge a council tax premium of up to 300%.

As a result, on December 8, Conwy county council decided to go ahead with its plans to introduce a massively higher council tax premium for second home owners in the county. The tax in the county will increase to 50% in 2023 and then double once again in 2024.

In Conwy, the number of Welsh speakers fell from 29.2% in 2011 to 25.9% in 2021 according to the results of the recent census. (Cymdeithas yr Iaith)

Meanwhile, Gwynedd Council have also decided to make changes to their council tax premium by increasing it to 150% by April of next year. Bridgend county is also looking at a premium of 100% from April, with a proposal that this be increased to 200% in two years time, and Swansea and Pembrokeshire councils have already increased their council tax premiums to 100%.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has updated its proposals for the Property Act to include measures that would empower and invest in communities, by making it easier for community groups to buy land and property for community use.

It is believed that 200 demonstrators attended the rally in Llanrwst. During the event, the Chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Robat Idris, said that losing young people from Welsh communities who couldn't afford houses or find work in their local area was a "tragedy". He said: "It is campaigners that have ensured new powers for councils to reduce the impact of second homes, but housing problems involve more than second homes and holiday homes.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has updated its proposals for the Property Act to include measures that would empower and invest in communities. (Cymdeithas yr Iaith)

"Losing young people from our communities because they cannot afford to live there, and because there is no work for them, is a tragedy. We must counteract the capitalist forces that facilitate and accelerate the decline that makes our communities less viable. We must keep the Welsh language as a community language in its traditional strongholds, and develop the confidence of our people to extend the Welsh language to the areas where it is less widely spoken.

"We ask the Welsh Government and the Local Authorities to do everything possible to empower our people. We ask people throughout Wales to raise their voices against this oppression."