With every property purchased and transformed into a holiday home by landlords, a part of the Welsh community and culture dies. For years, Wales has been screaming that we are not for sale.
Criticisms of those from afar profiting from holiday homes and the destruction of Welsh communities have been consistent. But the actions of Love Island star, Dr Alex George, and his purchase of four holiday homes in Pembrokeshire ( which you can read about here ) speak to our own contribution to the dissipation of Welsh communities.
Growing up in the heartlands of west Wales, I have witnessed the places that raised me decline and the communities that live there decline because of holiday homes. The village I grew up in is now a shell of what it was.
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The seaside towns and villages that adorn Ceredigion’s coastline are filled with vacant holiday houses instead of cherished homes and communities. While these houses and places lie cold and empty during winter, Welsh people struggle to even gain a step on the property ladder.
Working-class Welsh people are being pushed out of the places that raised them as landlords exploit Wales. The holiday homes problem has plagued Wales for years. But now, the issue and its effects are becoming unavoidable.
The second worst-affected area is Pembrokeshire, with second homes accounting for 16% of housing stock. Beautiful villages that enrich the area, such as Cwm-yr-Eglwys, have been hijacked by wealthy second homeowners who have turned it into a ghost town — you can read about that here. The magnitude of the problem has led to the involvement of the Welsh Government and councils, who are looking at hiking up council tax on long-term empty properties. Most Welsh people are aware of the enormity of the issue.
But Dr Alex, who hails from Carmarthen, didn’t get the memo. When he publicised his purchase of four holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire, it exploded on social media in ways he probably didn't expect, with lots of outraged Welsh people. He was even threatened violence. Although the doctor has kindly offered up one of the cottages to a Ukrainian family “for as long as they need”, it doesn’t negate the fact that this is contributing to an issue that affects his home community and leaves many Welsh people who are struggling to find homes in Pembrokeshire displaced.
He justified his actions by saying that the four holiday cottages he purchased are “not suitable for long term rentals” (despite previously mentioning he purchased the properties from a gentleman who ran the place as “long term lets”). It's not good enough.
He is a Welsh person who is highly respected due to his admirable advocacy for mental health. He must bear the responsibility that comes with this significant platform.
When he broadcasts a message, he inadvertently represents us. He widely publicised the message that it is acceptable to buy holiday homes in Wales to a huge audience, in a stroke going against decades of protesting by Welsh people shouting that Wales is not for sale. How can we expect others not to think it's fine to buy up houses to rent out as holiday homes when some of our most significant public figures are shouting it from the rooftops?
I'm not just trying to criticise Dr Alex George. It is also a criticism of countless other Welsh people who own holiday homes. You are no better than anyone from elsewhere who is desecrating Welsh communities by buying them. We must stand united in echoing that Wales is not for sale.
