Party of Wales Gwynedd Councillors' Group

Plaid Cymru Gwynedd is continuing its pressure on the Welsh Government to change the Welsh Government's business grant guidelines, so that owners of second homes who have deliberately converted to business rates to avoid paying taxes, do not have access to business support grants of £10,000 or up to £25,000.

Plaid Cymru Gwynedd who is continuing to press for change so that every individual can state their Welsh nationality on the Census form has taken a step in the right direction, according to the cabinet member with responsibility for equality.

Currently, there is no opportunity for individuals to indicate whether they are Welsh Black, Asian, Caribbean or African under specific sub-headings on the form. The form suggestion is that being Welsh, English, Scottish or Irish is restricted to being white only. And under the Asian and Black categories, the word British appears, which undermines the whole ethos of giving individuals the right to state their nationality.

Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Councillors have harshly criticised the Welsh Government's National Development Framework which shows a lack of respect, understanding and awareness of the Welsh language, rural areas and economic growth of north Wales.

At a recent Gwynedd Council cabinet meeting, Councillors were left in disbelief over the flaws seen in the Government’s document currently out for consultation with local authorities. The Framework sets out the Welsh Government’s targets for housing, employment and development over the next 20 years.

As we step closer to the end of the year and festive celebrations begin, Plaid Cymru Gwynedd is keen to thank Wales’ non-military marching band for their performances at numerous events across Wales during 2019.

Quoted the busiest marching band in the world, Cambria Band based at Flintshire is made up of keen amateur musicians ranging from 4 to 83 years of age. The band will soon celebrate 14 years marching up and down Wales’ at large outdoor celebrations and events.

Residents living in the Chwilog area have submitted a 350 signed petition to Gwynedd Council calling for plans to introduce a safe footpath from the outskirts of the village down to Afonwen in Eifionydd.

There have been calls over the years for a safe route to be introduced from the village of Chwilog to Afonwen, because so many local residents walk along the lane. Over the years, the number of vehicles travelling along the road has increased, making it increasingly difficult for residents to walk safely along the road.

Local Gwynedd Councillor, Aled Evans said: “Requests and enquiries have been made since before I became a Councillor representing the area to look at creating a safe footpath along this lane which begins from the outskirts of Chwilog village towards Afonwen.

Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Leader, Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn said, “We are delighted to welcome the National Eisteddfod to Gwynedd in 2021.  This is the first time for the festival to visit the Dwyfor area since 1987, and I’m confident our local communities will ensure it will be a successful Eisteddfod.

“Thousands of people will flock to Gwynedd to compete or enjoy the maes activities during the week. Our aim will be to celebrate Welsh culture and all that makes Gwynedd unique.

(Pictured is Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Leader, Dyfrig Siencyn with Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru's Dwyfor Meirionnydd candidate)

Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Councillors are delighted to congratulate, welcome and support Mabon ap Gwynfor as Plaid Cymru's Dwyfor Meirionnydd candidate for the next Assembly Election in 2021.

Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Leader, Dyfrig Siencyn said: “The competition to choose a candidate was an inspiration to Plaid members in Dwyfor Meirionnydd with six strong candidates sharing a passion to make a difference to the constituency communities and to contribute to the team that will govern Wales after the next election.

Before Gwynedd Council's cabinet meeting today (15 October), Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Leader Dyfrig Siencyn made a statement saying that, as politicians, we stand firm with the Catalan people, in the face of the oppression faced by nine of the country's politicians.

“I feel very angry that the liberty of nine leading Catalunian politicians has been taken away from them for holding a vote to express people's views on their country's independence. It is a threat to democracy and I fully condemn the actions of the Spanish state.

An education committee in Gwynedd is deeply concerned regarding the Welsh Labour Government's failure to comply with its own Language Act, following a long discussion about Welsh language resources for GCSE religious education pupils.

Sixteen months after pressing the Welsh Labour Government to make Religious Education GCSE resources available within a reasonable time to pupils studying the subject through the medium of Welsh, Gwynedd’s Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) is frustrated by the Welsh Government's apparent lack of desire to ensure that resources are made available to pupils in Welsh and English at the same time.

Plaid Cymru Gwynedd’s leader, Dyfrig Siencyn is calling on the Welsh Labour Government to ensure that the extra funds transferred from the Tory Government in Westminster is allocated specifically for local government, after years of harsh funding cuts.

“In the past week we have heard that around £600m more money is coming from Westminster following the Treasury’s spending review for 2020/2021. I therefore urge the Welsh Labour Government to ensure that a fair percentage of that money is allocated to local councils when they make their financial announcement at the end of October.