Members of the community and language pressure group Cymuned will be running an exhibition stand in the centre of Llangefni from 2pm this Saturday (28/03/09) as part of their latest campaign CyngorNi.com, which calls upon county councils serving Cymraeg-speaking areas to follow Gwynedd Council’s policy of operating internally through the medium of Cymraeg in order to provide a genuinely bilingual service. The information stand in the centre of Llangefni is an important step in the process of seeking the opinion of the people of Ynys Môn on the campaign.

‘If we are to secure a future for the young people of Ynys Môn, and for our language in one of its last remaining strongholds, it is vital that Ynys Môn council follow the enormously successful example of Gwynedd by providing jobs which enable people to work through the medium of Cymraeg, as well as providing genuine opportunities for professional newcomers to the area to learn Cymraeg fluently,’ said Aran Jones, Cymuned’s Chief Executive.

Cymuned voted in favour of this campaign in their last annual conference, and has since been working to prepare research and gather support before launching the campaign in public. Cymuned believes that providing high-quality professional jobs for young local people is the most important challenge facing politicians who want to slow down the outward migration of young people from Ynys Môn.

‘Our young people leave the area taking their qualifications and their bilingual skills with them,’ said Aran Jones, ‘and as the most significant employer on the island, the council has a responsibility to help slow that drain. Working internally through the medium of Cymraeg would show young people that there is a place for them on the island, and place a real market value on their linguistic skills.’

Cymuned have already sent letters to every county councillor calling on them to support the campaign, and have prepared a timetable of events for the rest of 2009. They believe that every resident of Ynys Môn who is worried about the outward-migration of local young people, and concerned for the future of the language, to visit the CyngorNi.com website in order to find out how to lend a hand with the campaign.

Members of the community and language pressure group Cymuned today (Thursday 26th of February) targeted Ynys Môn council as part of their latest campaign CyngorNi.com, which calls upon county councils serving Cymraeg-speaking areas to follow Gwynedd Council’s policy of operating internally through the medium of Cymraeg in order to provide a genuinely bilingual service. An information stand was set up outside council offices to distribute leaflets explaining more about CyngorNi.com, with a large full colour banner to draw attention to the campaign.

‘If we are to secure a future for the young people of Ynys Môn, and for our language in one of its last remaining strongholds, it is vital that Ynys Môn council follow the enormously successful example of Gwynedd by providing jobs which enable people to work through the medium of Cymraeg, as well as providing genuine opportunities for professional newcomers to the area to learn Cymraeg fluently,’ said Aran Jones, Cymuned’s Chief Executive.

Cymuned voted in favour of this campaign in their last annual conference, and has since been working to prepare research and gather support before launching the campaign in public. Cymuned believes that providing high-quality professional jobs for young local people is the most important challenge facing politicians who want to slow down the outward migration of young people from Ynys Môn.

‘Our young people leave the area taking their qualifications and their bilingual skills with them,’ said Aran Jones, ‘and as the most significant employer on the island, the council has a responsibility to help slow that drain. Working internally through the medium of Cymraeg would show young people that there is a place for them on the island, and place a real market value on their linguistic skills.’

Cymuned have already sent letters to every county councillor calling on them to support the campaign, and have prepared a timetable of events for the rest of 2009. They believe that every resident of Ynys Môn who is worried about the outward-migration of local young people, and concerned for the future of the language, to visit the CyngorNi.com website in order to find out how to lend a hand with the campaign.

The National Trust’s plans to build a commuter village of 223 houses on green space on their Erddig estate near Wrecsam have been under attack from local residents for almost two years, and the Trust now faces a members’ revolt in their Annual General Meeting at the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool this Saturday (01/11/08). Two proposals have been made by activist members: the first calls for the development plans to be scrapped, and the second calls for those responsible for them to be removed from the Trust.

Rhostyllen.com campaigner and Wrecsam county councillor Carrie Harper said “The support we’ve had from National Trust members over the last two years has been amazing, especially since the motions for the AGM have been published. Thousands of them have been in touch. We have been surprised by how much resentment members feel at the behaviour of the Trust. We believe that the AGM will show the real voice of the National Trust by voting against the proposed Erddig development. The people of Rhostyllen voted overwhelmingly against this development in a local referendum, but the Trust has completely ignored their concerns while claiming hypocritically to be sensitive to local opinions.”

Amanda Richards, chairperson of the Rhostyllen Residents Committee, said “Last week the Trust issued a statement to say that they will be focusing on saving open green spaces, yet they want to concrete over the one in Rhostyllen. This is unacceptable hypocrisy. People have been asking us just who within the Trust is responsible for this development, and we have requested this information from the Trust repeatedly – but they refuse to give it to us.”

“Our community needs protection from the National Trust. Because of these resolutions, 3.5 million Trust members are now aware of what is being done in their name. The situation at Erddig is the tip of the iceberg – we are in touch with hundreds of individuals and many other communities and organisations who have been and are under attack from the Trust’s profiteering, bullying and oppressive behaviour.”

“We believe that the general membership of the Trust are decent people who care about the environment and local communities and will not let this continue. The small group responsible for this unethical behaviour on the part of the Trust will find themselves accountable.”

Aran Jones, Chief Executive of community pressure group Cymuned, said “We have been supporting local people from the beginning in their fight against the National Trust. The development is unsustainable and completely unethical. The Trust have some real soul searching to do if they are to lead their organisation into the 21st century as the ethical body we all used to trust and respect. They need to stop riding roughshod over local communities if they want the accusations of double standards and hypocrisy to stop.”

Campaigners from across North Wales will be protesting outside the AGM at the Liverpool Arena tomorrow from 9.15 am.

Researchers from the campaign group Cymuned have discovered that the National Trust would have to plant up to 7000 trees PER YEAR to offset carbon emissions that would be produced by their planned ‘new village’ development at Erddig, in the north of Wales.

“This staggering figure shows that the National Trust’s hypocritical stance on development for profit is now completely morally unacceptable,” said Aran Jones, Cymuned’s Chief Executive. “Instead of guarding green spaces as their members want them to, they are causing massive environmental damage as a result of blatant short-termism.”

Concerns have been expressed by campaigners for almost two years that the development is not sustainable. The housing situation in North East Wales has made it virtually impossible for local people to afford housing. This has lead to a situation where many commuter villages have been developed in the area which has lead to further increases in local house prices.

The majority of the 223 houses on the Trust’s controversial development at Erddig in Wrecsam will be bought by people wanting to commute to and from the major conurbations of the North West of England.

Cymuned researcher Cindy Stewart used figures estimated by the Sightline institute, an environmental and sustainability think tank in the Pacific Northwest, to calculate the shocking results. Cindy said “The number of trees needed to be planted (since trees don’t all live 40 years) is based on estimates by Trees for the Future. I used a modest estimate based on distances travelled by commuters from the four main commuter areas of Chester, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool and Manchester, on the basis that roughly 75% of houses on the development will be bought from outside Wrecsam, which is in line with current trends. The estimates are based on the assumption that people will only have one car per household and are ’trip to work’ estimates only. These figures are truly frightening.
I don’t seem to recall a forest being included in the proposed development, but they’re going to need one to offset these emissions.”

The figures reveal that the commuter development could emit up to 1369 tons of CO2 annually, needing 6843 trees planted per year to offset the damage.

Residents and campaigners have reacted furiously to comments by Mr Bob Dewey, of Wrexham council’s planning department, in the planning meeting to consider the National Trust’s application to build 223 houses on Erddig estate ground in Rhostyllen. Mr Dewey said that the council’s guideline that no development should adversely affect Welsh identity or language was ‘not applicable in this case because Rhostyllen doesn’t have a sense of Welsh identity’.

Spectators from Rhostyllen at the meeting let out a collective gasp of disbelief, and shouts of ‘out of order’ followed the comments. The issue of identity was not commented on further by any other member of the committee, despite Wrexham council having a clear guideline in place that states ‘no new development should have an adverse affect on Welsh identity and or language.’

Carrie Harper of Cymuned said “I am absolutely astounded by Mr Dewey’s comments. He is part of the planning committee and responsible for making decisions on behalf of the people of Wrecsam. If a ward that has over 80% of its population born in Wales has no Welsh identity, I dread to think what lies in store for the rest of Wrexham. The point we wanted to make was that the commuter development would increase Rhostyllen’s population by almost 40%, the majority of people being from outside the locality. There is no possible doubt that this will have an adverse effect on the Welsh identity and character of the area. This clearly contravenes Welsh Assembly and local council policies, yet the council seem intent on refusing to implement their own guideline.”

Tara Green of the Rhostyllen Residents Committee said “To say Rhostyllen isn’t Welsh is an absolute insult to residents, it’s unforgivable. In addition, the planning committee brushed aside the issue of local opposition despite an official referendum with results of 2:1 against. The decision has now been deferred but serious questions have to be asked about why our council is ignoring official planning guidelines. We have identified at least seven other guidelines which this proposed development breaches. I’m personally very concerned about this whole process, especially the fact that they are ignoring local opinion.”

Campaigners have called for a public statement from Wrexham council to clarify whether or not they recognise their own guideline of doing no damage to Welsh identity or language, and whether or not they consider Rhostyllen to have a Welsh identity.

Rhostyllen Residents Committee and Cymuned campaigners have started a campaign aimed at National Trust members after the National Trust refused to comment on the referendum that voted overwhelmingly against their plans to develop 223 houses in Rhostyllen. The new campaign will ask National Trust members to state support for a motion which will be placed before the National Trust’s next Annual General Meeting to put a halt to the plans and vote out board members responsible for passing them.

In the meantime, campaigners are repeating their request for the National Trust to respect the democratic views of local people by pulling out of the planning application.

Susan Griffith, chairperson of the Rhostyllen Residents Committee (RRC) said ‘The National Trust have point blank refused to issue any comment about the results of the referendum. Residents have voted against the plans but the National Trust have still not issued a statement to say they will abide by the democratic process and pull out. Letters have been sent out to them to request they scrap their plans but strangely have recieved no response. Are the National Trust intending to go against the wishes of the local community and against the democratic process?’

Residents in Esclusham also voted no confidence in Esclusham community council. Tara Green also of the RRC said ‘We have called for the community council to do the honourable thing and resign but are yet get a response. If they refuse, residents are willing to stand against them at the upcoming elections in May, it is vitally important that we have confidence and trust in those representing us.’

Members of the Trust have not been consulted about these plans and are now joining the campaign against the development. They intend to vote out those responsible at the National Trust’s Annual General Meeting later this year.

Carrie Harper of Cymuned said ‘We have spoken to hundreds of Trust members and the vast majority are against the plans. In addition to those that have already stated their support, we are now calling on all Trust members who oppose these plans to join the ‘Friends of Erddig’ campaign. They can do so by visiting www.Rhostyllen.com and supporting the call of other members to vote out those responsible at the Annual General Meeting.’

The community pressure group Cymuned has strongly condemned those responsible for sending an anonymous letter to the organisation’s Chief Executive telling him to ‘make your peace with your God while you can.’ The letter has been passed on to North Wales Police and is currently being examined by the police forensics department in Llanelwy.

‘This cowardly attack shows clearly what kind of people oppose the positive work that Cymuned is engaged in,’ said a spokesperson on behalf of Cymuned. ‘Obviously, we cannot respond directly to an anonymous letter, but we would like to ask this coward which part of Cymuned’s work he or she is attempting to undermine.’

‘Is this an attack against the lobbying work we do to call for housing for local people, and the connected work emphasising the vital importance of communities across Wales? Or is this an attack against the Pwllheli Business Network that we are developing in partnership with local businesses in Pwllheli, in order to help promote local businesses more successfully? Or is it an attack against our Chief Executive and his family for putting so much of their time and energy into the work described above?’

Cymuned will be discussing structural changes to the organisation in order to make sure that hate-driven people like this will not be able to target individual members of Cymuned in the future. However, Cymuned is also determined not to permit threats like this to interrupt the positive and important work that members of Cymuned are engaged in across Wales – as has always been true, Cymuned will not back down in the face of hatred. Cymuned will continue to promote Pwllheli.org on behalf of businesses in Pwllheli, will continue to promote Homes4Locals.com on behalf of local people who cannot afford homes, and will continue to promote Cymuned.net for people who want to make a positive difference to their own communities.

Cymuned has thanked North Wales Police for their professional and speedy response to the situation, and for the support that has been offered through the Victom Support network.

Campaigners have won a vote against National Trust plans to build 223 houses on its Erddig estate in Wrexham by 385 to 209 in a turn out of 24% – a ratio of almost 2 to 1 against. The same referendum also passed a vote of no confidence in the Rhostyllen Community Council by 307 to 221.

Election proceedings were marred when the local council used taxpayers money to send council workers to remove posters publicising the referendum, in what has been described as ‘an obscene abuse of power’. However, local campaigners are delighted with their significant victory.

Rhostyllen.com campaigner Tara Green said ‘We are extremely happy with the results of the vote. The National Trust can no longer falsely claim that the majority of local people are in favour of the development. People have finally had their say and it is a resounding NO. The vote also applied to any other development in our community that is not based on local need. Local people do not want this development, so it is time for the Trust to scrap their plans and abide by the democratic process.’

The Rhostyllen Residents Committee have challenged the community council to step down in light of the no confidence vote against them. A spokesperson said ‘A clear majority have voted no confidence in this council, and it is therefore only right that they now accept this decision and resign.’

Carrie Harper from campaign group Cymuned said ‘Local people have made it clear that they are against the National Trust’s ‘new village’ development. The planning committee should now take this into account when deciding on the planning application and refuse it. Iwan Huws, Director of Wales for the National Trust, has stated publicly that the development would be decided by the democratic process. The only acceptable option now is for them to pull out. If they do not, the campaign will continue and their own members will vote out those responsible for the decision at the Trust’s AGM later this year. Hundreds have already spoken to us and stated their willingness to do so.’

CAMPAIGNERS FURIOUS AT SYSTEMATIC REMOVAL OF ELECTION POSTERS

Campaigners in Rhostyllen have been appalled to see council vans following local residents putting up posters to publicise the referendum on the National Trust’s plans to build 223 houses in Rhostyllen. The referendum is being held from 4.00pm until 9.00pm this evening, and council workers have been removing every poster that concerned local residents have put up.

Under the 1972 Local Government Act, Wrexham council is not obliged to publicise the referendum in Rhostyllen at all, and the Act states clearly that the responsibility for drawing attention to the referendum lies with the people who requested it.

Due to complaints believed to have come from Rhostyllen councillor Mark Pritchard, currently campaigning in favour of the development despite have spoken against it regularly, council workers have been attempting to remove all posters promoting the election.

Campaigners want to know how much it is costing the tax-payers of Rhostyllen to have council workers attempting to make sure that the residents do not know about the referendum.

‘This is an obscene abuse of power,’ says Carrie Harper, local representative for the communities group Cymuned. ‘The council is spending our money to stop people in Rhostyllen from hearing that they have a chance to voice their feelings about the
proposed over-development. It is bad enough when councils drag their feet on their obligations to consult the public – but to have the council actively trying to hush up this vital example of community democracy is an appalling example of their sneering
disrespect for ordinary people.’

Residents of Rhostyllen today have the opportunity to vote against National Trust plans to build 223 houses on the Erddig estate facing Rhostyllen. Polls will be open from 4.00pm until 9.00pm in the Rhostyllen Parish Hall, after the Rhostyllen Residents Committee and campaign group Cymuned successfully won their call for a local referendum. Residents will also have the opportunity to vote on a motion of no
confidence in the Esclusham community council.

Campaigner Tara Green said “This is the democratic process, and we feel it was vital for us to express our views. We urge all residents of Esclusham to use this opportunity to have their say and to go to the Parish Hall and vote.”

Rhostyllen resident Barbara Davies also says residents are happy that they are finally able to have their say. “Although it has taken some time to organise, we are happy finally to have the chance to challenge National Trust claims that the majority of us
are in favour of this development. This is our community, it is only right that we have a say about its future.”

Carrie Harper of campaign group Cymuned said “This is all about democracy. Democracy for the people of Rhostyllen and Esclusham and also now about democracy for National Trust members. Hundreds have contacted us expressing their concerns about the National Trust’s actions here in Wrexham. Trust members will also be following the
democratic process and attending the Trust’s AGM this year to vote out those responsible for this decision. The National Trust will have to learn the hard way that they cannot ride roughshod over local communities or their own members.”