Welsh strategy under scrutiny (From Western Telegraph)

Welsh strategy under scrutiny

Pembrokeshire County Council has pledged to review its Welsh language scheme following criticisms, at Thursdays policy and resources committee, that there were flaws.

Councillor Emyr Jones complained that to get a response in English to correspondence with the county council was difficult, but a response in Welsh was virtually impossible.

He referred to a constituent who had not yet received a reply to an e-mail in Welsh regarding the foot and mouth restrictions on footpaths. He also asked when members could expect to have instant translation so that he and others could speak at meetings in their mother tongue.

Chief executive, Mr Bryn Parry-Jones, said the person in question had received a response by e-mail, but had not received a substantive response from the officer concerned. She deserved and received an apology and it should not have happened and would not happen again.

He said it had been determined that if members wished to speak Welsh at meetings they would provide their own translation at the moment, but if members wished to invest in instant translation equipment that was a decision for the future.

Councillor John Thomas said he would like to see more Welsh used, but they were meeting the requirements of the Welsh Language Board and Menter Iaith y Cymro was doing good work in the area. Councillor Brian Hall said that at a recent bus sub-committee a translator was present, but he shuddered to think what the cost of the meeting was.