Cyngor Gwynedd Council Fail.: Rebuilding Communities - A Future For Gwynedd By L...

 A recent article, by Branwen Jones, a community reporter, has the headline - 

'Ban the sale of second homes or Welsh speaking communities face being
wiped out, councillor claims' amid calls for a two tier market to be
introduced in Gwynedd.



With nearly 40% of house sales bought as second homes last year, the
paper returns us to 1973 and an article written by Ann Clwyd, the ex
Labour MP, though makes no mention of Meibion
Glyndŵr, a group of activists who, during the 1980's and early 90's set
fire to over 200 English owned homes in the area and also letter bombed
the estate agents they considered profitering from the house sales. 



Police reported finding a bomb in the
garden of a local actor - (neighbours spoke of seeing a stranger in the
garden the previous day) - and he was arrested and taken for questioning
to Dolgellau. Rumours of MI5 involvement in the case were denied. Whilst the actor was finally released, one man was eventually jailed.



Many in the area were supportive of Meibion
Glyndŵr, who saw the Welsh language being diluted and youngsters forced
out of the area to seek housing and employment, ironically, in England.
This was the time for local politicians and the council to act - they
did not and the opportunity of buying cheap housing to improve and rent
to locals was lost. It would be interesting to see the property
portfolio's of those whose job it was to serve the local communities,
back then and today.



Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Housing, Craig ab lago has said - "It doesn't matter how many homes we can build or how many empty ones we
bring back into active use, until we sort out the root issue what we're
doing is putting a sticking plaster over a gaping wound." 



The Councillor is right. 'Build more homes' has been the loud
shout reverberating throughout Wales - mostly by those who can not think
further than their own profitable links with property developers and
the building industry. There is no need.



The idea of heavily taxing the
property of wealthy incomers more, while attractive to many is also a
non starter. Jersey is not a good example of how it could be done though
not without some merit it will simply alienate and divide people even
more.We must also remember that many locals have bought second homes as
an investment and those who use such property as a business.



Cyngor Gwynedd recently revealed there
are 1000 people on the housing list; coincidentally there are 1000
empty properties in the area. Let the council employ a small in-house
team of builders, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters, let them take
on local youth as apprentices, renovate the empty homes and rent them to
the apprentices who have been working on them. Then move on to the next
house, creating job security and affordable rental housing as it goes. 



I do believe, Councillor, Craig
ab lago, has been working on such a program but progress will be too
slow without the council and its senior officers fully supporting him.



The scheme would eventually pay for
itself by the rental income and council tax raised on the properties
that are currently rotting and worthless. When the apprentices become
the masters, let them teach the new influx of apprentices. They will
eventually move on, hopefully start their own businesses and create opportunities for other local peiople.



Insulate these properties properly -
with the climate crisis in mind carbon neutral would be the goal or as
near as damn it. Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru shadow rural affairs
minister has been vocal with regard to Welsh wool being used as
insulation in homes to support the regions sheep farmers who have been
on their knees for years. Excellent. Use the wood from the regions
sustained forests and Welsh slate for the roofs, too. This would not
only support these businesses but massively reduce the carbon footprint
importing these products from abroad.



These homes would not be
available to buy and their tenancies would be linked to their employment
with the council. Creating jobs and security for the local youth in the
area. Once the program has started then renovate the houses for those
in need on the housing list.



So where will the money come from initially ? 

UK governments have always provided
money for apprentice schemes so use those grants now while still
available. Other grants will also be available Across the North Wales
council's is a £2 Billion pension pot - much of which is invested
abroad. Why not invest that money in schemes supporting the region(s) ?



Ask for those in the community with
expertise and knowledge to come forward to pass on their skills to the
youth and the unemployed; stonemasons, engineers, metal workers, fishermen, computer coders
et al. The area is awash
with retirees and others who would be more than happy to volunteer
their time and knowledge as the recent covid19 crisis has shown.



Reopen the youth clubs and community
centres so these skills can be taught in the local communities by the
local community.These schemes run locally will not cost much and if
small amounts of monies are needed then dip into the council reserves.
Schemes such as these will also deal with the issue of gangs of bored,
youth roaming the town centres and estates. Dispersal notices are not
the answer as the reported attacks on police in Bangor have shown. These centres could also be used as a
focal point for all ages within the community - a meeting place for
music, sport and drama - as they used to be.



The effects of the Covid19 pandemic, on health and the economy, will be
with us for decades. Gwynedd, its people and the Welsh language could
thrive with the right leadership. The last forty years has shown where
mistakes were made - those lessons must be learnt otherwise they will
only be repeated.



Cyngor Gwynedd Council Fail.: Rebuilding Communities - A Future For Gwynedd By L...: