WELSH IDENTITY
Wrecsam council’s general development principles state that ALL new developments must:
“Have regard to the need to safeguard those areas that possess a strong Welsh and/or linguistic identity from development that could harm this identity.”
Click HERE to see a copy of the October 2004 planning development brief for Rhostyllen.
The whole County of Wrecsam possesses a strong Welsh identity that is under threat because of all the ‘commuter’ estates that the council have given planning permission to.
They provide dramatically insufficient local housing policies and readily admit that they do not know what the need for local housing is in Wrecsam. The most recent statistics state that the use of the Welsh language in the area is down to 22% - no doubt it will decline yet further if the scale of development continues.
The council states that identity must be taken into account with ALL new developments. Why has this principle not been taken into account by either Wrecsam council or the National Trust as regards the proposed Erddig development? It cannot simply be ignored. The village of Rhostyllen has already seen two other major developments that have doubled its size.
There is no doubt that moving in 220-plus households from outside the area will have a dramatic effect on the character and Welsh identity of the village of Rhostyllen.
When will Wrecsam council implement the use of their principle of ‘identity’ into the planning process?
In fact, what evidence is there that Wrecsam have EVER referred to this principle with regards to ANY development in the county?
Why make a specific commitment and then take ZERO action?
What do the National Trust say about identity?
The following quotes were taken from :
“OUR ENVIRONMENT - OUR FUTURE - YOUR VIEWS - DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY FOR WALES”
The National Trust Wales response to the Welsh Assembly Government consultation:
“The Trust is committed to protecting the environment of Wales, enhancing quality of life through sustainable development and promoting the link between people’s identity and sense of place”
” The historic environment of Wales remains under constant threat. Several factors converge to ensure that the physical evidence of our past - the kingpin of our national and local identities - is disappearing. Neglect through a marriage of lack of resources , understanding or interest, at both a national and local level , allows passively the deterioration of our historic buildings and landscapes. At the other extreme , PUPOSEFUL DESTRUCTION THROUGH INSENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES, OFTEN DESPITE LOCAL PROTEST”
” The revolution of thinking that needs to happen is to truely value Wales’ cultural heritage for its potential in the future. The shift needed is towards the view that the assets which need our care, attention and promotion are not simply the nationally or internationally significant or the most famous but also those which define local communities and identities : “things ” or landscapes which - though perhaps considered of minor importance to the “experts” - are of significance for local people.”