Editor

I am sure that there are many among the recent incomers from England into Ceredigion who are sufficiently enlightened and empathetic to realise that they are not moving into another English county. But I am afraid that far too many are little more than permanent tourists in our country.

They don’t assimilate, don’t learn our language and many can’t even be bothered to pronounce the names of their house or village.

In the late 1960s, our Welsh speaking communities were fairly stable, blessed as we often were with large families in a viable agricultural economy. Often, however, it was a case of selling a home in England and buying a farm in Wales, pricing out the Welsh-speaking natives and bringing close to extinction their ancient language which had been spoken here for around 1,500 years.

Nothing better illustrates the insensitivity and ignorance of some who have blindly moved into ‘Y Fro Gymraeg’ than the displacing of historical, often ancient Welsh names with naff, highly inappropriate English ones. It is an act of cultural vandalism that should no more be permitted than allowing someone to tear down a beautiful cottage in a Cotswold village in order to erect a McDonald’s in its place.

It would obviously be unfair to demonise all who have moved into ‘Y Fro Gymraeg’ from England, but all of us who live here need to be aware of where we live and what that entails.

A planning system which makes the Welsh language a prime factor for consideration together with other relevant measures would be a start.

The future of our language is not something to be ignored.

Geraint Jones Swyn y Môr Aberporth

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