Campaigners from across the UK fighting to save communities from being taken over by holiday homes will meet in Aberystwyth next month.

Those attending will be hoping to learn lessons from counterparts in Cornwall who introduced new legislation three years ago to safeguard houses for local residents.

Campaigners from across Wales, Cornwall and Scotland will meet in Aberystwyth to discuss tackling the house price crisis, with special attention given to how holiday homes threaten the Welsh language.

In Ceredigion, house prices are more than seven times average wages.

Last year, 39 per cent of the homes sold in Gwynedd were either holiday homes or ‘buy to let’ – a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.

Following a successful campaign by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, councils were given the right to raise the level of council tax on second homes, and many of them have since increased the tax over the last two years.

Cllr Loveday Jenkin from Cornwall Council and architect Màrtainn Mac a’Bhàillidh from a language group in Scotland will be among the speakers at a discussion in Aberystwyth about housing organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

Speaking about the event that will be held in Canolfan y Morlan on Saturday, 12 October, Robat Idris from Cymdeithas yr Iaith said: “More and more people are finding it difficult to live in their local area. In turn, that undermines community life, our towns and our villages and the Welsh language.

“We need a property system which ensures that house prices reflect what local people can afford.

“That’s why we’ve decided that housing, including holiday homes, will be the main focus of our annual general meeting."

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday