Madam,

Re: Proposed de-registration of Common Land at Machynlleth

I write to convey my personal dissatisfaction with the manner which our local authority has addressed the need to permanently site members of the nomadic travelling community within the environs of our town. I should add that this letter is not intended to insult any member of the ethnic group nor local elected members.

Nevertheless, I am disillusioned with the approach taken in this instance. The legislation has understandably been empowered to safeguard the interest of the subject community who have faced persecution and discrimination over generations, indeed since the Middle Ages. However, I fear that the local authority has viewed its legal obligation to provide such a facility to be of the utmost importance, regardless of the persons who will be directly affected by the proposed scheme.

Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley’s economy is centred around the agricultural sector and tertiary industries such as tourism. The people of the Dyfi Valley are predominantly Welsh-speaking persons who have resided in the area for several generations, have contributed greatly to society and have maintained their own ethnicity during periods of anglicisation and discrimination. It is therefore rather ironic to see a local authority which does not operate a fully bilingual administration burden this scheme upon the town.

Whilst the authority has publicly consulted by way of a meeting it cannot be denied that the whole matter is most sensitive. After all, many persons who have reasoned objections would not be willing to raise such observations in fear of humiliation and indeed harassment. More to the point, although the authority has established a proven need in accordance with the legislation, we have not heard whether the beneficiaries actually support the proposal.

After all, the development will, to all extent and purposes, be a permanent residential complex for a number of families who have become settled in Machynlleth for generations. It is not the case of affording a facility for travelling families on a temporary basis. A layperson would construe such an arrangement to be farcical, as these people will be expected to pay rates etc, as per any other ‘taxpayer’.

I therefore strongly believe that the members of Machynlleth Golf Club should seriously consider where their loyalty lies in advance of any negotiations to sell the parcel of land destined to be designated as common land.

Yours etc,

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