CALLS are being made for community councils in Gwynedd to issue statements ‘welcoming’ and expressing ‘support’ for people from Europe living in the county.

Porthmadog town councillor Simon Brooks has called for more support for Europeans living in the county following the recent referendum vote for Britain to leave the European Union.

The Borth-y-Gest councillor has tabled a motion calling on Porthmadog Town Council to issue a ‘statement of support and welcome for European Citizens living in Porthmadog.’

He said: “Whatever way we voted in the Brexit referendum, I know that we are all appalled by some of the stories of racial abuse towards people from Europe which have surfaced since the referendum.

“I think that as the voice of local people, councils like Porthmadog Town Council have a duty to say unequivocally that whoever lives in our community is a member of our community.

“We have dozens of people from mainland Europe living in Porthmadog, and the contribution they make to the town is absolutely brilliant.

“We have captains of industry, restaurant owners and GPs in Gwynedd who come from mainland Europe.

“We have people who work in hotels and on caravan sites from Europe. We have young people in our school system born outside the UK who speak Welsh, English and say Polish or Lithuanian fluently, and I think they are a role model for all of us.

“I want people from Europe to know that they are welcome to come here, welcome to stay here, welcome to contribute to our society, welcome to contribute to our language and culture, and that we support them.

“Although Wales and the UK voted to leave the European Union, Gwynedd voted to remain. I think we need to get the message out. We need European companies who employ people here to understand that Gwynedd is a pro-European county and we really welcome and appreciate European investment.

“I often hear tourists speaking German in Porthmadog, and the more European tourists who come here the better.

“Personally I think it’s terrible that EU citizens who have lived here for decades didn’t get a vote in the Brexit referendum. But they’re 100% part of our society, and we shouldn’t have any truck with anybody who thinks otherwise.

“I hope that town and community councils from all parts of Gwynedd will discuss and pass motions similar to the one I am asking Porthmadog Town Council to adopt.”