A WOMAN has vowed to fight her case in court after refusing to pay her TV licence as part of a campaign to devolve broadcasting powers to Wales.

Heledd Gwyndaf, a former Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi pupil and now chair of Welsh-language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith, is one of three campaigners who are facing court over non-payment of the licence fee.

Cymdeithas said that more than 70 people are refusing to pay for their licences as part of the campaign, and that the three are expecting court cases soon.

They will be the first group of people to go to court since Cymdeithas encouraged people to boycott the television licence fee as part as an effort to devolve broadcasting powers to Wales.

Mother-of-three Heledd from Talgarreg said she is “ready to argue the case in court”.

“From the lack of Welsh language on commercial radio and local TV and from the damaging cuts to S4C to the under representation of Wales in the media, it’s clear that London is not controlling the media in the best interests of the people of Wales,” she said.

“It’s also obvious that we have a massive democratic deficit: London-based broadcasters confuse people every day by reporting on matters that affect England only.

“Decisions over the media in Wales need to be made by the people of Wales - it’s time to devolve broadcasting.

“Now is the time to ensure we in Wales control our media in the best interests of all our communities.

“Devolution of these powers would be a major boost to broadcasting and democracy in Wales, with far more money spent on public service programming made in Wales, for Wales and about Wales.”

See this week's south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now