Bridgend County Borough Council launches new Welsh Language Strategy
Bridgend County Borough Council has published a new Welsh Language Strategy for 2021-2026.
The new strategy was implemented earlier this week as part of the council’s requirements under the Welsh Language Standards.
The local authority has to produce a five-year strategy and an annual report to outline how it has complied with the standards, progress made towards objectives, and how, in collaboration with partners, it has promoted and facilitated the use of the Welsh language more widely in the county borough.
Of the estimated 147,049 living in the county borough, a September 2020 National Survey for Wales identified 17.5 per cent could speak Welsh – an increase of 3.1 per cent from the same survey in 2005.
The council’s new Welsh Language Strategy aim is for 21 per cent of residents aged three and over to be able to speak Welsh by 2050, in line with Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
Within the county borough, there are plans for four new childcare hubs in Blackmill, Bettws, Bridgend and Porthcawl as part of a £2.6m investment into Welsh-medium education.
The local authority is also exploring options for delivering the Cabinet’s commitment to develop Welsh-medium primary provision in Porthcawl and there are plans to expand the capacity at the Welsh-medium primary school Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sgêr.
Cllr Dhanisha Patel, Welsh Language Champion and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, said: “This is our second Welsh Language Strategy and aims to build on the progress we have made over the past five years.
“As well as listening to our residents, communities and staff we have also used a range of information to support us in identifying our objectives.
“We have looked at regional priorities for Bridgend county borough, council priorities and service delivery plans, as well as the progress that our services made in relation to the previous strategy.”
To view the new strategy, visit the council website.
