Gwynedd council slated over homes for young Posted Friday, July 15, 2005 by penllyn
GWYNEDD council was doing nothing to help young couples get on the housing ladder, planners were told yesterday.

Building plots were selling in Abersoch for £100,000, putting them out of the reach of local people, former council chairman Wyn Williams told councillors.

Bids by two young couples for permission to build homes on family land were thrown out by Gwynedd's central planning committee because the sites are outside the town's boundary.

Head of planning Iwan Evans said the plots, at Llain Las, Abersoch, plus the other near Abersoch Yacht Club were contrary to planning policies.

Mr Williams said "It is very sad local people are not being allowed to build affordable homes in Abersoch.

"School rolls are declining because of a shortage of young families with children to fill the classes.

"And what about the Welsh language? By refusing these applications the Welsh language is automatically on the decline.

"Surely it is possible to grant this application, showing that we do support local families. The plain fact is officers are seen as deciding planning applications, whereas it should be the councillors."

He added: "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves as a committee for refusing affordable homes for local people in Abersoch."

source -ic wales / dailypost