Selling an unpopular idea - (thisissouthwales.co.uk)

Llythyr / Letter: SELLING AN UNPOPULAR IDEA
18:00 - 14 September 2005

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has asked the Carmarthenshire County Council's marketing and so-called 'democratic services' departments what was the cost of the 16-page Carmarthenshire News supplement which was placed in the Journal on August 31 to justify the Modernising Educational Provision Strategy.

This was an expensive propaganda exercise to unashamedly sell to a sceptical public the unpopular strategy to 'modernise' education and close dozens of our Welsh-medium village schools.

The council's publication is downright untruthful in saying that everyone welcomes these proposals - and they did not print a single word of opposition.

What right have they to use public money for one-sided propaganda? And how can they have a 'democratic services' department and refuse to publish or invite any reaction from the public?

The council has said that this is an 'explanatory paper' and that it does not want any feedback from the public. Cymdeithas has asked the council - in the name of democracy - to now fund a response from the Primary Schools Forum Sir G??r.

Angharad Clwyd
Dyfed Field Officer
Cymdeithas yr Iaith