HCS 14
National Assembly for Wales
Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee
Holiday Caravan Sites (Wales) Bill
Response from: Councillor R.H.Wyn Williams, Cabinet Member Care and Health, Gwynedd Council; Councillor Angela Russell, Llanbedrog; Councillor Robert Wright, Pwllheli; Councillor Gruffydd Williams, Nefyn.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the proposal to extend the opening period of Caravan Sites from ten to twelve months i.e.  throughout the year.
1 . Firstly, I would like to say that, having discussed the matter locally, several organizations and the Community Council are concerned by the proposal to allow the sites to be open for twelve months, and are totally opposed to this change for several reasons.
2 . In this area there are over 4,000 caravans and, by now, there are several sites which have gradually been permitted to open for twelve months.

 3 . Due to the financial difficulties facing Local Government, it will not be possible for them, as a service, to monitor these sites.

4 . The proposal will be contrary to TAN 20 which allows the interests and needs of the Welsh Language to be be taken into consideration.
5 . Due to the lack of monitoring, this will open the door to a permanent provision and, therefore, undermine policy CH4 and could extend to affordable housing, due to the high quality of the caravans.
6 . Further pressure will be placed on Council services such as Social Services and Highways as well as Health and the Emergency Services in the area.
7 . This area is heavily dependent on the tourism industry, but these changes could change our rural areas as Areas of Outstanding Beauty, and create urban environments, which is totally unacceptable to our communities here in Llŷn.
8 . If the change is agreed, strict conditions must be set as well as an annual  license fee of about £100 or £ 150 per caravan for permission to open for twelve months.
9 . The money collected should be used by Local Government to ensure a monitoring system is implemented and that the service is self-funded and not a burden on our Taxpayers.

The comments above were received from many areas here in Pen Llŷn, and we hope that  the research confirms that these sites should not be allowed to open for twelve months a year, but it they are, we hope you take note of points 8 and 9 above. 
Thank you and I look forward to your response. I am happy for you to contact me you if you need to discuss this matter further.

Yours sincerely

Councillor RH Wyn Williams               Councillor Angela Russell, Llanbedrog
Aelod Cabinet, Gofal ac Iechyd/                  Councillor Robert Wright, Pwllheli.
Cabinet Member Care and Health ,    Councillor. Gruffydd Williams, Nefyn .
Gwynedd Council, Abersoch