A holiday park in Wales has sparked outrage from language campaigners by changing its name from Welsh to English after 100 years. The caravan park owners say they are going to rename Glan y Môr - meaning 'seaside' - to Aber Bay.
But the park in Ceredigion has been hit with disapproval from Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith. The owners of the holiday park, Allens Caravans Estates Ltd, has said the renaming of the caravan park in west Wales is essential for its "significant redevelopment".
But Cymdeithas yr Iaith say the decision is “a step in the wrong direction” and is urging Allens Caravans Estates to “abandon the renaming proposals”. The campaign group said it is "very concerned" at the growing rate of properties and places in Wales that are being renamed in English.
Jeff Smith, Rhanbarth Ceredigion and chair of the Sustainable Communities Group for Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said: "The new names are frequently replacing old and historic names that are woven into the fabric of our communities. As we understand it, the holiday park has been known as Glan y Môr for over a century and this is a descriptive and well-known name.
“Cymdeithas yr Iaith want to see a sustainable tourism sector in Wales that works with and supports local communities, language and culture. We therefore see the renaming as a step in the wrong direction and would urge the owners of the holiday park to abandon the renaming proposals.
"The very fact that the owners of the holiday park are allowed to anglicise the original name underlines the need for legislation to protect Welsh language place names. After years of delay, we need to see action from the Welsh Government on this."
Allens Caravans Estates Ltd, who took over ownership of the park in 2017, have responded to the complaints. It says the re-branding decisions were made with "careful consideration" due to the park's previous bad reputation, which they argued had tarnished the name of Glan y Môr.
"At no point was it felt that we were trying to detract from Welsh connections. Quite the opposite", said a spokesperson.
They said the original farmhouse will remain named Glan Y Môr, adding that two local residents and one customer, so far, have contacted them about the name change.
The spokesperson added: “Glan Y Môr did not in previous years have a good reputation and despite our best endeavors to market the park to new customers, we were met with complaints and issues prior to our ownership, something that tarnished the name and in turn was detrimental to moving forward with such a significant redevelopment.
“We are investing heavily and opening up new opportunities for local employment. It is always our intention is to have a positive impact on the local areas where we own and operate parks.”
Cymdeithas yr Iaith is asking for intervention from authorities at government level.
