Apology over 'immigrant' mistranslation in councillor's concerns over school closures

Comments originally said to be that immigrants would buy houses making village a foreign place rather than 'incomers' making it 'unfamiliar'

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

COUNCIL chiefs have apologised to a Gwynedd councillor after a mis-translation of his comments saw the word ‘immigrants’ used instead of ‘incomers’ in a report.

Peter Thomas, the independent councillor for Llanllyfni, had been highlighting fears over the potential axing of a local primary school, suggesting it could lead to an exodus of Welsh speaking-families from a village.

The report had recorded that Cllr Thomas said that closure of Ysgol Baladeulyn could result in “immigrants buying houses and making the village a foreign place”.

It was in response to news of statutory consultations over the future of Ysgol Baladeulyn, in Dyffryn Nantlle and Ysgol Nebo, due on December 31, 2026. It proposes Ysgol Nebo pupils moving to Ysgol Llanllyfni, and Ysgol Baladeulyn move to Ysgol Talysarn, both from January 1, 2027 onwards.