Assembly Back dotCYM Campaign

Assembly members yesterday backed a campaign to enhance Welsh culture and identify on the World Wide Web.

The house committee of the Welsh Assembly voted to support the campaign to have dotCYM accepted as a domain on the internet.

Success would mean that organisations, companies and individuals could have the option to replace .org with .cym.

The campaign, dotCYM, already have support from a range of sectors including commerce, design, public relations, publishing and the legal sectors.

Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said "I believe that a dotCYM sponsored top level domain could play an important role in promoting Welsh culture and language in the UK and abroad. A well as Welsh language sites it could also be used for sites in other languages which are of Welsh interest.

"Since .cat has been introducted in Catalonia, there has been an increase of 33% in the number of sites using Catalan, so it would it seem that the adoption of .cym would be an effective way of promoting the Welsh language and the Welsh identity."

Meanwhile, a new free office software suite for computer users was launched yesterday by Welsh language minister Alun Pugh.

The Welsh and English dual language dual-language version of the open-office suite used world wide, was created at the Mercator Centre, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

From today's Daily Post (Nov 17, 2006).

See also: Assembly’s House Committee support dotCYM

Comment: Bloody hell, it looks as if the Assembly is actual working in unison for the benefit of Cymru for a change - well, on this issue at least. That's because this isn't a party issue, this is something which will benefit everyone in Cymru.

Changing Denbighshire's Local Development Plan

There's an interesting front-page feature on this month's Llaid y Sir/County Voice from Cyngor Sir Ddinbych/Debighshire County Council...

Change the View
If you've ever said to yourself "I would never have allowed that development there" then this is your chance to play your part in shaping the way Denbighshire will look in the future.

We are currently asking people for their views on the Local Development Plan (LDP) which will be a blueprint for planning and development through to 2021.

The LDP will feature a whole host of things which affect every one of us, including sustainable development, affordable housing, employment land, town centres, rural communities, transport, leisure and energy.

We have come up with initial suggestions for possible development sites - these are all available to view on the web, Trem Clwyd Office, Ruthin or County Libraries. Some of the key questions that need addressing are:

• Denbighshire's population is increasing by about 650 people every year, creating a significant housing need, including affordable housing - how should the LDP accommodate this growth?
• To get the right jobs we need the right buildings and sites - how much land is needed and where?
• How can the plan be made as environmentally friendly as possible?
• Some of our own town centres are in need of revitalisinng - do we have the right policies to do this?
• Are we doing enough to meet your recreation and open space needs?

Over 300 people attended meetings to launch the LDP and hundreds more have already given their views and made lots of useful suggestions.

You have until the end of December to add your views at ldp@denbighshire.gov.uk or call 01824 708 057 or write to Local Development Plan, Planning & Public Protection Services, Trem Clwyd, Canol y Dre, Ruthin, LL15 1QA.