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Welsh language: Hopes councils' deal will improve border ties

BBC Parents and children in a Cylch Ti a Fi sessionsBBC
A Welsh language nursery class is held in Oswestry, Shropshire

Residents are hoping a new partnership with councils either side of the Wales and England border will improve Welsh language access and travel links.

Some parents want council-run transport for pupils living over the English border while at Welsh medium schools.

Council bosses said the alliance could provide "solutions to problems".

The Marches Forward Partnership involves Shropshire, Powys, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire councils and a population of 750,000.

Transport, healthcare, education, skills and job opportunities are high on the list of priorities for the new partnership.

But Welsh speaking groups over the English border would also like to see more support given to protecting and improving access to the language.

Oswestry is home to a Welsh language nursery class, Cylch Ti a Fi, drawing families from all over Shropshire.

It is run by Elin Machin from Ellesmere, Shropshire, who wanted her children to "hear and speak Welsh".

"Something like this is just perfect for us to chat and speak Welsh," she told S4C's Newyddion programme.

Elin Machin and Jimmy
Elin Machin runs the Cylch Ti a Fi sessions in Oswestry, the only Welsh language nursery outside of Wales

But getting children living over the English border who come from Welsh speaking families into Welsh medium education can be more challenging.

Ceri Owen, who takes her children across the border daily, is among parents calling for councils to provide transport.

"We just want the same rights [as those] across the border," she said.

"I send my children to a Welsh speaking school and I believe they should have the transport that comes with that."

Leaders of Powys and Shropshire councils told Newyddion S4C that such an arrangement would now be easier to create with the new partnership.

Welsh language learners at Siop Cwlwm in Oswestry
Welsh language learners at a class at Oswestry store, Siop Cwlwm

Lowri Roberts, who owns the Welsh store, Siop Cwlwm, in Oswestry, said: "We cross the border every day in this area so it's a normal part of our everyday.

"Anything that makes that more straight forward can only be a positive thing."

She highlighted the use of free bus passes - issued to people aged from 60 in Wales and mainly from state pension age in England - which can't be widely used over the border from where they were issued.

"I know many who can use it on Welsh routes but not on English routes and it makes life really different," she said.

Shropshire Council leader Lezley Picton said residents were the "focus" of the new alliance.

"By working together we may get some solutions to problems that have been here for forever," she added.