MORE pressure will be heaped on Gwynedd Council to reconsider “nonsensical” plans to cut funding to Welsh language immersion centres by almost £100,000.

The centres offer intensive language sessions for children from other parts of the UK and abroad who move into the county unable to speak Welsh, meaning they are at least partially fluent when joining their local school.

But as part of planned cuts to help balance the books following the loss of Welsh Government grant funding, Gwynedd Council is planning to slash the available funding for its immersion centres by £96,000 from September.

If the clubs are implemented, this would likely result in fewer staff or the closure of one of the five centres – which are currently based in Dolgellau, Llangybi, Caernarfon, Penrhyndeudraeth and Porthmadog

But during next Thursday’s full council meeting a prominent opposition councillor will seek the support of members across the political divide in a bid to change the minds of decision makers.

Cllr Alwyn Gruffydd of Llais Gwynedd, who has publicly spoke out in support of maintaining the current level of service, will put forward a motion seeking majority support to any cuts in the current level of service.

His proposal will state: “Whilst acknowledging that any decision on the matter is a matter for the Cabinet, that this Council strongly objects to any plan or intention to change the constitution, organisation or staffing of Gwynedd Language Centres, in light of their unmistakable success in teaching Welsh to incomers within a short period of time so that they can integrate easily into the Welsh ethos of our schools.”

Members of Gwynedd’s cabinet are yet to make a final decision but decision makers have already highlighted the need to cut costs due to rising inflation as well as a 10% cut in the Welsh Government’s Education Improvement Grant (EIG).

Welsh language pressure group, Dyfodol i’r Iaith, has already written to Gwynedd Council opposing any cuts to the service.

“Any cutbacks to such a priceless service would be sheer nonsense,” said the group’s chairman, Heini Gruffudd.

“These Centres have already proved their worth and success. They also encapsulate the principle that is essential to the success of the Government’s Strategy to create a million Welsh speakers – that the Welsh language must to be accessible to all if it is to flourish.”

He added, “We call on the Government and Gwynedd Council to acknowledge and sustain the impressive work of these Centres; to hold them up, indeed, as a shining example of what can and should be achieved for the good of the Welsh language.”

The full council meeting will be held in Caernarfon on Thursday, March 7.