GWYNEDD Council has announced it will grant its workforce an extra day’s public holiday this year to celebrate the national patron saint’s day, St David’s Day (March 1).

Despite a decision by Westminster refusing to devolve powers to Welsh ministers to decide on their own national bank holidays, the council’s cabinet has decided to authorise the additional holiday to mark the importance of the occasion.

Councillor Nia Jeffreys, who leads the Council’s corporate affairs, said: “This is an important message.

“It is a national disgrace that, in Wales, we cannot choose and identify our own significant events, be they culturally, linguistically or of importance to our heritage.

“We are seeking the same powers as Scotland and Northern Ireland to choose our own bank holidays and give proper status to our nationally significant events."

The proposal was brought before a full council by Llandderfel Councillor Elwyn Edwards and was subsequently unanimously voted for by the council.

Cllr Edwards added: “In a year where extra bank holidays are thrown at us and discussions about street tea parties in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of the English Monarchy, it shows that, here in Gwynedd, we are serious about leading our own identity nationally.”

The defiant move was welcomed by all political parties represented.

Plaid Cymru Gwynedd deputy leader, Councillor Dafydd Meurig, added: “We hope that other councils and public organisations can follow suit and more pressure can be placed on the Tory Government at Westminster to devolve the power to Wales to decide its own public holidays and extend the extra day to the whole workforce as well as the private sector.

“If Ireland’s St Patrick’s public holiday is anything to go by, the potential is there for Wales to benefit economically.”