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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
'We are not Airbnb-hating ogres. The housing problems in Gwynedd are unique'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Introducing curbs on second homes and holiday lets has been one of the "most pioneering" policies in Cyngor Gwynedd's history, a senior councillor has claimed. Cllr Craig ap Iago, the council's cabinet member for environment, and the former cabinet member for housing, said they had to tackle the "massive" homelessness crisis in the county. The Plaid Cymru councillor, who represents Penygroes, said it was hoped the introduction of Article 4 and council tax premiums would turn the tide against evidence showing that young people leave Gwynedd because house prices are out of their reach. He said the purpose of Article 4, a planning tool which can remove or restrict permitted development rights on houses, was to try and influence the use of housing to give local people, especially youngsters, a chance to get their foot on the housing ladder in their own communities. Critics argue that the policy affects all home owners by reducing the value of properties, and argue that even if property values fell, most homes would remain out of the reach of local buyers, thus profiting only those looking to move into the area. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday (Image: Cyngor Gwynedd) Cllr Cllr ab Iago said: "At the end of the day, it is just about creating homes for people to live in. "I wish people could understand, we are not some ogres against holiday homes or Airbnbs, lots of us use them with our families here and on holidays. "But the situation in Gwynedd is quite unique, we are facing a huge homeless problem with lots of people on waiting lists. "Yet, we also have large numbers of holiday accommodation and second homes, far more than in other areas. "All we are trying to do is to manage our own housing situation, to control the housing stock and limit the numbers of holiday homes, we don't want to stop them altogether, tourism is a crucial part of the economy here in Gwynedd. "We know that the real homelessness situation is far worse than official figures show, few people realise not much is said about it. "There are lots of people who don't show up in the figures, it's the people sofa surfing, moving from place to place, staying with friends and relatives, they go under the radar. (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live) "Then there are others, scraping by in really poor, damp, run down older housing, it's a hidden problem. "We want to create a situation where all our residents in Gwynedd have a fair crack at living in a proper home." Recent Gwynedd Council's research shows that 65.5% of the county's population have been priced out of the housing market. In certain wards, eespecially within the Llŷn Peninsula, in places like Abersoch, Aberdaron, Botwnnog, Llanengan and Tudweiliog, between 90% and 96% of local people cannot afford to buy a home. Recently, a group that opposes Article 4 in Gwynedd raised funds to pay for a judicial review. In November, the People of Gwynedd Against Article 4 (PGAA4) campaign group was refused permission to bring forward a judicial review of the decision. However the legal battle took a fresh turn in February after a judge has ruled the review can in fact take place. Mr Justice Pepperall said the review should proceed on one key ground – that the council's cabinet may have been 'misled' over the nature and extent of the changes to the county's planning regime. A hearing is expected on June 23, and the council is defending the case. Cllr ap Iago said: "My worry with all this, is there is this group trying to stop us doing this, taking us to court, it all costs money. "It is money taken away from the council coffers which could be helping people and it's taxpayers' money. At the end of the day, whatever happens with the court case, we just want people to understand the reasoning behind Article 4. "At least we will have opened up the narrative, we always felt that house prices were something that was done to us. "But with hope, self-worth and belief, we can sort our own problems, and change the narrative over the affordability of homes." Anyone who owns a property that was already being used as a second home or holiday let accommodation before September 1, 2024 would not be affected by Article 4. After that date, anyone wishing to change the use of a property to a second home or short-term holiday accommodation would need planning consent. The council has also brought in a 150% premium on council tax for second homes and a 100% premium on long-term empty houses. The local authority has also introduced a Housing Action Plan [HAP] which uses the funds from the premium levied on second and empty houses to tackle the housing crisis. The plan includes over 30 different elements, including preventing homelessness, increasing the number of social houses available to bring empty homes back into use and helping first time buyers. Another project under the HAP is Tŷ Gwynedd, which is the council's plan to build their own houses for the first time in over twenty years. Some are already underway in Bangor and Llanberis, with other areas earmarked for construction of new houses soon. Eryri National Park also made the decision to bring in an Article 4 directive recently. From June 1, 2025, it became operational within the National Park. Some other county councils in Wales are also discussing the subject and are considering introducing the new guidance. Next week the council's cabinet will meet to discuss changes to its supplementary planning guidance. It follows a public consultation period, held between February 24 and April 7, 2024. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
North Wales Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Live
'We are not Airbnb-hating ogres. The housing problems in Gwynedd are unique'
Introducing curbs on second homes and holiday lets has been one of the "most pioneering" policies in Cyngor Gwynedd's history, a senior councillor has claimed. Cllr Craig ap Iago, the council's cabinet member for environment, and the former cabinet member for housing, said they had to tackle the "massive" homelessness crisis in the county. The Plaid Cymru councillor, who represents Penygroes, said it was hoped the introduction of Article 4 and council tax premiums would turn the tide against evidence showing that young people leave Gwynedd because house prices are out of their reach. He said the purpose of Article 4, a planning tool which can remove or restrict permitted development rights on houses, was to try and influence the use of housing to give local people, especially youngsters, a chance to get their foot on the housing ladder in their own communities. Critics argue that the policy affects all home owners by reducing the value of properties, and argue that even if property values fell, most homes would remain out of the reach of local buyers, thus profiting only those looking to move into the area. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday Cllr Cllr ab Iago said: "At the end of the day, it is just about creating homes for people to live in. "I wish people could understand, we are not some ogres against holiday homes or Airbnbs, lots of us use them with our families here and on holidays. "But the situation in Gwynedd is quite unique, we are facing a huge homeless problem with lots of people on waiting lists. "Yet, we also have large numbers of holiday accommodation and second homes, far more than in other areas. "All we are trying to do is to manage our own housing situation, to control the housing stock and limit the numbers of holiday homes, we don't want to stop them altogether, tourism is a crucial part of the economy here in Gwynedd. "We know that the real homelessness situation is far worse than official figures show, few people realise not much is said about it. "There are lots of people who don't show up in the figures, it's the people sofa surfing, moving from place to place, staying with friends and relatives, they go under the radar. "Then there are others, scraping by in really poor, damp, run down older housing, it's a hidden problem. "We want to create a situation where all our residents in Gwynedd have a fair crack at living in a proper home." Recent Gwynedd Council's research shows that 65.5% of the county's population have been priced out of the housing market. In certain wards, eespecially within the Llŷn Peninsula, in places like Abersoch, Aberdaron, Botwnnog, Llanengan and Tudweiliog, between 90% and 96% of local people cannot afford to buy a home. Recently, a group that opposes Article 4 in Gwynedd raised funds to pay for a judicial review. In November, the People of Gwynedd Against Article 4 (PGAA4) campaign group was refused permission to bring forward a judicial review of the decision. However the legal battle took a fresh turn in February after a judge has ruled the review can in fact take place. Mr Justice Pepperall said the review should proceed on one key ground – that the council's cabinet may have been 'misled' over the nature and extent of the changes to the county's planning regime. A hearing is expected on June 23, and the council is defending the case. Cllr ap Iago said: "My worry with all this, is there is this group trying to stop us doing this, taking us to court, it all costs money. "It is money taken away from the council coffers which could be helping people and it's taxpayers' money. At the end of the day, whatever happens with the court case, we just want people to understand the reasoning behind Article 4. "At least we will have opened up the narrative, we always felt that house prices were something that was done to us. "But with hope, self-worth and belief, we can sort our own problems, and change the narrative over the affordability of homes." Anyone who owns a property that was already being used as a second home or holiday let accommodation before September 1, 2024 would not be affected by Article 4. After that date, anyone wishing to change the use of a property to a second home or short-term holiday accommodation would need planning consent. The council has also brought in a 150% premium on council tax for second homes and a 100% premium on long-term empty houses. The local authority has also introduced a Housing Action Plan [HAP] which uses the funds from the premium levied on second and empty houses to tackle the housing crisis. The plan includes over 30 different elements, including preventing homelessness, increasing the number of social houses available to bring empty homes back into use and helping first time buyers. Another project under the HAP is Tŷ Gwynedd, which is the council's plan to build their own houses for the first time in over twenty years. Some are already underway in Bangor and Llanberis, with other areas earmarked for construction of new houses soon. Eryri National Park also made the decision to bring in an Article 4 directive recently. From June 1, 2025, it became operational within the National Park. Some other county councils in Wales are also discussing the subject and are considering introducing the new guidance. Next week the council's cabinet will meet to discuss changes to its supplementary planning guidance. It follows a public consultation period, held between February 24 and April 7, 2024.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
2-foot-long ocean predator with ‘blade-like' teeth discovered as a new species
Off the southern coast of India, shrimp trawlers hauled in their nets and realized they'd accidentally caught a 2-foot-long deep-sea predator. They took it to port and gave it to scientists — and for good reason. It turned out to be a new species. A team of researchers visited a fishing harbor in Kerala several times in 2023 to survey the hauls brought in by shrimp trawlers. Their focus wasn't shrimp, though; their focus was the other accidental catches, according to a study published May 25 in the peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Fisheries. During their visits, researchers collected a few 'dusky' sharks from the trawlers, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at these sharks, analyzed their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Iago gopalakrishnani, or the Indian houndshark. Indian houndsharks are considered 'small,' reaching up to 35 inches in length, the study said. They have 'slender' bodies and rough-textured skins. Their 'short' heads have a 'pointed' snout, 'large' oval eyes and 'arched' mouths with 'sharp and blade-like' teeth. Photos show the coloring of the new species, which varies between males and females. Male sharks have a darker hue and look 'blackish to dark brown' when freshly caught, researchers said. Females have a lighter hue and look 'dark chocolate brown to blackish brown.' Much about the lifestyle of Indian houndsharks remains unknown. Shrimp trawlers caught these deep-sea sharks between depths of about 1,000 to 1,300 feet, the study said. 'This species is abundant in the fishery bycatch in the south-west coast of India and forms a minor fishery.' Researchers said they named the new species after the late A. Gopalakrishnan, an 'eminent marine fish geneticist,' because of 'his valuable contributions to fish conservation, sustainable management of Indian fisheries and his support' for the study co-authors. So far, Indian houndsharks have been found in the Arabian Sea off the southwestern coast of India, the study said. The new species was identified by its body proportions, coloring, gills, fin shape, mouth shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 4% genetic divergence from related species. The research team included K. K. Bineesh, Sweta Beura, Moumita Das, M. Nashad and K. V. Akhilesh.
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
Don Darryl Rivera talks bringing 'Aladdin' to life on Broadway
Known as DDR, the actor who originated the role of Iago talks about playing the iconic villain in Disney's Broadway hit, "Aladdin."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ramon Menezes names Brazil U20 squad for friendlies
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. The current South American champion, the Brazilian Under-20 National Team, was called up this Friday (16) by coach Ramon Menezes for three friendly matches during the FIFA June window. All 23 athletes called up will report on the 2nd. The focus is on preparing for the World Cup in this category, which will be held in Chile between September 27 and October 19. The friendlies will take place in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, against rivals who will be in the competition. The first challenge will be on June 4 against the hosts. Then, on the 7th, Brazil will face Saudi Arabia. And they will take on South Korea three days later. Flamengo (five), Palmeiras, and Athletico (three) were the clubs with the most players called up. There are nine athletes remaining from the South American champion group: Felipe Longo, Leandrinho, Iago, Arthur Dias, Breno Bidon, Gabriel Moscardo, Rayan, Deivid Washington, and Gustavo Prado. Brazil is, with five titles, the second most successful team in the World Cup. Only Argentina (six) has more. The mission is to end a long drought in the competition, as they have not won since 2011 when Oscar, Dudu, Danilo, and Henrique Almeida stood out. They missed the editions of 2013, 2017, and 2019. They were runners-up to Serbia in 2015 and were knocked out by Israel in the quarterfinals in 2023. **See all the call-ups** 👇🏽 **Goalkeepers:** Felipe Longo - Corinthians Lucas Furtado - Flamengo Aranha - Palmeiras **Full-backs:** JP Chermont - Santos Leandrinho - Al-Shabab (KSA) Léo Derik - Athletico-PR Pedro Lima - Wolverhampton **Defenders:** Iago - Flamengo Benedetti - Palmeiras Arthur Dias - Athletico-PR João Souza - Flamengo **Midfielders:** Breno Bidon - Corinthians João Cruz - Athletico-PR Gabriel Moscardo - Reims Rayan Lucas - Flamengo Gabriel Carvalho - Internacional Matheus Alves - São Paulo **Forwards:** Rayan - Vasco Matheus Gonçalves - Flamengo Deivid Washington - Santos Luighi - Palmeiras Gustavo Nunes - Brentford Gustavo Prado - Internacional *Photo: Rafael Riberiro/CBF*
