SIR, Every day I hear more and more people complaining about the cost of funding the Welsh language to the detriment of other essential services, and I'm afraid we can only expect more of this when the New Welsh Language Act is implemented under the coalition government's One Wales agreement. In 1997 we were promised an end to quangos, but here in Wales we now have one of the most heavily subsidised and powerful quangos that has ever existed under any government, namely the Welsh Language Board. I have no argument about the precedence given to Welsh in areas where it is the first language of the majority. Indeed it is of great cultural and historic interest to me too. However, the introduction of warning road signs displaying the Welsh first in a predominantly English- speaking area is, I believe, a step too far because it is clearly poses a danger to the motorist. In November, 2007, a Welsh Language Development Officer was appointed by the Sports Council for Wales in collaboration with the Welsh Language Board 'to increase the opportunities for children and people in Wales to access sport through the Welsh language. Forgive me for my ignorance but I was under the impression that sport itself was a universal language and that one of its great virtues is that it can bring children from all different language and cultural backgrounds together. I understand that the WAGs Heritage Minister, is now planning to bring under the Welsh Language Act, 57 more bodies including the Local Government Data Unit, the Bank of England, the Olympic Delivery Authority, the Royal Mail and the British Council. In the meantime, we are all disadvantaged in the Welsh Health Service because some trusts are appointing Welsh- language awareness officers, and, as a consequence, funding will be diverted from patient care. It is time for the silent majority to stand up and challenge this irrational and immoral prioritising of the language over the health and welfare of the people of Wales. I would urge all like-minded people to write to their elected representatives in order to bring to an end this discriminatory and divisive strategy. D Banner (Pontypool)
