Peter Thomas, the Independent councillor for Llanllyfni, had been highlighting fears over the potential axing of a Gwynedd primary schoolTed Peskett Local Democracy Reporter , Dale Spridgeon and Local Democracy Reporter
12:52, 13 Nov 2025
A Gwynedd councillor was raising concerns about Ysgol Gynradd Nebo when his comments were mistranslated (Image: Google Street View)
A Gwynedd councillor has received an apology from council chiefs after a mistranslation of his comments led to the term “immigrants” being used instead of “incomers” in a report. Independent councillor for Llanllyfni, Peter Thomas, had been expressing concerns over the potential closure of a Gwynedd primary school, suggesting it could result in Welsh-speaking families leaving the village.
The report incorrectly stated that Cllr Thomas had said the closure of Ysgol Baladeulyn could lead to “immigrants buying houses and making the village a foreign place”.
This was in response to news of statutory consultations over the future of Ysgol Baladeulyn, in Dyffryn Nantlle, and Ysgol Nebo, due on 31 December 2026. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here
The proposal suggests pupils from Ysgol Nebo move to Ysgol Llanllyfni, and those from Ysgol Baladeulyn move to Ysgol Talysarn, both from 1 January 2027 onwards. However, at the start of Cyngor Gwynedd’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 11 November, the council’s monitoring officer Iwan Evans called for a correction to the council report and demanded a formal apology be given to Cllr Thomas.
He highlighted that the translation of Cllr Thomas’ comments concerning Ysgol Baladeulyn was not entirely accurate, stating: “The Welsh words used by the local member was translated to say “that immigrants would move in and make it a foreign place”.
“I have since spoken to a professional translation team and I am satisfied that that wasn’t a translation that accurately reflected the aims and the original words by the local member.
“The wording proposed by the professional translation team is that “incomers would move into the houses and make the village an unfamiliar place”.
“I think that is a better reflection of what was originally intended by the local member.
“There are so many inappropriate connotations around the word ‘immigrant’.
“So, I am just asking that that correction can be included in the minutes, so there is a formal record of the corrections to the translation of the local member’s original words”.
The council’s cabinet member for education, Dewi Jones, concurred, adding: “Throughout the process and involvement with the local member, he has behaved as a gentleman, and I think the translation of his words did not reflect his genuine feelings.
“I am very pleased to see the change, this is a much better reflection of the local member’s views.
The council’s chief executive, Dafydd Gibbard, also offered his own apology, stating: “For the purpose of the record, I would like to offer the local member an apology for the error.”
Council leader, Cllr Nia Jeffreys, said she”fully endorsed” that, adding “I also apologise to Peter Thomas, who is doing excellent work representing his ward” and she thanked the monitoring officer for highlighting the issue”.
It was unanimously agreed to make the apology and to amend the record.