Llangrannog: Welsh language battle over parking ticket lost

After a bilingual hearing in Aberystwyth Justice Centre, District Judge Lowri Williams said Mr Schiavone had presented an honest and moral case, and agreed it would have been easier if OPS had translated the notice at the start.

Mr Schiavone said he would have paid if he had received the parking fine either in Welsh or bilingually – but the judge added that there was no legal requirement for the company to issue the notice in Welsh, as the legislation on the Welsh language does not apply to private companies.

Mr Schiavone, who is a member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the Welsh Language Society, said he was disappointed but not surprised.

“The issue was I wanted to receive a service through the medium of Welsh, I wanted correspondence sent to me in Welsh. I think I should have had that,” he said.

“Unfortunately, more and more car parks and other services are being transferred to private hands and many of them show little respect for the Welsh language and for the rights of us as Welsh language speakers.

“The legislation is too weak. Why should I have to come to court to justify my right to receive a service in the medium of Welsh in Wales?

“Particularly in this part of Wales where most people speak Welsh.

“We need to have legislation which covers the private sector, as well as the public sector.”