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Locals must be given priority for social housing, a councillor is urging.

Gwynedd county councillor Sion Jones is "fed up" with former council homes being given to people with no connection to his Bethel ward - while people from the area languish on waiting lists.

The Labour member urged Gwynedd Council to take up the issue with Westminster and Cardiff Bay at a meeting in Caernarfon last week.

He said: "I'm fed up with the number of people in my local area asking for social housing only for the houses to end up with people from outside the area."

"Maybe they aren't Welsh speaking, no interest in learning the language and don't contribute anything to our communities.

(Image: North Wales Daily Post)

"Will the member write to Westminster and the Assembly so we can start a discussion over a much more robust system in our communities and the council?"

Gwynedd's cabinet member for housing, Craig ab Iago, agreed that local people should be given priority but said councils hands had been tied by the Welsh Government.

He said: "I'd say that this topic is one of the most frustrating for councillors, we're all aware of people in our wards who need houses only to find they go to people from outside our communities.

"Personally I'd like to see a system based on our priorities, there are several examples worldwide where housing is allocated on the basis of ethnic group, language and local communities, none of which is racist.

"But in order to do so we need the power to act, and we don't have the power in this case, so we're in the perverse situation that Cornwall has more control over their homes than we do."

The Plaid Cymru cllr added: "In the majority of cases people getting these houses have a local connection, but what is your definition of local connection?

"I'd like to see the system changed but the Welsh Government have shown no interest, perhaps the answer is to vote for a different party to govern us!"

Under a new scheme unveiled earlier this year, council houses in Cornwall will now be given first to people who can prove they have lived there for at least three years.

Households with an annual income below £30,000 also receive priority when bidding for Cornwall Council-owned properties, which make up about a third of its 29,000 social housing stock.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Housing and Regeneration: "The Welsh Labour Government works collaboratively with the housing sector and local authorities to deliver the homes we need in Wales. We are delivering innovative solutions and make funding available to meet the specific demands on social housing in Wales.

"We have prioritised housing as one of core themes in our national strategy ‘Prosperity for All.’ We understand housing is central to long-term prosperity and well-being, and we are on track to meet our commitment for 20,000 more affordable homes this Assembly term."