WELSH Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has called for action to halt depopulation in the Welsh languages heartlands in order to preserve community use of the language.

She was responding to the news that census figures indicate the number of Welsh speakers has fallen over the last 10 years.

“These statistics will be a great disappointment to all of us who care about a thriving future of the Welsh language and a truly bilingual Wales,” said the Mid & West Wales MS.

“Although there is a multitude of factors behind the decrease, one thing is clear the depopulation of traditional rural heartlands of the language like Ceredigion, Ynys Môn, Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd must be halted if we are to ensure that usage of the language continues in everyday usage.

“These counties are losing many of their young people who move to more urban areas for work and who often then have less opportunity to use their Welsh skills.

“Providing jobs and investment in rural Wales is essential for the long-term protection of the language.”