³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

North Wales Police have been called to a protest by Welsh language campaigners at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales offices in Bangor.

Twelve members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, the Welsh Language Society, have set up tents in the grounds of the Bryn Meirion site.

They oppose what they call potential effects of proposed cuts to S4C and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and UK government.

In response, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ said it was committed to Welsh language provision and the editorial independence of S4C.

Menna Machraeth, of Cymdeithas, said an e-mail had been sent to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ director general Mark Thompson saying "the media in Wales is under threat because of the cuts to S4C and to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales".

"We call on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ management in London to pull out of their deal with the Westminster government to merge S4C with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ."

There was a "wide consensus" in Wales that the plans were wrong, she added.

In response to the protest, a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ spokeswoman said the UK government's decision to change the funding arrangements for S4C "cannot and does not amount to a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ takeover of S4C".

"The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is utterly committed to Welsh language provision and to an editorially independent S4C.

"The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has also made it clear that local, regional and national services will continue to be at the heart of what it does on its own services and any decisions coming out of the process looking at how to meet challenging savings targets would be subject to approval by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust."

In April the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ said S4C's funding was reduced as part of last October's Spending Review and ministers considered a new partnership model with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ the best way of securing the long term future of the service.

"This proposition was put to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in the context of discussions on a new licence fee settlement," said the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ at the time.

"The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has made clear repeatedly that it has no ambitions to take over S4C," said the statement. ‬