Traffic Commissioners have published a new Welsh Language Scheme setting out how they will ensure Welsh and English are treated equally when delivering services to the public in Wales.
The scheme, which was approved by the Welsh Language Commissioner in May and published last week, has been adopted voluntarily despite there being no statutory requirement for Traffic Commissioners to do so.
The document states that Traffic Commissioners recognise the principles established in Welsh language legislation and are committed to providing services that uphold linguistic equality. It applies to the commissioners and the staff who support them within the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) when carrying out traffic commissioner functions in Wales.
Traffic Commissioners are responsible for licensing and regulating operators and drivers of heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches, as well as overseeing the registration of local bus services. Under the new scheme, Welsh language considerations will be incorporated into policy development and service delivery, with an emphasis on ensuring that new initiatives do not disadvantage Welsh speakers.
The scheme outlines commitments covering communication with Welsh-speaking members of the public, service standards, publicity materials and printed publications. It also includes arrangements for monitoring performance, handling complaints and making future improvements. The commissioners say the scheme has been developed using guidance issued by the Welsh Language Commissioner and will be made available to staff and the public.
Welsh language schemes are designed to explain how organisations will provide services in Welsh and ensure the language is treated on an equal basis with English. Such schemes require approval from the Welsh Language Commissioner, who also provides guidance and oversight to organisations implementing them.
The publication aligns the Traffic Commissioners with a wider range of public bodies and transport organisations operating in Wales that have formal Welsh language commitments. While Welsh language standards have not yet been imposed on the Traffic Commissioners, the new scheme signals their intention to embed Welsh language principles across their work and improve access to services for Welsh speakers over the next three years.
(Picture – Yay Images)
