A pretty Welsh seaside village is at the centre of an anti-English storm over claims Plaid Cymru councillors want to ban English families from moving into its homes.

Councillors on the island of Anglesey have claimed people living in council houses in England have swapped homes via Facebook so they can move to picturesque Aberffraw. 

They also said it has led to empty homes in the tourist village, known for its long sandy beach, and could have a devastating effect on the Welsh language.

The claims have shocked many local residents who have criticised the councillors for whipping up anti-English feeling and insist the claims are ‘nonsense’.

However, others have admitted there is resentment towards the English in the area.

Dog walker Emlyn Jones, 58, said: ‘There is anti-English feeling because there are too many second homes here.

‘It doesn’t feel like you’re in Wales anymore as there are so many English here.

‘A lot of Welsh people can’t afford to buy houses where they’re from as the English have come in with more money.

Councillors on the island of Anglesey have claimed people living in council houses in England have swapped homes via Facebook to live in council houses in stunning Aberffraw (pictured)

Anglesey (pictured) is at the centre of an anti-English storm over claims ‘racist’ councillors want to ban English families swapping their council houses to live by the seaside in Wales (file image)

Retired kitchen fitter James Todd, 77, (pictured) came to Wales from Manchester

‘They have pushed up the prices. I agree with what the councillors have said but I don’t think anything will change.

‘We don’t want more English people here.’

Other locals rubbished the councillors’ claims that council houses have been swapped between England and Wales but admit there is anti-English feelings.

Mother-of-one Jean Owen, 64, said: ‘You do get people in the village complaining about there being too many English here.

‘They say things like: “The English are taking over”.

‘People grumble about them by it’s generally just the nationalists.

‘I don’t agree with what these councillors are saying.

‘I think it’s disgusting they are trying to cause divisions with the English.

Tourism is essential in Anglesey, (pictured) with one in five people working in the tourism industry, it is the region in the UK most dependent on tourism for work (file image)

Mother-of-one Jean Owen, 64, (pictured) said she knew two people who had swapped council homes in Wales

A council house or housing association tenant can swap homes with other social tenants through the mutual exchange scheme. Pictured: Trearddur Bay Beach in Angelsey (file image)

‘It’s all a load of rubbish – they’re taking nonsense.

‘I know a lady who swapped her house for someone living here but she was from a different part of Wales.

‘She was living in an isolated areas was lonely – now she’s come here she goes to coffee mornings and things and is a lot happier.

‘I don’t know of any English who have come here after swapping council houses with locals.

‘These councillors don’t have any common sense.’

Councillor Arfon Wyn told a recent meeting of Anglesey County Council: ‘There are a lot of homes still empty in Aberffraw, that are meant to be rented out to people who really need homes.

‘One thing that concerns me, is that people in the nice areas on the coast, so to speak, can swap homes with people in towns in England on Facebook.

‘I know it is something to do with the government, unfortunately, but there are also homes that have been empty for quite a while in Aberffraw.

It is estimated that around two million people visit the small island a year, many of who, are English. Pictured: Beaumaris in Anglesey

Rodney Fox, 77, (pictured) moved to Aberfraw from Bradford to be nearer to his family

‘We have had a few enquiries about this from the public and people in the area.

‘These two things concern me, especially in my area, where there are nice places to retire to and so on, the impact on the Welsh language can be significant.’.

A council house or housing association tenant can swap homes with other social tenants through the mutual exchange scheme. 

Commenting on the claims, retired lorry driver Rodney Fox, 78, originally from Bradford, said: ‘They are talking nonsense.

‘I know of someone who swapped with a couple from Holyhead but that’s still in Anglesey.

‘I have seen people asking for swaps on Facebook but that is always for other people in Wales.

‘I feel welcome here.’

Tourism is essential in Anglesey, with one in five people working in the tourism industry, it is the region in the UK most dependent on tourism for work.

Plaid Cymru control the council and have led a crackdown on second homes on the island

It is estimated that around two million people visit the small island a year, many of who, are English. 

It boosts the local economy, with a holiday home in the summer in Aberffraw costing on average, £1000 a night to stay in the coastal area. 

Welsh speaker Julie Jones, 60, who works in the one shop in the village, added: ‘These councillors are just causing trouble.

‘Times have changed and there are more English here now but those who come on holidays or own holidays lets try to make an effort with Welsh.

‘They always ask how do you say “thank you” or “hello” in Welsh.

‘It can be difficult to get a council house here but that’s the way of everywhere not just here.

‘It took me 30 years to get a council house here.

‘But we need the English tourists here and those who have retired here. They come in and spend money in the shop and I have no problem with the English.’

Plaid Cymru control the council and have led a crackdown on second homes on the island.

In a decision aimed at driving out second homeowners, they introduced a rule that owners whose properties are occupied (whether by themselves or paying guests) for fewer than 182 days have to pay council tax of up to 300 per cent.

It has come as villages across Wales have been hating on English buying Air BnBs across the country

In August, the park by Llyn Padarn, the stunning lake at the foot of Snowdon, was vandalised with stickers (pictured) bearing sinister messages for the tourists, clearly intended to send them packing

Holiday let owners, who rent their properties for more than the 182-day threshold, are subjected to business rates, which is lower than the punitive rates of council tax.

Retired kitchen fitter James Todd, 77, who came to Wales from Manchester, said: ‘I have never felt anything but welcome here in Wales.

‘All my neighbours are Welsh and they are always very friendly.

‘You don’t see empty homes here – there’s always lights on in the houses at night unlike some other tourist places.

‘There are holiday homes or Airbnbs but Anglesey is a tourist island as it is so beautiful.

‘I can see the sea and sand dunes from my house. It’s amazing.’

Mother-of-one Jane Williams, 70, was born in the village and speaks Welsh.

The part-time cleaner said: ‘I speak Welsh as my first language and a lot in the village speak it.

Last year, a group of seven English women, (pictured) aged between 55 and 70, travelled from Lancashire on a four-day walking holiday to enjoy the natural beauty of Llanberis, but claim they were met with anti-English jibes in the street

‘Having English people here doesn’t damage the Welsh language.

‘We need the tourists but you do here the odd grumble about the English.

‘But I love it here – I have an amazing view outside my home with the sea and sand dunes.’

It has come as villages across Wales have been hating on English buying Air BnBs across the country. 

In August, the park by Llyn Padarn, the stunning lake at the foot of Snowdon, was vandalised with stickers bearing sinister messages for the tourists, clearly intended to send them packing.

One, rekindles the cottage-burning Welsh nationalist terrorist campaign of Meibion Glyndwr (sons of Glyndwr) in the 80s and early 90s, shows a blazing house with the blunt message: ‘F*** your second home’.

Another shows an Airbnb logo with a noose around it, proclaiming ‘Death to Airbnb’.

Meanwhile, last year, a group of seven English women, aged between 55 and 70, travelled from Lancashire on a four-day walking holiday to enjoy the natural beauty of Llanberis, but claim they were met with anti-English jibes in the street.

They also said they were snubbed in pubs and restaurants and found it hard to get served.

Plaid Cymru council have been contacted for comment.