Comment DBCC-4372
Commission/Comisiwn
In response to your Initial Proposals for Senedd constituencies, please find my responses to your proposed names, below.
I understand that in the context of an unusual review for the Commission, as outside the creation of Senedd regions this form of review is rare, the initial names could be considered 'place holders ', but all the same some of them appear to be a string of places in search for something concise. I'm reminded of the former English constituencies for the European Parliament, which used e.g. "Lancashire Central" as opposed to "Blackpool, Fylde, Preston, Blackburn, Accrington, and Burnley".
Looking at the proposals in full, I think naming them in the constituency style (Name, Other Name, and Name) might cause unintended confusion. My suggestions use the em dash (—), as I believe is used by Canada's parliament.
I'm not a Welsh speaker and offer suggestions for your consideration in the spirit of an enthusiastic amateur. I've submitted counter proposals for various boundary reviews going back nearly twenty years to local and parliamentary commissions, and contribute where possible as an interested party.
Yours,
[REDACTED]
Alternative suggestions for names:
1. Bangor Abercowny Ynys Môn. Name is combination of existing constituencies. Inclusion of "Bangor" now unnecessary as this is covered/implied by "Aberconwy". Suggestion: "Aberconwy—Ynys Môn"
2. Clwyd. Looking at all possible alternatives, this is an acceptable name.
3. Alyn and Deeside and Wrexham. In the context of a national review, using "and" twice seems unnecessary and potentially confusing. Given the extent of the new seat and the need to be precise and concise, I suggest "Flintshire East—Wrexham" and the Welsh equivalent.
4. Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr. In the context of a national review, this name is long and clumsy. The full extent of the seat is vast and mostly rural, making naming difficult without falling back on generic or all encompassing names. I suggest "South Gwynedd—North Powys", and the Welsh equivalent.
5. Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Looking at all alternatives, I support this name, only to suggest using the em dash (—) as I will throughout ("Ceredigion—Pembrokeshire") to provide full distance between traditional constituencies and these regional replacements.
6. Carmarthenshire. Looking at all possible alternatives, this is an acceptable name
7. Swansea West and Gower. Looking at all possible alternatives, and changed only by using the em dash ("Swansea West—Gower"), this is an acceptable name.
8. Brecon, Radnor, Neath and Swansea East. I understand that the Commission has combined all existing name components, though this has created a clumsy string of place names. Looking at all possible alternatives, I suggest "South Powys—Neath", and the Welsh equivalent
9. Aberafan Maesteg, Rhondda and Ogmore. Under the context of a national review, this name resembles a place holder. Looking at the extent of the boundaries, I suggest as an alternative of "Mid Glamorgan" and the Welsh equivalent.
10. Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Pontypridd. Under the context of a national review, this name resembles a place holder. Looking at the extent of the boundaries, I suggest the alternative "North Glamorgan" and the Welsh equivalent
11. Blaenau Gwent, Rhymney and Caerphilly. Under the context of a national review, this name resembles a place holder. Looking at all possible alternatives, I suggest "West Gwent" and the Welsh equivalent
12. Monmouthshire and Torfaen. To carry on the logic of 11, above, I suggest "East Gwent" and the Welsh equivalent.
13. Newport and Islwyn. Looking at all possible alternatives, this is an acceptable name.
14. Cardiff East and North. The designation "east and north" seems confusing and potentially misleading. The extent of the proposed constituency is the entire northern and eastern quarter of Cardiff so "Cardiff North Eastern" seems more appropriate (compare with some of the current Scottish Parliament seats which also use "Eastern" rather than just "East")
15. Cardiff West, South and Penarth. To carry on the logic of 14, above, this covers central, and southern Cardiff, and I suggest "Cardiff South Western" as a result
16. Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend. Looking at all alternatives, I suggest "South Glamorgan" and its Welsh equivalent.
Respondent type
Member of public
This comment refers to
The entire area under review.