Comment DBCC-4471

I wish to provide some brief observations regarding the consultation proposal published yesterday. I do so not as a member of any political party but as someone who has lived, worked and travelled all over Wales over many years.

Clearly you have a difficult task but I think overall they are reasonable proposals including for the four constituencies in Cardiff. Obviously the rural areas will cause you most problems, especially in Mid Wales.

The key is probably twining Bangor Aberconwy with Ynys Mon. As the only two bridges from the island end up in the Bangor area, you seem to have little choice in the matter. Once this is accepted, then the rest of North Wales ( to the east of Llandudno) falls into place fairly neatly.

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency has obviously provided you with some considerable deliberation. Thank you for admitting you had considered another option- twinning this with Ceredigion etc and Montgomery Glyndwr with Brecon Radnor etc. You comment that they would have both been very large constituencies. This would obviously had been the case but the proposed Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Montgomery Glyndwr option is also a huge constituency and lacks in my view community cohesion. Linking for example Aberdaron with Churchstoke along the English border makes little sense in my opinion.

Culture and high use of Welsh Language is a key factor. Taking this into account together with socioeconomic issues, including importance of tourism and percentage of second homes makes Dwyfor Meirionnydd a much better natural fit with Ceredigion etc.
The busy A487 from Dolgellau down into North Pembrokeshire, all the way along Cardigan Bay is an important link.

Conversely, the unique borders culture and low use of Welsh Language in Powys should also be a key factor. Maintaining one constituency within the Powys County Council and Health Authority area is clearly desirable especially as some residents receive some medical services from over the border. Although over some distance, there are good road links within Powys - A483 Builth Wells north into Glyndwr area and of course the A470 runs south from Llanbrynmair area past Brecon into Cardiff. Therefore I feel the Montgomery Glyndwr twinning with Brecon Radnor would be a much more natural fit.

I hope you will therefore respectfully again consider your original option of twinning Dwyfor etc with Ceredigion etc and Montgomery etc with Brecon etc.

I appreciate this will also involve reconsidering your proposals for South West Wales but this would provide the opportunity to keep both Swansea constituencies together which I suspect would be welcomed in the City.

I hope this is of assistance. Please place me on your mailing list for email updates.

Diolch yn fawr

[REDACTED]

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The entire area under review.