Comment DBCC-7061

Many of the bigger pairings ignore demographics and cultural differences due to the focus on a road connection (albeit a requirement not in the commission’s control). Many of these changes harm communities of Welsh speakers by adding constituencies with significantly fewer Welsh speakers, meaning they will receive less representation (e.g. Dwyfor Meirionydd merging with Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr). Most do not consider cultural connections either.

Below follows a list of personal ideas to better connect communities based on cultural ties and proximity.

1) Mid and South Pembrokeshire with Carmarthen. There are more train connections and similar issues facing these two constituencies than other pairings.

2) Ceredigion Preseli with Dwyfor Meirionnydd. These seats have more in common in terms of Welsh speakers, and rural coastal towns further away from most transport connections.

3) Brecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe with Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr. Both are similar in terms of the rural demographic and English speakers. Both are border seats and even share a county council in areas (Powys).

4) Llanelli and Gower. This fixes the above change to Carmarthen.

5) Swansea West and Neath and Swansea East. This makes much more sense than splitting part of Swansea and adding it to Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe.

6) Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff South and Penarth. The Vale has fewer connections to Bridgend, but Barry, the biggest population centre, is very connected to Dinas Powys, Penarth and Cardiff. Barry even finds itself in the same bus zone, therefore, a pairing would be more natural.

7) Cardiff North and Rhondda and Ogmore. This is to solve the issue pairing Cardiff South and Penarth with the Vale of Glamorgan.

8) Aberafan Maesteg and Bridgend. This make more sense as there are better transport connections to Port Talbot from Bridgend than there are from Bridgend to the rest of the Vale of Glamorgan.

These suggestions aim to better reflect the cultural connections between constituencies when pairing them, and historic connections (they better match some of the old principalities within Wales). The original recommendations make grave errors in failing to acknowledge a West/East divide, and would see worse connected communities in the West lose out on much needed representation.

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The entire area under review.