Comment DBCC-7095

In short, i would see the pairings in the north changed to be:

- Ynys Môn & Dwyfor Meirionnydd
- Bangor & Clwyd West
- Clywd East, Alyn & Deeside
- Wrexham, Glyndŵr, and Montgomeryshire

*The Boundary Commission Rationale*
I recognise that the Boundary Commission’s rational for pairing Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr with Dwyfor Meirionnydd is as the Commission stated:

“The Commision did consider the alternative of combing Dwyfor Meirionnydd with Ceredigion Preseli, and Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr with Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, however, was of the view that the alternative would create two Senedd constituencies that would be very large and unwieldly.

They are of the view that there are reasonable road links between the areas of the proposed constituency such as between Machynlleth and Dolgellau.

Whilst the Commission is of the view that it is not ideal to propose such a large constituency it is the best option in terms of proposing a contiguous combination of 2 UK parliamentary constituencies in the area.”

*Reasons for Change*
I'll now set out my reasons, in line with the criteria that the Commission were given by the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024.
The Boundary Commission states in its rationale for this pairing that (1) some combinations of constituencies are too large and unwieldy and that (2) there are good road links which underpin the pairing.

Firstly on the issue of the size of the constituency.
I object to the size of the pairing on the grounds of the sheer scale of the geography and also on the basis of the number of organisational groupings which may not speak to geographical size but absolutely add to the complexity of the constituency.

The current pairing of Dwyfor Meirionnydd with Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr covers 4 county councils and the full breadth of Wales from Llangurig at its south-easterly tip to Ynys Enlli at the most north-westerly - those two points know nothing of how the other live and a representative in the Senedd cannot know nor represent their local needs.

Geographically, that pairing is the largest and has the most mountains which makes the job of organisation and representation incredibly difficult and risks endangering trust in the democratic processes of the Senedd. Too many people already believe that 'Cardiff doesn't understand us' and this pairing will only reinforce that belief, as well as add support for the those who want to see an end to any political autonomy in Wales.

Organisationally, it is the most stressed by being torn between the following County Councils: Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Powys, and Wrexham. No Member of the Senedd, new or old, has the capacity or the connections to do those councils justice, nor represent their needs in the Senedd.
Equally, there are no historic connections between those two points - not even in the ancient kingdoms under Llewelyn Fawr and arguably not under Owain Glyndwr. Whilst one sits on the border with England, the other faces the Irish Sea so culturally and socially, they are not contiguous.
Those reasons, and the trouble ordinary members will have in campaigning, are why we suggest the above changes to the pairings.

On the issue of ease of travel, the Boundary Commission states that, “there are reasonable road links between the areas of the proposed constituency such as between Machynlleth and Dolgellau.”

Whilst this short stretch of road may be good, I'd ask you to consider that it takes 30 minutes longer to travel from Llangurig to Aberdaron than it would do to drive from Llangurig to Cardiff. This is based on the usual shining optimism of computer generated travelling times. In reality it takes over 3 hours to get from one end of your proposed constituency to the other and certain routes are somewhat crowded with mountain ranges.
Ynys Mon and Dwyfor Meirionnydd may not have a road connecting them (although this is only by a few hundred yards) but they have thousands of years of history, culture, kingdoms and county councils, languages, literatures, and historic connections that far outweigh any contiguous connection between Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Montgomeryshire - notably, a representative for Dwyfor & Ynys Môn would only work with and within the constraints of 2 County Councils but a representative for Dwyfor & Montgomeryshire & Glyndŵr would have to work with 4 - we feel our suggested changes make representation clearer for constituents and more manageable for potential representatives in the Senedd.

Equally, we would make the argument that the Boundary Commission brought Montgomeryshire and Clwyd South together in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr despite the fact that the main road linking them goes through another constituency and another country, England. To have to drive through a short stretch of a few hundred yards from Ynys Mon round a roundabout and down the first slip road to reach Dwyfor Meirionnydd at least keeps the driver within the same country, Wales.

My preferred pairing of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr with Wrexham keeps the constituency to two County Councils, two Police and Crime Commissioner areas and is far more accessible in terms of the road network. There are already the working relationships established, minimal mountainous interruptions, and have much better cultural and social ties.

I sincerely hope that this submission will be considered. I understand how difficult it is to reconsider once a proposed solution is public but we sincerely believe that faith in the democratic process will be impacted by the current proposal if it is not changed.

Thank you for considering this submission.

Respondent type

Local councillor or other elected official

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.