Comment DBCC-7932

Sirs:

I wish to communicate my misgivings about the proposed new Senedd constituency boundaries affecting the area where I live.

I live in the Garw Valley north of Bridgend.

This is a blind valley, there is no way out at the top, it is essentially a cul-de-sac.

Historically the valley has always been part of the Bridgend area as the town is at the mouth of the valley and one cannot really travel anywhere without passing through Bridgend.

It appears from the map of the proposed boundaries that you are repeating the mistake which happened at the last redrawing of the Parliamentary Constituencies.

We have been put in with Pontypridd and the Rhondda valleys.

This is absurd.

We may not be far from the Rhondda as the crow flies, but there is no direct way of travelling there without going south through Bridgend, east along the M4 then north again at Llantrisant or Cardiff. Unless one again travels south and then across to and up the Ogmore valley before crossing over the top of the Bwlch - not exactly a direct route.

We are not part of the same community. We are miles away by any mode of transport.

We have no shared link between our separate communities. We are in different counties and local council areas.

Blaengarw, Pontycymer and Llangeinor are part of the Bridgend community and indeed lie within the Bridgend County Borough.

It appears you are just drawing lines on a map without taking account of the topography, communication links and the historic standing of the community.

I trust you will reconsider and take into account the unique geography that makes us a northern arm of Bridgend with no direct links to any other community, neither to the east or west.

Regards

[REDACTED]

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Member of public

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The entire area under review.