Comment DBCC-8015

Dear Sir/Madam

As one of the community town councillors for Llantrisant, I wish to make the following comments:

I believe that there is a strong case for the constituency of Pontypridd to be merged with Cardiff West and not Merthyr Tydfil & Aberdare.

This is for the reasons as below;

1) large sections of Cardiff West were once in the Pontypridd Parliamentary Constituency, these include the settlements of Pentyrch, Creigiau, Gwaelod Y Garth, Capel Llanilltern, and I even believe Radyr – all of which left the constituency following the Fifth Periodic Review in 2010.

2)The town of Pontyclun, which includes Miskin and Groesfaen, has been added from the Pontypridd constituency to Cardiff West following the 2023 Periodic Review.. This in itself has caused an electoral abnormally, as parts of the ‘Pontyclun West’ electoral ward still reside within the Pontypridd Constituency, as this has also been highlighted in your initial proposals.

3) The joining of Pontypridd and Cardiff West is further supported due to strong community links, with the bulk of the Pontypridd constituency looking south towards Cardiff for work, retail and social activities. Indeed, the settlements of Llanharan and Llanharry have particularly strong connections with Pontyclun, likewise does Talbot Green and Llantrisant.

4) Llantwit Fardre, Efail Isaf, Church Village and Tonteg, have strong connections with Creigiau and Pentrych due to their close proximity.

5) With regards to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, it is my personal belief that the vast majority of residents who live within Pontypridd have no connection or affinity whatsoever to this proposal, as outlined in the previous paragraph, and the constituency would be better suited being joined with Rhondda and Ogmore, who not only share strong cultural links due to their industrial history and legacy, but strong infrastructure and transport links.

6) This is further demonstrated by various towns and villages such as Ynysybwl, Glyncoch and Cilfynydd being transferred out of the Cynon Valley and into Pontypridd at the last periodic review – all of whom firmly identified with Pontypridd and not with Aberdare and the Cynon Valley.

7) From earlier proposals i believe it was proposed to merge the Rhondda and Cynon Valley constituencies. Which again recognised the strong links that these two constituencies shared.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and I look forward to your response as soon as possible.

Thanks

Cllr Adam Robinson
Sent from my iPhone

Respondent type

Local councillor or other elected official

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.