Comment DBCC-8072

Dear Chair,

30th September 2024

As the Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd, on behalf of the Group, I am writing to support the consultation response submitted by the Welsh Conservative Party on the initial proposals for the Senedd constituency pairings.

In the Party’s submission, we are supportive of twelve of the proposed pairings which are sensible and take into account local connections, cultural links and how communities interact.

For the last seventeen years I have been a Member of the Welsh Parliament covering South Wales Central. Looking at the proposed alternative as suggested by the Welsh Conservative Party, I do believe that adjusted pairings would be a better fit for local communities, as well as making cooperation to solve local issues easier.

Crucially, as a former councillor on the Vale of Glamorgan Council, I recognise that it is essential that the Vale of Glamorgan Council area is kept together in a new Senedd constituency. The Welsh Conservative proposal does just that.

For completeness, I have included the alternative proposal below.

The Welsh Conservative Party alternative constituency pairings would affect the following seats:

• Aberafan Maesteg Rhondda and Ogmore
• Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend
• Cardiff West, South and Penarth
• Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Pontypridd.

And would see the following new pairings:

• Aberafan Maesteg and Bridgend
• Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff South and Penarth
• Pontypridd and Cardiff West
• Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Rhondda and Ogmore
The case for Aberafan, Maesteg and Bridgend:
• Major transport links such as the M4 and the Great Western main line run from east to west, not north to south. Local train lines also run within the two Westminster constituencies joining up communities – for example, a line runs from Pencoed through Bridgend to Maesteg. Trains do not run from Aberafan/Maesteg to Rhondda in the same way.


• The new pairing follows the geography of the Wales coastline.
• The Westminster boundaries split Bridgend County Council into three different constituencies. The new pairing would bring two of those three constituencies together.
• Socially and economically the pairing has more in common in terms of historic industry, concerns in terms of the future of similar local industries, more so than the other pairings.
The case for Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff South and Penarth:
• The council areas of Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend form a political boundary between the new Senedd constituencies, with a substantial population within the Vale council area being in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency.
• Historically, the Vale has been politically linked with Cardiff, this pairing would also keep the Vale of Glamorgan Council area to one constituency instead of two.
• Many of the towns and villages in the eastern side of the Vale are intertwined with each other and Cardiff. Barry, Dinas Powys, Penarth and Llandough see people move in between these communities for work, social, and education with the surrounding towns and villages being a commuter belt for Cardiff.
• Cardiff Airport is located in the Vale of Glamorgan and many transport links are between Cardiff to Barry.
• However, we do recognise that the western Vale does look to Bridgend for its services.
The case for Pontypridd and Cardiff West:
• Southern communities in the Pontypridd constituency look towards Cardiff for work, education and social.
• Transport links are stronger from Pontypridd down into Cardiff, many commuters drive to train stations within Cardiff West or Cardiff North to travel into Cardiff on train.
• More communities are interlinked between Pontypridd and Cardiff West, such as Upper Boat and Rhydyfelin.
• Wards in Cardiff West were historically in the Pontypridd constituency.
• The town of Pontyclun is being split between two new Senedd constituencies – putting Cardiff West and Pontypridd together will prevent that split.
The case for Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Rhondda and Ogmore:
• Poor transport links between Bridgend/Rhondda compared with Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil/Aberdare.
• These valley areas share more long term issues, such as housing, jobs and the wider impact of mining/ regeneration, compared to Bridgend.
• Residents in Rhondda look more to Merthyr Tydfil for shopping than to Bridgend.
• Rhondda and Cynon Valley were seriously considered to be included in the same Westminster constituency in the last boundary review.

Thank you for considering these amendments and I look forward to seeing the Commission’s response next year.

Best wishes,

Andrew RT Davies MS
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament

Respondent type

Member of the Welsh Parliament

Organisation name

Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.