Comment DBCC-8073

Dear Shereen
Please find attached the Welsh Conservative Party submission for the consultation on the initial Senedd constituency pairings.
Any questions, please let myself of [REDACTED] know.
[REDACTED]
Bev Smith
Chair of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru
Ground Floor, Hastings House
Fitzalan Court
Cardiff
CF24 0BL
30th September 2024
Dear Chair
On behalf of the Welsh Conservative Party, I am responding to the consultation on the initial proposals on the review of the Senedd constituency boundaries.
Overall, we are supportive of twelve of the proposed pairings, recognising the strong cultural and geographic links between communities. North Wales in particular it is welcome to see Wrexham and Flintshire joined, the areas of Clwyd together and the obvious links between Ynys Mon and Bangor.
Similarly, Mid and South Pembrokeshire joined with Ceredigion which share council areas and the two Carmarthenshire seats kept together. We also welcome the pairings in the South East of Wales, ensuring that Newport is one seat and the natural joining of Monmouthshire and Torfaen constituencies.
However, we would like to suggest four alternative pairings for seats covering Bridgend, Cardiff, Rhondda, Merthyr Tydfil and the Vale of Glamorgan. We believe that this minor change would help to preserve local links – many of which are of a historic nature – but also looking towards common issues that affect these communities.
Our alternative proposal would affect the following proposed pairings:
• 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.
We do believe that these minor adjustments to the proposed pairings, will enhance the relationships between Senedd Members and the communities they represent, whilst also enabling greater cooperation to solve common issues faced by these communities.
I look forward to reading the Commission’s findings.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Tomos Dafydd Davies
Chairman of the Welsh Conservative Party

Respondent type

On behalf of an organisation (private or public)

Organisation name

Welsh Conservative Party

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.