Comment DBCC-8414
Restore English-language names, especially for areas of Wales that are mainly English-speaking, as Wales is bilingual. The main goal of the commission and the parliament should be to represent (all) people and encourage participation.
Using only the Welsh names (except a four, which I don't know why are excepted), especially compared to the use of English names by the UK Parliament, may make the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) appear more distant to those who use and identify with the English names more, and not inspire inclusivity, feeling represented, participation or the feeling Wales is equally bilingual.
Since many areas with lower turnout to Senedd elections are in the more English-speaking east, efforts should be made to encourage voting and make the parliament more relevant and representative of all, rather than potentially appear to represent or be connected to Welsh speakers more.
Considering a political party with a Welsh-language name had to make a secondary English one shows that some may perceive those things with only a Welsh-language name, as only being associated with those that speak the language. Not an association I wish Wales’ parliament to have when its turnout is less than half of Wales’ electorate.
"Sir Gâr" and "Bangor Conwy Môn" can be justified, while "Ceredigion Penfro" and "Gwynedd Maldwyn" are less so as they contain areas of more English speakers, but also Welsh-speaking areas. All other constituencies don't cover largely Welsh-speaking areas. An alternative would be to find names that are the same in both languages (like Clwyd), but that is still limited due to how large and abstract the constituencies are.
Cymraeg does need protection and encouragement, but that is best by creating new things with Welsh and empowering its use in its heartlands rather than implementing it nationally in English-speaking areas over English. Any rename of a place should be led by those who live there first, by locals, not by those higher up all at once. In light of other re-names (like those used in your logo), it is clear this is part of a wider national initiative to relegate existing English names before locals decide themselves what name they want their community to use.
If any of the locals in these places independently decide to use the Welsh names more, then the parliament should adjust to the changes led by people not put changes on people. That's democracy.
In terms of boundaries, considering the strict criteria, there appears no alternative arrangement for most of north, mid and west Wales. So even though I dislike the super-constituencies, recognise there is no alternative due to the strict conditions.
Plus why not instead change the name of what these are? They appear more as "super-constituencies", rather than just "constituencies" nor a collection like the "regions". Maybe come up with a Welsh name for the type of thing they are, like "adran", "sedd", "rhaniad", "cydran", or "parth". A form of an inclusive Welsh initiative, creating new things with Welsh rather than ditching English for existing things.
Respondent type
Member of public
This comment refers to
The entire area under review.