Comment DBCC-8416

The original proposals in the 2023 boundary review for new Senedd constituencies for Cardiff were eminently sensible. Therefore, the change announced in December 2024 is regrettable.
The creation of an unnecessarily elongated constituency ignores the natural boundaries that exist in the capital city. The River Taff, combined with the terms of the grant of land to the City of Cardiff by the Bute Estate significantly restrict communications within the city. Apart from in the Bay area itself, the only road routes across the Taff north of the city centre are on Western Avenue, in Llandaf North and at the Radyr exit from the A470. Consequently, the districts to the east of the river constitute a natural and well-connected population mass. To the south of the city, the industrial and commercial areas around the docks and the Bay present another barrier in terms of the contiguity of communities.
In addition, historically, the development of pre- and post-war housing estates in the west of the city resulted in population migration that saw many people from the Grangetown and western docks areas being rehoused in Ely, Caerau, Pentrebane and Fairwater. These people naturally identified, and maintained contacts, with the areas from which they had come. By extension, these communities developed a natural affinity with the western hinterland of the city in Penarth and the Vale of Glamorgan. A similar demographic phenomenon operated in the east of the city with the housing estates of Rumney, Llanrumney and, later, Trowbridge and St Mellons.
The report of December 2024 suggested that the omission of the Cathays ward from the newly created Cardiff East parliamentary constituency was a significant factor in linking it with the Cardiff South and Penarth Constituency. This is inconsequential in comparison with the wider geographical and demographical issues outlined above, especially in view of the significant transitory student population to be found in the Cathays Ward.
We would argue strongly for a reversion to the original proposal to link Cardiff South and Penarth with Cardiff West and Cardiff East with Cardiff North.

Respondent type

On behalf of an organisation (private or public)

Organisation name

Plaid Cymru - Pwyllgor Etholaeth Dwyrain Caerdydd

This comment refers to

The entire area under review.