BCBC publishes town &#038; community council shake-up proposals

Bridgend Council has published its draft proposals for reforming the county’s 20 town and community councils (pdf).

There’s a lot to cover, so I’ve split this post into sections.

If you don’t want to wade through that, the headline proposals are:

Town & community councils would be cut from 20 to 13.
Town & community councillors would be cut from 236 to 176.
All town & community councils would elect a minimum of 10 councillors and there would be no more “single ward” community councils (where all councillors are elected from a single list).
There are many proposed boundary changes – meaning the map would look quite different – but these changes are unlikely to affect many people. It mainly results in farmland, open spaces and industrial estates moving from one community to another (with a few notable exceptions).
Each of the proposed new councils meets BCBC’s target minimum of 5,000 electors. The smallest proposed “new council” (Newcastle Higher) would have 5,516 electors compared to the smallest at present (Merthyr Mawr, 235 electors).
Consultation responses were generally supportive of the need for change, though there was opposition from within Coychurch Higher and Merthyr Mawr community councils. Though some smaller community councils (Ynysawdre, Llangynwyd Middle, St. Bride’s Minor) support merging with neighbours.

3. Bridgend Urban Area

Bridgend Town Council

No changes to the number of wards or their names, but there are some significant boundary changes.
The entirity of “Old Brackla” (Waunscil Avenue and the streets off it) would move into the Morfa ward from Oldcastle. Haywain Court would transfer from Bridgend Town Council to Brackla.
There are several (minor) changes to the boundary between the Newcastle ward and Laleston Community Council; Beechwood Avenue, Ael-y-Bryn, St. Winifred’s Road, Heol-y-Ysgol and Maesglas move into Newcastle; Church Bell Sound and Woodridge move into Cefn Glas (Laleston).
The current Merthyr Mawr Community Council would be divided between Bridgend Town and Laleston; the Island Farm LDP area, Island Farm Close and the area around Priory Avenue would move into the Oldcastle ward.
Bridgend Industrial Estate and Waterton move from Coychurch Lower (Brackla Community Council) to the Oldcastle ward.
No changes to the number of councillors (19): Newcastle (7), Oldcastle (6), Morfa (6).

Brackla Community Council

A proposed merger between Brackla Community Council and Coychurch Lower Community Council. There are some significant boundary changes.
Maes Dewi Prichard, Ridgeway, Meadow Walk and streets to the north of Princess Way (Georgian Way, The Willows, Trem-y-Mor etc.) would move into the Brackla West ward, along with the western half of Brackla Industrial Estate (where the proposed new Ysgol Bro Ogwr would be built).
Brackla East’s boundaries would be extended to include the eastern half of Brackla Industrial Estate and Brackla ridge/”The 8Xs”.
Brackla West Central ward would be renamed Brackla Central. The Erw Hir/Longacres estate would move from Brackla West to Brackla Central.
Brackla East Central ward would be renamed Brackla Tremains. It would expand to include the streets around Rhiw Tremaen, Rhiw Cae Mawr and Sunnybank Court.
As mentioned, Bridgend Industrial Estate and Waterton would move from Coychurch Lower to Oldcastle (Bridgend Town Council). Farmland around Coed-y-Mwstwr would transfer into the Coychurch Lower ward from Pencoed.
14 councillors would be elected: Brackla East (3), Brackla West (3), Brackla Central (3), Brackla Tremains (3), Coychurch Lower (2).

Laleston Community Council

As you can tell from the above there are some significant changes to boundaries and wards.
A new Broadlands ward would be created.
A new Laleston ward would be created covering the village and the immediate rural area. The LDP housing area to the west of Bryntirion would be within this ward.
The old Cefn Glas 1 & Cefn Glas 2 wards would be merged into a single Cefn Glas ward. This ward will include Church Bell Sound and Woodridge (transferring from the Newcastle ward in Bridgend Town Council) and the Morgan’s Meadow/Maes y Rhedyn estate.
Westward Place moves from Cefn Glas to the Bryntirion ward.
The remainder of Merthyr Mawr Community Council that hasn’t merged into Bridgend Town Council (i.e. Merthyr Mawr village itself and the sand dunes area) would become a separate ward within Laleston Community Council. Tythegston and Stormy Down move to the Newtown ward (Porthcawl Town Council).
15 councillors would be elected: Broadlands (6), Cefn Glas (5), Bryntirion (2), Laleston (1), Merthyr Mawr (1).

Coity Higher Community Council

No changes to the number of wards or their names.
The Pines and Penycae move into the Litchard ward from Sarn (Llansantffraid Community Council). A small western chunk of Parc Derwen currently within Litchard moves into the Coity ward. As mentioned, Brackla Industrial Estate and the area around the 8xs/Brackla Ridge move into the Brackla Community.
The number of councillors would be cut from 13 to 12: Coity (6), Litchard (3), Pendre (3).