Following the announcement of the Boundary Commission for Wales on the final boundaries drawn for the next UK Parliament General Election, Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, sets out what these changes mean for the residents of Ogmore.
Wales’ current Parliamentary constituency boundaries have been in use since the 2010 General Election and are therefore out of date. In March 2020, the government announced that it would restart the process of consulting on boundary changes, dropping the previous commitment to reduce the number of MPs to 600, as had been planned by David Cameron’s government.
The 2023 Boundary Review requires new seats to be nearly identical. Aside from 5 specified exceptions (including Ynys Môn in Wales), every constituency must have an electorate that is no less than 95% and no more than 105% of the UK electoral quota (UKEQ) which, for the 2023 review, is 73,393. Consequently, the ‘statutory electoral range’ for each constituency is between 69,724 and 77,062. The new boundaries will be up for review every 8 years, as opposed to the current 5 years. The next Welsh review is thus due by October 2031.
As a result of this process, Ogmore will be split between a number of new seats.
Ynysmaerdy, Tylagarw, Brynna, Llanharan, and Llanharry will join the newly enlarged Pontypridd seat.
Cefn Cribwr, Aberkenfig, Coytrahen, Tondu, Brynmenyn, Bryncethin, Sarn, Bryncoch, Heol-y-Cyw, and Pencoed will all join the larger Bridgend seat.
Blaengarw, Pontycymmer, Llangeinor, Bettws, Blackmill, Lewistown, Glynogwr, Ogmore Vale, Nantymoel, Gilfach Goch, and Evanstown will form part of the new Rhondda and Ogmore seat.
Finally, Caerau, Nantyfyllon, Maesteg, Cwmfelin, Llangynwyd will form the new Aberafan & Maesteg parliamentary seat.
All the above means the Ogmore Westminster seat will no longer exist.
This does not impact County Borough Council services as those boundaries remain unchanged.
Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, said:
“I want to assure residents in Ogmore that I remain your MP until the next General Election. Please continue to contact me via email, phone, writing or by attending one of my many surgeries or coffee mornings. I remain available and eager to support anyone in our communities.
Many of you will look at these new boundaries and ask what the reasoning is behind them. Historic ties that bound different villages to towns and towns to valleys will be broken. This is not a map that reflects the Ogmore we all know and love. Sadly, the lines have now been drawn and the next election will be fought on the Boundary Commission’s proposals.
It is my intention to contest the new Bridgend seat as your hardworking Welsh Labour candidate.
For those of you concerned about your council services I can assure you that you will see no change in that regard. Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC and Bridgend CBC boundaries are not affected by these proposals. I know your hard-working Welsh Labour councillors will continue to do all they can to stand up for you, working alongside myself as your Ogmore MP.”
NOTES:
To see the new boundaries visit the Boundary Commission for Wales website.