Bangor will lose four Gwynedd County councillors after proposals presented by Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales were approved by the Welsh Government.
The changes accepted by the Welsh Government mean that Gwynedd’s number of councillors will reduce by 6, taking the council from 75 to 69 members. This results in an average of 1,208 electors per councillor. Bangor will face the most significant drop in its representation within the chamber.
Bangor currently has 11 county councillors but will have just 7 following the changes, which have been blamed on the number of non-registered voters in the city.
The boundary changes are expected to take effect from the 2022 local government elections.
Glyder and Dewi will remain unchanged, with the remaining Deiniol, Garth, Hendre, Hirael, Marchog and Menai wards being replaced by the “Canol Bangor” and “Dwyrain Bangor” divisions, which will elect two members each.
This is despite Gwynedd Council urging the commission to retain Marchog, which contains Maesgeirchen, due to its large population coupled with the deprived nature of the ward placing an additional burden on its representatives.
On the outskirts of the city, however, a new “Y Faenol” ward will be created out of part of the existing Pentir ward.
The ward names and number of councillors in Bangor currently stand at:
- Garth ward: 1 councillor
- Menai ward: 2 councillors
- Glyder ward: 1 councillor
- Pentir ward: 1 councillor
- Dewi ward: 1 councillor
- Hendre ward: 1 councillor
- Deiniol ward: 1 councillor
- Hirael ward: 1 councillor
- Marchog ward: 2 councillors
The changes proposed by the Boundary Commission for Wales will mean the city of Bangor will be distributed accordingly.
- Faenol ward: 1 councillor
- Glyder ward: 1 councillor
- Dewi ward: 1 councillor
- Canol Bangor ward: 2 councillors
- Dwyrain Bangor ward: 2 councillors
Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, Chief Executive of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, said: “I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has accepted these recommendations with only minor modifications.
“These changes will mean greater electoral parity for the people of Gwynedd.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the review, the members of the public, councillors, Gwynedd Council, and everyone else who sent us a representation or contributed in any other way.”
The overall number of wards in Gwynedd will be reduced from 71 to 65 although 27 will remain unchanged, namely:
Aberdyfi, Dolbenmaen, Nefyn, Abererch, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Penygroes, Abermaw, Efail-newydd/Buan, Dwyrain Porthmadog, Bala, Glyder, Gorllewin Porthmadog, Bowydd a Rhiw, Groeslon, Gogledd Pwllheli, Brithdir a Llanfachreth/Ganllwyd/Llanelltyd, Llanaelhaearn, De Pwllheli, Corris/Mawddwy, Llanberis, Trawsfynydd, Criccieth, Llanrug, Tregarth a Mynydd Llandygái, Deiniolen, Llanystumdwy, Dewi.
