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Bargoed Town Council has rejected draft proposals which recommended changes to its ward boundaries and the number of serving councillors.

The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales produced the draft proposals for changes to community wards across Caerphilly County Borough.

The draft proposals affect the community ward boundaries, names of community councils and the number of community councillors.

The last recommendations of this kind – for community wards rather than county wards – were made in 2010. 

Prior to the draft proposals, a consultation period was held between March and May this year, during which time residents were able to give their opinions on any potential changes.

Bargoed Town Council also submitted their suggestions to the Boundary Commission.

Caerphilly Observer has previously reported on draft proposals and how they could affect Bargoed Town Council constituents

The proposed changes include:

• Part of the Gilfach ward would be transferred to the Park ward. It would affect 40 voters across three streets in the Park housing estate, and the whole of the Heol Fargoed allotment site.
• Part of the Bargoed ward would be transferred to the Gilfach ward. This would involve using Heol Fargoed as the western boundary, Park Drive as the northern boundary and Cardiff Road as the eastern boundary. It would also include the sports fields and Bargoed Care Home. It would affect 135 voters.
• A section of the Aberbargoed ward would be transferred to Pengam. The 100 electors would be made up of residents from the Llanmoor homes development.
• The number of councillors Bargoed Town Council would have under these proposals increases from 13 to 16.

As part of the proposals, a new community council area called ‘Cefn Fforest and Pengam’ would also be created.

Boundaries – “Do they take any notice?”

The draft proposals were discussed at the Bargoed Town Council meeting on October 18, 2023. 

Speaking in the meeting was Bargoed town mayor Howard Llewelyn. He said: “They have accepted most of our recommendations.”

Cllr Peter Collins, who represents Aberbargoed, disagreed with Mayor Llewelyn and the draft proposals and felt the town council’s recommendations had gone unheard. 

He said: “I personally feel it is very petty.

“We’ve already submitted our ideas,” he continued, “It begs the question – Do they take any notice?” 

Cllr Carol Andrews, who represents Gilfach and is also a county councillor, added that the report has “gone against us a little bit”. 

Mayor Llewelyn added: “I think they’ve taken some notice…I think they haven’t taken it all into consideration.”

The town council discussed the boundary proposals in detail – and decided to reject the draft proposals and repropose their original suggestions. 

These suggestions were confirmed by the clerk of Bargoed Town Council to Caerphilly Observer in writing.

The clerk wrote: “Members proposed the Gilfach community boundary with Bargoed should be from the Capel Hotel up Cardiff Road to Hillside Park, then run at the rear lane of Hillside Park to include the bungalow on the brow of the hill and include Hillside Gardens in Gilfach ward.  

“The whole of the Park estate would be in the Park ward.  

“The Bargoed boundary to run at the rear of the bungalows on Park Drive, therefore keeping the Gilfach Fargoed Fawr Farm and the whole of Park Drive in Bargoed ward.  

“In Aberbargoed, the boundary with Pengam was at the Bowen Industrial Estate, with the new housing development becoming Pengam ward as is the opposite side of the road.”

Speaking in the meeting on October 18, Cllr Andrews said that this would avoid “unfair” changes and “balances it up a little better”. 

Councillors – “Lobby for more members”

The draft proposals also suggested the number of town councillors increase from 13 to 16 – equating to one extra town councillor in each of Bargoed, Aberbargoed, and Gilfach.

In contrast, the Town Council had previously suggested the number should be increased to 17 councillors – with an extra two in the Aberbargoed ward.

The council agreed in the meeting on October 18 to resubmit the number they originally proposed – 17. 

The councillors suggested there was a need for more councillors in areas like Aberbargoed where there may be an increase in population due to housing developments. 

However, councillors felt that one extra councillor in Gilfach would be enough. 

Mayor Llewelyn said: “The population of Gilfach is not going to change really is it…we have no area to develop.”

The councillors hoped there would be 17 councillor vacancies available by the time residents came to vote in the next elections.

According to Cllr Ingram-Jones, who represents Bargoed on the town council, this would complement the fact there would then be “more houses in Aberbargoed,” and that with 17 councillors there would be “one councillor for every 500 electors.”

There was a worry that the town council may not fill the additional seats – but Cllr Andrews said that was a matter for another day. 

She said: “I would say we need to lobby for more members…And then if we get them then we cross the bridge of getting people to join us.”