Pontypridd (UK Parliament Constituency) - Boundaries

Boundaries

Pontypridd constituency can be split into two parts, an eastern part containing the town itself, and a western part focussed on Llantrisant. In Pontypridd itself the wards are: Town, Treforest, Rhondda (consisting of Hopkinstown, Maesycoed, Graigwen, Trehafod, & Pwllgwaun), Graig, Trallwng, Rhydyfelin Central & Ilan, Hawthorn, Taffs Well. The Western half consists of the following wards: Beddau, Church Village, Tonteg, Llantwit Fardre, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, Talbot Green, Tonyrefail East and Tonyrefail West.

Alternatively, one can think of the constituency as being divided between a 'suburban' district in the south and communities that grew in the industrial revolution to the north; the Southern area, particularly between Church Village and Llantrisant, contains much new residential and light industrial development, and benefits from good transport links due to its proximity to the M4. This section has a growing population and is an important 'dormitory' for Cardiff. The Northern parts, particularly Tonyrefail and the northern end of Pontypridd town consists of large sections of 19th century housing and suffered high unemployment in the 1980s as the old industries closed. However, in recent years, economic recovery has been firm, especially considered with neighbouring constituencies to the north.

The Pontypridd constituency was created in its original form from parts of the old South Glamorganshire & East Glamorganshire constituencies as part of 'The Fourth Reform Act of 1918' which extended voting rights to women over 30 years of age, reduced the qualifying age of Male voters who had served in the Great War to 19 years of age & created the now abolished University constituencies. Part of this bill also effected a 'General Redistribution of Seats' on an 'equitable basis'. It originally included the old Borough & Rural district of Cowbridge (which included Ystradowen, Bonvilston, St Athan, Llantwit Major & Llandow) & the Urban district of Pontypridd plus the then Rural Districts of Llantrisant & Llantwit Fardre. The Constituency remained unchanged from this form until the Third Periodic Parliamentary Boundary Review's proposals were implemented in 1983. This removed the Cowbridge Urban & Rural Districts (& placed them in the Vale of Glamorgan constituency & also it removed the communities of Llanharry, Llanharan & Brynna & placed them in the Ogmore constituency. However the communities of Creigiau & Pentyrch were added to the seat at this time, only to be removed again at a later date.