Boundary Commission for Wales submits Final Recommendations which sees Flint and Bagillt added to Alyn & Deeside Parliamentary constituency

The Boundary Commission for Wales has submitted the Final Recommendations report of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies to the Speaker of the House of Commons. ‌

The Speaker will lay the report before Parliament in due course and the Commission will then publish its report on its website and portal. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Commission began the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in 2021 and was required to submit its final recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Commons by 1 July this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Act determined that Wales would have 32 constituencies following the review, a reduction from the current 40.

Every constituency recommended by the Commission had to contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, other than Ynys Môn which was a protected constituency and remains unchanged following the review.

Three consultations periods, and 5 Public Hearings were held during the review with over 2,000 representations submitted to the Commission both orally and in writing.

The Commission’s Final Recommendations, which will take effect automatically at the next General Election, see further significant changes from the Revised Proposals published by the Commission in October 2022, in light of the representations received by the Commission.

The Delyn constituency, a seat which is held by Independent MP Rob Roberts and currently contained within Flintshire would see eight Vale of Clwyd wards and three Clwyd West wards included. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Those changes will see the likes of Holywell and Northop join Llangollen in a new constituency named Clwyd East. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Denbighshire wards – which are currently in the Vale of Clwyd included in the Clwyd East constituency under the proposals – are Dyserth, Llandyrnog, Prestatyn Central, Prestatyn East, Prestatyn Meliden, Prestatyn North, Prestatyn South West and Tremeirchion. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The electoral wards within Denbighshire currently forming part of the existing Clwyd West seat – Llanarmon-yn-Ial/Llandegla, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd/Llangynhafal and Ruthin would also be added to the Clwyd East seat. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As would the electoral wards of Llangollen and Llangollen Rural. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Argoed, Leeswood and New Brighton along with Bagillt and Flint as mentioned above will move to Alyn and Deeside under the plans. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Commenting on the laying of the Final Recommendations report, Shereen Williams MBE OStJ DL, Secretary to the Boundary Commission for Wales said:

“The Commission is delighted that its Final Recommendations report has been laid by the Speaker.

“It is our firm belief that these recommendations represent the best way to create 32 constituencies in Wales which meet the requirements of the Act, including taking account of geography and local ties.

“Though managing a significant reduction in the number of constituencies is never an easy task for a Boundary Commission, it has been made significantly easier thanks to the number and quality of representations we have received from the public, from Members of Parliament, from Political Parties, and from Principal Councils across Wales.

“The Commission would like to put on record its thanks to everyone who took part in the Review and strengthened the recommendations.”

The Commission’s Final Recommendations will now take effect automatically, without the need for parliamentary or government approval, from the next scheduled General Election.