New Brighton: Resolution expected in battle over ‘Devil’s Village’ Welsh name
A debate is set to take place over the Welsh form of a Flintshire village’s name amid concerns over its English translation.
New Brighton, near Mold, is known locally in Welsh as Pentre Cythraul, but the place-name has never been formally recognised.
Residents launched a bid in 2019 to have it included on an official list of names published by the Welsh Language Commissioner.
Concerns were raised by some villagers during a consultation on the plans as Pentre Cythraul roughly translates as “The Devil’s Village” in English.
The village is believed to have originally been named Pentre Catherall after industrialist Josiah Catherall, who built the village’s first houses in the 19th Century.
However, backbench councillors in Flintshire will be asked this week to support commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones’s suggestion for it to be known as Pentre Cythrel in future.
Claire Homard, Flintshire Council’s chief officer for education and youth, said in a report this was due to the negative connotations associated with Pentre Cythraul.
She said: “The commissioner has indicated support for the use of an official Welsh form of New Brighton, but prefers Pentre Cythrel, as the name is an oral development of ‘Catherall’ and reflects how the name is pronounced locally.
“Using ‘cythraul’ would be a further step away from the original colloquial name.
“Local residents who use the Welsh name Pentre Cythraul are supportive of the panel’s suggestion of Pentre Cythrel.
“The Welsh name Pentre Cythrel will also address the objections raised in the consultation and the negative association of Pentre Cythraul (Devil’s Village).”
Pentre Cythraul has been used locally as the Welsh form of New Brighton for many years and is included on driving licences issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
It also features on several signs in the village, including one attached to New Brighton Community Centre.
Ms Homard said the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) would need to be updated to reflect any changes and notify bodies such as Ordnance Survey and Royal Mail.
She added: “Formally recognising a Welsh form of New Brighton will support the council’s Welsh language promotion strategy by raising the visibility of the language. It also ensures Welsh is treated equal to English.
“Adopting a Welsh name would not incur any additional costs as signage can be changed as and when it is renewed.”
Members of Flintshire’s corporate resources scrutiny committee will be asked to approve the new Welsh name for New Brighton at a meeting on Thursday (October 10, 2024).
It will then go to the council’s cabinet for a final decision, before the commissioner can be informed to include it on the official list of place-names.
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