In todays Western Mail, the headlines explain the proposed new council set-up, apparently ear-marked in a 'leaked map' (not shown) as to what will happen if these plans go ahead. As predicted, Cardiff will merge with the Vale. RCT, Bridgend & Merthyr will form another new authority and Caerphilly will be lumped with a super Gwent council. In West Glamorgan, NPT will merge with Swansea/Gower. So with the exception of Caerphilly (west of the Rhymney), it's basically the old West, Mid & South Glamorgan back again.
As stated, the existing boundaries between the West & East Glamorgan recording areas will remain as they are. Although as far as the more localised new councils and the art of 'listing' are concerned, this offers new dimensions. The old South Glamorgan was not as extensive in its borders as the new Cardiff & Vale will be. The Cardiff UA created in 1996 included new areas such as the Garth, which were not in the the old South Glamorgan, and the old Vale never went as far as the Ogmore River and estuary. Whereas the new C & V council will now include this area, as the Vale of Glamorgan UA does today.
I know observers & listers can keep to their various lists as it now stands, but a scope will exist for new boundaries and new lists. I haven't as yet worked out my new C & V list but a fair wedge of my Glamorgan list comes from this area. I'm sure most listers will come to some sort of compromise when new and potentially bird rich areas become available in nice new rearranged borders. The one anomaly is Caerphilly (West). I would think this would be included in the new RCT/Bridgend/Merthyr council - an old Mid Glamorgan, without the Garth area & the western bit of the Vale.
Perhaps even new more localised areas could be marked out: for example the Maesteg listers might annexe Parc Slip into a new 'Greater Llynfi Valley'. If it was me, I'd do it - think of all that lovely expanse of water, especially those scrapes!
The $64 question is, will it happen? Possibly, if the politicians can make their minds up that is. Perhaps a delegation from the various bird clubs could help. We could end up with Cardiff & Eilat!!
Not to come into affect until 2020.
Not to come into affect until 2020.
3 comments:
Today Parc Slip, tomorrow the world !
Happy to take the western parts of Caerphilly into the RCT/Merthyr area - it gives us Rhaslas Pond
Interesting proposals but not really unexpected. Let us realise that any firm proposal will have to form part of a Labour party manifesto. All the other parties are for no change. In my humble opinion (30 years in Local Government) this could be a vote loser for Labour perhaps underestimating the intense feelings among staff, their families and all the supplier chains, communities and voluntary sectors. Let's see what they put together in the run up to the spring 2016 WG elections. I for one do not look forward to another LGR having been through the immense amount of work involved with the last one in 1996.
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