The County Borough of Caerphilly (Communities) Order 2026

Made: 22 March 2026

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru[^f00001] (“the Commission”) has, under section 36(5)(a) of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013[^f00002] (“the 2013 Act”), submitted to the Welsh Ministers a report dated May 2024 containing its recommendations for change and the details of a review of community arrangements within the County Borough of Caerphilly.

The Welsh Ministers have decided to give effect to the Commission’s recommendations without modification. The Welsh Ministers also make supplemental provision as considered necessary or expedient.

Under section 37(3A) and (3B) of the 2013 Act[^f00003], more than 6 weeks have elapsed since those recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Ministers and the Welsh Ministers have had regard to any representations made during this period.

The Welsh Ministers have published a statement setting out their decision in respect of each recommendation in accordance with section 37(6) of the 2013 Act[^f00004].

The Welsh Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 37(1) and 40(1) and (2)(a) of the 2013 Act.

Under section 37(2A) of the 2013 Act[^f00005], the Welsh Ministers make this Order more than 6 months preceding the day of an ordinary council election under section 26 of the Local Government Act 1972[^f00006].

Title and coming into force

1

• (1) The title of this Order is the County Borough of Caerphilly (Communities) Order 2026.

• (2) For any purpose set out in regulation 4(1) of the 1976 Regulations[^f00007], this Order comes into force on 6 May 2026.

• (3) For all other purposes, this Order comes into force at 23:59 hours on the day before the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027.

Interpretation

2

• (1) In this Order—

• “the 1972 Act” (“Deddf 1972”) means the Local Government Act 1972[^f00008];

• “the 1976 Regulations” (“Rheoliadau 1976”) means the Local Government Area Changes Regulations 1976;

• “electoral ward” (“ward etholiadol”) means any area for which councillors are elected to Caerphilly County Borough Council;

• “existing” (“presennol”) means a community, community ward or community council as it exists immediately before the time and day set out in article 1(3);

• “new” (“newydd”) means a community, community ward or community council established by this Order;

any reference to a map means one of the 19 maps marked “Map of the County Borough of Caerphilly (Communities) Order 2026”, deposited in accordance with regulation 5 of the 1976 Regulations, labelled “1” to “19”, and a reference to a numbered map is a reference to the map that bears that number;

where a boundary is shown on a map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it must be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

• (2) The provisions in this Order take precedence over any conflicting provision in any previous statutory instrument made under section 58(2) of the 1972 Act or order made under sections 37(1), 38(1) or 39(1) of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013.

Risca East and Risca West — abolition of the communities of Risca East and Risca West and consequential changes to community councils

3

The existing community of Risca East is abolished.

4

The existing community council of Risca East is dissolved.

5

The existing community of Risca West is abolished.

6

The existing community council of Risca West is dissolved.

Creation of the new community of Risca

7

A new community is created which is to be known as Risca in the English language and Rhisga in the Welsh language and which comprises the area shown shaded on Map 1.

Creation of the new community ward of Pontymister Tŷ Sign

8

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Pontymister Tŷ Sign in the English language and the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 1 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca East.

Creation of the new community ward of Pontymister Upper

9

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Pontymister Upper in the English language and Pontymister Uchaf in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 2 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca East.

Creation of the new community ward of Trenewydd

10

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Trenewydd in the English language and the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 3 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca East.

Creation of the new community ward of Pontymister Lower

11

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Pontymister Lower in the English language and Pontymister Isaf in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 4 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca West.

Creation of the new community ward of Risca Town and Fernlea

12

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Risca Town and Fernlea in the English language and Tref Rhisga a Fernlea in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 5 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca West.

Creation of the new community ward of Risca Dan-y-graig

13

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Risca Dan-y-graig in the English language and Rhisga Dan-y-graig in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 6 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca West.

Creation of the new community ward of Tŷ Isaf Fields and Ochrwyth

14

A new community ward is created in the new community of Risca which is to be known as Tŷ Isaf Fields and Ochrwyth in the English language and Caeau Tŷ Isaf ac Ochrwyth in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 7 on Map 2;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Risca West.

The new community of Risca — establishment of community council and community electoral arrangements

15

A council for the new community of Risca is established.

16

In the new community of Risca the number of councillors to be elected for the—

• (a) Pontymister Tŷ Sign ward is 4;

• (b) Pontymister Upper ward is 3;

• (c) Trenewydd ward is 3;

• (d) Pontymister Lower ward is 1;

• (e) Risca Dan-y-graig ward is 1;

• (f) Risca Town and Fernlea ward is 3;

• (g) Tŷ Isaf Fields and Ochrwyth ward is 3.

Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, and Rudry — abolition of the communities of Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, and Rudry and consequential changes to community councils

17

The existing community of Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen is abolished.

18

The existing community council of Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen is dissolved.

19

The existing community of Rudry is abolished.

20

The existing community council of Rudry is dissolved.

Creation of the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry

21

A new community is created which is to be known as Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry in the English language and Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen a Rhydri in the Welsh language and which comprises the area shown shaded on Map 3.

Creation of the new community ward of Bedwas

22

A new community ward is created in the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry which is to be known as Bedwas in the English language and the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 1 on Map 4;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Bedwas and Trethomas.

Creation of the new community ward of Trethomas

23

A new community ward is created in the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry which is to be known as Trethomas in the English language and the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 2 on Map 4;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Bedwas and Trethomas.

Creation of the new community ward of Machen

24

A new community ward is created in the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry which is to be known as Machen in the English language and the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 3 on Map 4;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Machen and Rudry.

Creation of the new community ward of Rudry

25

A new community ward is created in the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry which is to be known as Rudry in the English language and Rhydri in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded and numbered 4 on Map 4;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Machen and Rudry.

The new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry — establishment of community council and community electoral arrangements

26

A council for the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry is established.

27

In the new community of Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Rudry the number of councillors to be elected for the—

• (a) Bedwas ward is 5;

• (b) Trethomas ward is 3;

• (c) Machen ward is 4;

• (d) Rudry ward is 2.

Gelligaer, Llanbradach and Pwll-y-pant, and Nelson — changes in community and community ward boundaries and consequential changes to electoral arrangements

28

The part of the Greenhill ward of the community of Gelligaer shown shaded on Map 5—

• (a) is transferred to the Cascade ward of the community of Gelligaer;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of St Cattwg.

29

The part of the Cefn Hengoed ward of the community of Gelligaer shown shaded on Map 6—

• (a) is transferred to the Ystrad Mynach ward of the community of Gelligaer;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Ystrad Mynach.

30

The part of the Cefn Hengoed ward of the community of Gelligaer shown shaded on Map 7—

• (a) is transferred to the Tir-y-berth ward of the community of Gelligaer;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of St Cattwg.

31

The part of the Greenhill ward of the community of Gelligaer shown shaded on Map 8—

• (a) is transferred to the Llwyncelyn ward of the community of Nelson;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Nelson.

32

The part of the Ystrad Mynach ward of the community of Gelligaer shown shaded on Map 9—

• (a) is transferred to the Wingfield ward of the community of Llanbradach and Pwll-y-pant;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Llanbradach.

Llanbradach and Pwll-y-pant – change of community ward name

33

The Pwll-y-pant ward of the community of Llanbradach and Pwll-y-pant is to be known as Pwll-y-pant in the English language and the Welsh language.

Gelligaer — community electoral arrangements

34

In the community of Gelligaer the number of councillors to be elected for the—

• (a) Cascade ward is 3;

• (b) Cefn Hengoed ward is 2;

• (c) Greenhill ward is 2;

• (d) Hengoed ward is 2;

• (e) Tir-y-berth ward is 1;

• (f) Ystrad Mynach ward is 4.

Caerphilly — changes in community ward boundaries and consequential changes to electoral arrangements

35

The part of the Castle ward of the community of Caerphilly shown shaded on Map 10—

• (a) is transferred to the Bryncenydd ward of the community of Caerphilly;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Morgan Jones.

36

The part of the Parcyfelin ward of the community of Caerphilly shown shaded on Map 11—

• (a) is transferred to the Tonyfelin ward of the community of Caerphilly;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Morgan Jones.

37

The parts of the Tonyfelin ward of the community of Caerphilly shown shaded on Map 12—

• (a) are transferred to the Parcyfelin ward of the community of Caerphilly;

• (b) form part of the electoral ward of Morgan Jones.

Caerphilly — community electoral arrangements

38

In the community of Caerphilly the number of councillors to be elected for the—

• (a) Bryncenydd ward is 1;

• (b) Castle ward is 2;

• (c) Cwrt Rawlins ward is 2;

• (d) Parcyfelin ward is 3;

• (e) Tonyfelin ward is 2;

• (f) Twyn ward is 2;

• (g) Watford ward is 2.

Bargoed, and Pengam — changes in community and community ward boundaries and consequential changes to electoral arrangements

39

The part of the Bargoed ward of the community of Bargoed shown shaded on Map 13—

• (a) is transferred to the Gilfach ward of the community of Bargoed;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Gilfach.

40

The parts of the Gilfach ward of the community of Bargoed shown shaded on Map 14—

• (a) are transferred to the Park ward of the community of Bargoed;

• (b) form part of the electoral ward of Aberbargoed and Bargoed.

41

The part of the Aberbargoed ward of the community of Bargoed shown shaded on Map 15—

• (a) is transferred to the new community of Cefn Fforest and Pengam;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Cefn Fforest and Pengam.

Bargoed — community electoral arrangements

42

In the community of Bargoed the number of councillors to be elected for the—

• (a) Aberbargoed ward is 5;

• (b) Bargoed ward is 6;

• (c) Gilfach ward is 3;

• (d) Park ward is 2.

Cefn Fforest and Pengam — abolition of the communities of Cefn Fforest and Pengam

43

The existing community of Cefn Fforest is abolished.

44

The existing community of Pengam is abolished.

Creation of the new community of Cefn Fforest and Pengam

45

A new community is created which is to be known as Cefn Fforest and Pengam in the English language and Cefn Fforest a Phengam in the Welsh language and which—

• (a) comprises the area shown shaded on Map 16;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Cefn Fforest and Pengam.

The new community Cefn Fforest and Pengam —establishment of community council and community electoral arrangements

46

A council for the new community of Cefn Fforest and Pengam is established.

47

In the new community of Cefn Fforest and Pengam the number of councillors to be elected is 3.

Maesycwmmer, Pontllanfraith, and Llanbradach and Pwll-y-pant — changes in community boundaries and consequential changes to electoral arrangements

48

The part of the community of Maesycwmmer shown shaded on Map 17—

• (a) is transferred to the community of Pontllanfraith;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Pontllanfraith.

49

The part of the community of Maesycwmmer shown shaded on Map 18—

• (a) is transferred to the Wingfield ward of the community of Llanbradach and Pwll-y-pant;

• (b) forms part of the electoral ward of Llanbradach.