Seeking Opinions On Community Areas Within Gwynedd

A public consultation has been launched regarding the way Gwynedd is to be divided into sub areas as part of a scheme to improve the economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing of the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Future Generations Wellbeing Act (Wales) came into force on 1 April 2016. The legislation makes it clear that there needs to be a full assessment of wellbeing on the basis of the entire local authority and on the basis of smaller community areas within the authority, so as to reflect the differences between them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet has discussed the matter and suggested that Gwynedd is divided up according to the county’s main centres, which are: Bangor, Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Tywyn, Dolgellau and Y Bala. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dyfed Edwards, Gwynedd Council’s Leader, said: “I would urge members of the public to take this opportunity to look at the maps of the proposed sub areas and to have their say on their location, size and geographical shape. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Gwynedd Councillors have already had the opportunity to comment and the Council has also written to all community councils within the county inviting members to take part in the consultation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The consultation is open until 1 June 2016.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To view the maps, and to share opinions, Gwynedd residents should go to www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/consultations ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once the consultation has been completed, and the sub areas agreed upon, a wellbeing assessment will be carried out over the coming months on the basis of sub areas. A programme will then be created for the statutory Public Services Board during 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​