Community (Wales)
Encyclopedia
A community is a division of land in Wales
that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England.
Until 1974, Wales was divided into civil parishes. These were abolished by section 20(6) of the Local Government Act 1972
, and replaced by communities by section 27 of the same Act. The principal areas of Wales are divided entirely into communities. Unlike in England, where unparished area
s exist, no part of Wales is outside a community, even in urban area
s.
Community council
s in Wales are identical to English parish councils in terms of their powers and the way they operate. Welsh community councils may call themselves town council
s unilaterally and may have city status granted by the Crown
. In Wales, all town councils are community councils. There are currently two communities with city status: Bangor
and St David's
. The Chair of a town council or city council will usually have the title Mayor (Welsh: maer). However, not every community has a council. In communities with populations too small to justify a full community council, community meetings may be established.
As of the United Kingdom Census 2001
there were 869 communities in Wales. They vary in size from Rhayader
with an area of 13,945 hectares to Cefn Fforest
with an area of 64 hectares. Barry has the largest population with 45,053 inhabitants according to the 2001 census. Baglan Bay
has no permanent residents.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England.
Until 1974, Wales was divided into civil parishes. These were abolished by section 20(6) of the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, and replaced by communities by section 27 of the same Act. The principal areas of Wales are divided entirely into communities. Unlike in England, where unparished area
Unparished area
In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish. Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparished. Many towns and some cities in otherwise rural districts are also unparished areas and therefore no longer have a town council or city...
s exist, no part of Wales is outside a community, even in urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s.
Community council
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
s in Wales are identical to English parish councils in terms of their powers and the way they operate. Welsh community councils may call themselves town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
s unilaterally and may have city status granted by the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
. In Wales, all town councils are community councils. There are currently two communities with city status: Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
and St David's
St David's
St Davids , is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of...
. The Chair of a town council or city council will usually have the title Mayor (Welsh: maer). However, not every community has a council. In communities with populations too small to justify a full community council, community meetings may be established.
As of the United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
there were 869 communities in Wales. They vary in size from Rhayader
Rhayader
Rhayader is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. It has a population of 2,075, and is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains....
with an area of 13,945 hectares to Cefn Fforest
Cefn Fforest
Cefn Fforest is a Community in Caerphilly County Borough, Wales. A wholly urbanised community, it forms the western fringes of the town of Blackwood. By area, it is the smallest of all of the communities of Wales....
with an area of 64 hectares. Barry has the largest population with 45,053 inhabitants according to the 2001 census. Baglan Bay
Baglan Bay
Baglan Bay is a part of the Swansea Bay coastline and a district of Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. The area currently has no inhabitants and is entirely occupied by industrial and commercial developments. Baglan Bay is also the name of a local government community coterminous with the...
has no permanent residents.