Admin HQ Bridgend ISO 3166 code GB-BGE | Area rank Ranked 17th Area 246 km² | |
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Geocode 00PB (ONS)
W06000013 (GSS) Destinations Porthcawl, Bridgend, Maesteg, Pencoed, Kenfig Clubs and Teams Bridgend Ravens, Porthcawl RFC Points of interest Coney Beach Pleasure, Margam Country Park, Margam Stones Museum, Seabank Hotel, Kenfig Pool Colleges and Universities Bridgend College, Pencoed College, Union School of Theology, Bridgend College - Bridgend, Bridgend College - Queens | ||
Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a county borough in southern Wales, UK. The county borough has a total population of 139,200 people, and contains the settlements of Bridgend, after which it is named, Maesteg, and the seaside town of Porthcawl. Its members of the National Assembly for Wales is Carwyn Jones AM, the First Minister of Wales and Huw Irranca-Davies AM representing the Ogmore Constituency, and its Members of Parliament are Madeleine Moon and Chris Elmore
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Map of Bridgend, UK
The county borough lies at the geographical heart of south Wales. Its land area of 285 square kilometres stretches 20 km from east to west and occupies the Llynfi, Garw and Ogmore valleys. The largest town is Bridgend (pop: 39,773), followed by Maesteg (pop: 20,700) and seaside resort of Porthcawl (pop: 19,238).
It is situated on the Ogmore River and its tributaries, although the Ewenny and Ogwr Fach rivers are considered the border with the Vale of Glamorgan for much of their length.
It was formed on 1 April 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. It includes all of the former Ogwr borough apart from the communities of Wick, St Bride's Major and Ewenny, which went to Vale of Glamorgan. Bridgend County Borough was divided into 20 communities: Brackla, Bridgend, Cefn Cribwr, Coity Higher, Coychurch Higher, Coychurch Lower, Cornelly, Garw Valley, Laleston, Llangynwyd Lower, Llangynwyd Middle, Maesteg, Merthyr Mawr, Newcastle Higher, Ogmore Valley, Pencoed, Porthcawl, Pyle, St Bride's Minor and Ynysawdre. The communities of Brackla, Bridgend and Coychurch Lower make up the town of Bridgend.
Government
The region is governed by Bridgend County Borough Council. It is currently in the control of the Labour party with 39 seats out of 54.