Conwy (County Borough)

Conwy is a Principal Area with the status of a county borough in northern Wales in the UK. The administrative seat is the town of Conwy.

Geography

The district covers an area of ​​the coast of the Irish Sea until far into the highlands. More than 38 % of the area in the southern part of the county are part of the Snowdonia National Park.

Settlements

About 80 % of the population lives in settlements on the coast. The largest are Abergele, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Kinmel Bay, the tourist town of Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Llanfairfechan, Penmaenmawr, Penrhyn Bay and Towyn. The most populated places in the interior of the country Betws -y- Coed, Llanrwst and Cerrigydrudion.

Population

In 2009, the population has been officially estimated at 111,400 people. Of these, 98.2 % of European descent. Due to the lower property prices than in the nearby region of Liverpool many older Englishmen have moved in recent decades. Therefore, only 54 % of the population were born in Wales. The sharp rise because the British immigration rates (2004 to 2006: 18 %) for homes on the one hand and lead to many local resentment against the English, on the other hand increase welfare, because the newcomers can spend more than the locals.

Language

According to the latest census of 2001, 39.7 % of the population 's knowledge of the Welsh language. However, the proportions varied greatly. In the area of Kinmel Bay and Towyn, the proportion was only 11 %, while in the area of Uwchaled he reached a value of 74 % in the southwest. In all municipalities in the County Boroughs, which do not lie on the coast, the proportion of Welsh is at least 40 %. Has the highest proportion of Welsh-speaking at the persons of school age (5-15 years) with 49.5 %.

Policy

The strong English immigration has led to a political partition. While many older, wealthy Englishman select the Tories (members of the Conservative Party ), many Welsh vote for Plaid Cymru ( the Welsh nationalists ). The formerly influential Labour Party loses, however, is steadily increasing.

In the Regional Council, the Conwy County Borough Council with 58 members, there is a strong political fragmentation. In the elections of May 2004 were Independent 17, the Conservatives 15, Labour 12, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats 11 seats 4.

In the National Assembly for Wales representing Gareth Jones ( Plaid Cymru ) the County Borough.