Pontnewydd

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Pontnewydd
Statistics
Population: 6,132
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: Maps for ST291963
Administration
Principal area: Torfaen
Constituent country: Wales
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Police force: Gwent Police
Ceremonial county: Gwent
Historic county: Monmouthshire
Post office and telephone
Post town: CWMBRAN
Postal district: NP44
Dialling code: +44-1633
Politics
UK Parliament: Torfaen
European Parliament: Wales
Wales

Pontnewydd is a suburb of Cwmbran in the county borough of Torfaen, traditional county of Monmouthshire, southern Wales, United Kingdom.

Locally, Pontnewydd is referred to as 'the village' even though there is now no distinction between Pontnewydd and the surrounding suburbs of Croesyceiliog, Southville, West Pontnewydd and Pontrhydyryn. There is a small commercial centre to the village with a variety of shops, pubs, food outlets and a bank.

Contents

[edit] The village as part of the new town

Cwmbran was designated as a new town under the New Towns Act 1946 and it is the only New Town of any size to have been designated in Wales. The town was intended primarily to provide homes near work for those employed in the area and also to provide social and commercial facilities as well as to preserve open spaces, aiming for a balanced and self-contained community. Cwmbran’s original population was 12,000 of whom most who lived in Pontnewydd and Old Cwmbran.

[edit] Environment

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs through the village. Although not navigable, it provides a route for cyclists and walkers.

[edit] Industry

Historically the area was dominated by heavy industry, revolving around the local coal and iron industries. Today the industrial landscape has completely changed, and is completely based upon light industry represented around the village in neighbouring industrial estates.

[edit] Transport

The railway from Newport to Blaenafon ran through the village until it was removed in the early 1980s. Cwmbran Drive was then built along the bed of the disused railway that bisects the village.

Historically Pontnewydd Station on the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was 300 metres North of the current site of Cwmbran railway station off Station Road.

[edit] Census data

At the 2001 Census [1], the following information was captured:

  • Population 6132 (Torfaen 90,949)
  • 47.9% Male, 52.1% Female
  • Age Structure
    • 21.9% aged between 0-15
    • 37.2% aged between 16-44
    • 19.0% aged 45-59/64
    • 21.9% of pensionable age