Gaer, Newport

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Gaer ward**
Statistics
Population:	8,568 (2001 census)
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	Maps for ST295865
Administration
Council:	Newport City Council
UK Parliament:	Newport West
Post office and telephone
Postal district:	NP20 3
Dialling code:	+44-1633 Maesglas exchange

Gaer (Welsh: Y Gaer) is an electoral district ("ward") of the city of Newport. The ward includes both the Gaer and Maesglas estates. The name "Gaer" is from the Welsh word for fort (Caer), as found in Caerleon. It has an area which is recognised to be an old fortress site, believed to be Iron Age however the Gaer Inn Pub sign depicts a Roman Soldier. Gaer estate is usually referred to as "the Gaer" by locals. The names of the roads in the Gaer Estate are those of famous poets and writers.

The ward is bounded by Bassaleg Road to the north, the Great Western main line to the east, the Ebbw River to the southeast, Cardiff Road to the southwest, and the M4 motorway to the west.

It is a ward of some contrast — both the Gaer and Maesglas council estates are Communities First areas, as they are recognised as being high on the index of multiple deprivation used by the Welsh Assembly to establish the poverty of an area, yet there is a small area in the north and east of the ward where large private houses can be found more characteristic of the neighbouring middle class and affluent Allt-yr-yn ward and typical middle class semi-detached suburban houses found along Cardiff Road, Old Cardiff Road, and either side of the Ebbw Bridge.