A CULL of town and community councillors is potentially on the cards as Blaenau Gwent residents are asked for their views on draft proposals to reorganise Town and Community Councils in the county borough.

Back in October 2025, county borough councillors agreed that a review of the town and community councils in the county borough was needed and a task and finish group of councillors was set up to come up with the terms and reference for the review.

Earlier this year the Blaenau Gwent Council agreed to conduct a review of electoral arrangements and community boundaries in Blaenau Gwent.

It is a legal requirement that local authorities look at the community boundaries every few years to make sure that they continue to reflect the identity of the area and provide effective and convenient local government.

Within Blaenau Gwent there are four town and community councils.

These are: Abertillery and Llanhilleth community council, Brynmawr Town Council, Nantyglo and Blaina Town Council and Tredegar Town Council.

But the largest town in the county borough and where Blaenau Gwent has its administrative headquarters, Ebbw Vale, has not had a town or community council covering it for more than 50 years.

Ebbw Vale Urban District Council was abolished in 1974 under a local government reorganisation that created Gwent County Council and Blaenau Gwent as a second-tier district council.

Gwent council was abolished in 1996 with Blaenau Gwent elevated to principal authority status in a further re-jig of councils in Wales.

If the consultation comes back with support for a town council to be set up in Ebbw Vale – then a referendum would need to take place.

Setting up a town council in Ebbw Vale is an idea that has been championed by Blaenau Gwent councillor for Ebbw Vale South Cllr Jonathan Millard (Reform UK).

Cllr Millard said: “A town council brings accountability back to our streets. It means decisions about our local parks, town centre, and community projects are made by people who live here and breathe the same air.

“We need local control, local pride, and a direct link between your concerns and real action.”

The draft proposals comes up with boundaries for a theoretical; Ebbw Vale Town council which would have five wards serving a forecast total electorate of 17,396 people.

With a ratio of one councillor per 650 voters this would potentially see a town council with up to 26 councillors, although this detail has not been included in the draft proposals.

The potential five wards of an Ebbw Vale town council are: Beaufort & Badminton, Cwm, Ebbw Vale North, Ebbw Vale South and Rassau & Garnlydan.

The six-week consultation is nearing the end and will finish at “midnight” on Thursday, August 20.

It is hoped that any changes can be formalise in time for them to happen before the next local election that are scheduled to take place in May 2027.

To have your say visit https://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/voting-elections/review-of-community-areas-and-electoral-arrangements/ or email [email protected] with your views.