Community (Wales)

A community (Welsh: cymuned) is the lowest level of local government structure in Wales, corresponding to a civil parish in England.

Until 1974, Wales was divided into civil parishes. These were abolished by section 20(6) of the Local Government Act 1972, and replaced by communities by section 27 of the same Act. The principal areas of Wales are divided entirely into communities. Unlike in England, where unparished areas exist, no part of Wales is outside a community, even in urban areas.

Community councils in Wales are identical to English parish councils in terms of their powers and the way they operate. Welsh community councils may call themselves town councils unilaterally and may have city status granted by the Crown. In Wales, all town councils are community councils. There are currently two communities with city status: Bangor and St David's. The Chair of a town council or city council will usually have the title Mayor (Welsh: maer). However, not every community has a council. In communities with populations too small to justify a full community council, community meetings may be established.

As of 2007 there were 869 communities in Wales. They vary in size from Rhayader with an area of 13,945 hectares to Cefn Fforest with an area of 64 hectares. Barry has the largest population with 45,053 inhabitants according to the 2001 census. Baglan Bay and Margam Moors have no permanent residents.

• Davies, John; Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines & Peredur I. Lynch (2008) The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, University of Wales Press, Cardiff.

• List of communities in Wales

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