TORFAEN reaches from Cwmbran in the south, to Blaenavon in the north, also encompassing Pontypool, with a total population of 91,836.
As with much of Gwent the area is dominated by Labour, with Lynne Neagle representing the area in the Assembly and Nick Thomas-Symonds serving as MP. A small part of the south east of the council area encompassing Croesyceiliog, Llanfrechfa and Ponthir falls within the Monmouth constituency, currently represented by Conservatives David Davies in Westminster and Nick Ramsay in the Senedd.
There are 113 candidates running for seats on Torfaen County Borough Council, including 44 representing Labour, which controlled the authority over the past five years, as well as 29 Independents, the highest number in Gwent.
The Conservatives are also fielding 23 candidates, while 10 are running for Ukip, five for Plaid Cymru and one each for the Green Party and the Welsh Communist Party.
Bob Wellington was the longest-serving council leader in Wales when he stepped down at the end of 2016 after 13 years. His replacement, Anthony Hunt, was the youngest council leader in Wales when he took up the role in January aged 36.
Torfaen also falls within the South Wales East Assembly region, which is currently represented by Conservatives Mohammad Asghar, better known as Oscar, and Mark Reckless, who earlier this month defected from Ukip, as well as Steffan Lewis for Plaid Cymru and Ukip’s David Rowlands.
Voters in the borough, which also falls within the responsibility of Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent Jeff Cuthbert, formerly AM for Caerphilly, also voted to leave the European Union in last year’s referendum, with 59.78 per cent backing Brexit.
Among notable landmarks in the area are the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, as well as the town of Blaenavon itself, which is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site for its strong industrial history.
The area is also notable for the Cwmbran Shopping Centre, which for years was the premier shopping destination in Gwent, only recently being rivalled by Newport’s Friars Walk.
Borough statistics:
Population: 91,836
Ethnicity: White - 97.8 per cent
Asian/Asian British - 0.8 per cent
Black/Black British - 0.3 per cent
Mixed - 0.7 per cent
Other - 0.4 per cent
Average weekly pay: £533
Unemployment: 2.7 per cent
Average house price: £132,000
Average life expectancy: 77.6 (men) 82.1 (women)
Number of Welsh speakers: 9.8 per cent
Number of businesses: 2,130
Current council makeup:
Number of seats: 44
Labour: 29
Conservative: 4
Plaid Cymru: 2
Independent: 8
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