The Bridgend Constituency is situated on the South Wales coast roughly halfway between the cities of Cardiff and Swansea.   

Consisting of the Bridgend County Borough Council wards of Brackla, Bryntirion, Laleston & Merthyrmawr, Cefn Glas, Coity, Cornelly, Coychurch Lower, Litchard, Morfa, Newcastle, Newton, Nottage, Oldcastle, Penyfai, Pendre, Porthcawl East Central, Porthcawl West Central, Pyle and Rest Bay, it is ideally located with excellent transport links to the rest of the UK. 

Bridgend is steeped in history from its early beginnings right through to the modern, forward looking town that it is today. 

The industrial era and the arrival of the Great Western Railway meant that Bridgend, with a station on the main London to Fishguard line, become a vital distribution centre between the coal mines of the valleys and the local ports, including Porthcawl.  Several quarries were opened near to the town centre, with an engine works and large farmers’ market helping to create a prosperous, thriving community. 

The Second World War brought a prisoner of war camp at Island Farm, a large munitions factory at Waterton and a munitions storage base in Brackla before Bridgend returned to some semblance of normality after escaping most of the heavy bombardment that neighbouring areas received during the hostilities.  In 1948, Newbridge Fields hosted the National Eisteddfod, and Bridgend resumed its pre-war role, predominantly as a market town. 

Flooding after the River Ogmore burst its banks in the early 1960s meant that the concrete flood defence walls, which can still be seen today, were installed by the Welsh Water Authority.  Passenger rail links were lost as a result of the Beeching cuts at around the same time to the Vale of Glamorgan and to the northern Valleys – a decision only recently partially rectified in 2005 by the Welsh Assembly Government’s decision to reinstate the Vale of Glamorgan route to Barry via Rhoose. 

Transport links were transformed in the 1970s with the construction of the M4 and that, combined with the development of the new Bridgend Industrial Estate, attracted two major multinational companies, Ford and Sony to set up factories in the area. 

The 1980s saw the development of the Brackla Housing Estate which has grown so rapidly that it is now the largest privately-owned housing estate in Europe.  Taken together with the new housing recently built at Broadlands, the town has undergone a dramatic expansion in its population in the past 20-30 years.     

A new bypass was built in the late 1990s linking the town centre with the M4 motorway and in 1997, Parc Prison, the only privately run prison in Wales, was opened, joining the headquarters of the South Wales Police which has been based in Bridgend since the 1960s. 

The 21^st century brought a brand new bus station and the transformation of the town centre enabling successful and popular events such as Celtic Festivals and Continental Markets to take place there.  Significant investment has been earmarked to regenerate the area, including the creation of a walkway along the River Ogmore and continued redevelopment of the retail part of the town centre. 

Business & Transport

Bridgend is an attractive place to do business and has a solid manufacturing base, thriving shopping centres and first class transport links. 

With the large Bridgend and Waterton Industrial Estates providing facilities for a number of small and multi-national companies, the biggest private sector employer in the constituency is the Ford Motor Company.  IT consultants Logica CMG have an office in the town and German retailers Lidl have their Welsh headquarters and distribution centre at Waterton.   

The Rhiw Shopping Centre, Bridgend Market, Adare St, Caroline St, Derwen Road, Nolton St, Queen St, Dunraven Place, Market St and Cheapside play host to a wide range of high street names and local retailers in the town centre.  Out-of-town shopping is available at Waterton and at the Bridgend Designer Outlet at Junction 36 of the M4. 

Porthcawl is one of the leading holiday resorts in South Wales and has one of the largest caravan and camping parks in Europe.  It has an extensive promenade, several beaches, a Grand Pavillion, hotels, bed and breakfasts, a fun fair and 3 golf courses.  Porthcawl is regarded as a top location for surfing and competitions are regularly held at Rest Bay.  Every September, the annual Elvis Festival descends on the resort with Elvis impersonators coming from all around the world. 

Regular rail services run from Bridgend Railway Station to West Wales, Swansea, Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Manchester and the South West of England.  It is also the terminus for the newly reopened Vale of Glamorgan line.  At the same time, Bridgend is serviced by a newly built bus station with routes to all the major population centres in South Wales. 

A cycle route running from Brackla to Cefn Glas, via Broadlands has been newly finished and Bridgend is now on the National Cycle Route.  Top class mountain biking is also available nearby in the Ogmore Valley, Glyncorrwg and the Upper Afan Valley. 

Sport 

The famous Brewery Field hosts rugby league in the summer months and rugby union in the winter. 

The Celtic Crusaders Rugby League team were 2007 National League Two Champions and will be playing in National League One (one division below Super League) in 2008.  Born out of the ashes of the original world famous Bridgend RFC, the Bridgend Ravens Rugby Union side are semi- professional and play in the Welsh Premiership. 

Bridgend is also home to the Bridgend Blue Bulls, one of the most successful amateur rugby league teams in the UK, and rugby union sides such as Bridgend Athletic RFC, Bridgend Sports RFC, South Wales Police RFC, Pyle RFC and Kenfig Hill RFC. 

Football teams Bridgend Town FC and Bryntirion Athletic FC participate in the Welsh Football League and there are many local cricket clubs, golf courses and tennis and bowls facilities.