Garw Valley

This article is about a community in Bridgend County Borough. For the valley of the River Garw, see River Garw.

Garw Valley (Welsh: Cwm Garw) is a community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Bridgend County Borough, South Wales. As the name suggests, it follows and encompasses the valley of the River Garw. The community includes the village of Blaengarw at the head of the valley, followed by Pontycymer and Llangeinor on the river, with Bettws between the Garw and the Llynfi in the south.^[2] Garw Valley is bordered to the west by Maesteg, Llangynwyd Middle and Llangynwyd Lower; to the east by Ogmore Valley and to the south by Ynysawdre and St Bride's Minor.^[2]

Garw Valley Welsh: Cwm Garw
A4064 road running through Llangeinor
Population	7,784 (2011) [1]
Principal area	Bridgend County Borough
Preserved county	Mid Glamorgan
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRIDGEND
Postcode district	CF32
Dialling code	01656
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Rhondda and Ogmore
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Ogmore
List of places UK Wales Map of the community

Attractions include the Garw Valley Railway, a four and half mile narrow gauge steam railway, which volunteers began re-laying in 2016. Regular passenger rail services had previously ceased in the valley in 1953, though occasional "enthusiasts' trains" used the line in 1996 and 1997.^[3][4]

Governance

At the local level, Garw Valley elects 13 community councillors to Garw Valley Community Council, from the four wards of Bettws, Llangeinor, Pontycymmer and Blaengarw.^[5]

At the county level, until 2022 the community was covered by four electoral wards, of Blaengarw, Pontycymmer, Llangeinor and Bettws, each electing one county councillor to Bridgend County Borough Council.^[6] Following a boundary review, the four wards were combined to form a new Garw Valley ward, electing three county borough councillors.^[7]