Aberkenfig
Aberkenfig
| |
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Preserved county | |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BRIDGEND |
Postcode district | CF32 |
Dialling code | 01656 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | South Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
UK Parliament | |
Aberkenfig (
Location
Aberkenfig is located in South Wales, just off the A4063 link to the M4 at Junction 36. It is nestled at the confluence of the River Llynfi and the Ogmore River. It is located to the south of Tondu and to the west of Sarn, Brynmenyn and Bryncethin. These five villages, which all lie to the north of the M4, whilst remaining distinctly separate areas have expanded to form one contiguous urban area of several thousand, which is primarily a dormitory suburb of Bridgend, although many people also work in Cardiff and Swansea due to the motorway's proximity. As a result of its location next to both rivers, it is somewhat lower in elevation compared to the other villages (especially Sarn) and this results in a microclimate which can produce some fog during the winter months.
Governance
Aberkenfig is covered by a electoral ward in the same name, though the Aberkenfig ward also includes the neighbouring community of Llangynwyd Lower and the village of Coytrahen. At the 2011 census this ward had a population of 2,039.[1] The ward elects one county borough councillor to Bridgend County Borough Council.
Commercial activity
Compared to other villages around Bridgend county, and relative to its size, Aberkenfig has a large range of commercial activity. It also has a rather diverse commercial sector, with it being home to a licensed sex shop, which is opposite a gun and fishing tackle shop. There are a number of hairdressers in the village, along with two
At the centre of the village is a small green patch of grass and a bench at the junction of Bridgend Road, Pandy Road and Dunraven Street, and is accompanied by a
Court Colman Golf Club (now defunct) first appeared following WW1. It continued into the 1930s.[2]
Religious establishments
In spite of this area of South Wales following the rest of the United Kingdom in increasing
Education and amenities
Aberkenfig has a
Most comprehensive school children go either to Ynysawdre Comprehensive School, which is located in nearby Tondu, or to the Catholic comprehensive school, Archbishop McGrath Comprehensive School, which was also in Tondu, but is now in Brackla. Aberkenfig also has a bowling green, and a communal space, the Aberkenfig Welfare Hall. Aberkenfig also has a telephone exchange.
Transport
The centre of Aberkenfig is a lot quieter than it used to be after a new road, (now the B4281 Park Road) was built, to bypass the centre of Aberkenfig and cut traffic off Dunraven Street, which is very narrow. Another bypass (the A4063) was built to bypass Bridgend Road to take valleys traffic for to Bridgend out of the village. This second bypass cut Heol Persondy in two, which was the road from Aberkenfig to Sarn, and reduced it to a footpath. Whilst this did affect commercial activity, the road infrastructure in the village would now not be able to cope with the amount of traffic that the bypass now takes.
It is not served by the Maesteg Line although both Tondu railway station (around 10 minutes walk away from the village centre) and the closer Sarn railway station (about seven minutes walk away) via Heol Persondy are on the line.
It is also served by First Cymru Bus service 32 and 36 to
Notable people
- Gwyn Davies (rugby) Dual code rugby international for Wales
- Pam Ferris actress
Sports and leisure
Aberkenfig is home to the rugby union club Tondu RFC, a member of the Welsh Rugby Union. Aberkenfig is also the home to the Bridgend and district football team Aberkenfig Conservative Football Club, (Aber Cons). Aberkenfig Boys and Girls have football teams that start with under 7's all the way to 16's as well as offering training for girls 6 years and over.
References
- ^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ “Court Colman Golf Club”, “Golf’s Missing Links”.
- ^ "Aberkenfig Bible Church". Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.