Pontnewydd

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=
constituency_welsh_assembly=
map_type=
official_name= Pontnewydd
unitary_wales= Torfaen
lieutenancy_wales= Gwent
constituency_westminster= Torfaen
post_town= CWMBRAN
postcode_district = NP44
postcode_area= NP
dial_code= 01633
os_grid_reference= ST291963
population= 6,132

Pontnewydd (English translation: "Newbridge") is a suburb of Cwmbran in the county borough of Torfaen, south-east Wales.

Locally, Pontnewydd is referred to as 'the village' even though there is now no distinction between Pontnewydd and the surrounding suburbs of Croesyceiliog, Southville, West Pontnewydd and Pontrhydyryn. There is a small commercial centre to the village with a variety of shops, pubs, food outlets and a bank.

The village as part of the new town

Cwmbran was designated as a new town under the New Towns Act 1946. It is the largest new town in Wales. The town was intended primarily to provide homes near work for those employed in the area and also to provide social and commercial facilities as well as to preserve open spaces, aiming for a balanced and self-contained community. Cwmbran’s original population was 12,000 of whom most who lived in Pontnewydd and Old Cwmbran.

Environment

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs through the village. Although not navigable, it provides a route for cyclists and walkers.

Industry

Historically the area was dominated by heavy industry, revolving around the local coal and iron industries. Today the industrial landscape has completely changed, and is completely based upon light industry represented around the village in neighbouring industrial estates.

Transport

The Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company railway line from Newport to Blaenafon ran through the village until it was removed in the early 1980s. Upper Pontnewydd railway station was situated on this line. Cwmbran Drive was then built along the bed of the disused railway that bisects the village.

Lower Pontnewydd Station on the Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway was 300 metres North of the current site of Cwmbran railway station off Station Road.

Census data

At the 2001 Census [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census] , the following information was captured:
*Population 6132 (Torfaen 90,949)
*47.9% Male, 52.1% Female
*Age Structure
**21.9% aged between 0-15
**37.2% aged between 16-44
**19.0% aged 45-59/64
**21.9% of pensionable age