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Welsh place name formally adopted

Published: 21/11/2024

The Welsh name for New Brighton is now officially recognised as Pentre Cythrel following support from Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet.

Councillors voted in support of adopting the Welsh place name and work is now underway to ensure it is represented via official channels.

The Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC) has been informed and has updated the list of standardised place names published on their website. The Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG), Ordnance Survey and Royal Mail have been asked to update their records as well. Residents now have a choice of using  Pentre Cythrel or New Brighton as their address.

In 2018, the WLC’s Place Names Standardisation Panel was contacted by members of the public and organisations requesting they consider ‘Pentre Cythraul’ as the Welsh form of New Brighton. However, as local authorities are responsible for place names the WLC has been in contact with the Council to advise on the appropriate Welsh name.

A local member approached the Council asking for the name to be formerly adopted. Following consultation with local residents, there was a handful of objections to ‘Cythraul’ due to its meaning of ‘devil’ or ‘demon’.

The name ‘Pentre Cythraul’ stems from the village’s association with the landowning Catherall family. The WLC was in support of an official Welsh form, however preferred Pentre Cythrel. It said Cythrel better reflects how the name is pronounced locally.

Councillor Mared Eastwood, Cabinet member for Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure, said: “As the local member for New Brighton, I am delighted that we finally have a recognised Welsh place name. Local residents have been using the Welsh name for many years, so this was a welcomed move by the Council. It also supports the Council’s Welsh language promotion strategy by increasing visibility and normalising the use of Welsh.”

A spokesperson from the WLC added: “We are pleased that Flintshire County Council can now move forward with confidence to adopt a standard and official Welsh name for this village. Deciding which names should be officially recognised is not always an easy task and the Council has taken this naming process seriously, in response to calls from local residents.

“We were delighted that the Council formally consulted with our own Place-names Standardisation Panel for expert and independent advice. It is also positive that Ordnance Survey wishes to respond promptly to this official recommendation in accordance with their Welsh Names Policy. They will now update their databases and use the Pentre Cythrel name alongside New Brighton in the future."

If anyone is new to Cymraeg/Welsh and is struggling to say Pentre Cythrel, a recording with phonics is available on the Council website, so anyone can hear and see how it is pronounced.