Tong (ward) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tong |
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 2004 Boundaries of Tong Ward |
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| Population | 20,608 (ward. 2011) |
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Tong is a special area, or ward, located in West Yorkshire, England. It's part of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The ward is named after the old Tong village, which is the oldest settlement in the area. In 2011, about 20,608 people lived in Tong.
Where is Tong Located?
Tong ward is in the far south-east part of the Bradford area. It sits in a green space between the bigger cities of Bradford and Leeds. Bradford city centre is about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the north-west. Leeds city centre is about 4 miles (6.4 km) to the north-east.
Even though Tong is surrounded by a "Green Belt" (protected land), many nearby places are urban, meaning they are like towns or cities. For example, Tong Street is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Tong village. Other nearby places include Drighlington to the south and Gildersome to the south-east. There are also smaller, more rural villages like Bankhouse and Fulneck nearby.
A Look at Tong's Past
The Tong ward we know today used to be a larger area called the civil parish of Tong. In the 1800s, this parish included several settlements. These were places like Dudley Hill, Tong Street, Westgate Hill, and Holme.
Today, the Tong political ward includes urban areas such as Dudley Hill. It also has council estates like Bierley, West Yorkshire, Holme Wood, and Sutton (which is part of Tyersal). These areas are mostly found along the main road, Tong Street, which is part of the A650 road.
On the very east side of the ward, you'll find Tong Village. This is a small, quiet village surrounded by farms. It's also home to the historic Tong Cricket Club.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, people used to mine for coal and ironstone in the Tong area. There were several mines recorded here.
How Tong is Governed
Tong is represented by three councillors on the Bradford Council. These councillors are like local politicians who help make decisions for the area. Currently, all three councillors for Tong are from the Green Party. Their names are Matt Edwards, Celia Hickson, and Ursula Sutcliffe.
For a long time, Tong was mainly represented by the Labour Party. However, things started to change in 2019. In 2021, Matt Edwards became the first councillor not from the Labour Party to represent Tong since the ward was created. He won with 47% of the votes. Then, in 2022 and 2023, the Green Party won the remaining two councillor seats from the Labour Party. This means the Green Party now represents all of Tong ward.
