 These moves were met with some criticism , as the preserved counties were created to sustain a stable and continuing layout , irrespective of interim local government reviews affecting principal areas . This led to some areas , such as the Aberconwy district , moving to a preserved county it had never been administered by in the past , and therefore these moves went generally unreported due to the preserved county 's limited status . The Boundary Commission proceeded to retain the eight preserved counties , and modified their borders in 2003 to match with the incumbent principal area boundaries . The 2003 arrangement brings towns such as Llandudno , Conwy and Betws @-@ y @-@ Coed into the preserved county of Clwyd . 
