We cannot let Brexit derail us, View from Wales: town showered with EU cash votes to leave EU. The South Wales Valleys (Welsh: Cymoedd De Cymru) are a group of industrialised peri-urban valleys in South Wales. [14] A report for the Welsh Government concluded that the Valleys is "a distressed area unique in Great Britain for the depth and concentration of its problems". [8] The Welsh mines were comparatively antiquated, with methods of ventilation, coal-preparation and power supply all of a decades-earlier standard. standard measurement of poverty used by the UK Government is ‘relative low income The geographical shape of the valleys has its effect on culture. [7], The other major factor in the decline of coal was the massive under-investment in Welsh mines over the past decades. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. [16], Following devolution in the late 2000s, powers over the Wales and Borders rail franchise are now held by the Welsh Government. What does Brexit mean for business funding in Wales? Rugby union is very popular, and pitches can be seen along the valley corridors. [16] Many homes are low-priced, older and terraced, concentrated in the lowest Council Tax bands; few are higher-priced detached homes. Her policies of free market economics soon clashed with the loss-making, government-owned National Coal Board. This made South Wales the most important part of Britain for ironmaking until the middle of the 19th century.

Accelerating the Welsh government’s commitment to creating better jobs closer to home by encouraging local authorities, universities and hospitals to focus more on disadvantaged local people. Millions of pounds in EU money has been ploughed into the valleys over the years. Almost a quarter of people in Wales are struggling to make ends meet and poverty is costing the country £3.6bn a year – a fifth of the Welsh government’s annual budget, a report has revealed. It adds that compared with a decade ago there are fewer children and pensioners in poverty – but more people of working age. Until the mid-19th century, the South Wales valleys were sparsely inhabited. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Route 15, South Wales Valleys", The industrialisation of the South Wales Valleys, Old and New Library Images from the Valleys, The official tourism website for The Valleys, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Wales_Valleys&oldid=980469907, Articles with dead external links from May 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2017, Articles needing additional references from August 2009, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 September 2020, at 18:17.

The decline in the mining of coal after World War II was a country-wide issue, but southern Wales was more severely affected than other areas of Britain. The Welsh Government’s rejection of the proposed Circuit of Wales has thrown a new spotlight on the plight of Blaenau Gwent. Roads stretch along valleys and connect the different settlements in the valley, whereas neighbouring valleys are separated by hills and mountains. Most of the valleys run north–south, roughly parallel to each other. There was a sense of salvation when the government announced the nationalisation of British coalmines in 1947; but the following decades saw a continual reduction in the output from the Welsh mines.

[14] However, the area does benefit from a local landscape described as "stunning", improving road links such as the upgraded A465, and public investment in regeneration initiatives. Fewer work in managerial or professional occupations, and more in elementary occupations, compared to the rest of the country. Educational attainment in the Valleys is low, with a large proportion of people possessing few or no qualifications. Investing more money in education and creating better teachers. [13], The Valleys are home to around 30% of the Welsh population, although this is declining slowly because of emigration, especially from the Upper Valleys. The 10 poorest parts of Wales. This is unacceptable.”, Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru spokeswoman for housing, poverty, communities and steel, said: “When we get to the point where nearly a quarter of all people in Wales are experiencing poverty, this should as a massive wakeup call to the entire political establishment, both here in Cardiff and in Westminster.

Oil had superseded coal as the fuel of choice in many industries, and there was political pressure influencing[clarification needed] the supply of oil. Joseph Rowntree Foundation says crisis may grow when UK leaves EU because of funding Wales receives from Brussels, Tue 8 Nov 2016 12.13 GMT Consequently, the towns in a valley are more closely associated with each other than they are with towns in the neighbouring valley, even when the towns in the neighbouring valley are closer on the map. [7] These two markets now controlled the fate of the mines in Wales, and as demand from both sectors fell, the mining industry contracted further. [14] A large number of people commute to Cardiff, particularly in Caerphilly, Torfaen and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The report sets out a series of suggestions for tackling the problem. Cardiff was soon among the most important coal ports in the world, and Swansea among the most important steel ports. A Welsh government spokesperson said: “Employment in Wales is the highest on record and the number of children living in workless households is continuing to fall. Poverty is linked to additional public spending on health, education, social care and police and criminal justice services to the tune of £3.6bn a year – equivalent to £1,150 for every person living in Wales, the report says.

Poverty costs Wales £3.6 billion every year - equivalent to £1,150 for every person living in Wales https://t.co/sENkO3ff4m #solveukpoverty pic.twitter.com/KooE05zTFn. [2] Topography defined the shape of the mining communities, with a "hand and fingers" pattern of urban development.