About the Neath constituency....
The Neath constituency is a mixture of both industrial and rural communities, running in a north-south strip along the dips, ridges and folded landscape of South Wales. It includes most of the Neath and Dulais valleys, and some of the Upper Swansea Valley as well as the Upper Amman Valley.
(Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Election-Map service Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland)
History...
The town of Neath is at its southern end and is a medium-sized town which started life as a Roman Nidum. The lower reaches of the valley are almost entirely given over to industry. To the west, is the constituency's second largest town, Pontardawe.
The constituency boasts historical places of both industrial and natural forms. Neath and the surrounding areas were industrialised very early in Britain's history. Copper smelting was already happening here in the late sixteenth century.
When Neath Abbey (now a magnificent ruin) was founded in 1129, it was the richest of all Welsh monasteries, and in writings of the sixteenth century was described as the 'fairest Abbey of all Wales'. At its height it owned extensive lands and property, from Glamorgan to Somerset; had almost 5,000 sheep, as well as horses and cattle; it owned a ship and a landing-place, and worked mills, fisheries and coal-mines. But it suffered greatly during the many skirmishes between the Welsh and English (or Normans), and by the 1530s had only eight monks left. The ruins date mostly from the late thirteenth century. It has been in turn, a prosperous Abbey, a Jacobean Mansion (painted by Turner), an iron foundry (which explains the Abbey's position bang in the middle of an industrial area) and now an historical monument.
There are many beautiful natural sites in Neath, though the most famous must be the Aberdulais falls, painted by Turner during the year he spent in Neath in around 1795/96. He also sketched many other areas of beauty including Melincourt Falls in the Vale of Neath.
The canals running through the constituency are also a legacy of its industrial past, though now enjoyed by locals and visitors alike after their restoration. Throughout the area are many spectacular aspects as it nestles almost up to the foothills of the Brecon Beacons.
The constituency was heavily mined and the small communities that grew up around these mines were devastated by the collapse of the mining industry in the 1980s. Many are still fighting to retain their communities. The result is that the valleys are returning to their natural beauty. Though on the edges of many of these communities there are now "Industrial Villages" springing up, helping to replace the jobs lost by the demise of the mining industry, and so helping to keep young people in these communities.
A legacy to Neath's political history is the memorial stone in Victoria Gardens to the five Neath citizens killed during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-38.
Politics & Government...
More here soon...
Currently, Neath's Member of Parliament is the Rt. Hon Peter Hain MP. Peter has been Neath's MP since the 1991 by-election, replacing the late Donald Coleman.
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is currently controlled by the Labour group, led by Cllr. Alun Thomas (Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council) and a cabinet executive of nine other councillors.
The Neath constituency consists of the electoral divisions of: Aberdulais, Alltwen, Bryncoch North, Bryncoch South, Blaengwrach, Cadoxton, Crynant, Cimla, Cwmllynfell, Dyffryn (Neath Abbey), Glynneath, Gwaun Cae Gurwen (and Cwmgors), Godre'rgraig, Lower Brynaman (and Tai'rgwaith) Neath North, Neath South, Neath East, Onllwyn, Pelenna, Pontardawe, Resolven, Rhos, Seven Sisters, Trebanos, Tonna, Ystalyfera.
Culture and Sport...
Neath has a strong Rugby and cricket playing tradition and the Neath RFC (known as the "All Blacks of Wales") play in the Principality Premiership. The area is also served by the Ospreys regional Celtic League rugby team.
The actor Richard Burton was born in the constituency, and both he and Ivor Emmanuel (who led the rendition of 'Men of Harlech' in the 1964 film Zulu) were both brought up in Pontrhydyfen, a village located a few miles to the east of Neath. Bonnie Tyler, the internationally renowned contemporary classical singer Katherine Jenkins, classical pianists Gordon Back and Andrew Matthews-Owen, the international sopranos Rebecca Evans and Gail Pearson are all originally from Neath. Gareth Edwards, considered by many to be the greatest rugby player in the history of the game, was born in Pontardawe and brought up in Gwaun Cae Gurwen.
The constituency remains a strong Welsh-speaking area, with approximately 29% of the population of Neath Port Talbot (Census, 2001) reported as Welsh speakers - ranking 9th out of the 22 local authority areas in Wales. Neath has hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1913, 1934 and most recently in 1994.
The Pontardawe International Music Festival takes place annually in the constituency. It is a week of Folk and Rock music and dance. Made up of both performances and workshops, it is an international affair and transforms the constituency during its week. In the town of Neath dancers and singers perform in the streets in the run up to and during the festival. It is a celebration of the area's international ties. (Information on the Pontardawe Festival, whether for participating or visiting, can be had from, The Pontardawe Inn, Pontardawe, Swansea, SA8 4ED. Tel: 01792 830791.
The Cwmtawe Sevens Rugby Tougnament has, since its inception in 1983, become one of the most prestigious and well supported events of its kind in the rugby calendar in Wales and is officially approved by the Welsh Rugby Union. It is set amongst the lovely surroundings and first class facilities at Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, Swansea.
