The local employment is now mostly light industry and service industry as the coalmines have been closed for many years. Unemployment now runs at a high level locally, particularly for younger people.
The leisure facilities in Rhondda are improving but are not satisfactory given the size of the population.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantages of living in the area are that:
- There is a good community spirit.
- Good availability of nursery education.
- Availability of business start up grants.
- Some parts of the Valley are very beautiful.
The disadvantages of living in the area are that:
- Unemployment is high and jobs are generally poorly paid.
- Many houses are in a state of disrepair.
- Crime rates are high, especially drugs related.
- Communication links are poor, both road and rail.
Possible improvements
With extra funding the existing leisure facilities could be improved for all ages. The leisure centres could run more special schemes at cheaper rates for both young and older people (e.g. daytime yoga classes or art classes).
Resurfacing and providing relief roads where appropriate could vastly improve the roads. The rail links could be extended and timetables improved to encourage more people to commute to work by rail, which would help the environment and get more cars off the roads.
The area has a big drug problem that is recognised by the police. The police do operate their own anti-drugs group called RAID (Rhondda against illegal drugs). Unfortunately the regional crime figures show that drug related crimes are at an all time high. To enforce the good work the RAID organization is already doing we could train and pay a local police officer to visit schools and colleges to inform children and teenagers of the dangers of drugs.
To further improve the Rhondda, the provision of an outdoor pursuits centre providing facilities for walking, cycling, fishing, climbing etc. would encourage visitors to the area, provide a new leisure facility for local people and generate income locally (e.g. cafés and hotels).
Recommendations
I am making two possible recommendations for the use of the available funding:
- Communication links.
Upgrade the current roads by resurfacing. Provide relief roads where needed or possible.
Improve rail links by extending existing tracks and providing a more frequent and affordable service for both industry and the general public.
I am recommending this improvement for the following reasons:
- Improved communication links will encourage more industry into the area, improving unemployment.
- Local people will continue to live in the area and commute to work, re-generating the community.
- Indirectly, keeping people in the area who are in employment should improve the housing standards.
- Drug problem.
The local police will be provided with additional funding to tackle the ever-growing drugs problem, by the setting up of a special unit. They will be specially equipped to deal with this specific area.
I am recommending this improvement for the following reasons:
- Reducing the drug problem will automatically reduce drug related crimes, making people feel safer on the streets and in their homes.
- The reduction in drug taking will reduce peer pressure on young people to become involved in drugs.
- Former addicts, drug users will be helped to become useful members of the community.
Conclusion
While my report recommends two improvements which need to be made in my local community there are many more unresolved problems the will need to be addressed over the coming years if the National Assembly of Wales is serious about improving local communities.
I hope my report will be useful in helping you decide on the issue of local funding, if you have any queries or require further information I would be more than happy to help.
Geraint Jones
Sunday, 28 January 2001
