Sadness of the Welsh valleys

[Richard]

Last weekend the missus wanted to pop to a furniture shop in Porth. We then stopped in Tonypandy before ending up in Pontypridd. The week before we were in Pontypool. Lots of shops closed down. What were once thriving towns have now become fairly desserted. It was a sad sight to see. I suppose employment and shopping habbits is part of the reason, but it got me wondering how these towns can survive?

 

[Darran]

Yes it’s very sad but it’s the way if the 21st century and there’s no going back.

 

[PencoedJack]

Last weekend the missus wanted to pop to a furniture shop in Porth. We then stopped in Tonypandy before ending up in Pontypridd. The week before we were in Pontypool. Lots of shops closed down. What were once thriving towns have now become fairly desserted. It was a sad sight to see. I suppose employment and shopping habbits is part of the reason, but it got me wondering how these towns can survive?

They need to follow Treorchy.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/treorchy-high-street-awards-uk-17620292

Its a crying shame how these towns have declined, Bridgend is unrecognisable from the once thriving Market town that it was probably less than 20 years ago.

Charity, vape & pawn shops seem to fill the streets in most towns across Wales these days.

 

[Richard]

Last weekend the missus wanted to pop to a furniture shop in Porth. We then stopped in Tonypandy before ending up in Pontypridd. The week before we were in Pontypool. Lots of shops closed down. What were once thriving towns have now become fairly desserted. It was a sad sight to see. I suppose employment and shopping habbits is part of the reason, but it got me wondering how these towns can survive?

They need to follow Treorchy.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/treorchy-high-street-awards-uk-17620292

Its a crying shame how these towns have declined, Bridgend is unrecognisable from the once thriving Market town that it was probably less than 20 years ago.

Charity, vape & pawn shops seem to fill the streets in most towns across Wales these days.

Surrounded by Retail Parks and McArthurGlen. What hope does Bridgend Town Centre have?

 

[PencoedJack]

They need to follow Treorchy.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/treorchy-high-street-awards-uk-17620292

Its a crying shame how these towns have declined, Bridgend is unrecognisable from the once thriving Market town that it was probably less than 20 years ago.

Charity, vape & pawn shops seem to fill the streets in most towns across Wales these days.

Surrounded by Retail Parks and McArthur Glenn. What hope does Bridgend Town Centre have?

Indeed McArthur Glen killed Bridgend town centre.

 

[Professor]

Last weekend the missus wanted to pop to a furniture shop in Porth. We then stopped in Tonypandy before ending up in Pontypridd. The week before we were in Pontypool. Lots of shops closed down. What were once thriving towns have now become fairly desserted. It was a sad sight to see. I suppose employment and shopping habbits is part of the reason, but it got me wondering how these towns can survive?

They need to follow Treorchy.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/treorchy-high-street-awards-uk-17620292

Its a crying shame how these towns have declined, Bridgend is unrecognisable from the once thriving Market town that it was probably less than 20 years ago.

Charity, vape & pawn shops seem to fill the streets in most towns across Wales these days.

Treorchy is a bit unusual (as well as being where I grew up) in that it was always a fairly prosperous valley town. Being at the top on the Rhondda Fawr it is also further from out of towns like Talbot Green and is an hour from Cardiff by train - as opposed to 35 mins from Porth. It is not bypassed like Porth and Tonypandy. Does not have a big supermarket like Asda or Morrison’s- just Lidl and Iceland really. It means shopping local for a small hardware item or gift makes sense over a 30 minute drive. Some good long established shops and new and modern ones. Sadly the pandemic has shut some down permanently. It is a beacon of light though - winning U.K. High Street of the year was a big thing.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Indeed McArthur Glen killed Bridgend town centre.

Just as the development of Parc Pemberton killed Llanelli, or the Enterprise Zone/Morfa Parc/Cadle killed Swansea (along with the council continually making it harder to park in town). Add eCommerce to that and you've got a double hammer blow, and eCommerce may just kill off many of the out of town developments in time.

Town Centres are now for residential or leisure use. Places that grasp that quickly can do quite well out of it. Rather that than have tens of thousands of square feet of empty retail space that plenty of towns and cities will have in 10/20 years time.

 

[PencoedJack]

Indeed McArthur Glen killed Bridgend town centre.

Just as the development of Parc Pemberton killed Llanelli, or the Enterprise Zone/Morfa Parc/Cadle killed Swansea (along with the council continually making it harder to park in town). Add eCommerce to that and you've got a double hammer blow, and eCommerce may just kill off many of the out of town developments in time.

Town Centres are now for residential or leisure use. Places that grasp that quickly can do quite well out of it. Rather that than have tens of thousands of square feet of empty retail space that plenty of towns and cities will have in 10/20 years time.

I agree although I wouldn't fancy a residential property in the centre of Bridgend these days.

Id imagine quite a few posters here have enjoyed a night out in Bridgend 15 plus years ago, these days with the exception of 1 or 2 decent pubs the centre is a shitehole. Anyone who is not an alki normally jumps on a train East or West for a good night out or goes to Cowbridge which certainly bucks the downward trend on towns.

 

[Richard]

Indeed McArthur Glen killed Bridgend town centre.

Just as the development of Parc Pemberton killed Llanelli, or the Enterprise Zone/Morfa Parc/Cadle killed Swansea (along with the council continually making it harder to park in town). Add eCommerce to that and you've got a double hammer blow, and eCommerce may just kill off many of the out of town developments in time.

Town Centres are now for residential or leisure use. Places that grasp that quickly can do quite well out of it. Rather that than have tens of thousands of square feet of empty retail space that plenty of towns and cities will have in 10/20 years time.

Festival Park has really hurt Ebbw Vale town centre. Interstingly, Festival Park is struggling with rumours it's about to close and be demolished for housing. I wonder if Ebbw Vale town centre will prosper once again?

 

[Belfy]

Just as the development of Parc Pemberton killed Llanelli, or the Enterprise Zone/Morfa Parc/Cadle killed Swansea (along with the council continually making it harder to park in town). Add eCommerce to that and you've got a double hammer blow, and eCommerce may just kill off many of the out of town developments in time.

Town Centres are now for residential or leisure use. Places that grasp that quickly can do quite well out of it. Rather that than have tens of thousands of square feet of empty retail space that plenty of towns and cities will have in 10/20 years time.

I agree although I wouldn't fancy a residential property in the centre of Bridgend these days.

Id imagine quite a few posters here have enjoyed a night out in Bridgend 15 plus years ago, these days with the exception of 1 or 2 decent pubs the centre is a shitehole. Anyone who is not an alki normally jumps on a train East or West for a good night out or goes to Cowbridge which certainly bucks the downward trend on towns.

Agree with cowbridge mate, was there last year ( about the time DGT stepped over the brink ) some great places to go out and Seemed pretty trouble free, mind you I couldn’t help noticing there was a decent amount of swans supporters living there, obviously one of the reasons for the stability

 

[PencoedJack]

I agree although I wouldn't fancy a residential property in the centre of Bridgend these days.

Id imagine quite a few posters here have enjoyed a night out in Bridgend 15 plus years ago, these days with the exception of 1 or 2 decent pubs the centre is a shitehole. Anyone who is not an alki normally jumps on a train East or West for a good night out or goes to Cowbridge which certainly bucks the downward trend on towns.

Agree with cowbridge mate, was there last year ( about the time DGT stepped over the brink ) some great places to go out and Seemed pretty trouble free, mind you I couldn’t help noticing there was a decent amount of swans supporters living there, obviously one of the reasons for the stability

Cowbridge is a pretty affluent area nice bars & eateries, only trouble is when you get a groups of teenagers out spending daddy's money & acting like cocks.

Very nice place to live & yes lots of Jacks in Cowbridge & the Vale.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Festival Park has really hurt Ebbw Vale town centre. Interstingly, Festival Park is struggling with rumours it's about to close and be demolished for housing. I wonder if Ebbw Vale town centre will prosper once again?

It's possible for smaller towns to bounce back a bit if they offer something different. Clydach and Pontardawe have some nice small local businesses and bars/restaurants these days.