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This page gives us
a transect down the far western edge of our map. Click
here to visit the map. Then click on the right place on the map to
return here. The farm here on the A40 turn off for
Llangynidr offers a variety of Welsh Hill farm products for direct
sale. Access to the village is constrained by a very narrow and
ancient bridge over the River Usk.Llangyindr
is a real expanded village with growth
throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It lies between Abergavenny to the
south east and Brecon to the north west. |
| It also has
a mountain road over the Beacons to Ebbw Vale - thus it is both proximate
and accessible for commuting to the South Wales Valleys. Llangynidr
also has high scenic beauty and is viewed as
more upmarket than Crickhowell. Residents include those originally from
the Valleys who have gained status (e.g. health and
education or own business) or in-migrant
professionals who commute to management posts
in Valleys companies. There is an Upper and Lower village and
further development is likely to be infill
between the two (against local opinion). The photo
shows the new large community hall on this infill land. |
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This
relatively new development at Pontganol is
further infill and is an effort to provide some affordable accommodation
in the village. The village has a population of approximately 1000.
The population growth is hidden because the expansion in the number of
properties has been matched by a decline in average household
population size. |
| The
spectacular view from the Llangynidr mountain road looking north over the
Usk valley with Llangors lake and on to the Wye valley beyond.
The road is accessible in most weather except
midwinter and makes a short cut to Ebbw Vale. Thus it is very important to
Llangynidr as a commuter village. Ebbw Vale
and its Rassau Industrial Estate are only 20 minutes (10kms away) |
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The
Yuasa battery factory on the Rassau Industrial estate is now Ebbw Vale's
biggest employer. The factory
is an example of Japanese inward investment to Wales encouarged by the WDA.
Recently there have been some redundancies
and the whole business could relocate to elsewhere within the European
Union if trading conditions do not improve. Issues such as membership
of the Euro (common currency) and lower wages
in new EU members from eastern Europe could influence this.
However, Ebbw Vale is mentioned here as our gateway into the SE Wales
industrial region from our rural locality. |
| Ebbw Vale also has an
important retail service function for our rural area. Mnay residents
commute to shop at Morrisons (photo) or
Tescos in Ebbw Vale. Tesco also has that additional service of home
delivery and internet shopping. Such services are important in a
rural area and reduce its feeling of isolation. For the elderly if they
can have home delivery there is less disadvantage in living in a quality
rural environment. The elderly agrowng section of the rural
population are more able to stay independent and in their own home if this
sort of service is introduced. |
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