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GeogOnline... Lower Swansea Valley (south)
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Here is one of the remaining engineering works in the Lower Swansea Valley. It is a pipe works and makes metal radiators and piping. Here the roads are narrow and there are railway sidings on bridges across the road. This is still an area in need of support and regeneration. The Lower Swansea Valley is immediately north of the old docks at the mouth of the Tawe and extends northwards through areas like Hafod and Llandore. These areas have great value in terms of industrial archaeology and can be researched via the internet.
This is a picture of Hafod copper works in its heyday - more than 150 years ago. Swansea and Wales had coal and Cornwall had copper. As ten tonne of coal are needed to smelt 1 tonne of ore it was cheaper to move the ore to Swansea rather than the coal to Cornwall. The Vivian family were involved in the metal works and these owners lived at singleton Park in west Swansea. The family eventually became Lord Swansea.

In the background is Llandore social club on  a bluff above the narrow flood plain of the Lower Tawe valley. This shows the working nature of the area. Down on the flood plain is the derelict remains of an old smelting works - non ferrous presumably copper or zinc. This is important industrial archaeology. A Park and Ride scheme is being developed on the opposite side of the river. Further north the Enterpise Park begins. The road network has been improved on the eastern side of the river (A4067) whilst on the west side the old roads go slowly through congested Llandore and Hafod communities of terraced housing.

Hafod Renewal Area The City and County of Swansea are keen to target areas of the city most in need of help for long term regeneration projects. One of the first areas chosen is Hafod, which was declared as a Renewal Area in March 2001. The Renewal Area status will last for the next ten years. Notice this is a RENEWAL Scheme - contrast with SA1 Swansea Waterfront Development - here the aim is to repair and improve buildings and environment from the past - not to remove them completely. (Not comprehensive redevelopment e.g. Glasgow 1960s.)

We plan to:
Bullet Point Physically regenerate the housing stock through wide scale group repair schemes covering whole terraces of housing
Bullet Point Help improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock
Bullet Point Undertake extensive environmental improvements
Bullet Point Carefully consider and implement solutions to transport problems
Bullet Point Help improve the commercial areas
Bullet Point Help tackle community safety concerns
Bullet Point Actively encourage the local community to participate in and help guide the Renewal Area regeneration project

 
Sample Question: January 2003 : question2 part (c): Urban decision makers have implemented a number of policies to tackle deprivation in inner city areas. Using a NAMED EXAMPLE, explain how successful such a policy has been in tackling deprivation. 6 marks: 12 lines approx.
Assembled by Mr. N.