A former industrial community which had seen better times,

Abersychan was once referred to as ‘the worst village in Torfaen’.

While a strong community spirit and the natural beauty of the valley gave local people a reason to stay, the air of dereliction and neglect that had permeated the village by the late 1980s was undeniable. The highly visible main shopping area was dilapidated and the poor condition of many older homes added to a general appearance of decay and neglect.

Vacant commercial properties, a poor road infrastructure, parking problems and a lack of facilities for young people contributed to the spiral of degradation, which in turn affected local morale. A significant number of homes needed repairs and improvements, others stood empty.

Other major issues affected Abersychan:

• Alackofausablecentretothevillage

• Thenarrownessoffootpaths,providingrealorperceiveddanger for pedestrians

• Loweconomicactivity

• Highunemploymentandhighdependencyofstatebenefits

The turnaround began in 1999 when two successful funding bids marked the beginning of Abersychan’s physical transformation.

In April, just months before Renewal Area Status was announced, Torfaen council was successful in its Welsh Capital Challenge bid and secured grant funding to regenerate the town over three years.

Renewal Area Status injected further cash into Abersychan to improve local living conditions and stimulate the local economy.

INSIDE: • Ten years of investment • New look for village shops• Look at our homes now • Looking ahead

AbersychanRENEWAL AREA

NOVEMBER 2009

THEN

NOW

We don’t always appreciate Abersychan, but you only have to walk up the top and down the cycle track to see outstanding natural beauty. On the whole, it’s a lovely little place to live. I moved here 54 years ago and I’m welded here now.

Councillor Denise Nicholls (Abersychan and Cwmavon ward,

Pontypool Community Council)

NOW

Foreword“The improvements to Abersychan over the past ten years have uplifted everyone. The village once again has its own identity – something that was perhaps lost for a long time. Visitors want to stop and look around the village whereas they used to drive straight through.

“Renewal Area Status attracted much-needed investment to the village and, though very welcome, investment on this scale does bring inevitable disruption to local people. In this respect, the people of Abersychan have been tremendous, particularly the traders, without whose commitment and dedication to the village as a whole we wouldn’t have even got the scheme off the ground.

“As well as established shops, we also have excellent health services here now. We have a dentist on Broad Street and our GP surgery is introducing new services which will contribute to everyone’s health and well-being.

“At the end of ten years, just look at what we’ve achieved in Abersychan.”

Councillor Gwyneira Clark ExecutivememberforHousing, Planning and Public Protection Torfaen County Borough Council

Ten years of investment

THEN

NOW

THEN2

Abersychan councillor Gwyneira Clarke and former councillor Doug Davies, who represented the

Abersychan ward for 14 years, worked hard to secure Renewal Area Status and other grant funding to regenerate the former industrial village.

Since 1999, over £17 million has been spent on capital schemes in Abersychan, including £4.6 million in housing grants. The investment has vastly improved the appearance of the main road through the village.

Dilapidated old buildings have been demolished, some shop premises have been rebuilt and new car parking spaces have been created by replacing the cobbles at the old station entrance with asphalt. There are new junctions at either end of the village and pavement-widening has made pedestrians feel safer as they walk between shops.

Abersychan Comprehensive has been completely rebuilt and nowboastsoneofTorfaen’sthreenewschool-basedLearningPlazas, piloting innovative approaches to learning.

“Abersychan now is very different to when I started practising in the area.” said Dr Doug Dare, senior partner at Abersychan Surgery. “The improvements are vast and long overdue and I’m sure they will give local people a feel-good factor.”

I remember the state of the roads. In the first year I lived in Abersychan

there were six serious accidents on my road. There’s no problem any longer with shopping. In the last five or six

years, I can’t recall ever going down to Abersychan and being unable to park.

Dr John Cox, former Torfaen councillor

Ten years of investment

“As a local lad, I remember Abersychan as a thriving shopping centre, and I’m delighted that the housing renewal project is helping to restore and regenerate the village in a highly successful way. I sometimes shop in the village myself, so have seen first-hand the improvements. All credit goes to the traders, local people and Council for the efforts that they have put in.”

Paul Murphy , MP for Torfaen

3

Renewal Area Status

Group Repair Schemes target owner-occupied homes (owners are required to contribute up to 25% of the overall cost of the work based on their income). Group repair has the advantages of economies of scale and encourages owners to carry out further investment in their properties.

Enveloping Schemes concentrate on small pockets of mixed commercial and residential properties and are funded by public investment.

Numerous environmental improvements in Abersychan include:

• Therenovationofover400 properties

• Improvedandsafer car parking

• New roofs, windows and shop fronts for shops

• Rear of buildings in Broad Street have been dramatically improved

• Therepaintingofyellow bays in Snatchwood Road

Over ten years, improvement work has carried out in:

• SnatchwoodRoad

• SnatchwoodTerrace

• HighStreet

• GlansychanLane

• GlansychanHouses

• LewisStreet

• ManorRoad

• MountPleasant

• PleasantView

• BroadStreet

• ClubRow

• NorthRoad

• OwendaleTerrace

• ProspectPlan

• StationStreet

• SychanTerrace

A Renewal Area is one identified as having poor housing conditions, coupled with social, economic and environmental needs. The aim is to halt the decline of an area and to increase public confidence by improving housing conditions, renovating and maintaining properties and creative attractive places in which to live. An improvement to the infrastructure and environment brings benefits to a wider area. Renewal Area Status usually lasts ten years.

NOW

THEN

NOW

THEN

NOW THEN

4

There was a time when the hustle and bustle of shopping centred round

Abersychan High Street. The huge old Co-op store employed around 30 staff and boasted its own bakery, pharmacy, butcher’s shop (with on-site slaughter-house) and shoe shop.

“It was a big enterprise,” said Wilf Bridges, who was born in Talywain and moved down the mountain to Abersychan 57 years ago. “In those days, Abersychan was a flourishing place.”

The old Co-op buildings have long been empty and the majority of the village shops are located on Broad Street; however the village still boasts good local shopping where you can buy almost anything.

Gerald Nicholas, and his wife, Joan, have been running Pets & Gardens in Broad Street for 31 years, from the same premises in which his father originally set up a hardware stall in 1937. Gerald said the area had been lifted generally.

“Renewal Area Status has been a positive for Abersychan and has tidied things up a bit,” he said. “We have received lots of good comments about how nice it’s looking, in particular around the back of the property. Fair do, they did a good job – visually it’s much better here and people seem to respect their environment more.”

New look for village shops

Judy Burgess, 69, is Abersychan born and has traded as Jody’s on Broad Street for 33 years from five different premises. She is now back in shop two after shop four was demolished to widen the road.

“I didn’t really want to get out of my old shop next door to the OldWhiteHartbutit’sdonemea good turn,” said Judy. “This is smaller but it’s a more modern shop. Abersychan is a lovely little community – I love it. You can buy nearly everything here. The general outlook has improved and Broad Street is looking good; there’s more that could be done but it’s money at the end of the day.”

Judy Burgess has traded on Broad Street for three decades

We have some very reasonable shops here. We have a jolly

good butcher’s shop, a ladies and babies clothes shop, an

excellent Post Office and a high grade fish and chip shop.

Wilf Bridges, Abersychan resident

Gerald and Joan Nicholas

5

Dress-maker Diane Roynon has lived in Abersychan for 38 years and ran her business from the old Co-op building for five years. “I like living in Abersychan and I’ve never wanted to go anywhere else,” she said. “I think some things have improved in the village and some of the shop fronts lookreallynice.Mostofitisokaynow but the main road is still very busy.”

Diane Roynon at work

Brigitte and Jon King, and son Simon, run the mini market on HighStreet.TheymovedtoAbersychan from the East End ofLondoninJuly2006.

“Abersychan reminds me of when I was a kid in the old EastEndofLondon,”saidBrigitte. “The friendliness and helpfulness we’ve encountered here – we couldn’t have asked for better, nicer people than in Abersychan. The other thing that’s struck us is that most of the kids still have manners – they still say please and thank you here. I’m not worried about walking outside either – I have walked our old dog in the middle of the nightandIwouldnever,everdothatinLondon.”

Londoners Brigitte and Jon King love living in Abersychan

New look for village shops

6

Wayne Randall opened his Abersychan shop in 1990 although there has been a butcher shop on the premises for more than a century.MrRandall’sfather,Jack,and uncle, Glyn, were slaughter-men in the village.

“The look of the village has definitely picked up. Renewal Area Status has tidied Abersychan up no end and has given the village a breathing space, “he said. “The way it was going it was going to be derelict. There is convenient car parking now and it’s looking pretty tidy now compared to how it was going. We can only hope that trade picks up.”

Syran John has lived in Abersychan since she was 14 and has run a hairdresser’s in the village for 11 years. She has been in her current shop for six years.

“I’ve seen loads of changes,” she said. “All the buildings which were once empty are now occupied and the shops by the post office look nice and modern now - ten years ago they looked a wreck. When we took this building over, it needed a new roof and new shop front so it’s been brilliant for us as a business. All the back of the property was rendered and painted – it looks fabulous now.”

Butcher Sean Casey behind the counter at Randall’s

New look for village shops

7

Stylist Charlotte Baker attends to customer Rhiannon Jones

Fifty-four years ago it was possible to buy a house in Abersychan for £625 as community

councillor Denise Nicholls knows.

“I bought a three-bedroom house and I paid £1/15s a week,” she said. “It was still a struggle, even then.”

Back then Abersychan was what Denise, who originates from the Forest of Dean, calls ‘a hive of activity’.Halfacenturylater,tradeisquieter,andhouse prices, while somewhat higher, still represent good value for money. Unfortunately, in estate agent’s Janet Jones’ view, house hunters are not always fully appreciative of what the village has to offer.

“Some of the houses here are really, really nice,” she said. “People are asking realistic prices, but possibly house-hunters don’t realise what Abersychan has and it needs to be promoted outside the area a little bit more.”

ManyofthepropertiesinManorRoadhaveseentheir exteriors transformed by local building companyHedlyn.OwnerTedStephenssaidhisteam had enjoyed doing the grant work.

“It’s all been exterior work,” he said. “We’ve done roofs, rendering, new windows, garden paths and walls. Everyone has been very good and has been pleased with the work. It’s really brightened upManorRoadandtheuseofdifferentcolourschemes makes the houses look quaint.”

Enid Palser was one of those who took advantage of the Group Repair Scheme and her home has benefited from a new roof and front door.

“The front of the roof wasn’t too bad but the back had been done a good many years ago and the slates were going,” she explained. “The front door wanted doing and I have a nice smart UPVC door now. The roofers were excellent workers and it’s all been done lovely.”

DWMayBuildingContractorshasrenovatedmany of the properties in Snatchwood Road and others in Club Row.

“The five we finished at the end of last year are absolutely superb,” said founder Dennis May. “We’ve worked to conservation standards – it hasn’t made it harder. We pride ourselves on doing a good job, we always have,” he said. “We are particularly proud of the overall finish – it’s a delight for us as well as the community.

“We’ve created some storage places for wheelie bins on Snatchwood Road to keep them off the road,” said boss, Nigel Cook.

Look at our homes now

Carpenter Adrian Mansfield works on a property in Club Row

People are pleased to be having these grants – the overall response is everyone is chuffed to beans really.

DennisMay,localbuilder

8

Alan Morgan and his wife Myrna have had their home of 40 years renovated by D W MayundertheGroupRepair Scheme.

“I’m really pleased about the scheme,” he said. “We wouldn’t have been able to have the work done otherwise.”

MostoftheworkNancy Carter, 74, and her husband Malcolm,76,haddonewasonthebackoftheirHighStreet home.

“We’ve had the wall rendered, new windows and a new door,” she said. “We also had a nice, new wall built and had paving slabs put down in the front and back gardens. It’s a lot easier for us to keep the garden tidy now because we couldn’t cope with cutting the grass. We’re pleased with the work.”

Look at our homes now

Builder Nigel Cole talks to Snatchwood Road resident Alan Morgan

Nancy Carter is delighted with her new patio and garden walls

9

The old rendering on Vanessa Love’s Club Row home has been completely removed and a new weather-proof monocouche rendering has been applied. She’s also had a new roof and chimney, new windows and doors and new rain goods.

“I’m really pleased with the work,” she said. “We’ve been here six or seven years and the house really needed the work done but without the scheme we couldn’t have afforded to do it.”

Club Row is transformed

Several homes in Club Row have been renovated

10

NOW

THEN

Those who have stuck with Abersychan through thick and thin have plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future of the village.

Years of investment have seen many residential and commercial properties dramatically improved and the majority of parking and pedestrian problems have been resolved. The majority of dilapidated buildings have been demolished, renovated or are the subject of future development plans.

RegisteredsociallandlordMelinHomesisbuildingnewaffordablehomesintheareaandBronAfonCommunityHousingiscurrentlycarryingoutessentialmaintenance at Afon Court.

“Pride of place must go to the ‘Plaza’ at Abersychan School which promotes new ways of learning using modern technology,” said Councillor Ray Williams. “It came about when money was made available to the school at very short notice – there was one month to transform the old mining school into a state of the arc facility and it’s a tribute to the staff at the school and the council’s Building Tomorrow’s Torfaen team that we were able to make this happen.”

Looking ahead

As someone who was born here and has lived in

Abersychan most of my life it gives me great pleasure to see

a complete transformation has been made. We can now

be proud of our village. Ann Davies, local resident

Doug and Ann Davies are delighted with Abersychan’s transformation

New facilities for Pentwyn£350,000ofHeadsoftheValleyfundinghasbeensecured by the council to complete phase two of the new cricket club and wellbeing centre in Pentwyn.

Construction of the environmentally-friendly scheme is due to start soon and the new community sports facilities and health centre will include changing rooms, fitness room, IT meeting/training room, function room and small kitchen. An open veranda will allow people to watch cricket or simply enjoy the view.

Pentwyn Cricket Club Chair, Brian White, said: “These fantastic new facilities will attract people to the game of cricket and hopefully encourage them to embrace a healthier lifestyle too.”

11

Glansychan ParkAn organised clean-up of Glansychan Park in June proved so successful –16 volunteers turned up – that a second was held in September.

Localpeoplehavealsobeeninvolvedindrawingupplanstodevelop design ideas for a play area for children and young people in Glansychan Park – their work will supportaHeadsoftheValley funding bid.

“It’s a beautiful park, absolutely lovely, and our plan is to restore it to somewhere where people enjoy going with their families,” said Councillor Gwyneira Clark.

Looking ahead

Garnsychan Partnership‘putting your ideas into action’From a relatively small project to support community needs, the Garnsychan Partnership has grown dramatically over the past decade.

The vegetable box scheme, introduced five years ago, has been so successful that the old chapel building is being transformed into a new Growing for the Veg Box distribution and education centre, surrounded by large raised growing beds and with a fully fitted training kitchen.

Fit4Lifegivespeopleanopportunitytoattendarangeofhealthandfitness classes free for ten weeks. Classes range from art, pole fitness, belly dancing, gardening, legs, bums and tums, aerobics, street dance, walking and cycling. Classes are held in Varteg, Garndiffaith, Talywain, Victoria Village, Abersychan, Cwmavon and Pentwyn.

New HomesMelinHomesisinvestingheavilyinAbersychan,providingaffordablehomesofmixedtenureandhelpingto sustain local jobs and businesses.

Around £6.5m has already been spent on housing schemes in Abersychan -CwrtyrPorthMawr,BrynAmlwg(phase2)andBritishSchool Close, with another £8m earmarked for ongoing developments.

Four flats and ten houses are being built on former waste land at Albert Road. The redundant St Francis Church has also been demolished and 16 affordable homes will be ready for occupation next summer.

Derelict housing demolished by the council is now being replaced with nine new homes on the Bryn Amlwg site (Fairfield),whichareduetobereadyinMarch2010.

The former brickworks site at Pentwyn Road is also being redeveloped with 35 new homes available next summer.

Growing for the Veg Box has a new distribution centre

The improvements in Abersychan are the result of a decade of

commitment and hard work from the council’s Housing Renewals

Team; they provide visible evidence that Renewal Area

Status – and the grant funding it attracts – has a significant part to play in regenerating

communities, revitalising commercial enterprise and

improving people’s quality of life. NeilHowell,HeadofHousing

TorfaenSocialCareandHousingServices

New housing is transforming the built landscape in Abersychan

Affordable housing is being build on the former St Francis Church site

12