<\/p>\n
Walesonline writes:<\/p>\n
The fact that according to Neath Port Talbot Council the town centre’s vacancy rate is below the Welsh average tells a story about the wider picture in Wales.<\/p>\n
Numbers suggest this is a typical town. This is what a typical Welsh town now looks like.<\/p>\n
Wander around the town centre and it is impossible not to notice the amount of empty shops.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of the year there were\u00a026 vacant units in the town\u00a0– including Next,\u00a0which left a big gap in New Street when it closed\u00a0last November.<\/p>\n
The once dominating Post Office in Windsor Road is also gone.<\/p>\n
In just a few months the image of the town seems to have deteriorated even further. More places have shut or are covered in scaffolding.<\/p>\n
Boarded up and covered with big ‘Keep out’ signs, the Canterbury Arms…. sits empty in a prominent position in the town centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is rotten here,” a resident standing outside says.<\/p>\n
\u201cYears ago,\u00a0Neath\u00a0was lovely – now it is like a ghost town.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots less shops.\u201d<\/p>\n
The resident said she was ashamed of her hometown, the 63-year-old adding: \u201cI have lived in\u00a0Neath\u00a0all my life and it isn\u2019t a good advertisement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to try to get more traders in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t recommend it…..\u201d<\/p>\n
Apart from empty shops, the town faces other challenges, anti-social behaviour and begging.<\/p>\n
In September last year, South Wales Police revealed it had issued\u00a086 notices temporarily banning people\u00a0from the town.<\/p>\n
Lasting up to 48 hours, the notices ban an individual from a specified area and are issued for reasons such as intoxication to substance misuse, anti-social behaviour or begging.<\/p>\n
Neath Port Talbot Council is also trying to get to grips with the issues facing the town and, after\u00a0the number of homeless people in Neath Port Talbot almost tripled over the past year\u00a0– due to a combination of factors – set up\u00a0a new scheme asking people to donate to homeless charities\u00a0via collection boxes.<\/p>\n
However, WalesOnline has revealed that the diverted giving scheme\u00a0raised less than it cost to set up.<\/p>\n
This happened as\u00a0drugs were being highlighted as a significant problem\u00a0across the borough, which has one of\u00a0Britain’s highest heroin death rates…..<\/p>\n
Alison Davies, from Briton Ferry, is a resident ….<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots less people coming into town now and going to Swansea or Cardiff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot get any menswear or shoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI work in\u00a0Neath\u00a0but I would rather not come here.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt used to be a nice place, with lots of different shops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more….<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Neath is a market town like many others in Wales. Standard in its layout, a town centre with everything within walking distance. Historically bustling. But like its similarities, its problems also mirror those seen in towns across Wales, blighted by … Continue reading