To think wales is a huge problem that no one ever talks about?

[Cocklodger]

Right now Theresa May is cracking down on no win no fee solicitors
Mainly south Wales, in particular the valleys.
Back years ago when the mines were shut down rightfully there was nothing left to replace it. Nothing at all, it killed thousands of jobs, which was to be expected, but in exchange there was no new businesses, no back ups, nothing. And it's only gotten worse since, poverty is high, benefit claimants are quite common
Public transport is awful to say the least and if you can't commute to Cardiff by some means, you're screwed, most can't afford cars and if you're in a public transport black spot then you're severely limited to warehouse operative positions which have over 100 applicants in one to three days. Meanwhile house prices in Cardiff are rising, I think in 40 years we will have a new London.
In the valleys most looks grey, worn out and pretty dead to be honest. Where I live there are a few car dealerships and a train station, which is more like a bus stop with tracks next to it than an actual station and the nearest station with people actually manning the booths is pontypridd (45mins away by train) I spent years working as a volunteer for an agency that helps people with problems (poverty related) such as MH issues, finding work, food bank referrals and the like. I saw it every single day, people wanting to work but seldom getting anywhere.
There are articles and documentaries about it, but I never see them talked bout on here or elsewhere really, aibu to think that Wales is a big problem that no one really talks about?

[Cocklodger]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-33080593

[Cocklodger]

www.poverty.ac.uk/report-wales-child-poverty/wales-has-worst-child-poverty-uk
Just linking some articles here so you can read for yourselves

[TheRollingCrone]

I think you're right Cock. Like a lot of Northern and coastal towns all around the UK.
I think the Brexit votes in these areas were about the disconnect and lack of hope as much as anything else.

[Rollercoaster1920]

Yes, but TBF same for many other rural areas. Others rely on tourist trade but everyone is on the dole over the winter.

[Batteriesallgone]

'Wales is a big problem' is quite a sweeping statement OP. What do you propose should be done?

[Cocklodger]

Rollercoaster I agree it may not just be Wales. Here's a list of 10 of the Welsh towns in the most poverty, 7 of which are in south Wales, 6 of which are in the Rhondda (apart from Caerphilly which is v close to)
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/top-10-most-deprived-areas-8177125

[Cocklodger]

I've no idea, that's why I'm discussing it with MN
Today the London property market is being discussed like every other day
I've been meaning to post this for a while so thought I would.

[acasualobserver]

When the EU subsidies dry up the situation will become even worse. Interestingly, Wales voted for Brexit.

[ImperialBlether]

I don't understand what that's to do with no-win, no-fee solicitors. Can you explain?

[TheRollingCrone]

Oh the report on child poverty is very sad reading . I do think we're stockpiling massive trouble if huge policy changes aren't made.

I voted to stay in Europe, but now I'm just looking for the positives and hoping perhaps for massive International investment and a Government determined to target black spots idealistic eejit

It worries me so that we seem to be going backwards

[Cocklodger]

Imperial- Imo there are far bigger problems out there.
I'm sure we could all name 5 different ones each to be honest.

[ChocolateButton15]

This doesn't sound any different to what you would find in certain areas in England! Bit of an extreme statement that Wales is a huge problem. Unemployment and high housing costs are a problem everywhere which is why you probably don't hear about Wales specifically.

[PausingFlatly]

Yes, I've been concerned for a while. I know of some high tech companies which have located there and one seems to have done an excellent job in training up and valuing staff, which is a virtuous circle in terms of winning further contracts.

But it's a drop in the ocean compared to the heavy industry jobs which were lost.

Also agree it's not just Wales which has this problem. The UK has shed the vast bulk of its industrial jobs, and followed it by offshoring a huge tranche of banking and service type jobs.

We need a serious conversation about what we intend to live on as a country, and how this can be made to serve the whole population not just a few people in overheated hot spots.

[Cocklodger]

Well looking at the research I'd say Wales is pretty high up in the stakes of poverty, I've heard the north talked about a lot, I've heard London talked about a lot (same with SE) Scotland never gets a look in unless they're having a referendum again and I can count on one hand the amount of times I've heard/seen poverty in Wales mentioned in the last couple of years on tv, the news etc

[aquawoman]

Education in Wales is for shit too. Same as the north east, just generations of poverty and poverty of aspiration.

Regeneration is needed, but when you're half way up a mountain and the countryside isn't even that nice, you need something really big for people to want to go there

[Batteriesallgone]

So she shouldn't be cracking down on no-win no-fee because Wales?

Isn't that a bit of a crappy argument? We are all aware there are multiple problems in the world. I'm sure Theresa May is capable of holding more than one issue in her head!

(I thought the link would be Welsh people abusing no win no fee - like how the adverts say not in N.I because fraud is a big issue there)

[TaterTots]

This is one of the many reasons I wanted to strangle anyone who described Thatcher as a 'great leader' when she did the world a favour and pegged it.

[Cocklodger]

Yeah that is a bit of a shoddy argument I agree probably best unmentioned. Not just about Wales though, I mean that there are many other more important issues to focus on and other than the "so when are we leaving the EU" can't really see owt else in the news about her

[HmmHaa]

You are entirely right. The UK is very London-centric, as we know, and the lack of investment or acknowledgement of wasted workforce and potential in several significant areas is staggering.
Brexit was a farce, but I was just bewildered as to why so many people were shocked that it was the working class or the poorer areas in some cases (using sweeping terms there, but hope you understand what I mean) who had voted leave.

Sections of the U.K. are disillusioned and have had enough. The poverty and lack of opportunity is concentrated in the same areas where there has been a lack of investment and therefore a suggestion that the inhabitants there in some way matter less or have less to offer. Young people who feel they are not worth investing in are getting the message from everything - the house they live in, the school the go to, the health care they are receiving, the jobs that exist for them. And then they get blamed for being scroungers and chavs and every other hideous, blame shifting name in adulthood because they could have done differently, surely? No wonder the MH issues are so apparent.

YANBU. It disgusts me.

[harderandharder2breathe]

I live near Cardiff, I work in the city centre with people who travel in from the valleys by train everyday although many drive to the station. Cardiff is a lovely city. But it's never going become London. There are big companies here but they generally still have HQ in London. We don't have anything close to the transport links.

None of the problems are unique to Wales. Many places outside SE England have the same problems

[Ninjapie]

Only 2 of the areas are in the Rhondda though.

[Cocklodger]

Tatertots- hear hear.

[TheRollingCrone]

It's like the data about poor kids from poor areas of London excelling and exceeding at school. They see aspiration all around them. The trappings of success in many spheres, music, culture,academia.

Kids in the Valleys or a poor coastal/rural area just arn't exposed in the same way. What to do? I don't know I'm not clever enough, but something has to change. We can't just let a generation fail, it's against the National interest for one thing. I just don't think there's the political will to tackle these complex problems.

[fatowl]

If you think public transport is bad in South Wales try living in rural Gwynedd. Shocking.

I grew up on Anglesey, left and now live overseas, plan to retire there but cannot contemplate moving back before we're at least semi retired and the DC have left school.