Sandfields (Welsh: Traethmelyn) is a mainly residential district of Port Talbot, Wales. The area is located in South Wales on a narrow coastal plain between Mynydd Dinas and the sea. The M4 motorway, A48 trunk road and South Wales Main Line run nearby. The area includes a council estate, industrial areas and a seaside resort at Aberavon Beach.

Background

The Sandfields estate, consisting mainly of semi-detached houses, was built between 1947 and 1955 to initially house workers for Port Talbot steelworks.[1] In 2017, 1,800 of the 3,000 homes were owned by a social housing provider.[1]

Government

The area encompasses the electoral wards of Sandfields West and Sandfields East, part of the Neath Port Talbot unitary authority.

Prior to 1974 Sandfields was a ward to Glamorgan County Council, represented by a Labour Party councillor.[2]

Social conditions

The two electoral wards covering Sandfields were ranked in top 50 most deprived wards in Wales in the 2000 Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.[3] In the 2005 index, Sandfields West was one of the 10% most deprived wards in Wales.[4] It is the most densely populated ward in Neath Port Talbot.[1]

Afan Lido

The Afan Lido leisure centre was opened by the Queen in 1965.[5] The facility formerly included a 50m competition swimming pool, which was later converted into a 25m leisure pool called the "Aquadome" with water slides when the complex was re-fitted during the mid-1990s. The Lido also has a spa, gym, and concert hall where famous bands have played, including in recent years McFly, All Saints, Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers and Lostprophets.

The Lido was the site of a major fire on 16 December 2009 which broke out in the Aquadome part of the complex.[6] Residents in surrounding streets were evacuated due to fears of the safety of chemicals in the fire that broke through the centre's roof.[6] The centre has since been closed and demolished.

Education

Sandfields Comprehensive School was the first purpose-built comprehensive school in Wales when it opened in 1958. In 2000, it was recognised by the Welsh Secondary Schools Association (WSSA) as the most improved school in Wales.[7] The school has produced a number of sportsmen and women who have represented Wales at international level, including rugby players Allan Martin[8] and Les Keen (ex-Aberavon RFC); footballers Brian Flynn[8] and Laura May Walkely of Arsenal Ladies Football Team. The school closed in 2016 due to it being replaced by Ysgol Bae Baglan and was demolished in 2017.[9][10]

Ysgol Bae Baglan an all-through school in Neath Port Talbot and opened in 2016 following the closure of Sandfields Comprehensive school, Glan Afan Comprehensive School and Cwrt Sart Comprehensive School in 2016.[9][10]

Several primary schools are located within the Sandfields Estate including Tywyn and Awel Y Mor.

Community Archives Wales

The Port Talbot Historical Society and Community Archives Wales meet at Sandfields' Library.

Nearest Places

References

  1. 1 2 3 "What it's really like to live on the Welsh council estate with its own beach". South Wales Echo. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Big shocks for Labour in Glamorgan elections - How They Voted". South Wales Echo. 14 April 1967. p. 11.
  3. ↑ "Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 for Communities First Wards in Neath Port Talbot" (PDF). Neath Port Talbot Borough Council.
  4. ↑ "Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005" (PDF). Welsh Assembly Government. 2005.
  5. ↑ "TIME LINE 20TH C". Port Talbot Historical Society.
  6. 1 2 "Fire breaks out at Afan Lido poolside in Port Talbot". BBC News. BBC. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  7. ↑ "Sandfields Comprehensive School report, 17 – 20 January 2005" (PDF). Estyn. 21 March 2005.
  8. 1 2 "50 year celebrations for Sandfields Comprehensive School". Neath Port Talbot Borough Council.
  9. 1 2 "£40m 'super school' plan backed". BBC News. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  10. 1 2 "£40m new 'superschool' set to open". BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2018.

51°35′37.00″N 3°48′11.00″W / 51.5936111°N 3.8030556°W / 51.5936111; -3.8030556

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