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'Goodbye Merthyr' Say 4,000

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 December 2004, 06:00 CST

People are moving away from Merthyr Tydfil in search of jobs, a report has revealed.

The town has the fourth highest population decline in Britain and in the last 10 years its population has dropped seven per cent, which amounts to more than 4,000 people.

The research by Halifax - based on the Office of National Statistics (ONS) population data - shows the City of London has recorded the fastest population growth in 10 year period.

Chief economist for Halifax Martin Ellis said: 'I guess the population decreases are to do with the decline in industry for these areas.

'People are probably leaving to seek employment elsewhere. But if you look at Merthyr's changes they haven't been huge.

'I think its a question of where industries have been struggling people have been moving away.'

The closure of many mining pits in South Wales resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs.

Hoover, which, at one time, employed around 6,000 people, had also drastically cut back on manpower and is now down to 500 workers.

And Thorn's factory was also a major employer but closed around 12 years ago.

Outlining his vision for Merthyr in June 2003, council leader Harvey Jones said he wanted to urgently address the population decline.

'Education and training are the catalyst to all we are trying to achieve in arresting the population decline,' he added. 'WE WILL TURN MERTHYR AROUND': Despite the news that the population of Merthyr is falling, there is still optimism regarding the town's future.

Merthyr-born celebrity entertainer Owen Money is involved in the pounds 250m Merthyr Village proposals.

He said: "I moved away for better opportunities and many more have done the same.

"I think the Merthyr Village project could be the making of Merthyr.'

Huw Lewis, Merthyr and Rhymney AM, said: 'Merthyr Tydfil is a great place to live and work and I am confident that with the right investment and commitment by the council and its partners it can flourish again.'

Canon Steve Morgan, leader of the People Before Politics party in Merthyr Tydfil, said: "It's like changing the direction of an oil tanker which has to carry on in the same direction for a little while before it can turn. We genuinely believe Merthyr will become, in the not too distant future, a place where people will want to come for good jobs." Largest Declines 1993-2003: 1.Western Isles, Scotland -11 per cent (-3,200 people)

2.Inverclyde, Scotland -8 per cent (-6,800)

3.Dundee -7 per cent (-10,900)

4.Merthyr Tydfil -7 per cent (-4,100)

5.Kingston upon Hull -7 per cent (-17,100)

6.Glasgow -6 per cent (-39,600)

7.Liverpool -6 per cent (-29,000)

8.Easington, North East -6 per cent (-5,900)

9.Blackpool -6 per cent (-8,700)

10.Newcastle -6 per cent (-16,100)

Source: South Wales Echo

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