Anyone on here from Ebbw Vale?

[the other bob wilson]

Perhaps they can explain why it voted as it did

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...eave-ebbw-vale

[the other bob wilson]

Perhaps they can explain why it voted as it did

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...eave-ebbw-vale

Oops, sorry - I see this article has already been posted on here.

[Badly Ironed Shirt]

Perhaps they can explain why it voted as it did

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...eave-ebbw-vale

At the risk of being labelled a fantasist here by someone who is keeping notes on all of my circumstances - I live in Ebbw Vale.

Ebbw Vale lost it's steelworks a long while back. They have been replaced by an Enterprise Zone that, so far, hasn't been particularly enterprising.

The zone includes a state of the art college that all kids from Tredegar, Ebbw Vale and Abertillery (i think) have to go to once they're in the 6th form.

The area has high unemployment - it was hoping to build a new race track but seemingly fell foul of the EU State Aid law. At the recent assembly elections, Labour squeaked through after losing a chunk of support to UKIP, and a chunk of support to Plaid (I voted Plaid).

The Heads of the Vally road is being upgraded to a dual carriageway between Merthyr and Abergavenny - mostly funded by EU money.

You have the new Beaufort Woodlands and Sirhowy woodlands "parks" funded by EU money.

I can see people voting out because of the Circuit of Wales. I have heard people voted out because of immigration too - but Ebbw Vale has low immigration (no jobs here).

Ebbw Vale has been let down by a succession of Labour and Tory governments. I'm amazed they still vote Labour at all - but they do loyally.

I voted to remain because I can see the projects that are happening, and I blame the Labour assembly for the Circuit of Wales. Many of the projects I spoke of, people probably don't realise it was funded by the EU. Left to the UK, the steelworks site would be rubble still.

I think people voted anti establishment too - a stronger Labour leadership and commitment could have got out a Remain vote. The MP was a remainder but I didn't here of him campaigning at all.

[Wales-Bales]

I'm just guessing, but new buildings and roads don't mean much to people who want jobs and some kind of future?

[PontBlue]

The buildings aren't empty and the roads didn't magically appear.

[Wales-Bales]

The buildings aren't empty and the roads didn't magically appear.

Full buildings without jobs aren't going to help people raise families and have a bright future. Expensive restaurants are always full too, but it doesn't mean shit to the people who can't afford to eat in them.

It's not only the people in Ebbw Vale who feel like like this, it is 52% of the population. Something has gone very wrong for a lot of people, and shiny new things don't seem to be the solution for many.

[Barry Shitpeas]

Full buildings without jobs aren't going to help people raise families and have a bright future. Expensive restaurants are always full too, but it doesn't mean shit to the people who can't afford to eat in them.

It's not only the people in Ebbw Vale who feel like like this, it is 52% of the population. Something has gone very wrong for a lot of people, and shiny new things don't seem to be the solution for many.

Something has gone very wrong, six years of Tory austerity. If the people of Blaenau Gwent think that their problems are the result of being in the EU, they are in for an unpleasant surprise.

[Wales-Bales]

Something has gone very wrong, six years of Tory austerity. If the people of Blaenau Gwent think that their problems are the result of being in the EU, they are in for an unpleasant surprise.

In which case is was a protest vote against the government, but it still tells the same story about what they want.

[lardy]

Something has gone very wrong, six years of Tory austerity. If the people of Blaenau Gwent think that their problems are the result of being in the EU, they are in for an unpleasant surprise.

They made a protest vote. Never mind that it was to the wrong people and they will suffer. They made their unhappiness known and that's all that matters.

[az city]

Full buildings without jobs aren't going to help people raise families and have a bright future. Expensive restaurants are always full too, but it doesn't mean shit to the people who can't afford to eat in them.

It's not only the people in Ebbw Vale who feel like like this, it is 52% of the population. Something has gone very wrong for a lot of people, and shiny new things don't seem to be the solution for many.

I'm going to sound like Norman here which I am most definitely not but WTF do the people then want in terms of help then? Millions upon millions poured in for infrastructure. Do they have a huge sense of entitlement without showing any enterprise themselves? Get off yer arses and help yourselves. Rant over.

[PontBlue]

Full buildings without jobs aren't going to help people raise families and have a bright future. Expensive restaurants are always full too, but it doesn't mean shit to the people who can't afford to eat in them.

It's not only the people in Ebbw Vale who feel like like this, it is 52% of the population. Something has gone very wrong for a lot of people, and shiny new things don't seem to be the solution for many.

The companies in the buildings and the continuing A465 development have and are continuing to provide employment for a great many people, things would be worse without them. The Metro and M4 expansion, should they go ahead now they won't be eligible for EU grants, will also provide great opportunities. Perhaps those without jobs could use the new college facilities and/or EU funded training (while we still have it) to improve their job prospects. Sadly I suspect a proportion of the population would rather use baseless excuses than trying to better themselves and their employability.

[NYCBlue]

I'm just guessing, but new buildings and roads don't mean much to people who want jobs and some kind of future?

Who built the new buildings and roads? Slaves?

[Wales-Bales]

Who built the new buildings and roads? Slaves?

Brits? That Guardian article leaves out more than it says.

[Jimmy the Jock]

The way the article is written would suggest Ebbw Vale would have had zero improvement had it not been for the EU . We put more in to the EU coffers than we get out , Ebbw Vale could possibly be even better with UK money rather than EU dosh. No one knows if we will be better in or out . People can surmise, that's all they can do .

[lardy]

The way the article is written would suggest Ebbw Vale would have had zero improvement had it not been for the EU . We put more in to the EU coffers than we get out , Ebbw Vale could possibly be even better with UK money rather than EU dosh. No one knows if we will be better in or out . People can surmise, that's all they can do .

We will find out soon when we count up how much London sends there.

[Barry Shitpeas]

I don't believe it was a protest vote, I think that many people in the South Wales valleys have simply fallen hook, line and sinker for Farages bullshit that immigration is the root cause of it and the UKs problems.

[NYCBlue]

I don't believe it was a protest vote, I think that many people in the South Wales valleys have simply fallen hook, line and sinker for Farages bullshit that immigration is the root cause of it and the UKs problems.

This. Just as many are falling for Trump's similar rhetoric.

The people who voted leave have been played by Farage and Boris.

[Wales-Bales]

This. Just as many are falling for Trump's similar rhetoric.

The people who voted leave have been played by Farage and Boris.

Farage is now out of vote leave and Boris looks like he doesn't want to be in it any more.

[Jimmy the Jock]

We will find out soon when we count up how much London sends there.

Does it need further investment ?

[lardy]

Does it need further investment ?

40% unemployment, sounds like it's already prospering.

[Badly Ironed Shirt]

Does it need further investment ?

Ebbw Vale? Yes. Tredegar? Definitely. Merthyr Tydfil - less so. Abertillery? Brynmawr? These places need jobs and have had very little investment from the UK governments since the early 70s.

[Jimmy the Jock]

40% unemployment, sounds like it's already prospering.

Perhaps some investment in jobs would have been better ?

[lardy]

Perhaps some investment in jobs would have been better ?

Don't think anyone in ebbw vale was stopping Westminster doing that. They could have put some new buildings and roads in to encourage companies to set up there.

[blue sky]

That Guardian article is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. EU convergence funding was £7 million of the £30 million cost of the new college, and coincidentally also £7million of the £32 million cost of the railway


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebbw_Valley_Railway
http://gov.wales/funding/eu-funds/previous/?lang=en
http://www.bdp.com/en/projects/f-l/t...bw-vale-wales/

Don't forget that EU policies on steel and tariffs helped lead to the demise of the steelworks in the first place.

[Jimmy the Jock]

That Guardian article is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. EU convergence funding was £7 million of the £30 million cost of the new college, and coincidentally also £7million of the £32 million cost of the railway


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebbw_Valley_Railway
http://gov.wales/funding/eu-funds/previous/?lang=en
http://www.bdp.com/en/projects/f-l/t...bw-vale-wales/

Don't forget that EU policies on steel and tariffs helped lead to the demise of the steelworks in the first place.

Please don't let facts get in the way of propaganda . Without the EU we are all going to die , unfortunately , for the people of Ebbw Vale they will go first .