The Rhonnda

[Phil D. Rolls]

Watching Britain from the Air with Andrew Marr the other night I was stunned to see the South Wales Coal fields from above.

From what I could see is that, basically, 200,000 people live in a conurbation with one road in and one road out. They have nothing around them to sustain themselves economically, since the coal mines closed.

What is the future for such a place? It was created for one purpose - to get the black diamonds out of the ground. To me, there is something intrisically evil about the people who did not manage the transition between an industry that required such a large workforce, and the situation where that workforce wasn't needed any more.

Surely it could have been scaled down? IMO the owners and the Unions are equally culpable, but i don't know enough about the real story. Did the NUM approach the governments and ask for a gradual run down, which would have sustained a decreasing number of miners for a longer time.

Or, were they blinded by their own need for power within those communities, and beyond, and maintained an obstinate refusal to acknowledge that the coal wouldn't be there forever?

This is not a defence of the brutal way that Thatcher decided to deal with the problem in one fell swoop. All I am saying is, surely a planned withdrawal would have been more humane?

[New Corrie]

I would loved to have seen that, I was away doing my industrial heritage geek trail last week over in Fife. I was at the site of Comrie Colliery and the Rexco plant where all the scars are still there to see. There were nearly 3000 working there when it bit the dust in 1986, the effect on the surrounding villages was devastaing, Not going to go into all the rights and wrongs as all parties were culpable, it's just tragic that no common ground was found.

[Phil D. Rolls]

I would loved to have seen that, I was away doing my industrial heritage geek trail last week over in Fife. I was at the site of Comrie Colliery and the Rexco plant where all the scars are still there to see. There were nearly 3000 working there when it bit the dust in 1986, the effect on the surrounding villages was devastaing, Not going to go into all the rights and wrongs as all parties were culpable, it's just tragic that no common ground was found.

I have worked in High Valleyfield and Oakley, as well as Lochgelly and Ballingry. It seems to me that they are less isolated than the people in the Rhonnda. Dunfermline, Perth, Edinburgh and Falkirk are all easily accessed from them. TBH, I'm not too well up on Welsh geography, though.

I agree about the tragedy of a failure to find a solution, and it is evident in Fife - much more so than in the Lothians coal field from what I can see.

[Pretty Boy]

I would loved to have seen that, I was away doing my industrial heritage geek trail last week over in Fife. I was at the site of Comrie Colliery and the Rexco plant where all the scars are still there to see. There were nearly 3000 working there when it bit the dust in 1986, the effect on the surrounding villages was devastaing, Not going to go into all the rights and wrongs as all parties were culpable, it's just tragic that no common ground was found.

:agree:

The death of a lot of these towns and villages will have a knock on effect for years to come. The scars are visible on the landscape and surrounding areas as well as in the minds of a lot of the people.

It worries me how little industry we have left in this country. I understand that times have moved on and the 'golden age' of industry has long past(at least in Western Europe) but i'm off the opinion that a truly successful economy can't be built on call centres and retail.

[MSK]

I have worked in High Valleyfield and Oakley, as well as Lochgelly and Ballingry. It seems to me that they are less isolated than the people in the Rhonnda. Dunfermline, Perth, Edinburgh and Falkirk are all easily accessed from them. TBH, I'm not too well up on Welsh geography, though.

I agree about the tragedy of a failure to find a solution, and it is evident in Fife - much more so than in the Lothians coal field from what I can see.The Lothian coal fields ..Newtongrange, Bonnyrigg, Easthouses, Gorebridge, Rosewell. Dalkeith, Penicuik, Prestongrange, Ormiston added to Gilmerton, Danderhall & Newcraighall didnt suffer as much because they were in closer proximity to industrial Edinburgh..a few of those towns were built/designed around king coal but surprisingly still survived as nearby industries created employment..in East Lothian they had glassworks potteries fishing & salt pans ..in Craigmillar alone there were seven Breweries a maltings & a large dairy all employing local & surrounding labour..

[Phil D. Rolls]

The Lothian coal fields ..Newtongrange, Bonnyrigg, Easthouses, Gorebridge, Rosewell. Dalkeith, Penicuik, Prestongrange, Ormiston added to Gilmerton, Danderhall & Newcraighall didnt suffer as much because they were in closer proximity to industrial Edinburgh..a few of those towns were built/designed around king coal but surprisingly still survived as nearby industries created employment..in East Lothian they had glassworks potteries fishing & salt pans ..in Craigmillar alone there were seven Breweries a maltings & a large dairy all employing local & surrounding labour..

Yep, pretty much the way I see it.

The Rhondda though is a catastrophe on a massive scale.

[MSK]

Yep, pretty much the way I see it.

The Rhondda though is a catastrophe on a massive scale.Absolutley FR..no doubt about that ..:agree:

As much as i refer to the likes of Craigmillar having a wealth of employment opportunities it has to be noted that the area was in decline from the 60's onwards ..many of those said employers were at the point of downturn too with multi national companies (aye them) beginning to suck them up into mergers & in some cases close them down, thus leading to eventual hardship in once proud working communities...a legacy that has sadly left its footprint behind to this very day ..:agree: