your comments
Rhys from Rhyl
I love aberdare i think it is a lively town with good people. I used to pass through mountain ash to visit the dog kennells you know just a bit further along from the electronics factory.
carys lewis from swansea
i love aberdare its awesome! really groovy place to go for a day out. swansea rocks aswell though doesn't it! woooooh! hehe. x x x
raymond Fernhill
Aberdare makes for a great family day out, u av the choice of shopping in the town centre or relaxing on a hot day in the beautiful surroundings of aberdare park, a place enjoyed thouroughly from start to finish
Lisa (originally from Newport)
I have lived in Aberdare for nearly two years now. I love living here. Aberdare is a lovely town and the people are really nice.
laura nd danna ov hirwaun
aberdare is borin there is nuthin 2 do but hirwaun is brill, we ave a youth club for us youngest's da weekend is da best in aberdare we need more shops for us youngest's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chris rees
ilove aberdare because of bleangwawr school all the teachers are awesome especially mr merriman he has a wicked mustache its great. he is always lovely to me. he is like a father to me. p.s a shout out to my best friend and stick pal ben jones xxx
GEORGE ABERDARE
i think simon from glasgow should consider himself lucky he doesn't live in aberdare. if he did with his attitude he would have a sound beating. having visited glasgow and surrounding paisley i think he has a downright cheek to speak of aberdare as he does!!!!!!!
kate lloyd cwmaman gal
its brill
beca - aberdare
the gig scene is amazing! long live the mount plez and the kings head!
Cwmbach
i have lived in Cwmbach for all of my life, Aberdare as a whole is friendly, the weeknights can be a bit boring for teenagers, but the weekends are great with gigs, where it is easy to meet new friends. Aberdare town just needs some more varieties of shops! thats all, and a skate park to watch your friends and prevent teenagers from getting bored.
caroline barton in cwmaman
i was born and brought up in the english midlands, of irish/welsh parentage, lived in london for nearly 10 years, moved back to brum when i got married and now have 2 daughters.
we moved to cwmaman 3 yrs ago and we love it here!
the surrounding landscape is magnificent, and the people are wonderful....down to earth and friendly....even though we are 'foreign-devils' from over the border we have been accepted for who we are as people right from the start.
aberdare has it's share of the problems and stresses of modern life...the same as anywhere....but the plusses far outweigh any of the negative. the people here are the best as far as i'm concerned. i wouldn't choose to live anywhere else....
everyday, i look out of my kitchen window at the mountains which surround us and feel privileged and lucky.
llewellyn beynon
i like Aberdare because it is gret fun
Alex Rosser from Aberdare
Aberdare is one of the best places to have fun because there are loads of activities and because I got to go on the BBC Wales bus and present the news it was fun
SOPHIE PRICE
i think aberdare is not very good because of litter and theres not enuf yoth clubs and thinks for children to do. I think someone should do somethink about that because kids get bord and the thing i like is the shops and thats it.
Ashley townsend
aberdare is very warm there is loads of stuf to do
CALLUM BODMAN
i like aberdare because there is nice girls
Zoe Mccann Aberdare
I like Aberdare because of all the green and every ones so nice
jonathan loring
aDAREDARE IS SO CCCCCCOOOOOOOLLLLLL
james turner
aberdare is a nice place to live and i has a range of sports like football,rugby ,criket,swimming,tenis,athleics and snooker hall.
christopher stonelake
I like living in Aberdare because there is lots of differant thins to do like football, rugby, bowling, cricket, swimming, tennis, athletics and so on. there is also many restrants, take away, fast food.
Jodi Hipkiss
Aberdare is a lovely place.There are lot of shopping centres to go and buy things.It is a good place to go with your friends.there are lots of things to do like youth clubs,swimming pools,sport centres and other things. Hope you come and visit.
tamar pugh fernhill
i think the best part of aberdare is the market that has to be the best there are lots of second hand stuff but i dont buy stuff like that but on the other hand i like micheal sobel centre because i useed to go there alot because my father used to play foot ball there and i we used to go to the park and have a picnic we had a lot of fun there thats all i can say about aberdare really
vicky sanderson and justine sysum
aberdare is good for clothes shopping and chilling out in the park its good and cool to hang out with mates together
Morgan
I like living in Aberdare because there is a park , shopping center's and many more things. There is a sports center so you can go in the gyms and you can do many more things you can go in. You can buy things because there is a vending machine and a drink machine.
kristie from cwmaman
I think aberdare is a great place to live with all the things going on like the sport centre and all the shops.we got great school like Blaenqwawr thebest school you can ever go to lv ya all x !!!
lauren from trecynon
the best place in aberdare has to be the town it's self because there's loads of shops to buy cloths and loads more
Lewis Mullock Aberdare
Aberdare is a good place - I love the kebab shop`s
Matthew Hitchings, Aberdare
Aberdare is the best ever town in wales so no bad coments about it.
Joshua George
I think Aberdare is a lovely place good sorroundings and entertainment good shops and not bad for kids with BBC Wales Cymru.
Christopher
Ilike the amount of shops in Abadare.
I also like the way people have helped
develope the area and the wildlife.
I do not like the way some people use the area because people are breaking into
buildings and destroying the atmosphire
Rachael
I like Aberdare the way it is but we need
some more chainges around like more activites for us in aberdare we need a hokey team here so we can join in
and a netball team for us as well
the shops are good aswel
victoria ellis from abercwmboi
i think aberdare is great i love the swimming pool, park, and it is full of bargains I LOVE ABERDARE
naiome merriman
well what i like about Aberdare is that there are lots of shops 2 go 2 and things 2 do
melissa waddingham from cwmbach
i love aberdare its awesome they got a sport centre and i go there all the time the open swimming pool, i like the park and there is great bargains there and i love the swimming pool indoors and i love shopping there i hope it will stay there forever
kayleigh love Aberdare
i like it in aberdare becuase of the shops but i think it could be improved aswell by the amount of litter that is there and the amout of dog poo is found.
Tasha Griffiths From Cwmaman
I Think aberdare is a good place to go shopping you can buy all new clothes and shoes.Aberdare is a nice place to live in it has nice parks and lods of feilds to play football in or even rugby.Aberdare is a clean tidy and a very pleasent place to live in i am glad i live here.We got a good leisure centre were we can go Swimming and lods of other things i am gload that the bbc has come to our school so we can learn other things THANKS FOR COMING
corey from mountain ash
Aberdare is a nice place to have fun and they got good shops to have a look in it is a good place to go out for the day
christina griffiths cwnaman
I think abrdare is a nice place to live because you can go shopping and go swimming . and there is a sports center there to do all sports
geraint from aberdare
the best thing about aberdare is we have a good town centre because we can go shopping,go swimming and have a good time in aberdare town centre.
Caitlyn Smith, Aberdare
Aberdare park is cool and the town centre is good 4 shoppin.
Jodie Cable
My fav part of Aberdare is that there is s of shops to by shoes and clothes.but it's a good place to go and hang around with friends.
jarrad bailey, cwmaman
aberdare is a good place to live and grow up. I like it because of its beautiful scenery.
Stacey Harding and Miss Rosie Barton from Aberdare
We think that Aberdare is a good place to live because: there are shops(good ones, We have lots of things to do (swimming,sports...), it has old land marks, We also like that it is easy to get to the shops and facilities by bus, bikes or walking, and we also like that the contry park is so close and is a nice place to go on your bikes. But we think that litter should cut down (USE THE BINS!!!
Ryan Lambert, Aberaman
Aberdare is a a place that that people can hang around and go swimming, play footie and rugby up the Ynys. ther is also lots of shops to go shopping in. But Aberdare also has lots of parks to play in.
Thomas Holloway from Cwmaman
I think that it is quite quiet,and peacful
and the people are very friendly.But it could use a bit of cleaning up with the litter.
Samantha Byers from Aberdare
Aberdare is a lovely place to live but there are somethings that could be changed
Luke Evans and Roxanne Benn !
We love Aberdare because of all the helpfull people and all of the facillaty's we also hate ABerdare because of all the dog mess and the weather ! cant people control the stupid pooping dogs !
Lauren and Mulenga from aberaman
we like living in Aberdare but it could be more fun if the town centre was developed.
shannon jackson
i think aberdare is a great place to live!it is full of lovely people and beautiful surroundings!!
taylor jones
i think aberdare is a great place to live because it is surrounded in mountains and it has loads of fun stuff do here.
i think we should have more stuff to do here and up in the aberdare centre we should have loads of better shops to go shopping because the ones we have her ain't very good. hope you could do all these things for us to do ! don't forget these things for us to do. hope to see you soon love ya Blaengwawr !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tamara Rogers from Aberdare
Aberdare is a nice place it has beatyful land scapes but there is some litter dotted around.
Alysha Kaler from aberdare
The best place in aberdare would have to be aberdare parks,clothes shops,Greggs,argos.
Roseanne kirkham cwmaman
I like aberdare because of all the shops,but it would be nice to have more variety of shops and bigger health centers and more activities around aberdare. Also bigger swimming pools.
James Stallwood from Cwmaman
Cwmaman, Aberaman and Aberdare are beautiful places to grow up and live. I like it here, its quite quiet and very peaceful.
Luke Owens from Aberdare
I like Aberdare but there is no skate parks. I would like a skate park around hear that would make my day.
Doris
I moved back to Aberdar just over a year ago, but although I love the place I am moving back over the boarder sometime soon, there is no work here, also I don't see that`community spirit` that was here when I was a child, I go days without speaking to a soul except the shop assistants.
The dog fouling is another matter,I would't go out in the dark as you never know what you are stepping in
christian israel ,abernant
aberdare is quiet and i move any where else it is full of nice people the town is full of new things for kids but there to much drugs and drinking but beside that it's not bad.
Danni
Could Be better but it could be a lot worse
Tom Veal from Cwmbach,aberdare
Aberdare is a legend i go to st johns comp that bloke that makes high hopes and satelitte city he stars in high hopes as officer claude he is coming to our school someday this month overall Aberdare rulz!!!!!!!!!
christopher john pek, aberdare
i lived ere since i was born. I fell in love with these 2 girls called Amy Perry and Chloe Barnett. my old man JEFF is a nutter he was originated in Zambia hes a nutter overall aberdare is great
stephanie from aberdare
i think aberdare is boring because there is nothing to do.
Felix
Well lets be honest here, aberdare is ok. not. aberdare is a complete dump compared to other places. i just lik to hang out up the park but sometimes i cant do that. theres nothin to do no decent shops they need something for everyone too enjoy.
Carole from Foundrytown
It's obtuse to say that young people are turning to drugs because there are no activities in Aberdare for them to become involved in. When I was a teeneager (I'm in my thirties) there was even less to do in Aberdare than there is today and my peer group didn't turn to drugs. The worst we ever did was drink Merrydown at the weekends and go swimming in the top lake in the country park (possibly even more dangerous than taking drugs ;~>) It's easy for people to disparage the police force but they have a hell of a difficult job to do with limited resources. The bottom line is Aberdare needs more money invested in Crime Prevention and Education, sort these two out and the rest will virtually take care of themselves.
kat(now in a house)rhondda
i went to michael sobells with my school earlia for bbc and i really enjoyed it. i got called chopst once or twice but it was a really good morning, it was great seeing how thingsd behind the scenes work.thanx bbc!
Mrs Lloyd Aberdare
Does anyone actually use the message board?
I seem to be the only one with a comment to post....come on guys, you must have something to say...................................................................
Nadine Davies from Mountain Ash
I think Aberdare needs to look into getting more parking places for shoppers every time i come to Aberdare i can never park my car, its a nightmare!!!
annamarie davies xXMWAHXx
Aberdare is a lovley place to go to do your shopping the views are nice and coulorful and there is always nice and clean.
stuart from fernhill know as (george best)
we like going to the youth club because it is a cool place. the youth club is called fernhill youth project
Rhiannon Fernhill
Aberdare is a bright, colourful environment. Also Aberdare is the main town as there are lots of shops and takeaways. Also Aberdare is the main place for the big gangs!!! XrhiannonX
ceri ov fernhill
The town centre is the main place to meet the aberdare possey ha ha ha haaaa
Bob
Hi, pie is really tasty and the bbc van is kinda small
Jodi Ross
I think Aberdare is loosing it's appeal. There is no real fun things to do and no activities to do for any one to do. There are hardly any shops, everything in the shops have been seen about 1million times.
shelley shapcott
it is a beautiful place and the people are very friendlyi am proud to live there
Rachel Williams from Cwmbach
i think that Aberdare is amazing
Kara Burgess from Aberdare
I thimk Aberdare is great fun
woody from aberaman
teenagers living around aberdare hav nothin to do execpt hang round in gangs and do sport. ABERCWMBOI FC!!!!
Gareth 'Gazza' Janaway From Aberdare
Aberdare has very good sporting facilities. Weekends are spoilt by teens wjo can't handle drink they vandilising my home town overall hard place to live easy place to die.
David from Robertstown
the people are very generous and kind. there is also a very good atmosphere in the town centre. general good place
Gemma Morgan Aberaman
I have lived in Aberaman near Aberdare since I was born.It's a small friendly community however there aren't many activities for youngsters. This is when teenagers then turn to street crime and street drinking.This causes bother within the community,both for the police and the residents.The community needs something for the youths. Children are the future. Apart from the gangs on weekend nights, Aberdare is the ideal location. xx
liam jeins from aberaman
A good atmosphere around Aberdare, good food (turkish delight).
Heather Lewis from Mountain Ash
Hi i go to school in aberdare which is really boring and so is aberdare
Nathan Morris, Porth
Luckily I have only got to go to Aberdare in the weekdays as I am studying there. My time in Aberdare is usually a good one, as most of my friends live here!
Rhi from bus in aberdare!
I do not live in Aberdare but i go to school in aberdare with me friends. I live in the rhondda and travel over to aberdare every day for school. The yellow bus is fun!!
Damian Wojciechowski from Cwmdare
In Aberdare should be open Quad biking club
kat in a bus
i go school in aberdare and my friends do, i live in rhondda tho, i like coming aberdare on fridays 2 good old kingshead.i went o n friday, nathan was drunk. i love aberdare like init.
Ruth Evans from Aberdare
Aberdare is very quiet at sometimes, but can be very disturbing with the youngester vandalisium
Sam Jenkins
I lived in the rhondda before and i prefer it to aberdare because there was more to do!!
Joe, Hirwaun
I've lived in the Cynon Valley for 15 years and I think it is a great place where all my friends are but its a bit rough
kat dickenson
i go school in aberdare.and my friends do.it is fun. i'm in a bus now
Cara Every Aberdare
I like living in Aberdare because it's laid back but it would be a better place to live if there was more night life and shops like River Island!!
Charlotte Evans Aberdare
Aberdare is a great town, night life is brilliant, we need more facilities for young people during the days. WE need more talent! We do need a bowlplex and cinema!
Lucy from Aberdare
I think that Aberdare is a very friendly environment for all people growing up, however I feel that it would benefit greatly if the facilities for younger people were to be improved.
Kelly Hughes (mountain ash)
In the days it can be a bit quiet and then it builds up in the night. During the night it can be rough but it becomes more lively. Good shops could bring in more bigger shop such as river island
Joseph Davies from Pontypridd
Aberdare is a nice town with many shops and entertainment oppertunities such as the leisure center
Daniel Lowry Aberdare
Im Originally from England but moved to Aberdare about 2 years ago. Aberdare is a Fun place to live with lots of fun activities. You will meet lots of friendly people who will be happy to help anyone.
Thanks xx xx
Jonny mountain ash
I dont live in aberdare but i enjoy goin there, its a place to meet new kind of people and have lots of fun.
kyi
aberdare is a quite place with not much to do but on the weekend the bands rock and the atmosfear is awsome and everyone is really nice (sometimes)
i really want a skatepark in aderdare or and ice rink something like that.
and more places for bands to practice.
jonathan hodges from aberdare
its a quiet place theres no thing here for young children, they need something like skate parks to get kids off the streets
Frankie from Aberdare
Aberdare is a lovely place to live and has lovely people living here. there might not be much to do here but its home :)
Dale Bowen Rhigos
Aberdare is a place which is losing its appeal to the younger community as there is not much to do in the area there should be more things like place to go in the evenings
christian from aberdare
aberdare is the best you can do alot you can play rugby for aberdare rfc
Benjamin Duckham
Aberdare is a great place, it has lots facilities for youths, like the ynys, football and rugby pitches and a rugby team. It appels to the younger genaration of Aberdare.
Ryan Coulton Aberdare
Aberdare has many activities going on that you can take part in and enjoy
Lee Evans, Penywaun
Aberdare is a great place for doing things on the weekend. It can also be boring because there are hardly any facilities.
Daniel Riddiford Cwmaman
Aberdare is a good place on the weekend. there are many things to do like play a sport like football and rugby. But in the week there is nothing to do but go to boring school. I would like to see more facilities for kids to do stuff when they are bored.
christian vardon
i think aberdare is not very good the town is very small so i think we need more things
daniel stuart hirwaun
to have a bigger town more stuff to do and a bigger pool the people in abadare a friendly
Rhys Stone, Penywaun
Aberdare is a very boring place theres not much to do.I would like people to build a new skatepark or something amusing like that.
Adam from aberdare
life in aberdare is pretty bad, there is nothing to do
adam marshall
The best thing about aberdare is the sport activities are good but Aberdare is mostly a dump as a lot of the place is full of empty lager cans but there is a lot of nice women
Roberta Pentrych
I have lived in Aberdare for 7 years and it is a nice place.
natasha from cardiff
Aberdare is groovy!ive lived here for 3 years and i really like it here!
Bronwyn from Penywaun (Aberdare)
I hate people giving Penywaun a bad name. I think it's beautiful and homely place to live. I love it.
stacey from aberdare
it's very cold but i like it anyway
Jenny from Aberdare
Aberdare is a beautiful town to live in and is quite a peaceful place in some areas. There are some beautiful scenery of fields and mountains. There are also quite a lot of facilities available for us teenagers.
louise anna fairbank from aberdare
aberdare needs more things to do for kids. the town needs a good paint and better shops. the swimming pool is good but good be improved by lots more slides.
Heather from Aberdare
It's a good place to practice my skateboarding but we need a good skate park!
charlotte and lauren from aberdare
not many things to do, no choice of clothes in shops.no things for children or even teenagers
Anna Pugh from aberdare
aberdare is a good place but its not much here for kids
ruth havard from aberdare
needs good shops
Emma Davi es Aberdare
You can go for a walk an relax..
katie from aberdare
Aberdare is sometimes good but need more work done to it.
Damian Wojciechowsi from Cwmdare
in aberdare area sholud be open more sports clubs
David Emm from Aberaman
Aberdare is great. It has many sporting activities, like snooker halls. Although it is not as safe as it was in the nights
Daniel Williams from Hirwaun
Aberdare is a great place. It has many sporting activities going on at once, for all different kinds of people.
its a great place with great people.
Elliott Gray from Llwydcoed
aberdare is a nice and quiet place to live
the only problem is the streets are messy and the are not enough shops in the town centre
Nathan Finch from Penywaun
Aberdare is a great place to live and i like living there.
Mitchell from Aberdare
A great town, needs some more media related shops (CD's, DVDs, Video Games, etc...) but otherwise a great little place and great for filming my next evil/surreal little movie... >;-)
naz from compton
wasup my names naz im from aberdare i think council should improve aberdare by putting gr8 stores like jd and and good stores. kiking out ganja dealers,get rid of boy racers and townies. i like cheese
katie lewis aberaman
aberdare is good because i have lots of friends and theres a sport centre i go there all the time
natasha morris abercwmboi
aberdare is boring there nothing to do
samantha jade bevan
Aberdare is agood place to go shopping and the transport is great
liam tuck
Aberdare is a place were all the people are outgoing and happy go lucky
geo rgia meredith
I like the sports centre and the swimming pool best.
james evans aberdare
could be more tidy
mercy from aberdare
I like aberdare because it has a nice park and a great swimming pool
melissa waddingham
Aberdare is a good place to shop with got bargains, swimming pool, parks.
Lewis Smith, Swansea
Abedare is a good place, and considering I live about 10 miles away, I'll have to come here more often
Alice
I like visiting the swimming pool and shopping in town with my friends.
jodie
I like to go and look around town and go swimming
manda and ceri of cwmbach
theres nothing 2 do in aberdare for teenagers round here its boring we think that there should be a club o something for us 2 go 2 and chill out with ur m8s
Ellie Lloyd from Aberdare
Aberdare has a nice park the only pit left in south wales is tower and my father works there.
Joseph J A T Hamilton Fm Mt Ash Cefn pennar
Aberdare is a nice place. it is over looked by the goverment. the have a good public park.
Bethan Fear
I loved the Aberdare roadshow which was on the weekend. I am ten years old
Olivia Phillips
I love going shopping town.I am five years old.
jessica phillips
i enjoy the activites that come to aberdare.
alex from abernant
There are lot's of friendly people in Aberdare.
Adam Bull Cwmbach Aberdare
Aberare is a nice place to live,I like playing squash at the sports centre and doing karate at the OAP hut in Cwmbach.
ashleigh jones
I like my school , Blaengwar primary
sophie price aberdare
i love to play in brook street.
Aled Cornwall Trenant
Aberdare
is
brillient
and
it
is
cool
joseph powell from aberdare
The best things about aberdare are the football pitch and the park
connor vockins from cwmbach
I enjoy all the countryside and being able to see grass wherever I look.
Stuart from Aberdare
I think Aberdare has alot of activities to do like swimming and drama Aberdarre is a very nice and enjoyable place to live
sophie from aberdare
the park is the best thing
Zoe from aberaman
Ilike Aberdare because I go swimming every
Monday and its fun
Lyndsey Walters ov Aberdare
I have lived in Aberdare all my life and I think it is a great place to live. There is a sports centre just out of town and it is frequently used by children and teenagers to play football etc. There are a range of shops in Aberdare town centre and new shops are being added. Aberdare is awesome!!!!!
becky wilkes from ebbw vale
I like visiting my nan in the hospital. i stay for a couple of hours
sadie lister merthyr tydfil
i like the swimming pool and the football field.
callum
aberdare is a nice town we have a park and a nice sports centre where I play football
max hurley
it is realy god fun living in aberdare
Tom Harvey (5) from Mountain Ash
I like the swimming pool because there is a little pool and in the little pool you don't need your armbands.
Nik Howells, Aberdare
Personally I think the best things about Aberdare are the community spirit, recent regeneration and its close proximity to 2 of Wales' largest cities. The worst things are the small minority who ruin things for the majority; ie drug addicts and alcoholics. This is a common problem found in many areas, but there does appear to be particular recent increase in Aberdare. I believe regeneration should be key priority, and unfortunately I believe bad investment and a unwise council has meant investment from the objective 1 funding has been spent unwisely. I believe more incentives should have been offered to get more adults learning to try and build on the skills they have. Ofcourse you can't force people to learn. Also the main transport routes in to and out of the Valley are diabolical. Most of the work is located in Cardiff, with many people having to commute to work on a daily basis. The area around Mountain Ash, is a single carriage road, which is always jammed at peak time. It's just my oppinion but I really think Aberdare's proximity to Cardiff and Swansea should be cashed in on, and the European funding should have been spent on improving this transport link to the Capital. I'd even go as far as suggesting going through the mountain in the form of tunnels, like our European neighbours in the Alps. This sounds like a mad idea (especially for the people of Aberdare), yet it would be relatively easy to do - especially considering our mining tradition. Anyway I think a dual carriage way is needed from Aberdare through Mountain Ash. The relatively recent dual carriageway to Swansea is very good however. I mean apart from cobbling the town centre (twice), where did the money go?
jarred davies from aberdare
i was born in aberdare and have loved every paret of aberdare cause their is always somthing going on
thomas and daniel
needs a skate park
jack davies
I enjoyed the morning at the road show at Aberdare.The best thing i done was to mix records with the Dj Mark.
emily from merthyr
i like aberdare because i like going to the leisure centre every saturday to practis my ballte.
Bruce from Rhoose,Wales
Having read the mixed comments,I would have to say that Aberdare and its surrounding environment has great potential that sadly is not being exploited by either the local community or there inept council.My only experience there is in the daytime,but I have seen loutish behaviour and drug dealing out in the open.Where is the police presence?,where is the real working class pride?....gone sadly.
KEV FROM LONDON
left aberdare in 1980 always remember my roots like you should. aberdare is a laid back place but they need workers in london not sherkers. my way of thinking is spend time and your money in aberdare
Valleys girl
Having just moved to Aberdare from Cardiff, I have to say that it is truly so much friendlier. I agree with other comments that the town's shops and things could do with a make over, but it has plus points - a good butcher, fishmonger, market. Don't change those things! Plus, whilst the houses may be a bit rough, they're surrounded by some of the best landscape around.
paula lloyd-james cardiff
i love aberdare and are very proud of it being my home town
(Name removed)
As a young gay man living in Aberdare does have its stresses, everytime I walk down the street I get shouted abuse at by small minded valleys people...have come close to suicide on a number of occasions ...apart from that I love it here!! x
Bob, Aberdare
Nigel Watts, are you originally from Brook Street, Aberaman? Local website Aberdare online.
Aberdare We Don't Care
That bit about the snakes and Aberdare men breaking the strike and stealing jobs is an urban myth. Aberdare was as militant as anywhere else during that time. The bit about the trek down the mountain carrying torches is correct but they were not over there to steal jobs.
Nigel Watts, Calgary, Canada
I was born in Aberaman and lived in Aberaman/Aberdare from 1954 to 1977. Unable to obtain employment in th UK (I am a geologist), I emmigrated to Canada in 1981. Leaving Aberdare was not a function of the place but the lack of employment in the 1980's in the UK. I have travelled all over the world but everytime I return to Aberdare, I am reminded that Aberdare is situated near some of the most beautiful countryside in the world - Brecon Beacons, Gower, Vale of Glamorgan as well as places of historical/cultural interest e.g. castles, St Fagans, Aberdare Museum.
Wayne from Ystrad Mynach
I quite like Aberdare. Introduced to the area through working near by. I liked the friendliness of the people, quite a bit going on there with great health centre, restaurants and cinema and a town with a fantastic country back drop.
It's so easy to suffer from contempt - (the grass is always greener) if you don't have a change. I am working back in Cardiff, but miss what Aberdare has to offer. I will be there in the new year to visit it again. Many from Cardiff like the town, and I can understand why.
James, Aberdare
They call them aberdare snakes as years ago the aberdare people would sneak over the merthyr mounting to steal their jobs when they were on strike, and you could see them all coming down the mounting with the torches alight, like a big snake.
Mrs Lloyd Aberdare
In answer to Peter Brogden, Penderyn, i have lived in Aberdare since i was 14, i am now 30, and i can say hand on my heart that i have never once heard of the "endearing" term "Snake Valley, or "Aberdare Snakes".
I also moved to Merthyr for a time, and most cetainly did not hear Aberdare people spoken of in this way.
I don't understand these people that moan about Aberdare, if you don't like it then move away...simple!
A Town/City is what you make of it, wherever you live, if you see a place as a problem, it will in your eyes always be a problem.
If those that moan about Aberdare actually took the time to research the history of the place, they would realise what a great place it actually is, and don't forget it could be worse, before i came here i lived in a rough area of Hull, and now i have adopted Aberdare as my home, i wouldn't have it any other way.
T Phillips, NYC
I was doing a search on Aberdare because my great grandfather was born there before coming to the U.S. about 100 years ago. I've never been there but it's a bit disheartening reading some of the comments here about my families' place of origin.
bex from Aberdare
I moved up to Aberdare three years a go. I like the fact you can't go anywhere without seeing someone you know altho this can be a bad thing at times! I've found everyone's down to earth I've never been looked down on by anyone. I think most youngsters don't see the world outside Aberdare and end up in dead end jobs or turn to drug and alcohol abuse - there's nothing up here. For a decent job I have to travel on the train for an hour twice a day. There is violence on a Friday and Saturday night but it's something you get used to and ignore after a while
Simon from Glasgow
I moved away from aberdare at the first given oppertunity. Even at 16, I could see what a waste of space Aberdare is - it really could do with being levelled. I went as far as to move to a different country, and with a bit of luck, I'll never go back.
Peter Brogden, Penderyn.
Why is Aberdare known as "Snake Valley", by people from places like Merthyr? And Aberdare people known as "Aberdare Snakes".
I lived in Aberdare for 11 months, and it was only when I moved to Merthyr that I heard that I had previously been living in Snake Valley amongst the Snakes. Why is this? It doesn't sound very complimentary to the people of Aberdare, which I found to be a marvellous place to live.
Claire, Pontypridd
I grew up in Mountian Ash, I later moved down to Swansea and I'm now settled in Pontypridd. I've worked in Aberdare for 5 years and it's a much more community-based area than any other area i've worked. Aberdare is not only where people drink. Doesn't it show what kind of culture we live in by some of these comments? Aberdare has good community spirit, with a carnival every year which takes a huge lot of preparations and communication, etc. Aberdare has a lovely sport centre and athletics stadium. Aberdare park is awesome and the dare valley park facilities are brilliant. Aberdare is not only for drinking, enjoy what is around you and don't drag the place down, OK? It's not very clean, OK it can be scary on weekends, and YES we know that lots of people don't work in the area. But at least try and stay positive and pick out the good issues as well as the bad.
Aberdare Girl
Aberdare is where i have grown up and i dont think people should judge the place by how it looks. the town is improving with more shops opening all the time and everyone here is more welcoming than in most places. in a small town like this you get to know everyone and there are different kinds of people. All my friends and family live around here and i would be totally lost anywhere else. Aberdare is home and theres nowhere better.
Aberdare Resident
Over twenty years ago, when i was a teenager, people used to complain about how kids had no respect for their elders and it's the same today, as it will be in the future. I live in Aberdare town centre and have frequently walked through there on weekends at night and have never experienced any problems. The kids on the street, although loud and sometimes foulmouthed, still seem to have a modicum of respect. I am delighted when a door is held open by a youngster or an apology is offered when accidentally bumped. What you have to remember is that people have been denigrating teenagers since time immemorial and todays teens will grow and do the same to kids in the future. Aberdare is not a bad place to live. Cast your mind back and remember when there was somone murdered in Aberdare. If you can remember then that's a good thing, it means we aren't experiencing the abominations some towns have to on such a regular basis that we become desensitised to the horror, and it becomes almost instantly erased from our memories. We should be thankful that our teenagers are able to hang around the town without the fear of abduction, rape or worse. Remember that being insular isn't always a bad thing, only when it pertains to the mind.
Taxi man
I drive taxis in aberdare and aberdare is a lovely place until friday night when the pubs turn out, then aberdare is not very nice.
E Lewis, Cwmbach
Can the council make Bro-Deg safe from speeding traffic? How about some white lines on the road - it's the only main road I know without lines. Kids are not safe and residents park on the grass to avoid damage to their cars. Come on council, do something.
Dave
I moved to Aberdare from Cardiff to get out of the rat race,have been here for 2 years now and am happy, the people are so much friendlier than the Kairdiff people. my neighbours have certainly welcomed these strangers with open arms.
sven from aberdare
it might not be the best place in the world but the best peolple in the world come from there. you have the likes of owens, top bloke. dai hill, funny guy etc....And then there's a band called the psychic spies, really good band. everyone should come and watch them whenever they play aberdare cos they'll really blow your mind. for more info on them visit www.psychicspies.co.uk leave a message in the forum. go on you know you wanna!!!
Glasgow East End Cymru
The notion that everyone unemployed in the valley is a shirker and not looking for work is quite frankly, a lot of rubbish. There are a great deal of decent people unemployed around here, who through no fault of their own find themselves out of work and who just want a decent, well paid job.
Donna from Aberdare
Well I happen to think that Aberdare is a lovely little town. At the end of the day if you are all that unhappy with it then either move or do something about it. A town is nothing without its residents, so if the residents don't care about the town then why should the town care about the residents? So put up and shut up unless you're prepared to do something about it.
Michael Spencer in St Neots
Aberdare is a lovely place. I was brought up in Llwydcoed, and was a bobby in Aberdare Town, and also the Ambulance Service. It is sad when I read that the place is run down, not safe on weekends, and no work. I live in St Neots, Cambridgeshire and it's the same. The sad thing is its the same over the whole country. Make the most of Aberdare - beautiful people, countryside and Llwydcoed Silver Band. Don't forget you voted the Council in. Just chill out and enjoy it.
Lynda from Phoenix, Arizona
I love coming home to Aberdare but each time I do it seems to have declined more. Aberdare needs more shops of interest and an updating.
Sam and Nathan from Aberdare
We have lived in Aberdare all our lives and no matter what anyone says we love it here. Ok, the place ain't the best place I've been, but most people are pleasant and down to earth apart from a small minority who are separated into two groups... The dirty stinkin scruff bags and the stuck up people who seem to forget that they are actually from Aberdare! I am glad to say we are neither of these!! And finally we would just like to say that we wouldn't leave if we had the choice!!
Aneurin Thatcher S,C. U.S.A.
It is so sad to read all those negative remarks about the beautiful Aberdare Valley. I lived in Cwmbach (The Knolls) and I left in the 1940s. Does anyone remember the Knolls up on the mountain?
Bernard from Palma Mallorca
I was born and brought up in the Cynon Valley and do get annoyed when people put the place down. There is good and bad everywhere, even here in Palma - go to the area known as Gomera and see the teenage drunks there. Also, what is happening to The Coliseum Theatre? The last time I visited it,it was getting run down and unloved. Do something, please. It would be a shame to lose a facility like this.
Aberdare Girl Born and Bred
I have to laugh when people slag off Aberdare and other neighbouring vallies. Cardiff on a saturday night is rough, drunken louts everywhere and no different than places ALL over britain, not just Aberdare. The problem is retail parks seem to get all the funding and little towns get lost in comparison.Also its not the drugs capital of the world like some people are making out, you could live anywhere and get involved in drugs.
dafydd from aberdare
the unemployment rate is very high and most of those claiming are unfortunately not seeking work but claiming sickness benefit due to alcohol and drug abuse, along with depression. it's a shame that the people seem prepared to take so much from society and give nothing back. the town is rundown, with nothing but hair-dressers and card shops, and going out on a weekend there is an absolute joke - apart from the violence, the prices charged to get into the ONLY club (if you can call it a club) on a saturday night is scandalous (£5-6).
Becky from Aberdare
Nearly a year now I have been looking for a job in this town. There is nothing and more shops and factorys are shutting down. More of my friends are turning to drugs or in the pubs everyday because of this. The only way to make money in this town is being a drug dealer. This town is just getting worse each day.
Martin
I was fortunate and escaped when I was 16. Now, whenever I return, I notice how much more depressing and violent the place has become with each visit. If I had no family left in Aberdare, I would never, ever return.
Jenna and Andrea, Hirwaun, Aberdare
Ok, Aberdare isn't one of the greatest places to live but it's home! It could probably do with a make over of some sort but the majority of the people are respectable, hard working and decent. There is a majority who do spoil it and give Aberdare a bad name. But as they say, don't judge a book by its cover!
Alan from Aberdare
Since the closure of the Phurnacite Plant and the coal industry in general the greenery has returned, and with it lots of wildlife. People's experiences of the place are obviously mixed, but there are much worst places to live. Anyone fancy a tower block in the middle of London? True, there are the drunks and lunatics on weekends, but less of them compared to Cardiff or Swansea. It's parochial, with a small town mentality, but people will talk to you. I don't know where one of your writers got the idea from that it's unfriendly; must have called in on a bad day! It could do with a facelift, but don't judge it on that. Yes, the councillors are a bit dodgy, but tell me somewhere where they ain't.
Meg, Hertford
I grew up in Aberdare in the 70's and 80's and to be honest it was depressed, small-minded and violent then. Most people my age were desperate to get out of there. Interesting to see how many people thinking it's a beautiful place either don't actually live in Aberdare or didn't grow up there!
Mrs Lloyd from Aberdare
I have recently moved from Cardiff to Aberdare, and am very glad i did...the grass is not always greener!!
I went to school in Aberaman, and left to live in Cardiff as soon as i could, i soon realised that i had made a mistake and moved back.
I have never been happier!!
Neil from Mountain Ash
The sooner the people of Aberdare realise that this town is slowly dying then the sooner they can do something about it. The Council is an absolute joke who care more about their expenses than improving this town and as for the Police, well they are just no where to be seen on the weekend. It's time for the people of Aberdare to wake up to the fact that the Council will do nothing whatsoever to improve this town and as for the Cynon Valley Leader, this local paper should be shaming the council and the Police into action.
moira chappell swansea
i like aberdare a lot my mother was born there i live in swansea i have a lot of relatives in aberdare my mother had the name bernice cable before she got married i know some of the cables if you are related to this name i would love to here from you
Big Ash - Aberdare
I was born in Aberdare and have lived in Aberdare for much of my life. I do remember the 80's when Aberdare seemed more prosperous than the present day. However, I see the main issues of modern Aberdare being drink and disorder related. Most people feel intimidated in the town on Fri & Sat nights by the hords of drunks. I have one question - Where are the police?
Linda from Toronto
I used to spend summers in Aberdare and it was a lovely clean town. You could go to town in the evening and feel completely safe. Now when I visit I wouldnt dare go into town for fear of the drunks and punks roaming around. It is such a shame, its a lovely place, lovely people. The local council seems to be good for nothing....according to many messages I have read on-line. Buck up and bring beautiful Aberdare back.
Kathy from Aberdare
I think that Aberdare needs a good make over on some of the shops as they are looking old and tacky and it needs activities and places to go for children.
riccardo - Milan -Italy
My wife is from Aberdare and we often come to visit friends and family and we both love going back, its a nice place to visit and spend a holiday.
Lyndsey from Aberdare
I have lived in Aberdare all my life, and love it as it is home. However, something desperately needs to be done about the appearance of the town centre. It is not looking good at all.
People here are kind and helpful compared to people living in the cities such as Cardiff, where most people are very small-minded and feel that they are 'above' the people of the Valleys.
Laura from Aberdare
I have lived in the Aberdare area all my life and I loved living there. But now at the age of 27 I don't feel safe going to Aberdare town centre at night and know a lot of people feel the same way. The streets are full of gangs of children drinking. It is a shame cos Aberdare has good potential.
Leighton Rogers Weymouth, Dorset
I used to live in Mountain Ash and my family still lives there, I only moved away because of my work and vist back home when possible, there is nothing like home and there is definately where the heart is.
Leah from Aberdare
Aberdare is clean, tidy and pleasant. We have a lot of entertainment and transport methods. The only things that need to be sorted out are the boarded up buildings (hardly any, mind).
A Richards Aberdare
Aberdare is a dirty run down neglected and very depressed area that desperately needs someone prepared to represent its interests who will do something for the town and help its people and fight hard for them.The place is on its last legs.
The Aberdare of old used to be known as the Queen of the Valleys and a great place to live now it is a sad, decaying and neglected place.
We desperately need some big changes around here before all is lost.
There is a lot of talent and ability going to waste here too and youngsters feel disenfranchised. We need to invest in our youngsters as they are our future.
The local council also has a lot to answer for too. People here deserve better.
JJ Aberdare
Dirty, unsafe on a weekend night, rundown and insular. The lovely people deserve better.
Susan Partridge from Torrevieja, Spain
I love going back to Aberdare, its a friendly place to visit and spend a holiday and so many beautiful places near by to visit a total and welcolme change from life over here.
Elaine from Cwmbach
Need pavement sweepers, less traffic, some new independent shops. Big buildings could be converted into small internal shops to encourage new start up business. Trains on Sunday morning to get to Cardiff Bay, but it is still a nice place to live, with great people.
Lynn from Mountain Ash
It may appear as a run down former mining village but to me its home ... It has a lovely park a good 'get you anywhere' transport system. You can buy most things in the shops & get work. And Cardiff is just a train ride away. What more could you ask for? Bliss.
Darren Payne
Aberdare's a beautiful place and I'm proud to live there.
Richard from Mountain Ash
With the introduction of a lot of out of town retail parks I believe Aberdare is losing its a appeal to a lot of people especially those with cars. I for one have to say rarely visit the town anymore.
