Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot

Cymmer (Welsh: Cymer) is a small village in Neath Port Talbot in Wales, set on a hillside in the Afan Valley near the confluence of the River Afan and the River Corrwg. In 2001, Cymmer had a population of 2,883.^[1]

Cymmer can also be spelled "Cymer" with the omission of one "m". Both spellings are considered correct, however. The spelling variance is explained by "Cymmer" being the English language version, and "Cymer" the Welsh language one. The word "Cymmer" translates from Welsh into English as "joining place of two rivers", and it is here that the Afon Corrwg and the Afon Afan meet, to flow onward as the River Afan until entering the sea at Aberavon/Port Talbot.

Social conditions

The Cymmer electoral ward was one of the top 10% most deprived wards in Wales according to the 2005 Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.^[2]

Amenities

Local public houses include The Refreshment Rooms (the preserved Great Western Railway station) and a working men's club called The Coronation Club. Local amenities include a library, a community swimming pool, a sports hall, primary school and secondary schools, a police station and fire station. There is also an exhibition on the history of the area held near the petrol filling station. The exhibition is owned and maintained by a local newsagent.^[3] Cymmer has Six churches, although the usage of three is virtually nil apart from,Gilgal Community Church and English methodist church. One of the chapels Hebron has now been boarded up and padlocked to stop youths entering and vandalising the site, Bethana is owned by a local,and is never used, The catholic church has been locked up and is never hardly used, St Johns is now being converted in to a house. And the last is located behind the Refreshment Rooms on the White Bridge. Gilgal Community Church, is used every Sunday for church services, times of services are 10.30am and 3.30pm. Cymmer English Methodist church is still open for services, at 10.45 0n sundays and operates a charity shop in the vestry every Wednesday between 10 and 12midday.

Government and politics

Cymmer

Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	Maps for SS860961
Geography
Total population	2,883 (2001 census)
Administration
Local council:	Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Number of councillors]:	1
Nation:	Wales
Post office and telephone
Postcode(s):	SA13
Dialling code:	+44-1639
Politics
Welsh Assembly:	Aberavon
UK Parliament:	Aberavon
European Parliament:	Wales

The Cymmer electoral ward is coterminus with the village in Neath Port Talbot county borough. Cymmer includes some or all of the villages of Cymmer, Duffryn and Croeserw in the parliamentary constituency of Aberavon. Cymmer is bounded by the wards of Resolven to the north; Glyncorrwg to the northeast; Gwynfi to the east; Blaengarw, Caerau and Maesteg West of Bridgend county borough to the south east; Bryn and Cwmavon to the southwest; and Pelenna to the west.

The ward is set in a densely forested upland area with steep sided river valleys cut through by the Rivers Afan and Corrwg. Patches of open moorland exist to the north and south of the ward.

In the 2008 local council elections, the electorate turnout was 48.23%. The results were:

Candidate	Party	Votes	Status
Scott Jones	Labour	594	Labour gain
David Williams	Ratepayers	463

External links

• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Cymer and surrounding area

References

1. ^ ONS: Neighbourhood statistics
2. ^ http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/40382313/statistics/wimd-2005/4038211011/wimd2005-analysis-pt4-r1-e.pdf?lang=en
3. ^ BBC: Cymmer Carnival

Coordinates: 51°39′N 3°39′W / 51.65°N 3.65°W / 51.65; -3.65