Gorseinon

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=Gorseinon
constituency_welsh_assembly=Gower
official_name= Gorseinon
unitary_wales= Swansea
lieutenancy_wales= West Glamorgan
constituency_westminster= Gower
post_town= SWANSEA
postcode_district = SA4
postcode_area= SA
dial_code= 01792
os_grid_reference= SS585985
latitude= 51.66
longitude= -4.03
map_type=
population= Town: 7,874 [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=801182&c=gorseinon&d=16&e=15&g=417134&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1198128086359&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779] Urban Area: 19,273

Gorseinon is a town in south west Wales, near the Loughor estuary. It was a small village until the late 19th century when it grew around the coal mining and tinplate industries. It is situated near the Swansea/Carmarthenshire border, around 6 miles north west of Swansea city centre. Gorseinon is also a local government community with its own elected town council.

The population of the Gorseinon town council area in the 2001 Census is 7,874. However, the ONS defines an area called the Gorseinon Urban Area which comprises all of the continuous built up area in and around Gorseinon. This area includes Gorseinon, Loughor, Garden Village and Penllergaer [http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/keystats/sqmap.aspx?kv=1367344941&type=-1&title=] and has a population of 19,273.

Government and politics

Prior to local government re-organisation in 1996, the town of Gorseinon was administered as part of the Lliw Valley district and previously Llwchwr Urban District Council. Since 1996, Gorseinon has been governed by the City and County of Swansea council and falls within the Gorseinon and Penyrheol wards of Swansea.

Town Council

The community of Gorseinon comprises the Gorseinon ward and the southern part of the Penyrheol ward. The Gorseinon Town Council developed from the former Gorseinon Community Council in 1998, since when it was able to appoint a town mayor annually. The council now comprises sixteen unpaid volunteers who are elected every four years. The current town mayor and deputy mayor of Gorseinon are Councillor Gillian Evans and Councillor Raymond Beech.

Economy

Gorseinon has a busy high street area in the centre of the town and another major area of employment is the nearby Gargoch Industrial estate. Previously, the nearby Bryngwyn steel works and Valeo plant were major employers in the town. However they closed in the 1990s. In resonse to the closures, the National Assembly set up the Gorseinon Regeneration Strategy to invest in a number of regeneration schemes in the town.

Twin Town

The town of Gorseinon along with the community of Llwchwr is twinned with:
* Ploërmel, France [http://www.twinning.org.uk/uk_twinnings.htm]

Public services

The town has a well-established local hospital, donated to the community prior to the establishment of the National Health Service by local industrialist and benefactor, (William) Rufus Lewis.

port and leisure

Gorseinon is home to one of Britain's largest carrier pigeon societies. The Pigeon Institute of Gorseinon was founded by Gregory Moorlock in 1863. Gorseinon's local rugby team is Gorseinon RFC while Garden Village FC of the Welsh Football League play on the outskirts of the town in Kingsbridge. Gorseinon hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1980.

For more than 50 years, Gorseinon was home to 'La Charrette', the UK's smallest cinema, established by local electrician, the late Gwyn Phillips. Built from a disused railway carriage, the cinema opened in 1953; when the decay of its structure forced closure in February 2008, 'La Charrette' was dismantled and taken to the Gower Heritage Centre.

A new community facility is currently under construction - Canolfan Gorseinon Centre, which features a multi-use hall, training rooms, office room for small businesses, a creche and a new bar and cafe. [http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=22460]

Education

Penyrheol Comprehensive School is where 90% of 11-16 year olds go. The school's main building was destroyed by arson, in 2006.The school will have a brand new building in September 2008. The fire destroyed most of the school where pupils lost work and GCSE coursework. Additionally the town is home to Gorseinon College, a tertiary college that provides further education and adult learning.

Notable Residents

It is the birthplace in nearby Penyrheol of former Father of the House of Commons, David Grenfell who was the local Member of Parliament for 37 years, British Conservative Party Leader Michael Howard, Roy Evans, former General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, Hanlyn Davies, Emeritus Professor of Art at Massachusetts University, former Welsh rugby union captains Norman Gale and Richard Moriarty, rugby league international Lewis Jones, actor/comedian Keith Allen, boxer Colin Jones and the late, great footballer Robbie James. James Henry Govier (1910-1974) British painter, etcher and engraver lived at Gorseinon from 1914-1945.

External links

* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2733688 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Gorseinon and surrounding area]
* [http://www.gowercc.org.uk/ Gower Community Councils]
* [http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/gorseinon.pdf Gorseinon electoral division]
* [http://www.gorseinon.info/ Gorseinon Development Trust]
* [http://www.gorseinon.ac.uk/en/index.asp Gorseinon College]
* [http://www.gorseinon.com/ Gorseinon Community - Forum to discuss Local Issues]
* [http://www.page-net.com/swansea.localhistory/gorseinon/ Gorseinon history]
* [http://www.gorseinon.info/sitepages/History.htm Gorseinon CRU - History]
* [http://www.gorseinon-history.com/ Gorseinon History Archieve Society]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/gorseinon/ BBC My Town Site]
* [http://www.gorseinonrfc.freeuk.com/ Gorseinon Rugby Football Club]
* [http://www.imperialjudo.com/ Gorseinon Judo Club]
* [http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s221.htm/ Garden Village Football Club]
* [http://football.swansea.com/seniors/venue.aspx?venue=19 Location of Parc y Werin]