Aberavon constituency
Created in 1918, Aberavon has been a Labour held seat with large majorities since
1992. Among the distinguished previous MPs have been Labour's first
Prime Minister, Ramsey Macdonald (1922-29) and Sir John Morris (now
Lord Morris, 1959-2001) who served as Secretary of State for Wales
and Attorney General.
The constituency is located within the eastern part of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Largely industrial and urban it includes areas of great natural beauty including the historic Margam Park, the sub-Alpine Afan Valley and the historically important industrial towns of Briton Ferry, Skewen, Cwmafan and Taibach. For more information on Neath Port Talbot visit www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/tourism/
The
traditional industries of steel and petro-chemicals are being rapidly
restructured. The steel company Corus remains a major employer with
a workforce of over 3,000. The Baglan Energy Park has recently been
established to assist in the diversification of the local economy with
GE's gas fired power station. Baglan is also the site of a new district
hospital opened in 2003. New sports and leisure opportunities have
been initiated at the Llandarcy Academy of Sport and Learning.
The constituency has produced and continues to produce
talented performers on the stage and on the sporting fields. The late
Richard Burton, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Mavis Nicholson, Michael Sheen and a comedian/actor Rob Brydon all hail from Aberavon whilst the rugby
club currently heads Division One and the constituency also has many
of the best football teams in Wales.
Welsh is spoken by over 11 per cent of the population. The constituency hosted the Urdd National Eisteddfod in 2003.