Porth developed into a thriving mining town, and people from the Vale and
adjoining valleys would often make the journey to Porth which earned the
reputation of having excellent shops and facilities.
Nearby Trehafod village in particular expanded due to the industrial revolution,
with the accessibility of the Glamorgan Canal and purpose built tram roads. The
economic growth of the area in the nineteenth century was rapid, and at one
point there were nearly as many shops in Trehafod as in Porth, with people often
trading from their front rooms.
The demise of the coal industry, societal changes and modernisation, and the
80's recession have taken their toll on Porth and surrounding villages over the
last 30 years, in terms of employment, facilities, housing and access to health
services, among other factors.
Within the vicinity,
Ynyshir, Wattstown and Cymmer have been designated as ‘Communities First’ areas by the National Assembly for Wales, a
programme which aims to regenerate disadvantaged communities through
targeted intervention and access to funding.
Cymmer
Ward now encompasses six main communities due to electoral divisions:
Britannia, Ton Hywel, Trebanog, Trehafod, Glynfach and Cymmer.
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