Sandfields, Port Talbot

Sandfields is a mainly residential district of Port Talbot, Wales. The area is located in South Wales on a narrow coastal plain between Mynydd Dinas and the sea. The M4 motorway, A48 trunk road and South Wales Main Line run nearby. The area includes a council estate, industrial areas and a seaside resort at Aberavon Beach.

Government

The area encompasses the electoral wards of Sandfields West and Sandfields East, part of the Neath Port Talbot unitary authority.

ocial conditions

The two electoral wards covering Sandfields were ranked in top 50 most deprived wards in Wales in the 2000 Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation. [ [http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/PDF/communitiesfirst_imd_c1st.pdf Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 for Communities First Wards in Neath Port Talbot] ] In the 2005 index, Sandfields West was one of the 10% most deprived wards in Wales. [http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/40382313/statistics/wimd-2005/4038211011/wimd2005-analysis-pt4-r1-e.pdf?lang=en]

Afan Lido

The Afan Lido leisure centre was opened by the Queen in 1970. [ [http://beehive.thisissouthwales.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=5906&PageID=72584 Port Talbot Historical Society: TIME LINE 20TH C ] ] The facility formerly included a 50m competition swimming pool, which was later converted into a 25m leisure pool with water slides when the complex was re-fitted during the mid 1990s. The Lido also has a spa, gym, and concert hall where famous bands have played, including in recent years McFly, All Saints, Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers and Lost Prophets.

Education

Sandfields Comprehensive School was the first purpose-built comprehensive school in Wales when it opened in 1958. In 2000, it was recognised by the Welsh Secondary Schools Association (WSSA) as the most improved school in Wales. [ [http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Sandfields_Sec_05.pdf Sandfields report ] ] The school has produced a number of sportsmen and women who have represented Wales at international level, including Les Keen ex-Aberavon RFC and Laura May Walkely of Arsenal Ladies Football Team. This year the School is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

Several primary schools are located within the Sandfields Estate including Tir Morfa, Tywyn, Traeth Melyn and Glan Y Mor.

Community Archives Wales

The Port Talbot Historical Society and [http://www.ourwales.org.uk Community Archives Wales] meet at Sandfields' Library.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.sandfields.co.uk Sandfields Comprehensive School]
* [http://www.apollocinemas.co.uk Apollo Cinema]
* [http://beehive.thisissouthwales.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=5906&PageID=72584 Port Talbot Historical Society]
* [http://www.coastguard.ukf.net/seafront.html Port Talbot Coastguard: 360 degree view of Aberavon Beach]
* [http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/living/housing/homes_by_choice_scheme/gallery/photo_gallery.aspx?area_id=53 Sandfields Photo Gallery]