In a haunting corner of the Swansea valley, approximately ten minutes from Pontardawe, stands a row of dilapidated residential houses on Cyfyng Road. This once vibrant street near the village of Ystalyfera now remains mostly abandoned and awaits demolition. In 2017, the owners of 10 households were urgently evacuated due to concerns of an impending danger following a landslip that had occurred in the area. Neath Port Talbot Council took swift action, issuing emergency prohibition orders on these properties, prohibiting occupancy for safety reasons.
Following a challenge by residents in 2018, based on an independent survey they felt contradicted the need for evacuation, the orders were upheld. The owners and neighbouring residents reflect on the poignant state of these homes, once described as a charming place to live, now falling into disrepair with boarded-up windows, graffiti, and trees growing out of their structures. Seven years later, as most houses remain untouched, unresolved financial uncertainties plague the remaining owners, including one family still residing in the area.
Gabe Thomas, a homeowner facing looming demolition, expressed concerns about potential financial losses in the absence of a purchase offer from the council. Despite efforts to rehouse tenants post-evacuation, unresolved insurance claims and a sense of limbo persist for some owners. Neath Port Talbot Council stresses the necessity for phased demolition, citing ongoing safety risks due to the landscape’s instability post-landslide. Efforts to support owners with insurance claims and rehousing arrangements have been made, though the future remains uncertain for the remaining properties on Cyfyng Road.
The tranquillity of the once-thriving community has given way to uncertainty and abandonment, leaving property owners like Gabe Thomas seeking resolution amidst the shadow of impending demolition. As the years trickle by, the ghostly remnants of Cyfyng Road stand as a testament to the precarious balance between nature’s reclamation and human endeavour, casting a sombre reminder of a place once deemed a sanctuary.