Merthyr Tydfil Council brings 170 empty homes back into use - but hundreds remain vacant
The Annual Empty Property Strategy Report was recently reviewed by Councillors in Merthyr Tydfil. Is the Council on track to meet its target of bringing 200 long-term empty properties back to use?
Hello and welcome to The Valleys Lead.
To start with some feel-good news, on a walk in Merthyr Tydfil yesterday, I came across someone cradling a hedgehog. The young woman had rescued the hedgehog from the road outside of Cyfarthfa Park, and was bringing it back into the park for its safety. You might have seen our post last week about the Council spending £11,000 on hedgehog road safety signs. Is her rescue mission linked to having seen the signs?
On a different note, we have a story for you today about long-term empty houses in Merthyr Tydfil - latest reports show there are 479. What has the Council done to bring empty houses back to use? And why is it imperative that this work continues?
That story is below.
But first - just quickly - we’d love you to subscribe (free options to read partially, with paid options to read in full) to The Valleys Lead to support local journalism in the south Wales valleys. We don’t do clickbait, but instead, go behind the headlines to report on stories that matter to locals, asking questions of people in power, and speaking with real people in the valleys about their opinions and experiences.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys. Anytime you have something you’d like to share, no matter how big or small, email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com):
Trading Standards officers, accompanied by partners from the Gwent Police Modern Slavery and Exploitation Team, Immigration Enforcement, Environmental Health, and the Regional Trading Standards Tobacco Enforcement Team, carried out enforcement visits in the Risca area last week as part of Operation CeCe. Two premises were visited as part of the targeted operation, which aims to disrupt the supply of illegal tobacco and vaping products and protect local communities from criminal activity. During the operation, illegal tobacco products with an estimated street value of more than £40,000 were seized. One individual was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis and vapes containing THC. Investigations are ongoing, and further enforcement activity will continue across the county borough as part of efforts to tackle the sale of illicit goods. We’d be interested to hear about your thoughts on this. A worthwhile investment? Pointless? Let us know at laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com.
Last week was a killer for small, independent businesses in the south Wales valleys, with many having to close due to the heat. The owner of Davs Kitchen, Sam Davenport, in Merthyr Tydfil, shared on Facebook that he had to shut his doors last week with the crazy high temperatures and broken refrigerators. “We lost all of our stock. As a small business it has been absolutely devastating. We’ve been on the verge of closing.” He’s asked people to come and show support by dining, offering the best Sunday dinner he’s ever made this weekend. If you’re a small business in the south Wales valleys, or you know of one that stands out to you, please let us know. We love to highlight local businesses. Email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com.
Speaking of heat, Councillor Brenda Miles told Caerphilly County Borough Council leadership she was concerned about a lack of daytime swimming sessions at swimming pools in last week’s heatwave. Since authorities regularly warn against swimming in rivers and open water – such as reservoirs and quarries – because of the risk of cold-water shock, drowning, and underwater hazards, Miles said she’d like plans put in place for residents to have increased access to the borough’s pools in the future when temperatures are high. “We all know the dangers for young people who may resort to unsafe swimming locations during hot weather, so it is important the council adapts swimming pool open hours and session times to provide safe swimming during weather events like these.”
Merthyr Tydfil Council brings 170 empty homes back into use - but hundreds remain vacant
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has brought 170 long-term empty properties back into use since 2022, with the goal of bringing 30 more back by the end of a strategy period, according to the Annual Empty Property Strategy Report.
At a council meeting on 2 February 2022, members approved the Empty Property Strategy 2022-2026. The strategy recognises that long-term empty homes (private homes, rather than social housing, that have been vacant for more than six months) in Merthyr Tydfil represent a wasted resource, particularly in the context of housing need.
“The issues around empty properties can be very complex - death, probate, divorce, family breakdown, multi ownership, leasehold or freehold,” Geraint Thomas, Leader of the Opposition and Independent group councillor at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, told The Valleys Lead.
He added that many homes have been empty for decades, and have fallen into a state of disrepair which “causes damage to neighbouring properties” and “anti-social behaviour.”
It isn’t just a Merthyr Tydfil problem.
