Anybody live near Monmouth/Cwmbran/Pontypool?

[texasjohn]

Bora daa!

I am trying to learn a little bit of welsh as it is looking very likely that I will be accepting a job in Glascoed.

I wondered how many of the Briskoda members live in that area? Whats the area like, I guess there are good/bad places to live ?

Had a quick look at house prices on the net, Monmouth is a bit unaffordable for me to be honest, but Cwmbran and Pontypool are affordable, as are the smaller towns and villages around the area (Usk is the closest place to Glascoed).

Will I be burnt at the stake as an Englishman living in the area?

[Diesel]

I live in Newport, which isn't a million miles from any of the places you mentioned!

I wouldn't bother learning Welsh, as hardly anybody around here actually speaks it! You'll habe no problems being English either.

Glascoed is where the open prison is that a large number of inmates always seem to wander off randomly!

[kynastonp]

Bore da
welcome to wales ,there are a few people who speak welsh !

[texasjohn]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Glascoed is where the open prison is that a large number of inmates always seem to wander off randomly!

I didn't know about that, will make sure we're not right next door to that, then!

Am tied between buying a house in one of the towns (Cwmbran or Pontypool most likely) or out in the country a little bit, in one of the villages.

Will try and learn a little more Welsh, just to be polite I might even begin to spell it right...

Anyway, looking forward to it. It is a lovely part of the world and I feel quite lucky to be moving. There must be some great driving roads in the area as well.

We are coming down this weekend for a look around the area, and it will be my first time in S Wales for ages. Dad lives on Anglesey.

Will post back in the thread with updates as and when I have any news.

Cheers for now

John

[fatty5000]

i would not worry about learning to much welsh i've lived in cardiff all my life and can't speak a word (oh actually i know what dwr cymru means)
thats only cos it's on my water bill

[CupraR-Rog]

I'm in Cardiff... SWMBO's an Abergavenny lass so I'm driving through that area quite regularly.

Likewise, I'm an Englishman living in Wales - been here since I was 8 and still can't speak a word of the language! No need to in these parts - not like North Wales!

[themightygez]

Born in Pontypool, lived in Cwmbran, went to school in Monmouth, now live in Caerleon - you could say I know the area prteey well!!!

Any questions, fire away!

[texasjohn]

Cool

Hope to meet up with some of you guys in the near future once settled. We are looking at Llanfoist/Abergavenny and Cwmbran as places to live. Just got an offer on the property in Preston (my current house) so things are beginning to move

Nice house in Blaina (new bungalow on Rightmove - the only one there) but it is a bit out in the sticks so Decron says.

What is Abergavenny like? I am going by that 'risk area postcodes' thread here on Briskoda to determine nice/risky areas so far.

I think it says NP7 and NP8 are the least risky areas for car insurance thus surely that means they are nice quiet areas. I got a quote for a group 20 car for 570 quid fully comp in Abergavenny!! Bargain (I am 31!)

Dont want to be in the middle of nowhere but dont want to be in the middle of a big city either, we have a couple of dogs you see, so near some nice walks for the dogs and near some nice driving roads for me!

[KLB]

I live in the Big City (well, Newport is a city now, and the council has delusions of grandeur ), but I was born and bred in the valleys (Tredegar, to be exact).

Abergavenny is a nice place - it is still very much a rural market town. The surrounding villages like Gilwern and Govilon are probably even more desirable locations.

You'll find lots of towns and villages in the valleys, within half an hour's drive from Glascoed, Properties are quite a bit cheaper than, say, Newport or Cwmbran. In fact, the borough of Blaenau Gwent (encompassing Ebbw Vale and Tredegar) has the lowest average property prices in Wales (maybe in the whole UK). The valleys are still suffering from the loss of the coal and steel industries, but various regeneration programmes have made them more attractive places to live than they were a decade or two ago.

Don't worry about learning Welsh (although it's fun if you are interested in languages). During my childhood <mumble> years ago, it was very rare to hear any Welsh spoken in South East Wales. The language has enjoyed a revival since then, and it's occasionally heard even on the streets of Newport (probably the most Anglophone town/city in the area.

Hwyl nawr,

[CupraR-Rog]

Abergavenny's a good enough place - SWMBO's from there... I'll ask her what areas there are and aren't good...

[texasjohn]

Thanks guys!

[CupraR-Rog]

Originally Posted by CupraR-Rog

Abergavenny's a good enough place - SWMBO's from there... I'll ask her what areas there are and aren't good...

Almost forgot about this thead... ... ...

SWMBO says to avoid Underhill and Heol Hamond (spelling may be wrong on those!) - basically the areas of Abergavenny that look to be a bit cheaper than the rest... they're cheaper for a reason!!

[texasjohn]

Cheers Rog, although I won't be moving to south Wales now, got a job in the midlands instead...