New survey reveals Blaenau Gwent dissatisfaction

Just 24% of people in Blaenau Gwent think their local council provides high quality services, half the all Wales figure of 48% Credit: National Survey for Wales

The day after the Welsh Government decided not to back the proposed Circuit of Wales investment in Blaenau Gwent, a new survey has revealed how far people living in the area feel left behind. The National Survey for Wales asked people about their lives, communities and public services.

One question was how satisfied they were with their local area as a place to live. Blaenau Gwent had the lowest percentage.

  • Blaenau Gwent 66% satisfied

  • Wales average 85% satisfied

The highest figure was 92% in Ceredigion. Some of Blaenau Gwent's neighbours -Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Newport and Merthyr Tydfil- had the next lowest figures but they were all about 80%.

Blaenau Gwent Council was particularly badly rated, with just 24% of local people saying it provided high quality services, that's half the Welsh average of 48%. Conwy was highest at 61%.

Much of the vast range of data about health, education, the environment and details of how people live their lives is still being analysed. But one other figure released today is how people rate the Welsh Government itself. It got an average mark of 5.6 out of 10.

  • The National Survey for Wales was commissioned by the Welsh Government and carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  • Over 10.000 randomly-selected Welsh adults took part in the 2016-17 survey. It cost £1.8 million.