Port Talbot Stories Part II - Hitting the Street

So, I had a narrative, I had a rough idea how to approach the project - now it was time to get my camera out. I’d visited the guys in the Archive Trust in Ebbw Vale, but it was time to hit the streets of Port Talbot. Looking back now, it feels quite a daunting prospect, even with the benefit of hindsight! I had visited Port Talbot previously to visit the steelworks whilst working on the Ebbw Vale project, but this was the first time I had spent more time there. 

My training and background means that I tend to notice the built environment first, so most of my first observations were around those aspects.

I arrived by train, at about 9:20am, and didn’t have a firm plan as to what to do. I knew I wanted to photograph the Plaza, and also take a walk down to Taibach and Margam. My plan was to get my bearings and a sense of Port Talbot as a place, it’s surroundings and start to find my way around.

So, my first encounter was the new station and Station Square, which had recently been completed. I vaguely remember the way that area used to look, with the level crossing. I know there’s some practical issues, but the overall result looks good, giving you a sense of arrival in the town. It also provides a space for events like the local food market that has happened recently.

By necessity, most of my visits to Port Talbot are by train, and then on foot or bike, so I’ve really been able to experience the town at that level, which I think is much more revealing than when driving around. From Margam to Baglan, The town covers a relatively large area, so I’ve covered some miles, and usually run out of steam by mid afternoon!

It’s worth noting that my project is not really a street photography project - mainly because I wanted it to be deeper; and that’s not intended to disrespect Street Photographers, but I wanted to form a connection with my subjects and their lives. I also wanted to document the built and natural environment, to create a complete record of Port Talbot in the early 21st century. So, lots of walking.

My first sense was that Port Talbot has been divided by town & transport planners over the years. Not so much by the railway, as it’s has been there for much longer, and despite its huge effects environmentally and visually, even the M4 has little practical impact on pedestrian movement because it is elevated. It’s the local main roads and connections which split the town up, making it hard to navigate on foot and encouraging car use, which is a shame. This is sadly very common in the UK, and probably many other countries. Happily, we are starting to see a change of approach and I like to think we live in different times now, and that future transport might be planned on a more human level.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a still relatively thriving town centre with plenty of independent shops and cafe’s. I know for many residents, the town is not what it was, but, you know, I think it’s doing ok, perhaps despite the large supermarket right in the centre! Or maybe that pulls people in?

I was quickly struck by the friendliness of people - I’ll be honest, I was uncertain how I would be received, especially with a camera! But, I’ve quickly grown to feel a real connection with the place and its people - I’ve been welcomed, and I think people are generally interested and enthusiastic about what I’m doing. 

You can’t help but be struck by the drama of the environment. Mountains on one side, the sea on the other and a thundering great steelworks in between. I grew up in times when there was much more industry to see, and I vaguely remember Wales being much more industrialised. I found myself wanting to get high up and seek interesting perspectives of the place. On that first visit, I climbed to the top of a pile of rubble on the works side of the railway line, and managed to get a better idea of the lay of the land. Since then, I’ve climbed a couple of mountains and revelled in what lies below.

So I wandered around, managed to speak to a few people and even get some useful shots, but after a couple of visits, I started to wonder how I would really get under the skin of this place. If I was to stand any chance of completing my project, I needed a way in… In the next instalment I’ll describe what that was.