Life expectancy is low

The latest life expectancy figures show that people living in some parts of the south Wales Valleys are at the most risk of dying younger than their counterparts in other areas.

Merthyr and Blaenau Gwent have been ranked in the bottom 10 of the latest life expectancy tables compiled by the Office for National Statistics.

A leading specialist in social sciences has blamed poverty and unemployment as the cause.

The average age for a woman living in Merthyr to survive to is 77-and-a-half years old.

Men in the same area can expect to live until the age of 72 years and 8 months.

In Blaenau Gwent, men on average live until 72.7 years and women reach 78.1 years.

The areas of Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr have lost the good jobs that the communities were built on Professor Gareth Williams, Cardiff University

"You don't need to be much of an expert to realise why these figures are as they are," said Professor Gareth Williams, director of research in Cardiff University's school of social sciences.

"It is to do with the effect of long term industrial decline.

"The areas of Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr have lost the good jobs that the communities were built on.

"Any employment opportunities now are low paid and it is difficult for people to build a future.

"These areas have among the worst possible employment levels.

"The educational attainment is very low - there are low levels of educational qualification and high levels of people leaving school before their GCSEs.

"As a result, they are unable to have any decent opportunities in the job market," he said.

Transport

He cited lack of transport as another contributory factor to the employment problem.

"Even if there were job opportunities in other areas, the public transport isn't very accessible and people need transport to get to work.

"These areas have some of the lowest levels of car ownership in the UK and they don't have the access to public transport.

"As a consequence, people can become socially excluded," he said.

Professor Williams said that inadequate support systems also added to the problem.

"What has happened in the last 15-years or so is that the support systems - the health and welfare systems have declined.

"The welfare state was badly damaged in the 1980s.

There are very high levels of people in these areas visiting their GP with signs of depression and anxiety Professor Gareth Williams, Cardiff University

"These kinds of support systems are vital to these areas.

"When you put together, low work opportunities, poor educational achievement and a lack of adequate public transport - it is really hard for people to pull themselves out of it.

"It is difficult for people to turn things around.

"The long term psychological effect of these problems also plays a part.

"There are very high levels of people in these areas visiting their GP with signs of depression and anxiety," he said.

Professor Williams believes financial investment is the main solution to the problems faced by people in the region.

"I think money is important. There has got to be the investment into these areas to create opportunities for work for people," he said.