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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Bethan McKernan Wales correspondent

Eerie silence and ‘still surviving’: what happened next after steel town’s last blast furnace shut down

A worker in protective clothing works at the blast furnace
Jon Pountney was one of two photographers to witness the final days inside Tata’s last blast furnace. Photograph: Jon Pountney

Margaret Heggett, 95, does not remember a time when Port Talbot was ever quiet. Born and raised in the shadow of the steelworks, with a father, brother and husband who worked there, she never imagined what the town could look or sound like without its blast furnaces.

“I’m not saying it was beautiful, but there were jobs. We did know the closure was coming and we have to move with the times but it’s affected the town a lot and it’s very sad,” she said.

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