8. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services: The Valleys Regional Park

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 16 October 2018.

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Photo of Suzy Davies Suzy Davies Conservative 5:41, 16 October 2018

Okay. Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Just briefly, then, we're not finished on top trumps with ironworks—I'm going to raise you all with Neath ironworks. But I do it very specifically, because, of course, there's no mention of co-production in the prospectus itself, but it does refer to community stewardship, and I really hope that you will look on the Neath and Dulais valleys as good candidates for gateways—as examples where community stewardship of natural and cultural heritage assets are very apparent. And, of course, an area where tourism—part of the Valleys taskforce work—can be developed in a way that is mutually beneficial for the well-being of residents and for the economy, without Disneyfying what the offer is there.

You have the example of the Dyfi biosphere before you, Cabinet Secretary, about where that balance is achievable. It's internationally recognised and there may be some lessons we can learn down south from that as well. So, my primary question is: where will these grass-roots bodies, while responsible for community stewardship, get access to these funds? Is it all just to be spent at strategic level?

And then, I wonder if you could answer a question that Dai Lloyd raised, but you didn't answer at the time about cross-Government working. Because we have a situation in Neath at the moment, where there have been some deficiencies or difficulties and an inability for Welsh Government to spend money on restoring the Cefn Coed headframes at the mining museum there. Is the strategy you're talking about able to backfill problems like that or should we not be looking for money from this source to disguise the deficiencies elsewhere? Thank you.