Islwyn is a varied constituency, comprising a series of beautiful Welsh Gwent Valleys communities, and it contains both the wonder of the natural lush mountainous landscapes of Wales with the harsh realities of society continuing to tackle the challenges of deindustrialisation: the loss of its mining and steel communities and the propensity for respiratory ill-health, with the Wales indices of multiple deprivation data to underpin and accompany such harsh socioeconomic diversity. So, as a child of Islwyn, I'm incredibly proud to represent this constituency here in the National Assembly for Wales, the Welsh Parliament.

I have championed, as have many, many causes, but one of the most important to me has been the work of the Welsh Labour Government's Valleys taskforce, and this is because it has both opportunity and potential to truly transform the lives of some of the most diverse communities in Wales. So I would like to thank the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, and the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Lee Waters, for the high priority that they have continued to give to ensure that the Valleys taskforce remains one of the most important ongoing projects of the Welsh Labour Government. 

Just last week, the Welsh Labour Government announced that Cwmcarn forest drive constitutes one of the five Gwent sites named as discovery gateways that will share more than £2 million Valleys taskforce funding. I have consistently pushed here and in private for Cwmcarn forest drive to be fully reopened to its former glory, and this continues to be a priority for me and for my constituents. National Resources Wales are now committed to reopening the Cwmcarn forest drive fully by Easter 2020 because it is one of the natural jewels of nature that has been bestowed on Wales. And I know that the Minister for culture was visiting there recently, and he knows it is imperative that Cwmcarn forest drive is opened for Wales and the world again as a must-visit destination. 

In our age of climate emergency, where the appreciation and value of our natural landscape has never, ever been greater, we know that family and friends want to spend their days outside. We know more than ever the value of getting outside for our mental health. Days spent exploring the natural landscapes of Islwyn will benefit our local communities and all those who visit. So, I'll say to Members present in the Chamber: come and visit our sites across Islwyn, in terms of Twmbarlwm tump, ancient sites like the scenic drive, the Gwythen and Sirhowy valleys—they are of great importance.

The nearly £0.5 million of Welsh Labour Government investment looks to maximise community use, with the promise of a shared space at the Cwmcarn scenic drive, the lifelong learning office space with Wi-Fi for community use, the development of landscape interpretation points and discovery trails, and it's essential that the magnificent natural beauty of Cwmcarn forest drive is fully utilised by frequent and meaningful engagement by the public with the needed access to do so. So, this is further evidence of an ambitious programme of renewal for the Valleys and for Islwyn by a Welsh Labour Government determined to revitalise the landscape and the people we serve. 

Finally, Llywydd, tomorrow evening, I will be attending a meeting of the Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive at the infamous Cwmcarn Working Men's Club and Institute, and some ongoing engagement and dialogue with people living and working in the Valleys will be critical to ensuring that the taskforce's laudable goals are met and superseded. And so I will continue to work closely with the people of Islwyn and the Welsh Labour Government and the Minister to ensure that, together, we maximise the prosperity of our great Welsh landscapes and Valleys towns, not just for every single individual here, but for all of our future generations.