6. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government: Supporting our Town Centres

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:13 pm on 28 January 2020.

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Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 6:13, 28 January 2020

I think the Member won brownie points with Jack Sargeant when the mention of Connah's Quay got into your speech then. Just in terms of the points about the challenges that face our high streets, there are many similar challenges, not just in Wales, but right across the UK. You're absolutely right that we need to work across Government with the Minister for finance and the Minister for economy, because it's not in isolation, it needs to be done across the piece.

You talked about reassurances for residents and retailers in your constituency and your region. I think what is important is that the communities have a stake in any developments, which is why, as I've emphasised today, there's a need to actually have that community buy-in and the ideas to be driven from the grass roots up, rather than it's something that's done to people and places. So, it's how we can support local authorities and town and community councils to do that.

It's about actually identifying projects to come forward; it's for local authorities to try and identify projects, but I'd want to involve as many stakeholders as possible and to make sure that we have avenues for the community to have a say in that. Like I said, you can give resources or grants or loan funding, but to actually sustain the success of a community or a town centre that needs to have the involvement and the buy-in of not just retailers, but of residents, of town councillors, of everybody across the piece to make it successful well into the future.