Could we have a debate on the celebration of the culture, heritage and natural beauty of the south Wales Valleys, and how these can contribute to the quality of life for residents and also act as an attraction for day visitors and tourists alike? Last Friday I was pleased to attend an event in the historic Nantymoel boys and girls club, which, thanks to a partnership between the Nantymoel boys and girls club and the Ogmore Valley community council, chaired by Leanne Hill, and Bridgend County Borough Council and others, has been totally regenerated with over £300,000-worth of investment, and has now become a community and heritage hub for the valley, in addition to the ongoing activities of young and old at the centre and the volunteer-run cafe, and much more. But the event celebrated the work of those and the hard-working Ogmore Valley local history society, and many other partners, to develop this hub and a dozen interpretation boards along the length of the beautiful Ogmore Valley cycle path from picturesque Blackmill to the awe-inspiring Bwlch mountains, telling the stories of our people and our communities. 

What strikes me, Minister, is how often these Glamorgan Valleys of the Garw, Ogmore and Gilfach are overlooked in the tourism brochures and the glossy promotions, yet are rich in interest for local people and for visitors, and hold the potential for developing real pride in where we come from, and jobs as well from people who come to cycle, walk and breathe the clean air, and stay a while, as we tell them the hidden stories of Iolo Morganwg, the Glamorgan poet and eisteddfodist, and Lynn 'the leap' Davies, who conquered the world in the long jump in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, using his familiarity with the atrocious conditions of wind and rain to outjump the world champions at the time. A debate would allow us, Minister, to explore how we can make more of the social and economic potential of these deep veins of history and fables, and how Welsh Government can help us tell the story of the Valleys to a far wider audience, to benefit us and to benefit Wales as well.