10 Years Of The Wales Coast Path

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 25 January 2022.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:10, 25 January 2022

I completely agree with John Griffiths, Llywydd. It is a fantastic national asset. I well remember his involvement at the very beginning and, 10 years on, the Welsh Government want to build further on the achievement of the path, and we've asked Huw Irranca-Davies to lead a review of everything that the Wales coastal path has achieved so far and how we can make sure that its next 10 years are just as successful as the first 10, and to expand its use in different ways. I think the best way, as John Griffiths says, of celebrating the path is to use it, and to use it in all parts of Wales.

And could I say to John as well, Llywydd, that I think Newport County Borough Council does a fantastic job in promoting the 23 miles of the path that lie within the borough? The Newport wetlands centre is one of the places that has created one of those circular walks that John Griffiths referred to, and, as part of the celebration of the 10 years, there are plans to link the coastal path to the Sirhowy valley walk, the Usk valley walk, and to do more to bring children and young people out to celebrate it. We've been talking about the centenary of the Urdd already; it's over 1,000 years, Llywydd, since Gerallt Gymro, Gerald of Wales, described part of where the coastal path in Newport runs as 'glittering with a wonderful brightness', and, if we can bring a bit of that wonderful brightness to celebrate the coastal path during this year, I'm certain that the success that John Griffiths set off 10 years ago will go on being celebrated right across our nation.