Press Release: NEATH AM WELCOMES NEW REGENERATION INITIATIVES IN NEATH

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has today welcomed the announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government that Communities in Neath will benefit from an extra £582,000 of Communities First funding.

The funding, which was announced by the Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews AM today, means that three new areas in Neath will now join the the Communities First programme.

The inclusion of these areas follows their identification in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005 as being in the 10% most deprived communities in Wales, but currently without Communities First Status.

A new partnership will be created in the Neath North ward covering the town centre area. Similarly a new partnership has been created in Neath South.

The funding will pay for professional staff to work with the community to develop new community projects and to build existing regeneration initiatives.

GWENDA THOMAS AM said:

"I'm very pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government has made this extra money available for regeneration initiatives in Neath town centre and for communities in the Neath south ward. This announcement today, and the £80m regeneration of Neath town centre already announced by Neath Port Talbot council is a significant and welcome boost for the town.

"Excellent examples of how the Communities First initiative has benefited communities in Neath are all too visible in Fairyland and in the Melyn, where people have come together to make a real, lasting and positive difference to their communities.

The Deputy Minister, LEIGHTON ANDREWS AM said:

“The funding I’ve announced will enable Communities First to become established in these areas in preparation for Communities Next – the second phase of the Welsh Assembly Government’s community regeneration programme.”