Neath Guardian Column: 27 March 2008

I was delighted by the announcement made last week by the Labour Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Derek Vaughan of a further set of very exciting regeneration initiatives for Neath and the surrounding area.

Investment in the area will reach £100m, with an £80m redevelopment of the Town Centre being topped by a further announcement that the Milland Road area and land surrounding the Canal will also be developed, with Neath Railway Station and Victoria Gardens also in line for a significant revamp.

The regeneration of our towns and our valley communities is a top priority for both the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government and the Labour-led Neath Port Talbot Council. This was demonstrated last year by the appointment of the AM for the Rhondda, Leighton Andrews, as the Deputy Minister with specific responsibility for economic and community regeneration. In recent months, the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government has announced that the highly successful Communities First initiative has been extended further into Neath, in particular the Neath South and Cimla wards. The initiative has been a spectacular success in areas such as Fairyland and the Melyn.

As Neath's AM, I’m also determined to support Derek Vaughan and the council in its aim to rebuild the Gwyn Hall, so that Neath has the first class arts and cultural venue that it deserves. I’d also like to thank the Friends of the Gwyn Hall for all the work they are doing to ensure that the Gwyn Hall is returned to the people of Neath.

The Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government has also funded two housing renewal areas in Neath Port Talbot, which have proven to be highly successful. I was delighted to see that the Council are pressing ahead with plans to declare areas of the Neath East Ward, which includes Melincryddan, as a housing renewal area within the next year.

The strong partnership between the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government and the Labour-led Neath Port Talbot Council is allowing initiatives such as these to happen.

If you wish to contact me for any help and assistance that you feel I can provide you as your local Assembly Member, please do not hesitate to contact my constituency office in Pontardawe on 01792 869993 or e-mail gwenda.thomas@wales.gov.uk. You can also keep up-to-date with my activities as your AM by logging on to www.gwendathomas.com