Bright Future for Afan Valley Says MP
11th August 2008
Aberavon MP Dr Hywel Francis is optimistic about the future of the Afan Valley in his constituency.
Dr Francis said,
"During visits and meetings I have had in the Afan Valley over the past year I have been greatly encouraged by the way in which local communities, the Local Authority and various Agencies have all been working together to build a better future for the Valley.
Dr Hywel Francis MP at Oakwood with one of the historic Pontrhydyfen Viaducts in the background
The re-building through substantial funding of the South Wales Miners' Museum, the continuing success for the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre, the growing popularity of the Afan Argoed Country Park along with cycle developments encouraged by Sustrans and the community organisation, 'Cwm' are all testimony to a Valley that is rapidly transforming itself.
My campaign to designate the Valley an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' has been the subject of recent discussions I have had with the Council Leader, Councillor Derek Vaughan."
Dr Francis added,
"I am delighted to announce that I have commissioned the Bevan Foundation to undertake a research project in the Autumn to examine how leisure and tourism is transforming the Afan Valley and to explore new ways forward by learning from neighbouring valleys and other similar regions in the world such as Appalachia in the USA.
The vision of our Local Authority, Neath Port Talbot County Borough council, with its recent Valleys Strategy is crucial to the success of the locality."
