HC Deb 19 April 1989 vol 151 cc190-3W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the projects in the Cynon valley which are currently receiving funding under the valleys initiative; and from which budget or funds they are being supported.

Mr. Peter Walker

[holding answer 17 April 1989]: The hon. Lady will be delighted that this is a lengthy reply.

The following projects and activities in the Cynon valley have benefited in 1988–89 or will benefit under the key programmes and initiatives identified in "The Valleys: A Progamme for the People":

Welsh Development Agency (WDA) Programmes

Five Cynon valley projects have been supported to date under the new valleys small loan scheme and valleys enterprise loan scheme. Current WDA research on component supply includes a pilot project involving a Cynon valley based company.

Nine potential Cynon valley small businesses registered for a "Be Your Own Boss" course held in September 1988.

The advance factory and workshop programme includes the following projects which are currently under way:

  • Four 5,000 sq ft factories currently under construction at Aberaman
  • Site redevelopment at Hirwaun
  • Landscaping schemes at the Hirwaun industrial estate.

Discussions are taking place with Cynon valley borough council on providing additional small factories and valley workshops. Projects expected to go ahead in 1989–90 are 20,000 sq ft of small units at Hirwaun and sewer replacement in the same location.

The land reclamation programme includes schemes currently under way at:

  • Cwmcynon/Deep Duffryn (95 acres)
  • Graig y Dyffryn Tip (70 acres)
  • Abercwmboi tip (4 acres)

A further six schemes involving 300 acres are planned for future years.

The agency is supporting environmental improvement schemes at:

  • Bryntirion
  • Mount Pleasant street
  • Bryn Cynon club
  • Dare valley
  • Railway link—Monk street to Brynmawr
  • Victoria hall, Aberdare
  • Gap site, Abercwmboi
  • Riverside walk, Hirwaun
  • Robertstown, Aberdare
  • Abercynon

The Welsh Development Agency's renewal unit carried out a development study of Mountain Ash in 1988–89 jointly with the relevant local authorities. Following this the Welsh Development Agency's urban renewal programme includes support for:

  • Mountain Ash town square improvements
  • Landscaping on southern approach to Mountain Ash town centre
  • Feasibility study of a proposal to build 35,000 sq ft industrial workshop space at Mountain Ash
  • New footbridge construction at Mountain Ash

With the assistance of increased Welsh Development Agency funding in 1989–90 the Prince of Wales Committee is supporting:

  • Restoration of Tyle Morgug farmhouse Rhigos for use as activity centre
  • Restoration of Darwonno farm—phase II

Welsh Office support for industry and enterprise

During 1988–89, 69 projects in the Cynon Valley received offers of assistance under the regional selective assistance, regional development grant and regional enterprise grant schemes.

Local enterprise agency services were strengthened in 1988–89 by the establishment with Welsh Office support of a "One Stop Shop" scheme to be run by MADE and a new computer data base for MADE.

Export clinics will be held in the Cynon Valley area 1989–90. Approximately 50 companies will be invited to attend.

Training Agency programmes

The Training Agency provided more than 1,100 places in the Cynon Valley in 1988–89 under the youth training scheme, employment training, adult training and wider opportunities for women.

Urban Programme

Welsh Office urban programme allocations made in 1988–89 and for 1989–90 include the following projects in the Cynon valley:

  • Appointment of field development officer for the hearing impaired.
  • Aberdare craft and youth enterprise centre
  • An integrated approach to children in trouble
  • Access road, Ynysboeth industrial estate, Abercynon phase 2
  • Conversion of Gadlys/SWEB buildings into youth enterprise centre.
  • Cynon valley women's aid
  • Litter abatement scheme
  • Housebound library scheme
  • Aberdare pedestrianisation scheme
  • Interpretation and tourism project, Dare valley country park
  • Business centre/enterprise centre Aberdare
  • Home improvement agency service
  • Library service scheme for Fernhill and Penywaun
  • Enterprise development workshop scheme—Cwmbach
  • Provision of community alarm system for elderly
  • Provision of grants and loans within industrial and commercial improvement areas
  • Provision of a community centre at Penywaun
  • Repairs to Coliseum theatre, Trecynon, Aberdare
  • Seed capital for new businesses
  • Cynon Valley MIND support and development project
  • Pedestrianisation of main shopping areas in town centre
  • Landscaping around by-pass and major roads
  • Development of respite care and family link scheme
  • Cynon valley community support unit
  • Environmental improvements to adjoining highways in Aberdare
  • Conversion to business units of the former station buildings, Aberdare
  • Provision of community centre, Fernhill, Mountain Ash
  • Salaries and running costs for the MADE business centre, Aberdare
  • Three nursery factory units at Aberaman
  • Refurbishment of Cwmamman public hall and institute
  • Establishment of Cynon valley groundwork trust
  • Purchase of equipment for Cynon valley Disabled Alliance sports section

Urban Development Grant

Welsh Office gave final approval of two projects for Urban Development Grant support in 1988–89:

  • Development of 19 low-cost houses at Aberarnan.
  • Redevelopment of Park Cinema, Aberdare for shop and office premises.

Welsh Office support for housing

In 1988–89 the Welsh Office approved special allocations for the following enveloping schemes:

  • Wyndham crescent, Aberaman—114 houses
  • John street, Abercwmboi—71 houses
  • Glanlay street, Penrhiwceiber—82 houses
  • Carnetown, Abercynon—191 houses
  • King street/Queen street, Cwmdae—88 houses

Approval in principle has been given for a further three schemes to be undertaken for renovation of some 160 dwellings in 1989–90.

Welsh Office support for health and social services

A 40-bed unit for elderly people at Aberdare general hospital is programmed to start in July 1989 with completion anticipated in early 1991 with the assistance of 50 per cent. Welsh Office funding.

Diabetic liaison nurse care of the elderly in Merthyr Tydfil and Cynon valley was approved under the elderly initiative grant scheme in 1988–89.

Prince of Wales Committee tree and bulb planting campaign

With the assistance of Welsh Office support under the special grants (environmental) programme the Prince of Wales Committee organised the following schemes in 1988–89:

  • Railway Halt, Aberdare (Aberdare and District Civic Society)
  • Cwmbach church school
  • Cwmbach infant school
  • Hirwaun junior school

This is not a comprehensive list of activities. Further projects are being considered under the headings listed above. In addition the area stands to benefit from initiatives which have a wider geographical coverage and from other ongoing main programmes.