§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will identify those developments in the Rhymney valley which he considers to be directly and exclusively the result of his valleys initiative.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe following projects and activities, which formed part of the key programmes and initiatives identified in "The Valleys: A Programme for the People", have benefited Rhymney valley in 1988–89 and 1989–90.
353WWelsh Development Agency (WDA) programmes
Rhymney valley projects have been supported to date under the new valleys small loan scheme and the valleys enterprise loan scheme.
The advance factory and workshop programme includes the following projects which are recently completed or nearing completion:
Two x 3,000 sq ft factories and two 5,000 sq ft factories at the Heads of the Valleys industrial estate.One x 10,000 sq ft factory at the Penallta industrial estate.The Following bespoke factories have been recently completed or are nearing completion at the Heads of the Valleys industrial estate:
- A 16,500 sq ft extension to the Massilly UK Ltd. factory.
- A 10,000 sq ft extension to the Britcair Ltd. factory.
- A 75,000 sq ft new factory for Klockner Pentapack Ltd.
Further developments are proposed at the Heads of the Valleys industrial estate, Penallta and New Tredegar. Work will commence on the provision of 20,000 sq ft of workshops at the Bowen industrial estate in the spring of 1990.
The land reclamation programme includes six schemes totalling 58 acres currently under way at:
- Windsor colliery 1 and 2
- Bedwas colliery surfaces
- Berth Gron quarry
- Bedwas colliery tips
- Groesfaen remedial works
- St. Cenydd school
A further 15 schemes involving over 500 acres are planned for future years.
The agency is supporting environmental improvement schemes at:
- Dafydd Williams park, Caerphilly
- Nelson square
- Llanbradach
A further eight schemes are planned throughout the Rhymney valley in the coming years.
The Welsh Development Agency's urban renewal unit are currently undertaking the following projects:
Environmental improvements to:
- New Tredegar
- Caerphilly town centre
- Ystrad Mynach
- Rhymney town centre
Environmental action plans are being prepared for New Tredegar, Rhymney-Pontlottyn and the Aber valley.
Welsh Office Support for Industry
During 1988–89, 49 projects in the Rhymney valley received offers of RDG II and 13 projects received offers of regional selective assistance or regional enterprise grant with associated investment costs of £19.4 million and the prospect of some 1,000 jobs.
During 1989–90, to the end of October, two projects have received offers of RDG II and 11 projects received offers of regional selective assistance or regional enterprise grant with associated investment costs of £7.3 million and the prospect of some 200 jobs.
Urban Programme
Welsh Office urban programme allocations made in 1988–89 and for 1989–90 include the following projects in the Rhymney valley:
- Redevelopment of Bargoed bus station
- Provision of small workshops, Dyffryn industrial estate
- Provision of small workshops, Lawn industrial estate
- Provision of grants and loans within commercial and industrial improvements areas
- Valley youth enterprise centre, Tredomen workshops
- Provision of workshop units at Bowen industrial estate
- Provision of headquarters for Pontlottyn boys club
- Improvements to Bargoed citizens advice bureau
354 - Rhymney valley environmental clean-up campaign
- Rhymney valley enterprise agency
- Tyr-y-Berth IT centre
- Rhymney valley handicapped transport association
- Rhymney valley home start
- Restoration of Llancaiach Fawr
- Construction of community centre at Phillipstown, New Tredegar
- Refurbishment of Ystrad Mynach boys club
- Dial-a-ride Rhymney valley
- Grants and loans in Rhymney and Pontlottyn commercial improvement areas.
Urban Development Grant
Welsh Office gave final approval of one project for UDG support in 1988–89:Development of 23 houses at Cambrian street/Hill street, Rhymney. Since the scheme's introduction in April 1989 urban investment grant has been awarded for the conversion of the former Whitbread brewery in Rhymney into 32,000 sq ft of office space.Welsh Office Support for Housing
In 1988–89 the Welsh Office approved special allocations for the following enveloping schemes:
Brithdir (185 houses)Various block schemes throughout county (342 houses)In 1989–90, support has been given for block schemes at Pontlottyn involving 109 houses, and at various other locations throughout the county involving 181 houses.
Welsh Office Support for Health and Social Services
Support has been given to the community nursing in the valleys scheme, with two staff operational in the Rhymney valley, with the assistance of 50 per cent. Welsh Office funding.
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.