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More than one in ten scheduled monuments in Wales are at risk, estimates from Cadw show.

One of those monuments is the Grade II* listed Ruperra Castle, near Draethen.

Built in 1626, the castle has been left in ruin since December 6, 1941, when a fire tore through it.

This week, Senedd Members will debate whether or not to make conservation management plans compulsory for scheduled monuments like Ruperra Castle.

The debate will take place in the Senedd from 4.20pm on Wednesday October 18.

Visit Senedd.tv to watch the debate live

It comes after a petition by the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust, which called for such plans to be made compulsory, drew more than 10,500 signatures.

Senedd Members in favour of compulsory conservation management plans argue it could help save at-risk monuments.

There are currently 4,229 designated scheduled monuments in Wales. Of these, around 600 are thought to be at risk due to damage and disrepair.

The Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust, which was set up to try and protect the privately-owned castle, has warned that without intervention, it will “deteriorate further and soon be lost”.

Local Senedd Members from across the political divide have voiced their support for the conservation management plans to be made compulsory.

Ahead of the debate, Caerphilly’s Labour MS, Hefin David, said: “I agree that making conservation management plans compulsory for scheduled monuments at risk would help to [preserve the castle].

“This petition, organised and delivered through the hard work of volunteers at Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust, will now be debated on the floor of the Senedd.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the campaign and its aims with the Welsh Government and more widely.”

Meanwhile, Conservative MS Natasha Asghar, who represents South Wales East, paid tribute to the efforts of Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust members and said it “broke my heart” seeing the 17th century castle in “such a state of disrepair”.

Ms Asghar continued: “Making conservation management plans compulsory would be a great place to start when it comes to protecting important sites like Ruperra Castle.

“During the debate, I will be pushing for the Welsh Government to reconsider its position because it’s imperative these historic sites are preserved for future generations.”

The campaigners also received praise from Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell, another of South Wales East’s four regional Senedd Members.

Speaking of the campaigner’s efforts, Ms Jewell said: “They have worked so hard to keep this issue in the forefront of people’s minds. The culmination of their campaign has resulted in the Senedd debating this petition. 

“If the Welsh Government, Cadw and other decision makers would make conservation management plans compulsory for historic monuments it would have far reaching consequences for the cultural heritage of Wales, not just Ruperra Castle, and throughout the Caerphilly borough.”