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Upper Rhymney Valley residents are being asked for their views on how money should be spent in their area.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Integrated Wellbeing Network has a fund to spend on improving the lives and health of people in areas such as Rhymney, Pontlottyn, Abertysswg and Fochriw.

Now, residents are being invited to get involved in ‘Upper Rhymney Valley Decides’ over the next few months. 

Residents can fill out a questionnaire and identify three things that need to be addressed to improve their health and wellbeing.

Following this, there will be a public meeting where residents can prioritise the issues raised in the questionnaire. 

Ultimately, a community panel will be elected from residents who will act in the area’s interests.

This panel will be responsible for calling for projects that address the issues raised and then help monitor and supervise the initiatives which will be set up after a public vote. 

This process aims to give “the community control over where and how this money is spent”, according to the health board.

The Upper Rhymney Valley is an area with “significant levels of deprivation” according to a report on wellbeing conducted by the Gwent Public Services Board. 

The report added that 30.9% of residents in the Upper Rhymney Valley said that their health was fair, bad or very bad compared with an average of 25.2% across Caerphilly County Borough. 

The questionnaire can be completed online. 

This article was updated on January 17 to reflect that New Tredegar is not part of the funding area.