Improvements to public transport were at the top of the agenda when the Valleys Taskforce met recently in Caerphilly County Borough.
The taskforce – a Welsh Government initiative aimed at tackling poverty and deprivation in the South Wales Valleys – met at Lewis School Pengam.
Its aim is to help create around 7,000 jobs by 2021.
The eighth meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys was a chance for the group to explore transport issues facing Valleys communities and learn more about how the latest developments in rail and bus transport, including the development of the South Wales Metro,could help address them.
Transport was one of the most commonly-raised issues by the public when the taskforce took evidence from Valleys communities in drawing up its ‘Our Valleys, Our Future’ delivery plan,which was published in November last year.
Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies AM,who chairs the taskforce ,said: “We believe connectivity is key to supporting economic growth and building stronger communities.
“This meeting was a great opportunity to discuss with taskforce members the actions we are taking to improve infrastructure in the area, not only through the South Wales Metro project,but also from our wider actions on public transport which will in turn improve the economic growth for the Valleys region.”
He added that the South Wales Metro will not only improve links between communities,but it will also allow easier access to jobs and services for residents.
Ken Skates,Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, who is a member of the taskforce, said: “We are moving forward with our vision of an integrated transport system, by looking to reshape public transport infrastructure and services across Wales.
“We will soon have rail franchising powers,so that we can,for the first time, specify and set Wales and Borders rail services.
“We are also securing the transfer of the Valley Lines north of Cardiff Queen Street, where we can separate operation from the South Wales Main Line, enabling us to deliver the next phase of the South Wales Metro.
“We are also looking at reforming the planning and delivery of local bus services in Wales which should lead to a real tangible improvement for people in Valleys communities.”
The fact that infrastructure in the valleys has not kept pace with the growth in population and increase in housing developments is a big part of our problems
( Which is attributable to all parties in government ).
We had all the major industries like coal; iron and steel,but I have always been of the mind that we should have benefitted from the wealth created by these.
However,the truth is Cardiff got the wealth and the valleys were left with the ill health
That is the big issue that the Cardiff government will not address. You cannot continue building houses in the valleys, which have few jobs, without overwhelming your transport infrastructure.
How are we going to fund this? More labour false promises. We need better transport links but we also need better jobs here in the valley. Why should Cardiff have all the jobs.