Neath East declared a renewal area

Plans to breathe a new lease of life into Neath East are under way after the community was officially declared as a Renewal Area.

Neath Port Talbot Council has secured renewal area status for the community, which will enable the authority to attract millions of pounds of investment to rejuvenate the area during the next ten years.

This is the third ward in the county borough to have been grant renewal area status since 2004. Leader of Council Ali Thomas said the Authority has secured £1.925m from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) for regeneration activities in Renewal Areas for 2010-11. "The Authority is committed to breathing a new lease of life into all its Renewal Areas for the benefit of all residents," he said.

Sandfields East and Aberavon became the first renewal area in 2004, with the Upper Amman Valley securing status in 2006.

Since 2004, the two areas have benefited from more than £10.2m from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and £880,000 in additional funding.

The Neath East Renewal Area, which will encompass 1800 properties, was declared in September and boundaries have been set, enabling the Council to make further bids to the Welsh Assembly to finance the planned work programme.

Last year, the Council, together with Consultants, Arthur Associates, carried out an assessment of the ward.
Councillor Thomas said: "We have studied the assessments and have taken on board the views of more than 100 residents who attended public exhibitions, which outlined future plans for the Neath East area. The Council, along with its partners and the community, has developed a range of objectives that establish a clear vision for the area. I am pleased to tell you that we are now in a position to commence these projects."

Through the declaration of this third Renewal Area, the authority aims to facilitate the creation of a sustainable local community for citizens to live, work and enjoy their leisure with high standards of housing, environment and improve quality of life for all people of all ages.

A designated team will provide day to day operational links from their London Road premises, which are now officially open to the public.

The team will work alongside other organisations in the area to deliver the programme, including Keep Wales Tidy, Communities First, South Wales Police, Fire Service, Care & Repair and Community Safety.

Neath Port Talbot Press Release, 12.01.2010