Indifference towards Valleys

THE BBC Wales revelation that the Communities First scheme launched in 2002 to help the 100+ most deprived areas of Wales is to end next year comes as no surprise to the many voluntary organisations that have benefited from the scheme.

Almost since its inception, Welsh Government officials and departments have been anxious to erode its benefits, always claiming that the money could be spent elsewhere.

Whatever they had in mind, and ideas are seldom expounded by those who sit in Cardiff Bay, it certainly didn’t include anything to do with improving the quality of life for those living in the Valleys, euphemistically defined as those embarrassing parts of Wales that WAG traditionally is powerless to do anything about so there’s not much point in even trying!

Whatever benefits have been distributed to the Valleys are always the first to be kicked into touch whenever financial storm clouds bubble up.

Before anyone asks “what does he know about Wales?” or accuses me of prejudice, let me say that in recent months I’ve talked or corresponded with men and women who were all born and lived for up to 50 years between Aberdare and Pontypridd who moved to live and work in Glasgow, Coleraine, Newcastle, Manchester and Kent.

The unanimous verdict was that their quality of life had been immeasurably improved and, as much as they loved Wales and were proud to be Welsh, they would not consider returning. Food for thought, eh?

WAG’s indifference to the Valleys is repeated by those who supply their rail services. How else does one explain that at peak rush hours for commuters and other travellers, Valley trains consist of only two carriages so that hundreds of working folk are left crushed, standing or left on platforms?

Noting the NHS debacle, the decline of most of our smaller towns and with the full effects of Brexit still waiting to bite, we shall await WAG’s responses – if only out of sheer curiosity!

JK Palmer Mountain Ash