Hollywood star sings praises of Rhondda
HOLLYWOOD actor Michael Sheen has hailed the Rhondda Valleys as “one of the most extraordinary places in the world” as a bid is made to link the area through a cycle network.
Video footage of the star showcasing the natural beauty of the area has been released on social media in the hope that cyclists will get the chance to explore the stunning scenery for themselves.
The Twilight Saga actor, who has filmed across South Wales, speaks passionately about the location in the clip.
Mr Sheen said he believed it was an “exciting” project which could be made to work for the people of Wales.
He said: “It’s one of the most extraordinary places in the world.
“All you have to do is look at the landscape here and look at this incredible mountain, this would be the entrance to the tunnel.
“You can tell what the potential is a project like this to be able to open up the Afan Valley to the Valley here, almost two miles of tunnel that could be a bike path, a walking path – the potential for the tourist industry here is enormous.”
He said it was equally as important to create the infrastructure for it and create projects to ensure people could enjoy the beautiful place.
“Everywhere I went I was blown away by the natural beauty and how much it’s changed now its open scars have healed,” he added.
“And how much the people in these areas and in these towns are being let down by not having the potential of their home and their country work for them – and how can you bring the two things together.
“It seems clear there is an obvious path forward and a project like the Rhondda Tunnel seems to me to be doing exactly the right thing to bring all that together. It’s amazing to come here on a day like today and really see what could happen here, it’s very, very exciting indeed.”
The Rhondda Tunnel Society’s vision is to reopen the disused Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Tunnel, reconnecting the communities of the Rhondda and Afan Valleys as a pedestrian and cycling route.
If the scheme comes to fruition it will become the longest tunnel in Europe and second longest in the world for walking and cycling.