Posted on: Thursday 25 April 2024
During 2023, the UK Government announced a £20 million allocation for Cwmbran Town Centre as part of their Long Term Plans (LTP) for town centres.
The latest step in developing that plan is the establishment of a Cwmbran Town Investment Board with the first meeting due to take place in May.
The largest proportion of the board is made up of local business and community representatives with representatives from the public sector including local politicians. The Board’s primary objective will be to develop the long-term plan and working closely with local people.
Louise Jones-Williams who is the Director at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre has accepted the role as the first Chairperson of the board. Louise has worked in the arts in South-East Wales for over 25 years and leads on the strategic business and creative direction of the organisation, fundraising as well as liaising with partners and networks to develop relationships and projects.
Cllr Joanne Gauden, the Executive Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration will be the council’s first representative to sit on the Board.
The £20 million LTP will ensure investment over a 10-year period to drive town centre improvements and unblock barriers to regeneration. The boundary for the investment includes Cwmbran Town Centre and adjacent neighbourhoods.
The 10-year vision will identify the longer-term priorities for the town and develop a 3-year investment plan which will be submitted to the UK Government before August 2024. A mix of capital and revenue funding will be used to support projects centred around 3 key investment themes:
- Safety and Security
- High Streets, Heritage and Regeneration
- Transport and Connectivity.
Members of the Cwmbran Town Investment Board
- Louise Jones-Williams, Director at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre
- Nick Thomas Symonds, MP
- Tegan Davies, Youth Member of Parliament
- Adam Martin, Director at Cwmbran Shopping Centre
- Richard Selby, Chairperson, Torfaen Economic Forum
- Gareth Waters, Torfaen Business Voice
- Mark Poulton, Chairperson, Cwmbran Trust
- Lauren Morse, business owner, Zero Waste Torfaen
- Cllr Joanne Gauden, Executive Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration, Torfaen Council
- Paul Biggs, Chief Inspector Neighbourhoods and Partnerships, Heddlu Gwent Police
- Aimi Morris, Operational Executive Director, Torfaen Voluntary Alliance
- Lloyd Hambridge, ABUHB Primary Care and Community Division
- Dan Coles, Vice Principal, Coleg Gwent
- Alan Brunt, Torfaen Strategic Housing Forum
Other representatives from community councils and the community sport sector are still to be confirmed.