NEATH Port Talbot Council have approved three strategies designed to turn the borough in to a “nationally recognised destination with a high-quality, accessible offer of sport, heritage, arts and culture,” it has been announced.
The plans were approved at a monthly cabinet meeting, where members heard how the Neath Port Talbot Culture Strategy, Draft Heritage Strategy, and Destination Management Plan, have been developed after engagement with local communities and businesses.
The strategies are designed with the aim of helping the local authority and its partners to “conserve, improve and enjoy our stunning natural environment, treasure the Welsh language and actively engage with the rich sporting, cultural and industrial heritage of the area.”
The key themes of the strategy will include the continued celebration of new and old industries within communities, recognising the people who make up Neath Port Talbot, and employing the power of culture to support people’s health, fitness and wellness.
It also introduces the idea of a new 10-day comedy festival, that is in the early stages of development, and would build on the Neath Comedy festival reaching all parts of the borough.
Councillor Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing said: “Our culture and heritage shape who we are today. Together they form part of the DNA which makes our place and our people.
“Our culture and heritage are important in their own right, but the strategies recognise their potential for delivering a much wider range of benefits for improving wellbeing and quality of life, for nurturing talent and skills, for creating identity pride and for generating prosperity and opportunity.”
A council spokesperson added: “Delivering the strategies will require strong leadership, good governance and above all – close collaboration with partners. The Council will help to build a Cultural Partnership in Neath Port Talbot with local businesses, education providers and cultural and community leaders all playing important roles.
“One of the keys to success will be making Neath Port Talbot’s strong culture and heritage accessible, inclusive, and sustainable involving better interpretation and storytelling and protecting and preserving the area’s cultural and heritage assets.
“The strategies demand Neath Port Talbot’s story is told in Welsh, English and languages spoken by visitors to the area. We also want to explicitly mark the contribution and culture of people who have settled here from other places.”
Following a council presentation and scrutiny, members welcomed the plans though questioned how many members of staff would be required to deliver the strategies, adding that they would like further discussions around the management of sports facilities across the borough in the future.
The decision to pass the three strategies was later approved at the cabinet meeting held in September, and was passed unanimously by all members in attendance.
Councillor Jeremy Hurley added: “I dealt with the heritage scheme quite a lot prior to changing my role and I’d just like to feed back that the work they’ve done is absolutely superb, and the support that the heritage groups feel they have now from Neath Port Talbot is really appreciated.”
