Have your say on plan to boost South West Wales

Views are wanted on a plan to help reach a goal for South West Wales to become a more enterprising, ambitious and carbon-friendly region by 2035.

The draft corporate plan developed by the Corporate Joint Committee for South West Wales sets out a vision for the region along with measures to best realise it in the coming years.

Among the measures are the production of regional transport and strategic development plans to better connect the region’s communities and maximise the potential of regional growth opportunities to leave a long-term legacy for future generations.

The delivery of regional energy and economic development plans would also help further decarbonise the region, seeking to exploit the benefits of the emerging floating offshore wind sector and related developments in carbon capture and hydrogen technologies.

This has the potential to create thousands more green and secure jobs to benefit local people and local businesses.

The draft corporate plan and a series of questions are now available here for residents, businesses and other organisations in Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and beyond to give feedback by Wednesday March 8.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Chairman of the Corporate Joint Committee for South West Wales, said: “Our goal is to create a decarbonised region that’s prosperous and well-connected with as many well-paid job opportunities as possible for local people.

“Building on City Deal investment in projects throughout South West Wales and the strong track record we have in partnership working, the vision and objectives outlined in this draft corporate plan are aimed at further boosting our region over the next decade or so.

“All residents and businesses across the region stand to benefit from the work on energy, economic development, strategic development and transport we’ll be carrying out, so it’s important we take people’s views on board before taking next steps.

“That’s why I’d encourage people to take a look at the consultation that’s now live and fill out the questionnaire that’s available to ensure all feedback is taken into account.”

All responses to the consultation will be considered before an updated draft plan goes to the Corporate Joint Committee for approval in March.

Formally constituted in January 2022, the Corporate Joint Committee for South West Wales includes the Leaders of Carmarthenshire Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire Council and Swansea Council, as well as senior representatives of The Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire National Park authorities.

Introduced by the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, it’s one of four such bodies established in Wales.