South Wales towns need 'reasons to exist again' Published duration 13 March 2018

image copyright Wales News Service image caption Goodway wants towns like Barry to have a "vibrant" economy

Towns around Cardiff need "reasons to exist again" and "a new purpose" as politicians decide how to spend a £1.2bn south Wales economy boost.

Mr Goodway wants towns like Caerphilly and Barry to be "vibrant economies".

The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, signed off in March 2016, is to fund key infrastructure projects across south-east Wales including the £730m south Wales Metro.

But £495m is available to boost towns such as Bridgend, Maesteg and Pontypridd to become not just commuter or satellite towns for Cardiff.

"Unless we invent a new purpose for these towns they will just become dormitories of Cardiff," said Labour councillor Mr Goodway.

"That's just not good enough. In Barry the vast majority of people travel to Cardiff for work and leisure - in that context it's a dormitory town of Cardiff.

"It's got potential to be more than that."

What the city deal involves

The South Wales Metro - to include the £500m Valleys electrification programme - longer trains, faster buses and some light rail

£495m for other projects including an "innovation district" and investing in a software academy, data innovation, a cyber security academy and new approaches to public service delivery.

Better wi-fi on public transport

Increasing house building

Not included in the £1.2bn pot is confirmation of an extra £50m from the UK Government to help develop the compound semiconductor centre - the technology behind smartphones - being set up by Cardiff University and IQE

How the deal stacks up

Welsh Government £580m within the first seven years

10 councils £120m

The Treasury £580m

Mr Goodway said many towns historically dependent upon coal were in need of a new purpose.

"We can start putting the building blocks in place, city regionalism does that," he added.

Mr Goodway had previously told Cardiff council's economy and culture scrutiny committee the importance of exporting well-paid jobs outside of Cardiff to keep Valley communities alive.

image caption Cardiff councillor Russell Goodway does not want towns like Barry to become dormitories of Cardiff

Current Cardiff leader Huw Thomas added the regional deal needs towns to be a "foundational economy in their own right".

He said many areas in south-east Wales, including Cardiff, "are having to reinvent themselves for the modern age".

media caption The animated video shows some of the £2bn Metro's additions

"The Metro will play an integral role in connecting the region, but the city deal will also be an opportunity for investment in these towns," added Mr Thomas.

"We don't want towns around Cardiff only to be commuter towns into the city, we want them to grow, re-invent themselves bringing prosperity across the whole region."