Y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chwaraeon

Adolygiad Polisi: Cyfraniad y Celfyddydau a Chwaraeon at Adfywio Cymunedol

HERIAN - Partners, Aims and Plans

Introduction  HERIAN Heritage in Action is a partnership of 13 South Wales local authorities (from Carmarthenshire in the west through to  Monmouthshire in the east plus Brecon Beacons National Park)) , national Statutory bodies (WDA, WTB, NGMW, ,Cadw, CCW, Forestry Commission ,British Waterways), voluntary bodies (National Trust, Groundwork and Sustrans) and the private sector( Arriva Trains Cymru ,Capital Region Tourism) who have come together to celebrate the heritage of industrial South Wales for the benefit of both local people and visitors to the region.  HERIAN'S definition of heritage is broadly based and includes not only industrial heritage artefacts but the events, characters, community and workforce activities, the landscape and natural phenomena, places and buildings which individually or collectively contribute by their very presence or spirit to the understanding and appreciation of what industrial South Wales is all about. A Framework Regional Interpretive Action Plan One of the HERIAN Partnership's first actions was to commission the production of a regional 'Interpretive Action Plan' which provides a non prescriptive framework for future strategic, regional and local interpretation and access initiatives, including relevant infrastructure. Its overall objective is to facilitate delivery by local people guided by a strategic programme, which includes skills development, lifelong learning and community capacity building. Area Groupings  A key proposal in the plan is the creation of a limited number of area based groupings of things to do and see, within easy reach of one another and clustered around key visitor 'capture points' or 'hubs'. HERIAN information points are to be established within the 'hub' locations and other identified sites each with on-line access to HERIAN’s Web Site enabling personalised tour itineraries to be generated depending on individual interests and time availability. To implement the plan 5 separate area working groups have been established involving HERIAN partners ,stakeholders and community representatives: 

• a Central grouping which  will cover basically the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf ;
• a Western grouping covering the Counties of Swansea, Carmarthenshire , and Neath Port - Talbot ;
• an Eastern grouping  covering the Counties of Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and possibly the eastern part of Caerffili County Borough Council’s area but this will be for Caerffili to determine;
• a Northern grouping covering the County Borough of Merthyr and northern part of Caerffili County borough Council’s area and
• a Southern grouping covering the Counties of Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan , Bridgend and the southern part of Caerffili but this will be for Caerffili to determine

Each of the 5 working groups are being facilitated by their own 'Secretariats’ and it is planned that draft sub regional plans will be available for community consultation by the Spring. A Key Role for local Communities Community groups have a crucial role to play in the telling of the heritage story and to assist them HERIAN will be introducing an interpretive advisory service which will include Training Workshops and Tool Kits to enable Community groups to develop their own interpretive projects and local interpretive plans . Improved interpretive provision has several benefits. It can contribute towards ensuring local people develop pride in their community and its roots but it should also make a visit more enjoyable and spread the economic benefits by encouraging visitors to explore on foot or cycle 'undiscovered' places.
A Network of Cycling and Walking Trails If it were not for it’s topography and it’s geology South Wales would never have made such a significant contribution to making Wales the first industrial nation. The celebration of the area's heritage therefore must encompass both man-made features and the natural environment; indeed it is the very juxtaposition of the two that make the area potentially interesting and attractive to visitors. The Royal Archaeological Commission believes the network of former tramways, railways, and canal towpaths to be found in industrial South Wales are unsurpassed in Western Europe. HERIAN is therefore encouraging and supporting Partner organisations utilise this network to develop walking and cycling trails to provide physical links between the different sites and points of interest and which provide imaginative interpretation such as art and sculpture as an integral part of the project. The 'loops and links' walking and cycling trail project being implemented by Groundwork Merthyr Tydfil - Rhondda Cynon Taf, is an excellent example of what we want to see developed across the Valleys of South Wales. This project will encourage local people and visitors to go 'off the beaten track’ and visit less well-known heritage sites and other interesting places in the area. . This and similar walking and cycling trails across the region will have significant potential health benefits. By encouraging more local people to get out and cycle or walk along the trails the general fitness and health of the community will be improved while it is hoped their increased usage and therefore 'ownership’ of the trails will help overcome the current problems of litter, fly tipping and vandalism. Costumed 'Theatre’ - a Regeneration Resource In order to 'add value' and bring heritage sites 'alive' the Action Plan includes proposals for a summer programme, at selected heritage sites across industrial South Wales, of 'theatre' or costumed interpretation which in the winter months could also be utilised as an educational or lifelong learning resource for schools and community groups. The intention would be to blend entertainment, lifelong learning and education in a way that would be enjoyable and interactive. Good quality events would help draw in new visitors to the general area and specific sites, attract repeat visitors but importantly also cater for local people. Locally distinctive content would help raise the profile of the area and arouse general interest in the heritage of both individual sites and the wider South Wales region. There would be the opportunity for working with local people (including young people both inside and outside of formal education) in developing some of the events and performances. This will help generate community interest in and ownership in their heritage, which will hopefully have subsidiary benefits such as greater self-esteem, and civic pride. A 'Trail of Light ' Finally, the Action Plan wants to see architectural floodlighting of selected heritage assets and buildings along what would be the South Wales section of the planned E.U. sponsored 'European Route of Industrial Heritage', providing an attractive and highly 'visible' statement of community pride in its industrial past. This 'Trail of Light ' could develop into one of the most high profile and highly marketable aspects of the HERIAN initiative as it has the potential to become an arts and entertainment programme on a vast and dramatic scale across the region. Development of HERIAN Web Site HERIAN’s Web site is currently under development but the Regional Framework Plan can be accessed via the Web Site 'Holding Page http://www.herian.org