WALES’ cabinet secretary for rural affairs has backed plans for the re-generation of The British, the largest derelict industrial site in South East Wales.

Lesley Griffiths AM joined with Torfaen council officers, councillors and community leaders to hear a presentation in Garndiffaith Memorial Hall about the ongoing plans for the site.

Ms Griffiths AM, said: “It’s really great to come and see the plans for the area.

"It shows the benefit acts like the health and wellbeing act can have. It’s a very long term plan and we are only in the first year.

“I am particularly interested in the volunteers and hearing that they already have 70 signed up, we have more than one million actively volunteering in a country of three million and we really need them.”

Last year Torfaen County Borough Council agreed to purchase the 1,300-acre site in Talywain from HSBC as part of a £3.7 million package with support from the Welsh Government.

Torfaen’s group leader for the environment Andrew Osborne led the presentation, which showed the plans for clearing the site to make it ‘clean and green’ as well as to use the streams and Cwmsychan reservoir to create renewable hydro-powered energy.

A video put together by Dr John Cox, chairman of the British Liaison Group, also highlighted to the cabinet secretary about plans for putting 150 homes on the site near to Abersychan House and opposite The Globe public house by Albert Road, which leads onto the site.

In his presentation, Mr Osborne said they would be “working with small and big businesses, local residents, organisations like Gwent Wildlife Trust and other stakeholders to complete their objectives”.

Leader of Torfaen Council, cllr Anthony Hunt said: “It’s really good to welcome Lesley and show her what is happening at The British. She has been a great friend of Torfaen.

“It’s a good example of the Welsh Government and the council coming together and working together for the community.

"It is a challenge for the area but something that will be of great benefit to everyone as we move forward.

"The site is a massive area that can be the jewel in the crown of north Torfaen.”

Other groups that attended the meeting included Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT) and Natural Resource Wales (NRW). Current plans are for GWT to take over the management of the site in future.

Echoing the sentiments of Lynda Clarkson, vice-chair of The British Liaison Group, cllr Gwyneira Clark of Abersychan ward, said: “I cannot believe that after 30 years we are finally talking sense and having the cabinet secretary shows that things are finally changing.

“It’s a sign of things to come and making sure the process is in place to make The British an asset not for us but for our children and our children’s children.”