Lib Dems "Labour has squandered tourism potential of industrial legacy"

12.00.00am GMT Mon 16th Jan 2006

Successive Labour councils in Merthyr Tydfil have failed to build on the town's world renowned industrial heritage and as a result, have missed out on vital tourism and jobs-creation opportunities, according to the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

With last year's opening of the £33 million Swansea Waterfront Museum and the continuing success of the Rhondda Heritage Park; the award-winning Big Pit near Blaenavon and the declaration of Blaenavon's Industrial Landscape as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000; local Liberal Democrats say that Merthyr Tydfil has missed out on key tourism developments and structural investment opportunities.

Merthyr Liberal Democrats maintain that a string of short-sighted planning decisions taken by Labour councils in Merthyr have resulted in the destruction of the town's industrial past. Meanwhile, neighbouring areas have successfully applied for Objective 1, Lottery funding and other grant-based finance for industrial heritage tourism projects.

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM, Michael German says: "You don't need to be a professor of history to know and appreciate the unique role Merthyr Tydfil played in the industrial history, not only of Britain, but of the entire industrialised world.

"Many experts regard Merthyr Tydfil as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It was in Merthyr that many advances in mining, iron smelting, iron-working and the use of steam engines for industrial transportation took place during the 18th and 19th centuries. What little heritage we have left from this period, such as Ynysfach Engine House and Cyfarthfa Castle, is marketed in to potential tourists in a very disjointed manner.

"Merthyr's case for World Heritage Site status is as just as strong as Blaenavon's, yet successive Labour councils have squandered our unique industrial heritage.

Local Lib Dem campaigner, Amy Kitcher added; "The Rhydycar West site would make a fantastic heritage trail, combining beautiful scenery with interesting and distinctive remnants of industrial architecture. Instead, Labour wants to tear up the trees and build another out-of-town complex, which would draw trade away from our town centre.

"In terms of creating a strong tourism vision for Merthyr, Labour has failed dismally. The people of Merthyr deserve a clear explanation of why our area represents a conspicuous gap on the South Wales industrial heritage and tourism map."