Valleys in Crisis: Labour's Broken Promises Leave Blaenau Gwent Behind – Time for Real Change?

Next Steps for the Valleys: A Wake-Up Call for Blaenau Gwent and Exposing Labour's Long-Standing Failures

As your Independent Councillor for Ebbw Vale South, I've always been committed to fighting for our community in Blaenau Gwent. The recent release of the "Next Steps for the Valleys" report by the Industrial Communities Alliance Wales has shone a stark light on the deep-rooted challenges facing our region – challenges that have been exacerbated by decades of neglect under Labour-led governments in Cardiff and locally. This 60-page report, published just this week, paints a picture of economic stagnation, high unemployment, and lost opportunities that hit close to home for us in Blaenau Gwent. It's a damning indictment of failed promises, and as someone who's not tied to party lines, I'm here to call it out and push for real change.

The Harsh Reality: Statistics That Can't Be Ignored

The report confirms what many of us already know: the South Wales Valleys, home to 758,000 people, are possibly Britain's most disadvantaged former industrial area. With a population larger than Cardiff's, our region should be thriving, but instead, we're mired in difficulty. Key figures from the report include:

- Job Density: Just 46 employee jobs per 100 working-age residents – far below the Welsh average of 68 and GB's 75.

- Job Growth: A meagre 7% increase between 2012 and 2022, compared to 15% across Great Britain.

- Out-of-Work Benefits: Nearly 19% of 16-64 year-olds are on benefits, with 14.3% on incapacity benefits alone.

- Commuting Strains: Net out-commuting of 93,000 people daily, forcing long journeys to Cardiff, Swansea, or Newport – often over an hour by public transport.

- Health and Deprivation: 8.5% report 'bad or very bad' health, and life expectancy is 2-4 years below average.

In Blaenau Gwent specifically, towns like Abertillery exemplify the worst: 9.3% bad health, 23.6% on out-of-work benefits, no job growth from 2012-2023, and 54% of employed residents commuting out. To reach full employment levels like South East England, we'd need 37,000 more people in work across the Valleys. These aren't just numbers – they're our families, our young people leaving for opportunities elsewhere, and our communities hollowed out.

Here's a quick comparison table for Abertillery (in Blaenau Gwent) versus averages:

| Indicator | Abertillery | Valleys Avg | GB Avg |

|----------------------------|-------------|-------------|--------|

| Bad/Very Bad Health (%) | 9.3 | 8.5 | 5.5 |

| Out-of-Work Benefits (%) | 23.6 | 19.2 | 13.3 |

| Job Growth (2012-2023) | 0% | 7% | 15% |

| Net Commuting (% Employed)| -54% | -20% | N/A |

Labour's Legacy of Broken Promises and Failed Projects

The report doesn't shy away from history, detailing nine decades of regeneration efforts thwarted by downturns and policy failures – many under Labour's watch. Post-Brexit, the abolition of Assisted Area status and the paltry UK Shared Prosperity Fund (a shadow of EU funding) have stripped our competitive edge. But in Blaenau Gwent, the failures are personal:

- Circuit of Wales: Hyped as a £425 million motorsport hub near Ebbw Vale, it was scrapped in 2017 after the Labour Welsh Government refused backing. Thousands of jobs vanished into thin air.

- Ciner Glass Factory: Approved in 2022 with £390 million promised for Rassau, abandoned in 2024 due to 'viability' issues – more taxpayer money down the drain under Labour oversight.

- TVR Plant: Over £14 million spent refurbishing a site, only for the deal to lapse in 2023. Empty buildings, zero jobs.

- Tech Valleys Programme: £25 million in 2017 targeted Blaenau Gwent for digital growth, but it underdelivered, leaving communities disillusioned after replacing the failed Circuit project.

Add to this Blaenau Gwent Council's scandals: historic safeguarding failures under review and a 2022 waste firm debacle highlighting years of mismanagement. These aren't isolated incidents; they're symptoms of systemic Labour failures that have left our youth with no choice but to "go and work away," as the BBC recently reported.

A Roadmap Forward: The Report's Ten Priorities and What They Mean for Us

Despite the gloom, the report offers hope with ten "road-tested" priorities to restore our edge and create more jobs closer to home. These are practical steps that governments in London and Cardiff must adopt – and that I'll be pushing for locally:

1. Keep the Funding Flowing: Secure sustained regeneration funds to match pre-Brexit levels.

2. Support Manufacturing: Protect our 34,000 manufacturing jobs, a key driver in Blaenau Gwent's steel heritage.

3. Restore Regional Investment Aid: Bring back grants lost post-Brexit to attract businesses.

4. Invest in Business Sites and Premises: Develop spaces to break growth barriers – essential for sites like those left idle from failed projects.

5. Deliver an Apprenticeship System that Works: Provide real opportunities for our young people, addressing skills mismatches.

6. Make the Most of the Heads of the Valleys Road: Leverage the A465 dualling to open new sites in Ebbw Vale and improve access.

7. Build on the Strengths of Valley Towns: Turn Ebbw Vale into a thriving hub, attracting commuters and jobs.

8. Look after the Fabric of Smaller Places: Restore historic buildings in Abertillery for housing and community use.

9. Speed Up Journey Times: Enhance rail and bus links – from Ebbw Vale's station to feeder services for Abertillery.

10. Balance Momentum Along the M4 with Investment in the Valleys: Push development north, not just along the corridor.

These priorities align with local perspectives in the report: residents stress job shortages, commuting pains, and transport barriers for hospital visits or training. With Senedd elections looming, all parties – especially Labour – must commit to this agenda.

Time for Change: Let's Rally for Blaenau Gwent

This report is a cry for help from our Valleys, and it's time Labour listened instead of spinning more excuses. As your independent voice – I'm here for you. I've been sharing these issues on X (@jtdmillard), and I'll continue holding decision-makers accountable. If you're fed up with the status quo and looking to reform local challenges, please get in touch via my website or join me in lobbying for these priorities. Together, we can unlock the potential of Blaenau Gwent and build a future where our kids don't have to leave to succeed.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

For the full report, download it [here](https://industrialcommunitiesalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NEXT-STEPS-FOR-THE-VALLEYS.pdf).