Local and national public authorities in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil have taken considerable steps towards improving social, economic, cultural and environmental sustainability in the area. This has included funding from charities, organisations and local government. The Merthyr Tydfil council has put in place policies to regulate development on natural heritage sites, along with preserving the local history and culture. The building of homes within Merthyr Tydfil has also been influenced to create environmentally sustainable homes, with the use of renewable energy sources.
Background
Merthyr Tydfil is one of the largest towns in South East Wales with a population of around 62,000 people, situated between the Brecon Beacons and Cardiff, at the centre of the Heads of the Valleys region, with one fifth of the county borough lying within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is accessible via the A470 and A465 transport corridors, also lying close to the intersection of the A470 and A472 in the South. Only around 30 minutes North of Cardiff, Wales’ capital city. Merthyr Tydfil is rich in heritage, culture and history, once known as "iron capital of the world", as well as once contributing to Cardiff’s title as largest coal exporter in the world.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has defined sustainable development as follows: "Enhancing the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities, achieving a better quality of life for our own and future generations, in ways which promote social justice and equality of opportunity and enhance the natural and cultural environment and respect its limits - using only our fair share of the earth’s resources, preserving and sustaining our cultural legacy. Sustainable Development is the process by which we reach the goal of Sustainability".
Economic sustainability
Merthyr Tydfil has implemented certain programmes in an attempt to maintain economic sustainability in the future. One such programme is the South East Wales Community Economic Development Fund (SEWCED), a European and Welsh Government initiative. This fund provided £2,000,000 to the Merthyr Tydfil CBC over a five-year period, 2010–2015, including support to local business such as Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind (MTIB), an established manufacturing business which has been based in the town for 90 years, the oldest business in the area. The South East Wales Community Economic Development Fund provided £79,880 for the business in 2012, leading to an increase in overall sales of 25%, and helping the business to become a "self-sustaining manufacture business in its own right".
The SEWCED programme went on to create 30 jobs, the equivalent of 21.5 full time posts, 3 new social enterprises created, 5 organisations assisted, 28 organisations financially supported, 15 organisations adopting and implementing environmental action plans, and 13 organisations adopting and improving equality strategies and monitoring systems across the Merthyr Tydfil area, and was assessed to have been a successful programme.
Cultural sustainability
It is a crucial aim of the council to sustain and preserve the town's local history and culture. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council are currently focusing on the Cyfarthfa heritage area, by restoring and conserving three main heritage projects which include: The Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for people scheme at Cyfarthfa Park, the restoration and enhancement of the Cyfarthfa Leat and Old Gurnos Tramway, and the re-use and restoration of Cyfarthfa Castle. These three projects aim to improve each site, drawing in more visitors and ensuring a sustainable future for all three as a cultural attraction.
Merthyr Tydfil’s natural heritage includes its biodiversity and landscapes, both of which have been impacted by human activity, throughout and since the Industrial Revolution. Sustaining these sites has become an important contribution to the quality of life experienced by the local population.
"Within Merthyr Tydfil County Borough lies two national nature conservation designations, Cwmglo/Glyndyrus SSSI and Cwm Taf Fechan Woodlands SSSI". These conservation designations welcome significant numbers of tourists, both locally and from further afield. As these sites contribute significantly in terms of culture to Merthyr Tydfil, as a part of the Local Development Plan (LDP) for Merthyr Tydfil 2006-2021, the Council have prioritised these locations as protected sites. The Council aims to protect and support the enhancement of the County Borough’s distinctive natural heritage. Development proposals will only be permitted where they maintain, enhance or do not cause harm.