RCT Council and MP Chris Bryant are celebrating this week after announcing the appointment of an Independent Chair for the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme in the Rhondda Fach. Theresa Thomas, former lecturer and manager of Rhondda Foodbank, has taken on the voluntary role and will lead a new Neighbourhood Board tasked with deciding how £20 million of regeneration funding gets spent across eight communities over the next ten years.
Good news? On paper, yes. But let’s look at the small print.
The money was announced back in February. We now have a chair — unpaid, it should be noted. The Neighbourhood Board won’t form until summer. The UK Government reviews everything in autumn. A full Regeneration Plan gets submitted in winter. And the first actual payment? Spring 2027 at the earliest.
That’s nearly two years of meetings, boards, vision documents and review processes before a single spade goes in the ground anywhere in Maerdy, Ferndale, Tylorstown, Ynyshir, Wattstown, Pontygwaith, Stanleytown or Blaenllechau.
And when that money does eventually arrive, spread across eight communities over ten years, it works out at roughly £2 million a year. Divided eight ways.
Residents of the Rhondda Fach will also remember that the council once promised to extend the Rhondda Fach bypass all the way up to Maerdy. What they got instead was a footpath. An “active travel route” in council speak. No doubt somebody somewhere ticked a box and declared it a success. Try telling that to the people of Maerdy sitting in traffic, or the businesses that a proper bypass might actually have helped.
Here’s the detail that says everything about the state of the Rhondda Fach right now — the woman appointed to lead this regeneration programme also runs the local foodbank. Because that’s what the valley needs today. Not in 2027. Today.
We wish Theresa Thomas well. She sounds like exactly the kind of person these communities need fighting their corner, and her commitment to the area is genuine and admirable.
But residents of the Rhondda Fach have heard big announcements before. They’ve seen regeneration plans come and go. They know the difference between a press release and a promise.
We’ll be watching. And we’ll remind you of this story in spring 2027.
Key appointment to lead major Rhondda Fach regeneration investment
The Council is pleased to confirm the appointment of an Independent Chair for the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme in the Rhondda Fach. This voluntary position will play a vital role in the programme delivering £20 million of regeneration investment across local communities over 10 years.
After an extensive application process, Theresa Thomas is appointed to the position. She will play a key role as a champion for the local area – organising engagement that reaches out to the community, providing strategic leadership to the newly-forming Neighbourhood Board, and ultimately ensuring that all decisions on the funding of local projects are transparent and community-led.
Theresa, a former college lecturer from Ferndale, has a deep connection to the area, and has demonstrated a commitment to improving people’s lives in the community through her role as the manager of the Rhondda Foodbank.
In February, following Cabinet’s previous agreement, the Council confirmed its proposal has been accepted by the Wales Office to put the Rhondda Fach forward for the Pride in Place Programme. It means communities of Maerdy, Tylorstown, Ferndale, Ynyshir, Wattstown, Pontygwaith, Stanleytown and Blaenllechau will benefit, with a dedicated structure being put in place to agree on how the funding is spent.
A 10-year vision and an initial four-year investment plan will be produced by a new Neighbourhood Board, which will include local residents – supported by the Council and the local Member of Parliament. The appointment of Theresa as the Independent Chair is an important milestone towards the Neighbourhood Board forming this summer, which will then be reviewed by the UK Government during autumn.
The Board will then submit its Regeneration Plan in winter for assessment by the UK Government. Once approved, with a target date of spring 2027, the first funding payment will be made, to enable the start of the delivery phase.
Theresa Thomas, the newly-appointed Chair for the Pride in Place Programme in the Rhondda Fach, said: “This is a great opportunity for our community and I am excited to play a key role in shaping our ideas. I am looking forward to the Neighbourhood Board being appointed and to formally creating a vision for what can be done with this major investment.”
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, said: “The appointment of an Independent Chair is an exciting milestone towards the delivery of this substantial, £20 million regeneration investment across Rhondda Fach communities. Of absolute importance in allocating any Pride of Place funding for local projects is that all decisions are made in a transparent way and led by the community, with the Independent Chair providing leadership and focus in this respect.
“I’d like to thank and congratulate Theresa Thomas on her appointment to this important voluntary role, and I’m confident she’ll provide excellent leadership to the new Neighbourhood Board. Theresa is well-known and respected within local communities, with a passion for helping people and making their lives better – a commitment that’s shared by the Pride in Place Programme. I’d also like to thank the UK Government for this funding commitment, which will make a real difference to people in the Rhondda Fach over an extended period.”
Chris Bryant, Member of Parliament for Rhondda and Ogmore, added: “I am delighted that Theresa has agreed to take on the role of Chair of the Pride in Place Board, following a thorough and competitive recruitment process.
“Theresa brings a wealth of experience to the role, both through her work as a lecturer and, more recently, as Manager of Rhondda Foodbank. She has a deep understanding of the challenges facing individuals, families and communities across the Rhondda, as well as a strong commitment to making a positive difference.
“The Pride in Place Board has an important role to play in shaping the future of our communities, and I am confident that Theresa’s leadership, insight and passion will help drive this work forward. I look forward to working closely with her and fellow board members to build on the Rhondda’s strengths, tackle local challenges and create opportunities for residents across the constituency.”
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