Waterfalls Country Draft Phase 1 Report Page | 1 Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Waterfall Country .............................................................................................................................. 3 3. The Strategic Context ....................................................................................................................... 6 4. Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Engagement – our approach ............................................................................................................ 7 4.2 Asset-based mapping – our approach ........................................................................................... 8 4.3 Capacity Building Analysis ............................................................................................................ 11 5. Results of Asset Mapping .............................................................................................................. 12 5.1 Pontneddfechan .............................................................................................................................. 13 5.2 Glynneath .......................................................................................................................................... 15 5.3 Penderyn ........................................................................................................................................... 17 5.4 Wider area ......................................................................................................................................... 19 5.5 Summarising the success criteria ................................................................................................. 21 6. Drawing out the key issues, gaps and opportunities .............................................................. 21 6.1 Common Issues ................................................................................................................................ 21 6.2 Prioritising Community Action ..................................................................................................... 23 7. Community-led Local Development Opportunities ................................................................ 23 7.1 Emerging Themes ............................................................................................................................ 24 7.2 Case Studies and Examples ........................................................................................................... 26 7.3 Business Model Canvas ................................................................................................................. 29 8. Delivery Mechanisms and Required organisation structures ............................................... 30 8.1 Developing a Delivery Plan and Mechanism ............................................................................ 30 8.2 Possible Organisation Legal Structures: .................................................................................... 33 9. Next Steps ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix 1 – Place maps for core areas in Waterfall Country ..................................................... 37 Appendix 2 - List of Engagement Activities ....................................................................................... 40 Appendix 3 - Case studies ...................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix 4 – Example of a Business Model Canvas ....................................................................... 45 Page | 2 1. Introduction In January 2020, Severn Wye Energy Agency won a tender to develop a feasibility study with communities in Waterfall Country and their strategic partners. The brief states that the purpose of the feasibility study is twofold: i. To find mechanisms for supporting community-led economic regeneration in the area, based on the strong visitor attraction that is Waterfall Country. ii. To work together to help manage visitors in ways that contribute to the quality of life of local people rather than being disruptive as is currently the case. Estimates suggest that more than 300,000 people visit the Waterfalls Area each year1, many focussed on well-known locations. This number is above the carrying capacity of the area. Previous engagement has, in the words of the brief, demonstrated that there is, “an appetite to get more involved and contribute to solutions rather than just influence them.” This report outlines the results of the first stage of engagement with communities in Waterfall Country. The aim is to assess whether there is a need for a new organisation to support this active involvement. The form of any new structure will follow on from an analysis of what such an organisation will do. Through initial community engagement, Phase 1 of this work has therefore focussed on what assets are available to the community, what gaps and opportunities exist to maximise positive visitor impact on communities and to give an early indication of the scope of a future work programme, backed by an appropriate structure. Initial community engagement has centred on the core area of Pontneddfechan, Glynneath and Penderyn with some discussions held with surrounding communities in the Upper Neath Valley, Brecon Beacons National Park and Upper Rhondda. Throughout the report, we have used the name Pontneddfechan although many people met during this interim engagement phase used anglicised version Pontneddvaughan. 2. Waterfall Country The area known as “Waterfall Country” is traditionally centred on Pontneddfechan and Ystradfellte. These communities and their car parks at Dinas, Cwm Porth, Gwaun Hepste and the small parking area at Clun Gwyn are the focus for a lot of visitor footfall and often get congested at peak times. The wider “Waterfall Country” is less defined. The core area for the current study encompasses Pontneddfechan, Glynneath and Penderyn. The wider area includes Coelbren (and the Henrhyd Falls), Ystradfellte, Rhigos, Cefn Rhigos, the Upper Rhondda Fawr Valley (Blaencwm and Blaenrhondda), Blaengwrach, Clyne and Melincourt and Resolven. The study has not covered the National Trust waterfalls at Aberdulais, although the consultants recognise that this is often considered as part of Waterfall Country. 1 Waterfall Country Partnership Board Minutes. 21.11.19 Page | 3 Most of the study area (with the exception of Ystradfellte and Coelbren) is within the Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund CIC benefit area. Community Profiles for localities in this area can be found on their website https://penycymoeddcic.cymru/community-profiles-and- supporting-communities/. Figure 1 (overleaf) shows the whole area considered in this study as Waterfall Country. Detailed descriptions and asset-maps of the core areas are included in Chapter 5. Key assets in the core areas are included in maps in Appendix 1. The area straddles a range of public sector boundaries including: • Three Local Authorities – Rhondda Cynon Taf, Powys and Neath Port Talbot. • Three Public Service Board areas - Cwm Taff PSB (covers Merthyr and RCT) Powys PSB and Neath Port Talbot PSB. • Two Police Authority areas – Dyfed Powys and South Wales. • Three Health Boards – Powys, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, and Cwm Taf. Penderyn and Pontneddfechan are in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The area is also covered by three LEADER Local Action Groups (Arwain Powys, Rural Cwm Taf and Regenerate Neath Port Talbot). Page | 4 Figure 1 – Map of Waterfall Country Page | 5 3. The Strategic Context One consequence of the multiple borders is the range of strategies that cover the area. These include local authority Well-being Assessments, Local Development Plans and Local Development Strategies (LEADER). The following plans and strategies are of most relevance to the current study: • Aberdare and Upper Cynon Valley, Tourism Destination Plan. Wisdom, Walks and Waterfalls https://businesswales.gov.wales/dmwales/sites/dmwales/files/documents/aberdare- and-upper-cynon.pdf • Upper Rhondda Destination Plan https://businesswales.gov.wales/dmwales/sites/dmwales/files/documents/upper- rhondda_0.pdf • Glynneath Town Centre Regeneration Strategy 2012 • Waterfall Country Management Plan 2010 • Brecon Beacons Visitor Management Plan (2015) • Brecon Beacons Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Destination Action Plan 2017-2020 • Brecon Beacons Visitor Management Plan (2017) The reports that mention Waterfall Country identify common issues, specifically infrastructure weaknesses. These will be discussed below. The consultants are aware of major strategic projects planned for the area which may have an impact on the visitor offer and/or demand for leisure opportunities in future. These have the potential to provide jobs and/or provide tourism opportunities through new experiences and accommodation. They include: • Rhondda Zip World (Rhigos). The opening of a South Wales version of the popular North Wales visitor experience. • Rheola Estate leisure development, (http://www.npt-business.co.uk/2566). • Cwm Hwnt, Rhigos. Motorcycle and car adventure experience, training and events. The Onllwyn Rail Test