The woman who used to run Neath Port Talbot Council has been appointed to lead the body overseeing a £20m regeneration drive in the Upper Afan Valley.
Karen Jones, who retired as the council’s chief executive in late 2024, will chair the independent Neighbourhood Board for the area’s Pride in Place Programme.
The valley was chosen earlier this year as Neath Port Talbot’s preferred site for the UK Government scheme, after officials confirmed it was the most deprived area in the county borough.
The £20m is to be spent over the next decade, with the board steering both a 10-year plan and an initial four-year investment programme.
As chair, Jones will lead the board in setting priorities for the money, working with residents, community groups, businesses and other partners.
The council says the board’s role is to keep the spending community-led and transparent, with local people given a direct say over which projects are backed.
Jones said the programme was an important investment opportunity for the valley.
“The Upper Afan Valley is a beautiful place and this programme will make a difference for the people who live, work and visit,” she said.
She added that she looked forward to working with residents, businesses and partners to identify the most important projects to take on, both now and as the scheme progresses.
Council leader Stephen Hunt said Jones’s experience and understanding of the area would help bring partners together and deliver real benefits for the valley.
The Pride in Place Programme is a UK Government scheme aimed at helping communities across the country, built around three priorities: building thriving places, strengthening communities and giving people a say in their area’s future.
The Upper Afan Valley is one of several local areas in line for the funding. A Swansea city centre neighbourhood has been handed its own £20m under the same scheme.
In Carmarthenshire, Llanelli was also confirmed for a £20m share, with neighbourhoods promised a direct say over how the cash is spent.
The money for the Upper Afan Valley is funded entirely by the UK Government through the Pride in Place Programme.
Residents will be able to find out more about the programme and how to get involved through the council’s website in the coming months.
