A LEADING Gwent council officer has unveiled a vision for a £500 million 'City of the Valleys' which he hopes will transform some of Wales' poorest areas.

The ten-year regeneration concept aims to provide a wide range of strategic cultural, educational, sporting, retailing and leisure facilities that are currently lacking throughout the region.

Flagship projects under the 'City of the Valleys' umbrella include: A shopping centre anchored by at least two 100,000 square feet department stores

A leisure complex or amusement park

A major concert hall

To help growth and job creation, an overhaul of the road network is also planned as part of the scheme which would allow vastly improved access.

The viability of such a grand scheme is to be tested, subject to endorsement, by a feasibility study which could cost over £30,000.

The Welsh Development Agency has offered to pay half of this amount which means that if all six authorities participated, (Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taff) it would only cost £3,000 each. The idea is the brainchild of Roger Tanner, strategic planning and urban renewal manager for Caerphilly county borough council.

In a report to his council, he writes: "Great cities elsewhere in Europe and America which have successfully regenerated their economies have often reinvented themselves in order to attract the investment formerly put off by a negative image of industrial decay, poor environment, crime and social problems.

"This paper suggests the communities in the Valleys could build on a sense of common identity and 're-invent' the area by looking beyond their immediate localities and start thinking of the strengths of the area as a whole - start thinking of the Valleys as a particular sort of City."

Councillor John Taylor, Cabinet member for transport, planning and economic development on Caerphilly council, said: "Roger Tanner has been working on this for quite some time. It's an exciting idea that shows developments of this nature can take place in the Valleys and not just in the big cities."

Leader of Caerphilly council, Lindsay Whittle. said: "At the moment we are trying to persuade other local authorities to contribute money towards a feasibility study. Torfaen are to have a presentation on the concept later this week and Blaenau Gwent have shown an interest.

"Clearly, this will involve a massive injection of cash from central government but there is no reason why it couldn't happen - this is exactly how the regeneration of Cardiff began." Among those welcoming the regeneration package was local member for Blackwood, Councillor Kevin Etheridge who said: "Now there must be an extensive public consultation exercise with families to young people asked what they want and what the area is in need of."

Business leaders also hailed the news. Director of the CBI Wales, David Rosser, told the Argus: "The South Wales valleys desperately need more investment both in the infrastructure which helps firms create jobs but also in making the towns and villages healthy, vibrant places for people to live and we welcome this news."