ANYTHING that improves the Valleys has to be welcomed, which is why many will be pleased at the announcement yesterday that £22million is to be pumped into them.

A three-year marketing campaign will see the area promoted as “the heart and soul of Wales”.

This is an area that has lost its primary industries such as coal and steel.

Any government that is to promote it as an attractive place to live and work will find it incredibly difficult.

With much of the original industry gone it is vital ways are found of keeping the valleys alive.

Yes, it is a beautiful area and it does have its potential in terms of attracting tourism.

But there is much more work to be done in raising the aspirations of people who live there and keeping them there by creating sustainable jobs.

While we welcome this project we believe it is only a stepping stone in solving some of the long term issues which effect these areas.