The Welsh Government has appointed Tamsin Ramasut and Professor Simon Gibson as co-chairs of a new town centre taskforce, alongside £1m of new funding to support regeneration projects in Bangor and Bridgend. The announcement was made during a visit to Welsh Government funded projects in Bangor town centre, where £654,000 for public realm improvements was also confirmed. A further £350,000 has been confirmed to support the future regeneration of the Rhiw Shopping Centre in Bridgend.
Taskforce leadership and membership
The co-chairs will lead a taskforce that provides practical, expert advice on supporting the future of Wales’s town centres. Their appointment delivers on a key Government commitment to establish the taskforce within its first 100 days. Working with members from business, local government, regeneration, planning, academia and communities, the co-chairs will oversee a programme of work to develop practical recommendations for Welsh Ministers on securing the future of town centres.
Ms Ramasut is an experienced regeneration, placemaking and community engagement practitioner. Through her work with Pont Collective and previous roles, she has supported the delivery of regeneration projects and place-based initiatives across Wales and beyond. As the founder of the graduate entrepreneurship Alacrity programme and previous leadership roles in Wesley Clover, Ubiquity Software and the Welsh Development Agency (board member), Prof Gibson helped attract investment, support entrepreneurship and drive business growth across Wales.
Funding for Bangor and Bridgend
The £654,000 for Bangor will fund public realm improvements, while the £350,000 for Bridgend will support the future regeneration of the Rhiw Shopping Centre. These projects are part of the Welsh Government’s wider efforts to revitalise town centres across the country.
Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Siân Gwenllian, said: “Town centres remain at the heart of communities across Wales. They are places where people work, access services, spend time with family and friends and take part in civic and cultural life. However, they continue to face significant challenges as a result of changing consumer behaviour, economic pressures and the evolving role town centres play in everyday life. That’s why we are establishing this taskforce to champion the future of Welsh town centres. It will identify actions to help challenge decline, encourage changes in use to increase footfall, support Welsh businesses, attract investment and strengthen the long-term vitality of towns and city centres.”
Co-chairs' vision
Ms Ramasut said: “I’m honoured to co-chair this national task force. Town centres are central to thriving communities-places where people connect, local businesses grow and provide employment and create a sense of belonging. I’m looking forward to working collaboratively to help our town centres thrive across Wales.”
Professor Gibson said: “Our town centres are vital to communities and local economies across Wales, yet they face significant challenges that demand urgent action and fresh thinking. I am pleased to co-chair this taskforce, which brings together leaders from across sectors to develop innovative, practical solutions that remove barriers to growth, preserve presence and help create more vibrant, resilient town centres fit for the 21st century.”
The taskforce is expected to begin its work immediately, with recommendations to be presented to Welsh Ministers in due course. The funding for Bangor and Bridgend is part of a broader investment in town centre regeneration across Wales.
