ODPM select committee inquiry into the regeneration of coalfield communities
Response by Michael Clapham MP on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Coalfield Communities Group.
The All Party Parliamentary Coalfield Communities Group (APPCCG)of MP's has more than 130 members and it works closely with the Coalfield Communities Campaign. Since its formation in 1997 the Group has played an important role in promoting economic and social renewal in former coalmining areas. The group has established working relationship with the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.
The extent of problems afflicting the coalfields
The coalfields in the UK stretch from Scotland through the North East, the North West, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, the Midlands, South Wales and Kent. They have a total population of about five million people. Of those about 3.5 million live in the English coalfields.
It is not always appreciated that mining tended to be more of a rural than an urban occupation. Consequently most mining communities are typically villages or small towns. Some regions like South Yorkshire, are based around citadel towns like Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham.
In the five years following the end of the miners' strike the industry shed 106,000 jobs. To date more than a quarter of a million jobs and 150 collieries have closed. I think it is fair to say that no other Industry in modern times has faced such a catastrophic cutback over such a short duration.
The unemployment figures do not record the actual existing situation in coalfield areas. A large number of unemployed men and women have been diverted away from unemployment related benefits onto other benefits or out of the system altogether. On the 2000 indices of deprivation a quarter of all coalfield Wards in England fall into the worse 10%, a half fall within the worse 20% and two thirds within the worse 30%.
Renewing Coalfield Areas
The Coalfield Task Force Report of June 1998 identified many of the problems and indicated there was a requirement for a broad based approach to renewal of these areas. The Government acknowledged this and indicated that there would be a cross-governmental approach to regeneration. DTI and DFES have responded to concerns. The Office of the ODPM has been most helpful but the Treasury could have done better.
Strengthening Coalfield Communities
The Coalfield Regeneration Trust (CRT) has been most helpful in rebuilding communities but it will require further funding and I believe that it will need to be in operation for another decade for real improvement to be seen.
The CRT has a budget of between £15 and £20 million per year. I believe it has proved of great worth by its ability to target assistance on group's that are integral to the community. It has been so successful that it has found itself seriously over subscribed with proposals for funding.
Current Programmes
The English Partnerships (EP's) Coalfield Programme is one of the larger Government interventions in Coalfield Regeneration. It covers 98 sites, most on former colliery sites and they have been converted to a variety of new uses ranging from industrial parks to new housing or public parks.
The Regional Development Agencies (RDA's) have the lead responsibility in the regions for strategic implementation. In this context the focus can often shift away from coalfield areas. There is a need to strengthen the focus to ensure that it is sufficiently concentrated on coalfield communities.
More Investment Incentives Required
Most former coalfield communities will not attract the volume of new investment to provide all their jobs unless they are able to offer an attractive package of incentives. Even then it is doubtful if the jobs created will be sufficient in many areas. This will require greater social mobility between towns and cities, particularly in South Yorkshire and that is why there is a need to improve the road and rail infrastructure.
A central proposal of the Coalfield Taskforce Report "Making a Difference" was that there should be a successor to the present Enterprise Zones. Enterprise Zones have proved quite successful in the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, in Durham and in Nottinghamshire. The Coalfield Enterprise Zones, however, all expire by 2005 and there has been no significant progress towards what will succeed them.
Regional selective assistance is important in most coalfield areas. There are concerns, nevertheless, about what will happen to UK regional incentives after 2006 when the present agreement with Brussels expires.
Road and Rail Investment
Most of the infrastructure in coalfield areas is in a poor state. For example, the Rail Link between Leeds and Sheffield stopping at Barnsley is one of the worse lines anywhere in the country.
I am aware that a number of road schemes endorsed in the Task Force Report are now in progress. The new Dearne Valley link road that connects the whole of the Dearne Valley to the M1 provides opportunities for industrial development. The road has been the stimulus to commercial and industrial development on the old Cortonwood Colliery site where the 1984/85 strike began.
Lottery Funding
It has long been the contention of coalfield MP's that their communities have been getting much less than their fair share of grants. The CCC calculates that by 2001 the cumulative under-funding in coalfield areas totalled £400 million. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is aware of the problem and has used its influence to try to redress the balance.
This lack of grants impacts onto the cultural infrastructure of mining communities. In many areas once vibrant Theatres stand empty and in need of renovation but it is extremely difficult for Theatre companies or Local Authorities to obtain the necessary resources.
Recommendations
- That all Government Departments should recognise the importance of providing effective support to coalfield regeneration efforts led by the ODPM.
- That English Partnerships attach the highest priority to the successful delivery of the Coalfield Programme.
- That the ODPM launch the Coalfields Enterprise Fund or an alternative method of business support.
- That the ODPM emphasises to the Treasury the importance of securing a new framework after 2006 for Regional Policy that will support Coalfield areas.
- That the Department of Transport be requested to review its criteria for determining Road and Rail investment with a view to giving regeneration needs in coalfield areas greater priority.
- That the ODPM ensures the finances of the CRT are put on a more stable footing and for a longer duration.
- That the DCMS reaffirms its previous commitment to raise coalfields per capita share of lottery grants.
