CONCERNS have been raised for the future of areas supported by the soon-to-be scrapped Communities first scheme.

Welsh Government’s communities and children secretary Carl Sargeant announced last week that Communities First schemes across Wales would be abolished saying that the project had not been as effective as it was hoped.

Mr Sargeant said: “While it is clear that Communities First was successful in its impact on many individuals, it has not had an impact on overall poverty levels in these communities, which remain stubbornly high.”

In Barry Gibbonsdown and Castleland are supported by the anti-poverty scheme.

Gibbonsdown Residents Association chairwoman Molly Conway has said more positive schemes should be devised to fill the gap that will be left when Communities first ceases.

Mrs Conway said: “What they need to do is come up with something more positive that offers more possibilities for the deprived people of the area.

"There’s more deprivation in the area than there was before Communities First especially for people struggling to get jobs.”

Arad Research, on behalf of the Welsh Government, said Communities First had been successful in its impact on many individuals in poverty, but it had not had an impact on overall poverty levels in Wales.

The Welsh Government, on its website, said: “This feedback has helped to shape our new approach, which will be to phase out Communities First and sharpen our focus on helping people into work, giving children the best start in life, and ensuring people’s voices are heard in the design of local services.”

A Vale council spokesman said: “The Communities First scheme is operated by Welsh Government. “However, it has funding until March 2018 so will continue to run as normal in the Vale until then.”

The programme was launched in 2001 and it focused on 52 ‘clusters’, including Barry.