Listen to Richard

To my knowledge the history of Maesteg is born out of the industrial revolution and the manufacture production of tin plate and coal.

It supported a lot of the industrial productions in the area including the steelworks in Port Talbot. I'm aware that the Maesteg steam coal of generations ago was used to fuel the transatlantic crossings of the ocean liners.

The development of the town would have been on the back of that industrial wealth. The ribbon development of the valley would reflect that in terms of homes of tin plate workers in the town and up to Nantyfyllon, and further up the valley to the miners' cottages of Caerau.

Subsequently Maesteg thrived in the post-war era. It had a very good traditional indoor market which is in need of regenerating now, and that is under way.

To my knowledge in the sixties and early seventies, we were a very prominent market town, in fact probably the most prominent town centre of its size in the borough of Bridgend.

The population of the town is currently around 22,500, and is fairly stable, which is a good sign if you see that against the scenario of other valleys that are not a million miles away.

It's a wide river valley, it's a very pleasant geography, it's got a lot of amenities still which is very fortunate for a valley town, they've done a really good job of landscaping the valley after the mining industry, it's got a lot of forest walks, it's very near to the M4 corridor, a lot of shopping options, plus the coast is within a short distance drive.

I think the biggest problem is just marketing - the marketing of Maesteg needs a total overhaul. I think people need to say the good things about the town.

The remnants of the mining industry after that terrible two years of the miners strike obviously left scars physically and emotionally on the landscape and amongst the community. But things have moved on in a positive way. The community spirit has been maintained and even re-established.

My perspective on Maesteg is based on a passion to see it thrive as a community town.