PLANS to bring new tourism attractions to Blaenau Gwent as part of the redevelopment of a former garden festival site have been formally launched.
The new owners of Ebbw Vale's Festival Park plan to turn the retail site and parkland into a leisure and tourist destination, with mountain biking, a zip wire, a cinema and splash park among new attractions.
Shoppers and retailers came along to see the plans and give feedback at an official launch event in the shopping centre on Thursday.
The plans aim to enhance the legacy of the final UK Garden Festival which was held at the 75-acre site in 1992.
AERIAL VIEW: The Festival Park site in 1992
With new attractions at the site, the new owners hope to boost visitor numbers from Blaenau Gwent and further afield.
Paul Jones, of asset managers of the scheme Metis Real Estate, said the proposals aim to bring a 'holistic' offer.
He said: "What we are trying to produce for the wider Valleys is a family day out with some physical activities and a strong shopping, food and beverage offer to complement it."
With changes to shopping patterns, Mr Jones says it is time to acknowledge that people "want more than just retail."
But it is also hoped the plans will benefit the wider region and bring people to the area.
"Hopefully we will bring people from beyond Blaenau Gwent who will spend time here and then hopefully they will go to other attractions in Blaenau Gwent," said Mr Jones.
"At the moment I do not think there is a half day of tourist attractions in Blaenau Gwent, let alone a full day.
"Hopefully we can get to a half day pretty quickly."
The ambitious scheme will take time, but it is hoped to bring two to three new attractions to the site by the end of this year.
A splash park, which would be open all year, and a trail are among the projects planned to be first completed.
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Some of the original exhibits from the garden festival could be reinstated, with plans to get schoolchildren involved in replanting schemes.
The legacy of the UK Garden Festival is also a key part of the plans.
An indicative drawing of the planned scheme
Mr Jones added: "We want to get people to know about it again.
"People here have fond memories of it but if they are under 35 they would not have come and they may not remember it so we need to reconnect those people."
Sheree Coughlin, manager at the Beauty Outlet in Festival Park was among those who welcomed the plans at the launch.
"It's looking very sad at the moment, we need a boost," said Mrs Coughlin.
"I think it's going to be amazing for Ebbw Vale and the surrounding areas."
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