THE FUTURE direction of Blaenavon's Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site is expected to be approved this week when the area's management plan is debated by Torfaen councillors.

In November 2000 the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape was described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as a World Heritage Site on the basis that the area is of 'Outstanding Universal Value'.

The management of the site is overseen by the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership, which is made of interested bodies and organisations, and aims to protect and conserve the landscape so that future generations may understand the contribution that South Wales made to the Industrial Revolution.

The partnership's report and future management plan has been prepared and includes a review of the first ten years of being granted World Heritage Site status, considering its successes and reflecting upon some of the lessons learnt.

The report's author, Cath Thomas, head of Regeneration in Torfaen said: "The main objective of the partnership is to increase cultural tourism and assist the economic regeneration of the area.

"There has been notable success in implementing the first World Heritage site management ten year plan.

"The majority of projects and initiatives included in it have been achieved and the project as a whole is widely recognised as an exemplar in the field of how heritage can drive forward economic regeneration.

"The emerging new plan for the period 2011-2016, seeks to continue to build upon the success that has already been achieved. The plan sets out the key values and qualities of the site and identifies and addresses the key issues that might affect them during this five year period.

"An overall vision for the site and the objectives to be met has been clearly identified. Therefore we have a matrix of projects and activities to be explored, pursued and delivered by all partners over this five year period."

A four week period of consultation took place during April which included two public meetings.

The first meeting at Blaenavon World Heritage Centre attracted 22 members of the public, but only two people turned up for the meeting held at Llanfoist Village Hall.

The area around Blaenavon is said to be one of the best examples of South Wales being a major player in the world's major producer of iron and coal in the nineteenth century.

Most of the World Heritage Site is located within the Torfaen authority but parts of the site fall within the administrative boundaries of Monmouthshire County Council and the Brecon Beacons National Park.