‘The ball is really rolling now’ on a £110m investment plan into mid Wales after leaders met with government representatives with hopes of an agreement ’before the end of the year’.

The leaders of Powys and Ceredigion county councils met with David TC Davies MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the UK Government in Wales, and Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy to discuss the Growth Deal for Mid Wales last week and “deliver the next important step” on the plans that would see significant cash invested into projects in Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Llandysul, and Machynlleth.

Both Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council’s cabinet members unanimously endorsed the business case for formal submission to Governments last week.

The Portfolio Business Case sets out the headline figures for capital expenditure that the Local Authorities are seeking from both the UK and Welsh Government via the Mid Wales Growth Deal, amounting to a total capital grant of £110m.

Ceredigion council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn said: “Approval of the business case will enable us to draw down funding to support projects in the area that will boost the local economy and support job creation.

“We’re really getting the ball rolling now in the development of the deal which is so important for the region.”

The Portfolio Business Case will now be formally reviewed by a joint board between UK and Welsh Governments.

Powys council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris said: “Being able to discuss the business case in detail with David TC Davies and Vaughan Gething is a very big step forward for us and we very much value their interest.

“A lot of work has gone into the development of these documents to this stage – and there is lot to do yet.”

Both Leaders added: “We are pleased to have reached this point, and we hope we can conclude the deal before the end of the year so that we can work with our businesses and communities to bring forward projects in earnest.”

Minister for the UK Government, David TC Davies, said “It’s great to hear more detail of the ambitious plans for the Mid Wales Growth Deal and take this next step towards achieving our goals.

“The support of the UK Government, working with our partners, means that we can deliver real improvements for the people of mid Wales”

Mr Gething said: “The Welsh Government is fully committed to working with partners to progress the Growth Deal for mid Wales, so I’m pleased we are now a step closer to a Full Deal Agreement being jointly agreed.

“I am now keen to see the deal being implemented, so that local people, businesses and communities start to see investments being made in projects and programmes which will help deliver tangible and significant benefits to the mid Wales economy.”