A mid Wales tourism leader has described the announcement of investment in the region from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund as “fantastic news” for the region.
Mid Wales has three of the 10 schemes across Wales that were granted £121 million funding in the latest Budget.
Powys County Council, supported by the Canal & River Trust, received £15.4m for the restoration the Montgomery Canal. The council was also awarded £6.9m for three projects – two in Brecon, including refurbishing Theatre Brycheiniog and establishing a multi-agency hub, and one in Llandrindod, where a brown-field site will be redeveloped for housing.
Ceredigion County Council successfully bid for £10.8m to revitalise and regenerate Aberystwyth’s seafront area. The funding will contribute to creating a Living Harbour and revitalised promenade as well as towards Aerystwyth University’s plans for the Old College building.
The funding for the Montgomery Canal will be invested in restoring navigation to most of a 4.4-mile section from the English border at Llanymynech to Arddleen, near Welshpool.
Val Hawkins, chief executive of MWT Cymru, which represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia, is delighted with the funding secured for the region.
“This Levelling Up Fund investment in Mid Wales is fantastic news for the region,” she said. “Congratulations to Powys and Ceredigion county councils and all the other partners involved in the successful bids
“This funding will be a huge help in the long term for tourism in the region and also contribute to the health and wellbeing agenda which is so important.
“We are delighted with the investment to restore the Montgomery Canal which is a big step towards connecting to the national canal network and it’s great news that Aberystwyth sea front and harbour are going to be regenerated and revitalised.”