IT now seems a forlorn hope that a final deal agreement to unlock £110 million of investment for the Mid Wales economy will be signed before Christmas.

Members of the Mid Wales Growth Board which is made up of councillors from the cabinets of both Ceredigion and Powys County Councils, were told at a meeting on Wednesday, 15 December that Welsh and UK Government ministers were unlikely to find time to sign the deal during the next few days.

Mid Wales Growth Deal strategic manager Carwyn Jones-Evans said: “From the technical perspective and all the documentation everything is proceeding well.

“We have discussed dates for signing and the hope that it would be signed before Christmas, however it is looking unlikely that that is going to happen because of ministerial availability.”

He added that letters had been sent by both council leaders asking for the deal to be signed off before the end of the year.

Mr Jones-Evans: “Everything is green light from an officer perspective it’s purely getting a date for ministers to sign the deal with council leaders.”

“We are doing all we can, should that not be possible, a fall-back date is very early in January.”

Powys council leader Cllr Rosemarie Harris asked if she could claim that the deal had been agreed.

Mr Jones-Evans said: “Technically we have produced all the documentation to the standard required.

“Informally we are hearing that all the pathways are being cleared – it’s subject to two ministers agreeing it.

“So, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the deal is agreed however we understand there are no issues, but a date needs to be agreed.”

Ceredigion council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn said: “It looks like we’ll have to wait until we get sign off from both sides.”

“Unfortunately, that’s the situation we’re in – you never know we might get a late Christmas present or Calennig (old Welsh tradition of gift giving on New Year’s Day).”

“We’re all champing at the bit once those signatures are all in place we can move forward.”

The Welsh and UK Government believe the growth deal has an “important part” to play in the recovery phase of the economy, after Covid-19.

In October 2019 the UK Government announced a £55 million injection of funding, that was to be spread over 15 years.

In March, this timescale was shortened to 10 years.

The Welsh Government will match the £55 million.

It is thought that the deal could see investment of between £280 million and £400 million over the next 10-15 years, which could create 1,100 jobs.