A scheme aimed at bringing vacant buildings back into use in Lampeter, Llandysul and Tregaron has “potential” to help the towns thrive, it has been claimed.

The three towns have been selected as Ceredigion’s towns for the Welsh Government’s Town Centre Property Investment Fund which will see funding offered to make up funding gaps when loans aren’t available to develop vacant buildings.

The county council’s economy and regeneration Cabinet member, Rhodri Evans, said he was optimistic the scheme could provide a boost to the three towns, despite Llandysul councillor Keith Evans saying he felt specific grants could be more useful.

A report that went before the council’s Cabinet said the scheme was aimed at ensuring that the best use was being made of buildings in the three towns, with projects being assessed by the Growing Mid Wales partnership between Ceredigion and Powys councils.

The report says: “The fund looks to stimulate regeneration within town centres by bringing empty of underutilised town buildings back into economic use, either for commercial or residential purposes.

“The fund is intended to step in where loan finance has been exhausted and where a funding ‘gap’ exists between the cost of works and the subsequent value of the building – thereby limiting the amount of borrowing.”

Cllr Keith Evans said while he supported anything that provided funding, but questioned whether the scheme was the best approach.

He said: “Time will tell how successful this will be.

“It might help them. Some of the smaller towns are struggling.”

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