Senedd unveils £5.9m boost to Mid Wales transport

The Welsh Government has revealed a £5.9 million plan to boost road safety across Mid Wales, with over half of it to be spent in Powys.

Whilst towns like Newtown, Llanidloes, Brecon and Machynlleth are set to benefit with major projects, there appears to be only crumbs for places like Welshpool, Llanfyllin and Llanfair Caereinion.

The Senedd has announced this morning that the ‘major investment will help people get around more easily and support local economies through better transport links’.

A further £197,500 has been given to Powys ‘for implementation of 20mph speed limit’.

Last year, Welshpool did benefit from a bizarre pavement widening project (pictured) that was hugely criticised as 'not needed' at the time.

Overall in Powys, over £3m will be spent on:

Active travel fund

Core funding of £500,000, plus:

• £249,000 for Newtown East active travel project

Local transport fund

• £1.5 million for Transforming High Streets (Brecon)
• £123,000 for Machynlleth Interchange

Resilient roads fund

• £150,000 for highway drainage improvements

Road safety

• £197,500 for implementation of 20mph speed limit
• £52,000 for National Standards Cycle Training
• £27,900 for Kerbcraft pedestrian training
• £16,100 for Enhanced Rider Scheme
• £7,500 for Mature Driver training for ages 65 and over
• £5,400 for Biker Down

Safe routes in communities

• £237,000 for Llanidloes (Smithfield Street)

Ultra-low emission vehicles transformation fund

• £120,000 for EV programme

More details on Mid Wales projects

Projects set to benefit include safety improvements around schools in Llanidloes, making it easier for children to walk, wheel or cycle to school; bus infrastructure improvements in Ceredigion and a scheme to transform the high street in Brecon benefiting transport access and enhancing the sense of place on the high street with wider social and economic benefits.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Ken Skates, said:

“Connecting communities and delivering better transport for all is at the heart of this £5.9 million investment. We want to make it easier for people to travel to work, school, healthcare and to see friends and family, while also building a more sustainable transport network for future generations.

“These improvements will make real differences to everyday journeys - whether that’s safer routes, better paths for walking, wheeling and cycling, or more reliable bus services. We’re working with councils to ensure this money delivers the greatest benefits to communities across Wales.”

The grants will fund projects that:

• improve the condition of local roads and address disruptions caused by severe weather;
• pilot new bus services and upgrade bus journey times and waiting facilities;
• create inclusive streets that make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle
• install more publicly available electric vehicle charging points;
• create safer routes for children to travel to schools; and
• improve road safety.