£500,000 has been set aside by Carmarthenshire County Council for the development of a brand new closed circuit cycling facility in the county.
At this stage Welsh Cycling are scouring the county in search of the perfect location to situate the facility which will be used by those from all over Carmarthenshire.
The council’s executive board for regeneration and leisure, councillor Meryl Gravell said: “The authority has identified £500,000 towards the development of a closed circuit cycling facility.”
“We are working closely with Welsh Cycling to identify the most suitable location for the facility. A meeting is due to take place shortly.”
This will be part of the authority’s five-year capital spending programme.
David Jenkins, the council’s executive board member for finance said that £223m will be ploughed into the county up until 2021.
Council Leader Emlyn Dole said the investment was a way of: “ Combating the austerity of Westminster by investing in the county’s economy.”
He continued: “This investment ties in with the wider 15 year regeneration programme for Carmarthenshire.”
Another key investment will be the £60m Llanelli Wellness Village at the Delta Lakes site.
The county council led initiative will be the first of its kind in Wales, as well as this and the cycling facility, the cycle path link between Carmarthen and Llandeilo will be invested in, along with plans for a new care home in Llanelli.
Mr Dole said: “This five year investment plan does what it says on the tin investing in the rural and urban areas and new job creation.”
The council said the capital programme is projected to be fully funded from 2016/17 through to 19/20, a shortfall of £2.804m for the funding in 2020/21 is going to be reviewed over the coming year.
Mr Dole and Chief executive Mark James both emphasised that ventures such as these would give Carmarthenshire a “distinctiveness” and would help to attract visitors.
Mr Dole added: “It will be that distinctiveness that when people drive into Carmarthenshire they will stay here rather than go into Pembrokeshire.”
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