NEATH PORT TALBOT Council has been successful in its application for a share in more than £27 million worth of UK Government Levelling Up funding for two major projects in the borough.
The total sum of £27 million has been given to support two local projects in the town of Port Talbot, which include the regeneration of Port Talbot town centre, as well as the restoration of the area’s Newbridge Road Bridge.
They are two of seven successful projects in Wales that were given a share of £111 million in the latest round of Levelling Up funding, with the UK Government saying it would help create jobs, drive economic growth and spread equality to historically overlooked areas.
In Neath Port Talbot, the first amount of £14,835,600 has been awarded to regenerate Port Talbot town centre, with improvements planned for the town’s Civic Square, the refurbishment of the Princess Royal Theatre and improvements to green space at Riverside.
A further £12,166,268 has also been allocated to restore and re-open the Grade II listed Newbridge Road Bridge in the town to “boost active travel locally and to improve local dock access, as well as upgrading Newbridge Road and Riverside Road.”
The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, said the funding here would be very welcomed. He said: “I would like to thank all those at this council responsible for preparing these successful bids.
“The regeneration of Port Talbot town centre very much ties in with the rainbow coalition’s priorities in improving public spaces in our towns, valleys and villages. And the restoration of the Grade II listed bridge is in keeping with our culture strategy and the improvements to dock access and active travel are all very welcome.”
Cllr Jeremy Hurley added: “This will have a positive impact on our local economy. The projects which will benefit will support economic recovery, through regeneration and growth.”
Other successful bids made in Wales included £15.5 million to Camarthenshire Council for regenerating Llanelli and creating more green areas, £19 million for Denbighshire to develop and boost areas such as Rhyl, which will include regenerating the town centre., £19 million for the Vale of Glamorgan, to transform a site on the Barry Dock waterfront into a vibrant public area, £17 million for Powys to encourage healthier ways of travel, and more than £10 million for Pembrokeshire to improve public accessibility across Pembroke town.
