WIREDGOV

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, visited high streets and town centres in Ammanford, Fishguard and Aberystwyth this week to see how their Welsh Government funded regeneration projects are progressing.

Ammanford and Fishguard have each received £50,000 of Welsh Government funding to develop bespoke action plans to rejuvenate the town centres. The funding is part of a £845,000 package of support announced by the Minister last year to help 20 town centres across Wales increase footfall, attract greater investment, reduce the impact of empty properties and support local businesses.

While in Ammanford, the Minister saw some of the work already underway to help regenerate the area. Plans include the development of new branding and improved signage for the town centre, one-to-one digital media and business training for local businesses and a series of events to attract people to the area, such as a Christmas market and a St David’s Day festival next year.

In Fishguard, the funding is supporting the creation of pop-up shops, developing a brand for the town centre, ensuring Fishguard is a Wi-Fi enabled town and making the area an attractive place for tourists, including regular cruise ship passengers, to visit.

While visiting the two areas, the Minister spoke to those involved in the Town Centre Partnerships about their work and their future plans to boost the area. She said:

"Town centres and high streets play a key role in creating a sense of community and providing us with a place to shop, do business, socialise and live. Our high streets should be the heart of our towns, offering a vibrant local economy and bustling community."

The Minister also visited Aberystwyth, which is one of the areas benefitting from the £1.25m Town Centre Loan Scheme funding awarded to Ceredigion County Council. The council can recycle and re-invest the loan in different projects which aim to improve the town centres and bring empty buildings back into use.

Ceredigion has also received £23,000 Welsh Government funding to develop a Business Improvement District. BIDs bring together businesses and other partners in the area, so they can work together to develop projects and activities which will help boost the local economy.

The Minister added:

"I was pleased to visit some of the high streets and town centres which are reaping the benefits of Welsh Government funding. It was great to see such passion and enthusiasm from businesses, local residents and the councils who are working to breath new life into the area.”