WIREDGOV

Finance Minister Jane Hutt has celebrated the unveiling of Bank Square - made possible thanks to an £11.5m Welsh Government EU investment package to breathe new life into Ebbw Vale town centre. 

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council hosted a morning of celebrations, including the unveiling of a 4 metre high stainless steel dragon created by South Wales blacksmiths Sam Pask and William Holland of Phoenix Forge. It forms part of the “Heart of the Furnace” which includes a new stone screening wall with artwork and bespoke railings at Bank Square.  Children from Ebbw Vale Scouts, All Saints Primary and Blaen-y-Cwm schools, who contributed to the artwork, were presented with certificates during the unveiling ceremony.

The improvements to Ebbw Vale town centre are being led by Blaenau Gwent Council with support from the Welsh Government, including through the European Regional Development Fund, Heads of the Valleys and Targeted Match funding alongside Council contributions and private sector investment, totalling over £12 m.

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said:

"I’m delighted to see yet another positive example of how Welsh Government and EU Funds are benefiting the region. The square will play an important role, acting as a key focal point for the community and complements the wider regeneration of the town, supporting businesses and boosting the local economy."

The centre of Ebbw Vale has already undergone a transformation with Church Street and Bethcar Street benefiting from improvements to shop fronts and commercial properties. Also underway are plans to improve access between the town centre, residential communities and the EU-backed The Works regeneration project on the former steelworks site.

As well as children from local schools, amongst those in attendance, were Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir and the Mayor of Blaenau Gwent, Councillor Bernard Willis.

Councillor Hedley McCarthy, Leader of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council said:  

"This is another important step in the transformation and regeneration of the town."

EU projects in Blaenau Gwent area have already assisted over 26,000 participants, of which almost 10,000 have been supported to gain qualifications and over 4,500 helped into work. In addition, almost 800 (gross) jobs and some 200 enterprises have been created