MP welcomes funding boost for cycle path
CARMARTHEN East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards has welcomed a huge funding boost towards building a dedicated cycle and walking path between Carmarthen and Llandeilo.
The Tywi Valley Path is among 10 schemes in Wales that have been given extra money by the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up plans.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet say they want to ensure a better spread of funding across the UK and this latest boost was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the 2021 Budget.
In March the UK Government said there was a £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund with £800m to share between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland over the next four years. Last Wednesday, Mr Sunak said £121m of funding would go to 10 specific schemes in Wales as part of that fund.
The Tywi Valley Path has received £16.7m. The first part, a short section of the route at the Carmarthen end between the villages of Abergwili and Whitemill, was opened in the summer of 2019.
The Tywi Valley Path project will create a 20km off-road walking and cycling route linking Carmarthen to Llandeilo running alongside the River Tywi through stunning scenery which takes in castles, country parks and historic estates as well as attractions including the National Botanic Garden of Wales and Aberglasney Gardens.
It has the potential to generate around £4.5million a year for the local economy, creating jobs in local businesses through enhanced visitor attraction and spend.
Carmarthenshire Council wants the county to be the cycling hub of Wales and has attracted high-profile races such as the Tour of Britain three times, most recently between Llandeilo and Llanarthne in September, as well as revamping the Carmarthen Velodrome and building the Pembrey closed road circuit.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards has welcomed the Levelling Up funding for the path and said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Carmarthenllandeilo cycle path has succeeded in securing Levelling Up Fund investment.
“As a big supporter of the scheme I was delighted to nominate it as my preferred project for the fund.”
Mr Edwards added: “The cycle path is a significant investment for the Tywi Valley and Carmarthenshire, building on the work of the council in promoting our county as a fantastic place to live and work.
“In utilising our tremendous natural assets in Carmarthenshire we can put together a package that attracts further economic investment and opportunity.
“This is great news for the county and I fully congratulate everyone involved.”
Having secured the Levelling Up funding, the council now plans to push ahead with further development work including potential land purchase, detailed designs, construction and marketing.
The council’s cabinet will meet to discuss how best to apply the funding and what contribution the authority can make from its own funds to deliver further phases of the scheme.
Cllr Hazel Evans, cabinet member for environment, said: “This is fantastic news which will support our ambitious plans for the Tywi Valley Path project and the wider economic boost this will bring to the area.
“This project has the potential to bring environmental benefits by encouraging people to travel by bike or on foot for local and longer distance journeys, providing more opportunities for active travel as well as contributing to local and national carbon reduction and air quality targets.”