Monday, January 31st, 2011

Local AMs welcome investment into Ammanford Town Centre

Carmarthen East & Dinefwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas  has welcomed the £385,000 investment from the Welsh Government’s Western Valleys Regeneration Scheme for Ammanford Town.

Ammanford is one of six areas to benefit from the £1.8million package announced by Plaid Cymru Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Jocelyn Davies AM, aimed to make town centres more attractive to shoppers.  Other local areas to benefit include Cross Hands, Pontardawe and Ystradgynlais.

Works under the Western Valleys Strategy will include enhancing transport links by improving road junctions, rail and bus stations and car parks; purchasing disused sites and empty properties to prepare them for sale to the private sector and improving facilities such as market sites.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“Like so many valley communities the vibrancy of our town centre is crucial for employment, sustaining small and medium businesses and serves as a crucial hub for many who wish to do their family shopping locally.

“An investment of almost £400,000 for Ammanford is excellent news for the town and is another example of Plaid’s Deputy Minister continuing her work to ensure that small town centres continue to thrive.

“Having a full time constituency office in Ammanford, I am acutely aware that a number of stores have ceased trading in the town over the past two years.  This is an issue I have discussed with many business owners in the town.

“I warmly welcome this new investment and despite the recent announcement by the UK Government to close the local Courthouse, I believe the investment, accompanied by the recent business rate relief announced by Plaid’s Deputy First Minister, could be the start of injecting a new lease of life into our local town”.

 

Commenting on the funding for Cross Hands, Llanelli constituency Assembly Member Helen Mary Jones added:

“This is fantastic news for Cross Hands, and I’m pleased that the constituency is benefiting from this funding. It’s vital that the Welsh Government continues to invest in our town centres, and this funding will help to boost the local economy in Cross Hands itself and the local area.

With the aim of improving transport links, bus and rail stations and car parks, our town centres will be made safer and more attractive to shoppers. By improving the appearance of town centres, a better environment will be created for local people, businesses, visitors and potential investors.

Plaid’s Minister for Regeneration Jocelyn Davies, who announced this funding today,  has been working very hard to boost and improve town centres all across Wales, resulting in safeguarding jobs and creating new employment opportunities.

I look forward to seeing the work begin in Cross Hands as soon as possible.”

ENDS/DIWEDD

News Releases