£3.4 MILLION OF TRANSPORT GRANTS FOR CARMARTHENSHIRE

Carmarthenshire has been awarded £3.4 million of transport grants; the package is the highest award for a county in Wales. The Welsh Government Transport Minister Edwina Hart has allocated the money for the projects from the Local Transport Fund, Road Safety and Safe Routes in the Communities grants.

The grants will enable the authority to make progress on projects to alleviate congestion and improve road safety. The projects include Carmarthen West and Cross Hands to enable the authority to make progress in developing the economy of Carmarthenshire and its key role in the wider city region.

Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Vice Chair of the Swansea Bay City RegionBoard, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “We are delighted that this funding has been made available for the much-needed Cross Hands economic and Carmarthen West link roads. The Cross hands link road is a flagship project for the Swansea Bay City Region and strengthens Cross Hands as a major strategic employment site for the City Region.

“Both projects will provide a major economic boost to the area.”

The Carmarthen West site will receive £1.3 million; the site has been allocated for mixed use development in the council’s Local Development Plan and includes 1,100 new homes, a primary school, employment space, a small retail centre, open space and affordable housing.

The council will soon be going out to tender for the construction of the Carmarthen West road, hopefully to be completed by 2018.

£450,000 has also been received from the Local Transport Fund forphase 2 of the Cross Hands Economic Link Road as well as £950,000 towards four walking and cycling schemes in the county; the Amman Valley Cycleway, Urban Connections, Towy Valley Transport Corridor and School Transport Routes.

Carmarthenshire has also benefited from Road Safety Capital grants of £150,000 for safety improvements along the A485 between Alltwalis and Llanybydder; £145,000 on the A484 between Kidwelly and Cwmffrwd and £144,000 on the B4306 Hendy to Cwmffrwd.

A further £138,000 has been made available for Road Safety Education and Training and £165,875 for the Glanymor ward in Llanelli under the Safe Routes in Communities to make improvements near Coedcae, Bigyn, Lakefield and Copperworks schools.