Pontypool's £20m facelift (From Free Press Series)

Pontypool's £20m facelift

8:50am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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TORFAEN council is bidding for millions of pounds of European money to regenerate Pontypool town centre and its outlying areas.

Projects across Pontypool, Garndiffaith, Trevethin and Pontnewynydd could see the refurbishment and reuse of vacant property, there will be work to improve street lighting, pavements and other parts of the town centre's open spaces and the creation of centres for community use. New walkways and cycle paths are planned to connect towns and communities.

The council estimates the projects taken together will cost £20m, of which £11m is being applied for from the European Regional Development Fund with the rest coming from the council, Assembly, the lottery fund and other partners such as Bron Afon housing. The scheme is targeted in and around Pontypool as it was identified as having cluster of high deprivation areas by the Assembly.

It is hoped the investment will support long-term regeneration with the aim to help deprived communities and support the development of vibrant local economies.

Cllr Lewis Jones said: “We’re now not just talking about Pontypool town centre but the wards that surround it where nothing has been done for a long time and we’ve seen practically nothing in Wainfelin or Pontnewynydd. This is certainly good news for the whole Pontypool area.”

All expenditure has still to be given formal approval by the Welsh European Funding Office.

Chief Officer of the Regeneration Service Bill Hill said: “The regeneration strategies will not only improve the quality of the built environment in a number of locations in North Torfaen but will also connect communities far more effectively to services, facilites and employment opportunities.”

The cabinet approved that the proposals now be submitted to the Welsh European Funding Office to apply for funding under Convergence European Regional Development Fund.

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