FUNDING worth £20 million for Cwmbran has been confirmed with promises of greater flexibility of how it is spent.
The cash was first announced by the previous Conservative government in October 2023 under its towns fund, with the money released over a 10-year period.
The new Labour government committed to honouring the funding, which it claims hadn’t been put in place by the previous Tory administration, back in October and Torfaen Borough Council agreed in January to submit plans to Whitehall for the funding.
But it said it didn’t expect the money to be available until the 2026 financial year.
Torfaen MP, and UK Government minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds has welcomed the confirmation of the Plan for Neighbourhoods funding which is worth £1.5 billion to the 75 towns, across the UK, that had been promised support.
The Labour MP also said he supported the change in rules over funding which would give the local boards a greater say in how it is spent and could also include spending on schemes such as housing, skills support and childcare and health services as well as issues such as highstreets, local parks, youth clubs and cultural venues.
He said: “I’m thrilled that up to £20 million has been earmarked for Cwmbran, bringing the benefits of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change to our local area and unleashing the enormous potential we have locally.
“Today’s announcement means more control in the hands of local people, and less micro-management from central government.
“This is the difference that Labour in government makes, and I look forward to supporting the work of the neighbourhood board as we deliver for residents.”
Torfaen had agreed to set up the local board, involving community groups and businesses in April 2024 but a new board will be set up and representatives from the Welsh Government can now sit on it.
Torfaen council previously said it expected new information on the fund but didn’t expect cash to be available until April 2026. It is also developing its own 10-year plan to guide investment in the regeneration of Cwmbran known as a placemaking plan which it consulted on during the autumn.
A final version of that plan is due to be considered by the Labour-controlled council’s cabinet this spring.