The Welsh Government has announced a significant investment of £4.6 million in mid Wales to improve public transport and encourage economic growth.

The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates, revealed that local authorities were invited to submit proposals for local transport improvements that align with Wales' Transport Strategy - Llwybr Newydd.

The funding aims to address disruptions to the highway network caused by severe weather, improve road safety, deliver walking and cycling routes, enhance bus journey times and waiting facilities, and provide publicly available Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

In Mid Wales, the £4.6 million investment will see projects developed such as the Active Travel Fund, Safe Routes in Communities, Road Safety initiatives, Local Transport Fund, and Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles Transformation Fund (ULEVTF).

Specific allocations include £500,000 for the Active Travel Fund, £337,000 for Safe Routes in Communities in Llanidloes, £15,000 for Phase 3 of the Treowen Active Travel project, £360,000 for transforming High Streets in Brecon, Crickhowell, and Newtown, and £135,000 for Powys' electric vehicle programme.

Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates said:

"These grants are a substantial investment to support sustainable local economic growth, enhance public transport facilities and create and improve routes that will enable and encourage more people in Wales to walk, wheel and cycle."

“The projects are prime examples of the practical solutions we have asked local authorities to design in order to make it easier for residents to connect with their places of employment and businesses, and to do so more sustainably.”