£9m to support Welsh town centres coronavirus recovery

Hannah Blythyn has announced that the Welsh Government has made up to £9 million available to support town centres recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government said that up to £5.3 million from the Transforming Towns programme will be used to fund adaptions in town centres to support traders and improve public safety in response to coronavirus. A further £3.7 million of Valleys Taskforce funding will be invested to enhance small town centres in the Valleys region.

The Transforming Towns funding will be used to fund adaptions in town centres to facilitate trading and public safety in response to Coronavirus. This will include outdoor awnings, outdoor tables and chairs, outdoor heating, outdoor screening, bollards, planters, small green infrastructure schemes, electricity supply and lighting to outdoor trading spaces, as well as the temporary use of vacant buildings and the establishment of local markets.

The £9 million fund will complement other support targeting town centre recovery including: £15.4 million Local Sustainable Transport fund to provide better active and sustainable travel infrastructure to make it safer and easier for people to get around their local town; and funding to support Business Improvement Districts’ running costs for three months.

Blythyn said: “We all know that town centres are facing huge challenges in light of Covid-19 but I am committed to ensuring Welsh town centres not only survive but thrive. Investing in our town centres is as relevant as ever but as we do not yet now the longer term impact Coronavirus will have on our town centres, it is vital any short term actions have a lasting impact and enhance the look and feel of our town centres.

“This is why I’m announcing that £5.3 million will be available during the remainder of 2020-21 to fund adaptations in town centres, which will facilitate trading and public safety in response to Coronavirus. This will include things like outdoor tables and chairs, awnings and planters to ensure that areas are segregated and safe and that business can operate under current social distancing requirements. These actions will provide a sense of wellbeing, safety and confidence to encourage people to return to the high street. As we plan to reopen our public spaces and town centres, we have a unique opportunity to re-think and to re-imagine our town centres as we would like them to be – greener, cleaner, more connected.”