£1.8m boost for local public transport

Over £1.8m of grants to help fund local transport schemes in the county has been secured by Powys County Council.

The council will receive £1.81m from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund to purchase new public transport buses, improve paths along two important canals and progress active travel projects in two north Powys towns.

Nine new buses will be purchased for the TrawsCymru bus service that operates in the county thanks to £1.55m to improve bus provision in Powys.

£200,000 will be used to improve paths along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal and Montgomery Canal, while £60,000 will be used to progress active travel projects in Brecon and Machynlleth.

Cllr Aled Davies, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Public Transport, said: “I’m delighted the council has been successful in securing over £1.5m from the Welsh Government to improve the county’s bus provision by purchasing new buses.

“Bus journey experiences for passengers that use the TrawsCymru service will improve when these new buses are purchased and I hope that it will also attract more people to use this important public transport service.”

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Both the Monmouthshire and Brecon and the Montgomery canals are important tourism destinations so this money is welcomed and will benefit visitors who walk along the canal paths.”