Cash windfall for local tourism projects including one in Welshpool

Work is underway on 16 tourism projects across Powys, including several in our area, aimed at delivering a better visitor experience, after the county council was successful in securing £300,000 in funding.

The Welsh Government cash, supplied as part of its Brilliant Basics programme, is covering 80% of the cost, with the organisations delivering the schemes meeting the remaining 20% and investing a collective £75,000.

The 16 projects, which must all be completed by the end of March 2027, are (local projects in bold):

• New 3.5-mile Dragon Trail (local partnership project) – Rhayader Town Council: £34,400 grant
• Powys Food Trails in Welshpool and Brecon – Cultivate (Newtown): £6,937.60 grant
• Re-purpose a wildlife hide and provide interpretation – Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust: £24,000 grant
• New walking routes in Llansilin, Carreghofa and Llanwrtyd Wells – Powys County Council’s Countryside Services: £24,000 grant
• Brecon Canal picnic areas – Glandŵr Cymru: £23,600 grant
• Solar panels on the public toilets, pay gates, benches, shower facility, chemical waste disposal and flower beds – Machynlleth Town Council: £22,800 grant
• Signage and interpretation project – Knighton Tourism Group: £21,316 grant
• Local signage, orientation and compostable toilet – Talgarth Regeneration Group: £19,115 grant
• Re-route a section of the Heart-of-Wales Line Trail and provide offroad access – Friends of the Heart-of-Wales Line Trail: £18,502.94 grant
• Install a section of boardwalk and a new footbridge – Elan Valley Trust: £17,280 grant
• Llanfyllin Wetland access, including disabled access – Llanfyllin Town Council: £17,040 grant
• Newtown Castle Motte: clear site, redevelop it, and provide access and interpretation – Newtown Town Council: £16,000 grant
• Went’s Meadow access and accessible paths – Presteigne Town Council: £12,000 grant
• New bins in key destinations – Powys County Council Highways: £8,000 grant

Historic town QR code-linked guide, book bench, signage, town boards and flags – Hay Town Council: £7,680 grant

River bathing signal system – Knighton Woodland Tots: £1,552 grant

“Priority areas for this funding round included alleviating pressures at tourism ‘hot spots’, promoting environmentally sustainable destinations, enhancing accessibility, and improving the overall visitor experience, and we believe the projects we are supporting meet these aims,” said Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys.

“Tourism is very important to the Powys economy, and we are very grateful to Welsh Government for awarding us the maximum amount available: £300,000.”

Across Wales, the Welsh Government is investing £5 million over the next two years as part of its Brilliant Basics programme.

PICTURE: A project to make Offa’s Dyke at Knighton more accessible to visitors, was one of 10 in Powys that received Brilliant Basics funding between 2023 and 2025, with £90,000 invested at the park site.