Towy Valley cycleway project steps up a gear

Ambitious plans to provide a cycle path between Carmarthen and Llandeilo have stepped up a gear thanks to a £581k grant.
The council has received a Local Transport Fund grant of £581,600 from Welsh Government towards walking and cycling links in Carmarthenshire which includes the Towy Valley Cycleway project.
The grant will go towards the early design stages of the scheme, which will help to make Carmarthenshire the cycling capital of Wales.
The project – which will cost in the region of £5 to £7million - is predicted to generate between £860,000 and £2million in the local economy every year.
It is also expected to create and support between 17 and 41 full-time jobs a year.
The route will follow the old railway line where possible and will link in with major tourist attractions.
It will also give people a sustainable and healthy travel option, linking with villages between the two main towns.
Executive Board Member for Transport Cllr Hazel Evans said: "I am delighted that we have been successful in obtaining this grant towards developing walking and cycling routes in the county, and this is in addition to the £125,000 we drew down at the end of the last financial year to progress schemes in 16/17.
“The county already has a reputation for being a great place for mountain biking, we also have the national cycle network, and there are plans for the velodrome in Carmarthen and a closed circuit cycling track somewhere in the county. The Towy Valley Cycleway will further boost our ambition to make Carmarthenshire a major cycling destination.
“This is an exciting project which will deliver healthy sustainable travel, improve access to education, employment and leisure and capitalise on the increasing leisure tourism economy in the picturesque Towy Valley.”