Cash boost for town (From Barry And District News)

Cash boost for town

TWO long-awaited Barry projects are set to benefit from a £2.35 million cash injection.

Both the Barry Urban Parks scheme and the new Entrepreneurship Centre have been given the green light.

Handing out their biggest grant to date, the Welsh committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund poured £1.2 million into the Victoria Park regeneration scheme.

A further £200,000 has already been awarded by the Welsh Development Agency (WDA), who last week also gave the go-ahead for the Waterfront project.

The Barry Urban Parks project, which will see the historic bandstand in the Cadoxton beauty spot restored to its former glory, was secured when the WDA gave its commitment to their share of the funding.

Vale Assembly Member Jane Hutt said: "This is great news for the people of Barry and for the on-going regeneration project. I've been working hard to ensure that this funding has been forthcoming and I am delighted confirmation has been given."

The new Entrepreneurship Centre on Barry Waterfront, which will act as a centre for small business development and training, is to cost a further £950,000.

It will have links with the nearby Skills Training Centre, will act as a base for economic development in the Vale, and provide workshops and units to help small business development.

Ms Hutt added: "This is the final piece in the funding jigsaw, which has also received £373k from the Welsh Assembly Government and £503k from the Welsh European Funding Office.

"This announcement follows a year of discussions and negotiations I have held with the Assembly's Andrew Davies, Economic Development Minister, and WDA officials."

She added: "The successful regeneration of Barry is one of my priorities for the Vale, and I believe it's important for both the Waterfront and the wider Barry. There are exciting projects in the pipeline, and I will continue to work hard to ensure this process is a success."