The council’s £7m hugely-popular play areas project will see £770,000 of the fund invested so neighbourhoods can benefit from a scheme that’s already seen more than 50 children’s recreation spaces upgraded.
And residents can also expect to see £5.5m being invested in road improvements on top of £3.1m plans for a new car park at Swansea Vale.
The spending is outlined in a report due to go to Cabinet on February 15, setting out plans for £142m of capital spending by the council on major projects in the year ahead. If approved, the proposals will go to full council on March 7 for a final decision.
Around £12m is being allocated this year for the continuing Mumbles Sea defences programme, 71/72 Kingsway is set to be completed this Spring and the transformation of Castle Square Gardens is set to start in earnest this year.
(Image: Swansea Council)
Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “Throughout the challenges of the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis, the council has been here for the people of Swansea.
“Everyone knows finances are tight. So the council is prioritising its capital budget to attract tens of millions of pounds more in grants and other support from UK and Welsh Governments as well as through the City Deal programme.
“The capital spending programmes we’ve set out reflect the priorities of the people of Swansea. They will help ensure every community continues to be supported, jobs are protected and created and Swansea is in the best shape it can be to take advantage of an improvement in the economy when it comes.”
He said: “Following on from the opening of the new Penderyn Distillery at Hafod Copperworks, we’re now accessing UK Government funds to help us support the £18m restoration of the site’s laboratory building.
“We’re also continuing with our transformation of the former BHS city centre site into a new community hub. And, as well as that, more than £2.4m has been allocated for major schools projects for Gowerton and Bishop Vaughan comprehensive schools and the proposed 21st century special needs school to replace Ysgol Crug Glas and Pen-y-Bryn.
“The funding for schools is on top of the seven new schools and major upgrades at seven others that we’ve completed in the last decade or so.”
The report to Cabinet also states that the final instalment of £9.7m of the £135m budgeted for the landmark Swansea Arena is due to be spent this year, the lion’s share coming from City Deal funding and capital receipts. Similarly, £2.7m has been allocated from the capital budget for the 71/72 Kingsway scheme which is due for completion in the coming months.
(Lead image: Swansea Council)
