Funding under the Bus Services Support Grant (BSSG) is allocated annually to Wales’ local authorities by a formula that reflects their overall populations and their rural or urban characteristics.

The £25m grant will be shared between the 22 local authorities, and will allow each to subsidise socially-necessary bus and community transport within their areas.

The grant will supplement local authorities’ own expenditure on bus and community transport services.

Ken Skates said:

“I am pleased to announce that the Welsh Government has committed £25m to help ensure a sustainable bus service across Wales over the next financial year.

“Local scheduled bus services are, and will continue to be, the foundation of our public transport system, allowing people across Wales to get to work, hospital appointments, education and leisure activities.  

“They are vital to Welsh life and actually account for around 100m passenger journeys each year.

“I am pleased we have been able to maintain our investment levels in Wales’ bus services despite increasingly challenging financial settlements.

“This is a reflection of our commitment to supporting our bus industry and to delivering an effective network of buses for  communities as part of an integrated, multi-modal system of public transport right across Wales.”

The £25.3m project will improve the present road to modern highway standards, addressing poor visibility; bends that are too tight as well as narrow lanes.  

This will be done by building an entirely new section of highway which ties in at either end of the existing Five Mile Lane between the roundabout at Weycock Cross and the new junction at Sycamore Cross.  

When finished, the project will have improved access for HGV and development traffic to the St Athan and Cardiff Airport Enterprise Zones. It will make cycling and walking safer and give better access to the M4, offering more reliable journey times for customers, freight, regional and local businesses.

Attending the turf cutting ceremony, Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“This vital piece of structural engineering will have many more wider-reaching benefits than simply an improvement to a road. 

“The work will also provide employment across the area. It will also provide a safer route for non-motorised road users, supporting commitments we made in the Active Travel Bill.

Alongside this, it will offer direct access to the St Athan and Cardiff Airport Enterprise Zone, again supporting our promises to increase job creation and employment opportunities.”

Local authorities will receive £440,000 over the next two years to tackle period poverty in their communities where levels of deprivation are highest and £700,000 of capital funding to improve facilities and equipment in schools – ensuring that all girls and young women can access good sanitary facilities when they need them.

Leader of the House Julie James AM said: 

“Local councils are best placed to know where to target effective action for tackling period poverty in their communities, which is why we are asking them to use this funding to distribute feminine hygiene products to those who need them most. 

“This could be through community groups, schools or food banks. We have heard reports that mothers are going without so that their daughters can have access to sanitary products which is absolutely unacceptable in our society. This funding will help to address that very real need.

“Funding will also be used to improve toilet facilities in our schools. We know from research that many girls are starting their periods at a younger age and, while secondary schools often have the facilities they need in place, they can be lacking in primary schools. 

“I want to ensure all girls and young women studying at schools in Wales have access to appropriate facilities which give them the dignity they deserve.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams AM said: 

“The physical, emotional and mental health of our pupils is paramount. This funding will help ensure that these facilities in our schools meet the needs of young women and girls. 

“We want all our young people to reach their full potential both inside and outside the classroom and this funding will help to ensure they feel properly supported.”

The ceremony was hosted by Geraint Hardy, TV and Radio Presenter (BBC Friday Night Social / Codi Pac- S4C ) and Catrin Haf Jones, ITV Cymru Wales Journalist and guests were entertained with music from Ify Iwobi & Co Band.

The package of support will enable these businesses to invest in improvements to ensure their resilience and their ability to continue to provide slaughtering facilities often in remote areas.

The grant aid will include both capital investment and provide advice on animal welfare, business improvement and technical matters.  Welfare friendly infrastructure and facilities will be supported and also the installation and upgrading of CCTV monitoring systems.

The details of the grant scheme will be developed over the coming months, in consultation with the industry to ensure the support meets the needs of the sector.  It will be launched before the summer recess.

The Cabinet Secretary said: 

“Safeguarding the health and welfare of farmed animals kept in Wales throughout their lives, up to and including the point of slaughter, is a high priority for me.

“Today, I am pleased to announce I will soon be launching a £1.1million Food Business Investment scheme package of grant aid specifically for small and medium sized slaughterhouses in Wales.  This support will enable these businesses to invest in improvements so they become more resilient and are able to continue to provide slaughtering facilities.  

“Small slaughterhouses support both short and local supply chains and provide processing facilities for small scale livestock producers and in doing so are good for animal welfare by reducing the distance travelled from farm to slaughterhouse.  The slaughterhouse can be the first and last destination for animals leaving the farm and it is important that this transfer is as stress free as possible.

“The grant aid will also help these businesses install and upgrade CCTV monitoring systems.  I want to assist businesses to put systems in place while legislating for CCTV in slaughterhouses is taking place in England. I want Wales’ slaughterhouses to be fully prepared as I continue to explore opportunities to legislate in the longer term.

“Work will now get underway with the industry to develop the scheme so that it is bespoke to their needs and I expect it to be launched before summer recess.

“Small slaughterhouses have survived well in Wales despite many challenges which has seen a steady decline in the numbers elsewhere in Britain.  I want to assist their sustainability in Wales and to maintain high standards of animal welfare that will be beyond reproach.”