Housing and Regeneration Minister, Carl Sargeant, has announced that Abergavenny is one of the areas which will receive Welsh Government funding, allowing them to develop Business Improvement District (BID) plans.

The areas which have been successful in their application for funding are Abergavenny, Bridgend, Caernarfon and Bangor, Llanelli, Pontypridd, Neath, Aberystwyth, Pant and Merthyr Industrial Estates and Colwyn Bay. Abergavernny will be receiving £17,000 from the overall funding, which totals £200,000.

The nine areas across Wales have been selected by the Welsh Government after an application process which saw 14 areas apply. They were selected through a ranking system, based on pre-determined criteria and with an expectation that each area attracts match funding of at least 25% from other sources.

The Minister said, "I'm pleased that we have been able to support so many prospective BIDs and I look forward to seeing the successful applicants working with local businesses, authorities and communities in order to develop BIDs which can make a real difference to the areas they represent.

"Business Improvement Districts have a good track record in bringing together local businesses and other stakeholders to explore ways of improving the local trading environment. That's why supporting work to develop more BIDs is a key task in our regeneration framework, Vibrant and Viable Places."