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| Theatre among £120m grant awards | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Ten projects across Wales are to benefit from a £120m grants package from the Welsh Assembly Government. | |
| The most significant projects include £20m towards affordable housing, and £15m for an arts and science centre in Bangor University, Gwynedd. | |
| The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies, said investing in the projects would bring huge economic benefits. | The Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies, said investing in the projects would bring huge economic benefits. |
| It would also give the construction industry a boost, he added. | It would also give the construction industry a boost, he added. |
| "This is an innovative and exciting way of investing in capital projects and brings huge benefits in the current economic climate," said Mr Davies. | "This is an innovative and exciting way of investing in capital projects and brings huge benefits in the current economic climate," said Mr Davies. |
| "As well as providing high quality public services, these projects will give a much-needed boost to the beleaguered construction industry, as we estimate they will create or support over 3,000 jobs during the construction process," he added. | "As well as providing high quality public services, these projects will give a much-needed boost to the beleaguered construction industry, as we estimate they will create or support over 3,000 jobs during the construction process," he added. |
| LIST OF PROJECTS £20m for affordable housing£35m for the Ebbw Vale Learning Works (including school/sports/leisure and arts centre provision)£12m for the Taf Ely Learning Campus£5.3m for school buildings in Gwynedd£10m for three emergency strategic co-ordination centres£15m for an arts and science centre at Bangor University£8.5m for a new emergency care centre at Prince Charles Hospital£8m for the Children's Hospital for Wales£3.5m for the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea£975,000 for eco-lighting at 17 monumentsSource: Welsh Assembly Government | LIST OF PROJECTS £20m for affordable housing£35m for the Ebbw Vale Learning Works (including school/sports/leisure and arts centre provision)£12m for the Taf Ely Learning Campus£5.3m for school buildings in Gwynedd£10m for three emergency strategic co-ordination centres£15m for an arts and science centre at Bangor University£8.5m for a new emergency care centre at Prince Charles Hospital£8m for the Children's Hospital for Wales£3.5m for the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea£975,000 for eco-lighting at 17 monumentsSource: Welsh Assembly Government |
| Nick Bennett, chief executive of Community Housing Cymru, welcomed the money and said it was proof of the "economic role that social housing plays in Wales". | Nick Bennett, chief executive of Community Housing Cymru, welcomed the money and said it was proof of the "economic role that social housing plays in Wales". |
| In Bangor, the money will go towards the £36m needed to build a "science meets arts" space to replace the old Theatr Gwynedd theatre building which closed last year. | |
| The new arts facilities should be open by the spring of 2012. | |
| 'Fantastic facility' | 'Fantastic facility' |
| University vice-chancellor Professor Merfyn Jones said the grant announcement was "tremendous news", and a "boost" for north Wales. | University vice-chancellor Professor Merfyn Jones said the grant announcement was "tremendous news", and a "boost" for north Wales. |
| "This funding together with additional European, arts council and university funds will allow us to move ahead with developing a fantastic new facility for the area," he added. | "This funding together with additional European, arts council and university funds will allow us to move ahead with developing a fantastic new facility for the area," he added. |
| Prof Jones said the new centre would provide more than just arts facilities for the whole community with a theatre, exhibition spaces, bar and cafe. | Prof Jones said the new centre would provide more than just arts facilities for the whole community with a theatre, exhibition spaces, bar and cafe. |
| "This will be a centre where science meets the arts, where students will learn new design skills to solve real-world problems, improving their job prospects and providing local businesses with innovative new talent. | "This will be a centre where science meets the arts, where students will learn new design skills to solve real-world problems, improving their job prospects and providing local businesses with innovative new talent. |
| Theatre campaigners are delighted with the planned new centre | Theatre campaigners are delighted with the planned new centre |
| "It will make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the area and to our young people's future," he added. | "It will make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the area and to our young people's future," he added. |
| As well as providing a new home for the arts the centre will also include a new students' union as well as a variety of teaching and learning spaces. | As well as providing a new home for the arts the centre will also include a new students' union as well as a variety of teaching and learning spaces. |
| "This is a tremendously ambitious project and is one of the most exciting initiatives of its kind in Europe, if not the world," Prof Jones said. | "This is a tremendously ambitious project and is one of the most exciting initiatives of its kind in Europe, if not the world," Prof Jones said. |
| Ann Jones, of the Friends of Theatr Gwynedd group, which campaigned to keep the old theatre open until the new facility was assured, said: "This is a positive thing, and we need to see facilities which are as good, if not better, than we had before." | Ann Jones, of the Friends of Theatr Gwynedd group, which campaigned to keep the old theatre open until the new facility was assured, said: "This is a positive thing, and we need to see facilities which are as good, if not better, than we had before." |