In another story released this week of lottery money going to good causes, it was revealed that another local project is set to receive lottery funding. The proposed Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Quarter is one step closer to realisation today; historic buildings around the town will receive funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund – an estimated £1.2m from the HLF and Cadw, the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage. Merthyr Tydfil has a strong heritage past, important to the UK and the British Empire for industrial history. Particularly, the funding will go towards the historic buildings in the area of Pontmorlais where it is hoped the money will be used to create a Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Quarter and encourage businesses back to the area.
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The Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Quarter
The plan for the area of Pontmorlais includes the encouragement of niche retail outlets, to use the historic buildings for arts, culture and education and generally revitalise the area. The Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Quarter will not just be for tourists, though this will be vital to the local economy, but also as a centre of local pride to regenerate and revitalise Merthyr Tydfil. Some shops in the area of Pontmorlais have already been revitalised and it is this success that the local council will highlight in demonstrating just how far the town can come with a little cash injection from National Lottery funds.
Other areas where the money will be spent include starting up training projects for local people to learn traditional skills. This, it is hoped, will create an economy of building conservation and restoration, giving back skills that many places have lost. This will also create an interest in traditional crafts for local people and provide jobs to the area.