Two Mid Wales Senedd Members have criticised the UK Government’s methodology for allocating funding under its ‘Levelling Up Fund’ after an announcement today revealed that Powys will not receive any funding.

Welsh Liberal Democrat's Jane Dodds and Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell have both hit out at the UK Government, with the former arguing that the methodology for the fund is the equivalent of drawing straws and isn’t based on spending money where it is most needed.

Today the UK Government announced £208m in funding to be spent across 11 projects in Wales, including a new rail line in Cardiff.

The UK Government says that these projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally.

But Powys is among 11 Welsh local authorities that have not received any money under today’s announcement.

Ms Dodds said: “It is extremely disappointing to see not a single one of today’s projects will be located in Mid Wales. Powys and Ceredigion are in need of vital investment if we are to create jobs and opportunities outside of South Wales.

“Wales is already losing £772 million in development funds compared to if we had stayed in the EU.

“Adding to this, our local authorities are expected to fight it out amongst each other over a tiny sum of money offered by the UK Conservative Government.

“The criteria for the distribution of this pot of money doesn’t even seem to be based on any coherent metric for which areas are in need of investment the most. We’ve seen today some very wealthy parts of the country receive large amounts of money, including Rishi Sunak’s own constituency of Richmond in Yorkshire receiving £19m.

“We urgently need a Government fund that is dictated by need rather than potluck.”

Mr Campbell said: “Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys and Carmarthenshire are amongst the eleven Welsh local authorities that will not receive a single penny from today’s ‘Levelling Up’ round.

“This is despite the real need for ‘levelling up’ in these communities across mid and west Wales – with rural poverty, a housing crisis and poor infrastructure continuing to hamper economic growth and opportunities.

“The Tories promised that Brexit would leave Wales no worse off, and that European funding would be replaced, pound-for-pound. This promise has rung disgracefully hollow, with Wales now looking at a funding shortfall of £1.1bn compared with previous EU schemes.

“The way in which the 'Levelling Up' Fund has been allocated reflects cynical political decision-making rather than any real assessment of Wales' material need.”

During the first round of the 'Levelling Up' scheme announced in October, Powys was awarded £22m of funding.

£6.9m of this total was earmarked for projects in Brecon and Radnorshire, focusing on three projects in Brecon and Llandrindod Wells.