THE multi-million pound regeneration of a town in the Valleys is expected to be completed in a year's time.

The Ebbw Vale Town Centre Regeneration Programme has included improvements in Church Street, transport links including the Mechanical Link funicular and the Northern Gateway leading to the steelworks.

The project has come with a £12m price tag and was boosted by an additional £1m EU grant on Tuesday [April 22].

Yesterday [April 23], members of Blaenau Gwent executive welcomed the extra funding, which will allow regeneration chiefs to spend:

* Around £450,000 to expand Ebbw Vale Library, create a Community Housing Hub for council housing and housing associations, build a canopy in Market Street and refurbish extra properties in the town.

* About £300,000 to improve the rear of Market Street adjacent to the proposed bus terminal.

* An additional £200,000 on the Mechanical Link as part of the final phase of the Cross Valley Links Scheme if the funding is needed.

* £75,000 to upgrade the public park near Eureka Place.

The additional projects are to be completed by March 2015 as set out in the funding requirements, an executive report on the town's regeneration states.

Independent Blaenau Gwent, Cllr Clive Meredith, acknowledged the regeneration project had been a success.

But he stressed that, as the Labour council seeks to make £10m of savings, the local authority must ensure it does not overlook the basic needs of taxpayers by denying them facilities like public toilets.

Cllr Meredith said yesterday: "I'm impressed with the project.

"I think most people will have to say they are envious of Ebbw Vale in the Valleys.

"I think they have done a grand job but we still have to make sure to don't forget the basic needs for people."