Mid Wales

Map of a common definition of Mid Wales following the boundaries of Ceredigion and Powys (in Red), with Meirionnydd (part of Gwynedd), sometimes considered Mid Wales and coloured in pale red.

Two principal areas of Wales commonly defined to be Mid Wales, for regional economy.

Mid Wales (Welsh: Canolbarth Cymru or simply Y Canolbarth, meaning "the midlands"), or Central Wales, is a region of Wales, encompassing its midlands, in-between North Wales and South Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the Senedd covered the unitary authority areas of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionnydd.^[1] A similar definition is used by the BBC.^[2] The Wales Spatial Plan defines a region known as "Central Wales" which covers Ceredigion and Powys.^[3]

Mid Wales is dominated by the Cambrian Mountains, including the Green Desert of Wales.^[4] The region is sparsely populated, with an economy dependent on farming and small businesses.^[5]

Major settlements

• Aberaeron
• Aberdyfi
• Aberporth
• Aberystwyth
• Bala
• Barmouth
• Borth
• Brecon
• Builth Wells
• Caersws
• Cardigan
• Crickhowell
• Dolgellau
• Fairbourne
• Harlech
• Hay-on-Wye
• Knighton
• Lampeter
• Llandrindod Wells
• Llandysul
• Llanidloes
• Llanwrtyd
• Machynlleth
• Montgomery
• New Quay
• Newcastle Emlyn
• Newtown
• Rhayader
• Tregaron
• Tywyn
• Welshpool
• Ystradgynlais

Railway lines

Main lines

• Heart of Wales line
• Cambrian Line
• Welsh Marches line

Heritage lines

• Talyllyn Railway
• Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
• Vale of Rheidol Railway
• Cambrian Heritage Railways
• Brecon Mountain Railway
• Fairbourne Railway
• Corris Railway

Politics

Parliamentary constituencies in Mid Wales include; Brecon and Radnorshire, Ceredigion, Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Montgomeryshire.

The region is represented in the Senedd with an electoral region known as Mid and West Wales.

In April 2021, a Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee was formed to allow the two local councils in the region to collaborate in areas relating to economic well-being, strategic planning and the development of regional transport policies.

Mid Wales Growth Deal

See also: Regional economy in Wales

On 13 January 2022, the Mid Wales Growth Deal's Final Deal Agreement was signed between the Growing Mid Wales Board; containing representatives from Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council, and the UK and Welsh Governments. The deal involves the commitment of £110 million of funding from the two governments, with additional funding provided by other public and private sectors over the span of 10 years. The deal aims to increase investment in the region to £400 million by 2032, support an increase in gross value added of between £570 million and £700 million in the region's economy, and create between 1,100 to 1,400 jobs in Mid Wales.^[6][7][8][9]

See also

• Breconshire
• Geography of Wales
• Geology of Wales
• Mid Wales Football League
• Montgomery, Powys
• Montgomeryshire
• North Wales
• Radnorshire
• South Wales
• West Wales

References

1. "National Assembly for Wales. Mid Wales Regional Committee (July 2003 - March 2005)". Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
2. "BBC Wales - Mid Wales". Retrieved 30 October 2009.
3. "Welsh Assembly Government - Central Wales". Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
4. Williams, Sally (1 November 2006). "Western Mail". Cambrian Mountains campaign launched. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
5. "National Assembly for Wales. Report from the Mid Wales Regional Committee" (PDF). June 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
6. "Mid Wales Growth Deal reaches an important development milestone". GOV.UK. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
7. "Mid Wales Growth Deal is signed off | The Planner". www.theplanner.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
8. Austin, Sue (14 January 2022). "Growth deal to bring investment and jobs to Mid Wales". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
9. "Mid Wales Growth Deal: Jobs boost but warning over progress". BBC News. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.

External links

• Growing Mid Wales
• Growing Mid Wales Board meetings
• Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee

• The BBC's Mid Wales page
• Overview of Mid Wales by the Welsh Development Agency
• Mid Wales Region on Wales.com

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