Pembrokeshire County Council has welcomed £1.5m funding from the UK Government capital funding to improve public spaces, including fixing broken bus shelters, reopening park toilets, providing more bins to help stop litter and revamping run-down leisure centres.

The funding to save treasured pubs or libraries and clean up eyesores in their area has been announced through a multi-million Pride in Place programme, launched by the Prime Minister, Kier Starmer.

The Pride in Place programme will see nine communities receiving up to £20 million each, with Pembrokeshire receiving £1.5m of capital funding to improve their public spaces.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We’re investing in the UK’s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it’s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.

“This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it’s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game.”

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: “Building pride in place starts with people, not politics. Local people know what they want to see in their neighbourhoods – and they don’t need government to dictate it.

“In Wales, local authorities will be invited to propose the communities within their areas to participate in the Pride in Place Programme for UK Government approval. This will be an inclusive process where the local authority will engage with local stakeholders including MPs, MSs and the Welsh Government to ensure local fit and alignment with existing schemes such as placemaking plans and the Transforming Towns initiative.”

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Pembrokeshire County Council welcomes the recent funding announcement and look forward to engaging with communities to best utilise this.”