THE Government has announced millions of pounds worth of investment in Swindon and Wiltshire which will be used on local infrastructure and economic growth projects.

A potential £130 million has been allocated which will be used on a variety of projects, such as the building of a tunnel under the M4 to link up the new Wichelstowe housing project and the development of infrastructure linked to the Eastern Villages.

Earlier this year the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, a group of local authorities and private business, bid for a portion of government funding for such projects.

Some of the money will be spent in Wiltshire but Swindon residents will see much of the cash, although in the early stages much of it is to carry out feasibility studies.

For the first year there will only be an initial £12 million spent and the rest is allocated for next year.

However, council chiefs have cautioned that a new government could potentially withdraw funding after the general election next May but all parties have committed to LEPs.

The LEP has also committed £70million to projects which will be made up from public funds and private investment.