A cable car in the South Wales Valleys is set to close at the end of the month to plug a £6.6m council funding gap.

The Ebbw Vale cableway in Blaenau Gwent will close on 28 April.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council says the decision is “part of a series of measures” to address a £6.6m shortfall in funding for the 2023/24 council budget.

Council leader Steve Thomas said at the time of the council’s budget in February that it had “always been open and honest about the significant financial challenges” it faced.

The Welsh Conservatives branded it “a costly and unreliable service”.

They say it was closed 252 times in the two years since it opened in 2015.

Despite Welsh government funding for the council increasing to almost £140m, the council says it faces “some well-publicised financial pressures” including the impact of the pandemic, rising inflation and the higher energy and fuel costs.

Family’s tribute to ‘one of life’s true gentlemen’ found dead at property in Caerphilly

Motorcyclist killed and passenger injured in A44 crash in Powys

Lola James: ‘Evil’ mother and partner found guilty over death of two-year-old in Pembrokeshire

Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS, said: “Many people questioned the point of the lift in the first place and we now know that is has proven to be a costly and unreliable service.

“There is concern now that the cable car site will just remain empty and unused becoming a centre for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.”

The decision was made to close the cableway after a consultation with local residents.

Mr Thomas added: “The next few years will continue to be difficult for us financially, and we are already planning for this by developing and implementing sustainable strategic business reviews to address future funding gaps.

Read more from Sky News:
Boy, nine, discovers ‘200 million-year-old fossil’ on Welsh beach
Why it’s ‘impossible’ for this young Pembrokeshire family to buy first home
‘Extremely obese’ cat who could ‘barely walk’ in search of new home

A 2016 report by Blaenau Gwent council estimated the annual running costs of the cableway at more than £47,000.

Sky News has approached the council for a response to the Welsh Conservatives’ concerns.

Related posts:

Thirty blood clot cases reported in UK after 18 million Oxford jabs England’s R number could be as high as 1 – as no UK figure given by SAGE Alcohol deaths highest for 20 years in England and Wales, new data shows UK reports 13 more COVID deaths and 2,613 new cases – as 16m now fully vaccinated Former Meghan aide spoke to her father ‘repeatedly’ to protect from ‘media intrusion’ Exam contingency plans being made in case COVID forces more cancellations ‘Idiotic’ motorist jailed for driving down train track during rush hour Far too little has happened for powerless homes across the North after Storm Arwen Teacher attacked by pupil and left with head injury given £850,000 compensation Met Police officer found guilty of arranging to meet 13-year-old for sex ‘It was pandemonium’: Priest describes scenes after shooting outside church near Euston station Family offer £10,000 for information on missing mother who vanished 10 years ago