THE National Botanic Garden of Wales is in line to receive more money from the Welsh Government, the Evening Post has learned.

The Welsh Government did not confirm the proposal but it is expected to make a statement in the spring.

A year ago, the Assembly Government decided to spend £700,000 on the garden this year — up £150,000 on the previous annual figure — and provide another £100,000 to help improve and maintain facilities.

The Llanarthne attraction, which received a £1.9 million bailout in 2008, had been struggling with falling visitor numbers.

It was intended to attract 200,000 visitors a year, but in 2010 only 141,000 turned up.

Carmarthenshire Council's executive board considered an item called "National Botanic Garden of Wales" at its meeting on Monday.

But the discussion took place behind closed doors because it involved "information furnished to the council by the Welsh Government upon terms which forbid the disclosure of the information to the public".

Prior to the press and public leaving, council leader Meryl Gravell said: "I would love to be able to discuss this in open session. I have had a long conversation with (Heritage Minister) Huw Lewis, who is a lot happier with what is happening at the National Botanic Gardens.

"We hope after this meeting we can contact the Welsh Government and we can give more information that we can make public."

That did not happen, but a Welsh Government spokesperson said: "As a key stakeholder and one of the core funders of the National Botanic Garden of Wales we value the garden's contribution to the local economy, tourism, science and education. We will announce the 2012-13 funding for the garden in due course."

The Evening Post asked the garden how it was performing and how many people visited last year but had not received a response at the time of going to print.