An Ammanford businessman was delighted to welcome Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, to his growing business park today (Friday, October 23).
Alun Richards is in the middle of constructing a new road into the Tycroes Business Park at Llety. But construction was put on hold today for the special royal visitor.
The Prince visited the park to see the work of Abaca, who make organic beds and bedding at one of the units at the Llety site.
“It was a huge honour for the business park to receive a visit from Prince Charles,” said Mr Richards.
“I am delighted the prince was able to spend time viewing the great work carried out by Abaca.
“It was plain that the prince is very interested in such an environmentally-friendly business.
“The prince asked me how I started to diversify from being a farming business. This business park was, or course, originally a farm and the prince was interested in how the project had developed over the years.
“The prince, as I expected, was also very interested in the type of farming I still do today.
“He was also keen to learn about the other businesses on site.
“He was delighted with what he saw and his enthusiasm for the work being carried out here was plain for all to see.
“It was an honour to meet Prince Charles. He really is a smashing guy.
Mr Richards said that the construction of a new road at the park was an act of faith in the future of Tycroes Business Park.
Businesses on the park include The Learning Partnership (a company which works in partnership with local education authorities, teaching foundation phase leaders, advisors, teachers and educationalists in raising the quality of teaching for young children), Caboodle (an internet web design company with interests across the UK), Melin Energy Consultants (a company which helps construction firms and builders make sense of the energy-efficient building regulations), LINE-X (a firm which provides protective coatings for vehicles and other industrial products), and an MoT approved testing station.
“The changes at Llety have been dramatic,” Mr Richards said. “The farm has been in family ownership since 1956. But, in 2000, we decided to diversify, move out of milk production and establish the business park.
“It has been an exciting process watching businesses start up here and grow. Some of the old farm buildings have been put to good use and adapted for different firms. And we have catering on site with a cafe and restaurant in the Learning Partnership building.”
Mr Richards added that the park was already popular for conferences, seminars and meetings.
