Multi million pound plans to drive forward the regeneration of Llanelli town centre have been given a £7.5million funding boost by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The funding will support Carmarthenshire County Council’s £13.5m renewal plans and will enable a number of schemes in and around Llanelli town centre to go-ahead.
The latest funding includes almost £3m from the European Regional Development Fund and some £4.5m from the Targeted Match Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government, and will deliver major environmental improvements and support wider regeneration plans for the area.
Announcing the funding package Business and Budget Minister Jane Hutt AM said:
“Our successful management of EU resources ensures vital schemes such as this can be delivered to bring lasting benefits to people, communities and businesses. This investment will create a better environment and more opportunities which will increase prosperity for those within the town and beyond.”
Deputy Minister for Regeneration Jocelyn Davies AM said:
“Improving the physical appearance of a town will increase the confidence of potential investors, support the retail sector and boost the pride of people within the local community who will benefit from an attractive environment in which they can live, work and thrive.”
Further funding of £1.9m will come from Carmarthenshire County Council, £0.5m from the Welsh Assembly Government Safe Routes in Communities, £1m from the private sector and £2.7m from Llanelli Coast Joint Venture.
Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said:
“There has been a lot of investment in Llanelli already, and this further funding will allow us to progress with even more regeneration, which is so important to the town centre. The aim is to attract inward investment, give the town centre a boost and give more people the confidence to set up new businesses.
“When all these projects are completed, people will see huge changes in the town, these are very exciting times and I look forward to seeing Llanelli’s bright future ahead.”
As part of the scheme some £3m will go on improvements to the canopies and streetscene in the town centre.
Funding of £1.5m will be available to businesses in, and on the fringes of, the town centre to improve the appearance of their commercial properties, including shop fronts and new signage.
Coleshill Social Centre will have a £2m refurbishment to create a Centre for Economic Inclusion that will provide a range of support services for people who are economically inactive to improve their social and economic prospects.
These will include a one-stop-shop for information and advice, social support / networking, training and skills, business support and know how for small and medium enterprises and health improvement activities.
The Centre is a unique and innovative project that will breathe new life into the local economy by engaging people who are marginalised.
Pedestrian/cycleway links to the town centre through Safe Routes in Communities, will be developed, from the Dafen and Felinfoel areas, from the coast and North Dock, and from Trostre.
Landscaping will be carried out at Machynys West, along with an ecopark and historic interpretation of Machynys Mound, and at the Delta Lakes gateway. The North Dock boulevard and Pump House plaza will also be completed.
The funding will bring the total investment in the town centre to an estimated £60million over the next few years, which includes the East Gate development, and the library refurbishment as well as the EU backed new theatre and Llanelly House. The aim is to complete all the work in 2014.
A one-stop-shop will be developed in Llanelli town centre where residents, businesses and organisations will be able to access information and updates on all the various projects, and find out how they can get involved in shaping the proposals.
