Carwyn unveils Llanelli 'Works' project


A £14.6m cultural and creative centre to include a new 500-seat theatre is to be developed in Carmarthenshire, creating 35 jobs, First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones announced.
The Works in Llanelli town centre will provide entertainment, arts, culture, employment and skills opportunities for people across the region.
The major capital scheme will involve a new-build cultural and creative centre and the renovation of two Grade II listed buildings - Zion Chapel and the neighbouring Old School.
It is anticipated that when complete, it will attract over 50,000 visitors and play a major role in community life.
Led by Carmarthenshire County Council, it is backed with £5.1million from the EU’s European Regional Development Fund and £5.1million Targeted Match Funding through the Welsh Assembly Government. The remainder is coming from the county council and key partners.
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said: “The Works will play a major role in the regeneration of Llanelli and the wider South West region, bringing new employment and training opportunities. It will reflect the unique heritage of the area, providing cultural and community activities to encourage greater social interaction and attract visitors who can also benefit from a rich programme of events.”
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “This innovative project will create 35 jobs at the outset and generate more work opportunities as it gets underway. It will also support existing businesses and attract further investment into the region, supporting the local economy and increasing prosperity for people and businesses alike.”
As part of the scheme a multi-purpose 500+ seated main auditorium, with a stage, orchestra pit and a flexible seating system will be constructed.
Trinity University College will occupy offices on the first floor for their enterprising ‘Nexus@The Works’ project which will focus on creating opportunities for students, and for interaction between artists for the private sector and the local community. The centre will provide a purpose built theatre, workshops, exhibition area, café, social enterprise incubation and meeting rooms. It is adjacent to Tinopolis and a private sector cinema and retail leisure complex, providing direct access to private sector expertise in key areas of the creative industries.
Renovating the two Grade II Listed buildings will bring both back into full community and economic use.
The designs have been centred on the need to safeguard the special architectural and historical interest of both buildings and to ensure their future.
The majority of the internal characteristics of Zion Chapel will be preserved including the pulpit and ‘sedd fawr’, and it is proposed to redesign the ground floor to provide six dedicated new social enterprise units. The Gallery level will also remain in its original state.
The Works will be the very first theatre in Wales with wheelchair access in the tall fly-tower in the main theatre.
Special wheelchair-friendly flooring installed in the fly-tower will allow disabled people the opportunity to be trained and gain employment as lighting and backstage technicians.
Council Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “This is a major boost, not only for Llanelli Town Centre, but the whole of the region.
“This development will hopefully be the catalyst for further investment that will provide much needed support for local businesses and local people.
“Further plans are in the pipeline and if these are also successful, we will see a major transformation of the town centre.
“The Works forms part of a much wider regeneration plan that we have in place.
“It will transform business confidence and improve the social and economic well-being of adjacent communities. Its importance to the regeneration of Llanelli cannot be overstated.
“A total of 35 new jobs will be created and furthermore it will provide a new type of job opportunities and career aspirations for all ages and abilities.”
The aim is to be on site in October this year with a targeted grand opening in July 2012.
See earlier post -
http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Works

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Former Gower MP Gareth Wardell the guest speaker at Llanelli Rotary Club

Image
Former Gower MP Gareth Wardell was the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of Llanelli Rotary Club held at the Stradey Park Hotel. Mr Wardell gave an illuminating address, weaving comparisons between his job as a politician and his late father's job as a Tumble barber. It was an amusing, highly-entertaining and thought-provoking address. Mr Wardell, now 69, won the Gower constituency seat in a Parliamentary by-election in 1982. The Labour MP held the seat until his retirement in 1997. He now works as a public affairs consultant in Wales. Mr Wardell's Parliamentary term was largely in opposition to Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government. But his did make a significant contribution by being the youngest MP to chair the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. Mr Wardell recognised that in the 'fame stakes' he may have played second fiddle to his father, Jack, who was one of the UK's oldest barbers and who cut and styled hair for almost 80 years. Jac
Read more

'Class of 1980' from Burry Port enjoy reunion

Image
There was a big class reunion held in Burry Port at the weekend. Members of the Class of 1980 from Porth Tywyn (Burry Port junior) School got together at The Coasting Pilot pub. The reunion was organised by Christine Rees and same 22 members of the original class of 28 turn up to discuss their old schooldays. One ‘Class of 1980’ member was Burry Port businessman Owain Davies. He said: “We all have very happy memories of our time in school. We had a fantastic teacher in Mr Heddwyn Jones, who now lives in Four Roads. “We were very fortunate to have the same teacher for three years and we were a very happy class. Mr Jones was an inspiring teacher and we all got on every well and we are all still good friends. “Heather Thomas (now Heather Osmond) made it from Surrey, but she was trumped by Gail Morris, who flew in from Ohio in the United States for the reunion. “It was a fantastic evening at the Coasting Pilot with good food, good wine and good company. We even recreated the class
Read more

Lauryn Davey is making her mark in athletics - but needs sponsors

Image
Ammanford-based Lauryn Davey is making a major mark in the world of Welsh athletics. At just 16, she is the best all-round athlete of her age in Wales. She's chalking up Welsh championship victories and has been honoured by her club, the Carmarthen Harriers. Lauryn's been earmarked as a future international star, but knows the road to the big championships is difficult, demanding and expensive. Ammanford businessman and well-known comic entertainer Phil Evans has launched a campaign to get cash backers for Lauryn's athletics career. "Everyone in the area is hugely proud of her achievements in athletics to date," said Phil. "But we also want to see her go on and do bigger and better things. "Together with some friends, I am helping find ways of generating much-needed sponsorship cash for Lauryn. "She has massive potential to succeed on the international stage and I am sure a little bit of financial help will help to smooth her
Read more