Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Carmarthenshire County Council has bought seven properties in Llanelli Town Centre as part of its ‘Opportunity Street’ project. More than half of the properties in the town centre’s main shopping streets, including Stepney Street and Vaughan Street, are owned by private landlords who lease out the buildings and set their own rents. Buying some of these properties from the private owners was identified as one of the key priorities of the Llanelli Town Centre Taskforce, chaired by Leader of the Council, Cllr Emlyn Dole. It means that the council now has more control over the buildings, and the aim is to bring them back into use with a mixed retail and residential offer. It also means that the council is able to set the rent at an affordable level. The council secured money through the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places fund to bolster the council’s own funds in order to purchase the buildings. Cllr Dole said: “Opportunity Street is all about bringing more town centre properti...

Four priority themes and actions have been set by the Llanelli Town Centre Taskforce. Led by Cllr Emlyn Dole, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, the group has agreed the main issues that need to be addressed in efforts to regenerate the town and attract more shoppers. The first priority is to address buildings and premises – bringing key commercial units back into use and reducing the number of derelict premises in the town. A list of property landlords in the town is being compiled in order to open discussions over possible future development opportunities. Grant funding is also being sought to bring the former YMCA building back into economic use. The Taskforce also wants to improve the commercial offer within the town centre and also the mix of development, including residential, to increase footfall, job opportunities and productivity. Environment and access is the second priority – keeping the town centre in a good condition, making a pleasant place to visit and creating ...