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

Welsh Government funding of £30,000 has been secured to look at future use of the site of a demolished Amman Valley eyesore. Carmarthenshire County Council has secured the money from the Welsh Government under its Western Valleys Regeneration Initiative to look at possible future uses for the land on Cwmamman Road, Garnant, in front of Arcade Terrace. The County Council bought the row of derelict houses in spring 2012 and immediately arranged for contractors TRJ to carry out demolition and leave a level site for sale to a developer when the property market improves. Investigations into traffic/transportation, site accessibility and an assessment of housing needs will be undertaken with designs also to be produced. It is hoped this initial study will be concluded in April 2014. The information from the investigations will be used to provide clear direction for the site’s future use. This project is being advanced as part of the council’s wider regeneration aspirations for Ammanford and ...

An empty house in Burry Port has become the first in Carmarthenshire to be renovated and offered as social housing. The property was derelict and dilapidated for some time, however under the Welsh Government’s new Houses into Homes empty property initiative, it is now undergoing a major investment. Upon completion, it will be offered as an affordable rented home with the county council’s in-house social lettings team managing it on behalf of the private owner. The scheme involves offering interest free loans to owners of properties which have been empty for six months or longer, with the intention of bringing them back into use. Carmarthenshire’s housing executive board member Cllr Tegwen Devichand said: “We have a lot of empty properties in the county which are a wasted resource, considering the high housing demand. “The Welsh Government launched the Houses into Homes scheme last year, and has now invested £20 million throughout Wales. “Carmarthenshire has approved its first loan...

A new lease of life has been breathed in to an eyesore property which has lain in a state of disrepair for the past 15 years. Carmarthenshire County Council has completely renovated No.2 Station Road, Llangennech, after making use of a rare legal order to manage the property and bring it back in to use. The keys have been handed to the new tenants who are happy to be moving in to the three-bedroom family home. The property recently became the subject of the authority’s first Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO), which - in the absence of the owner’s cooperation - led to the service of a rarely used Final Empty Dwelling Management Order (FEDMO). Only three EDMOs have been granted in Wales, with only 50 in the UK as a whole. An FEDMO is the final stage in the process and has been rarely used in the UK. The order enables local authorities to take over management of empty properties for up to seven years. Before the order, and subsequent renovation, the property had attracted vandalism, ...

Carmarthenshire County Council has bought an Amman Valley eyesore building in order to demolish it. The local authority’s physical regeneration department has bought the former Palais de Danse site in Garnant from the Royal British Legion for £30,000 with funding from the Welsh Government’s Western Valleys Regeneration Area scheme. The dilapidated building, also known as Haig Hall, will be demolished in order to remove an eyesore from the area. The county council proposes to create a low key environmental enhancement of the site including recreational amenities as the second phase of the project. Cwmaman Town Council recently completed a community consultation exercise and this building was highlighted as a problem property which has a detrimental effect on the amenity of the neighbourhood. Upon inviting suggestions from members of the public there was a unanimous view that the building should be demolished and the site cleared. Carmarthenshire County Council is looking to work in part...

A prominent eyesore property in Ammanford is due to go under the hammer. Providing bids reach the reserve at a property auction on July 8th, 221 Cwmamman Road, Garnant, will be sold to the highest bidder. If the property is sold, it will mark a significant step forward in a long-running saga over derelict properties in the area. This particular property has been vacant for the past 15 years, and has been left in a state of extensive disrepair, causing concern to local residents. Carmarthenshire County Council used their Compulsory Purchase Powers to acquire the property, and is now selling the property through auction. The new owner will be required to completely renovate the property as part of the sale agreement. The council’s Deputy Leader and member for Garnant, Cllr Kevin Madge, said: “It is good news that we are finally seeing a positive move forward, and I’m delighted that at long last we may soon have a solution. “Garnant residents have put up with this eyesore for far too long...

A demolition order has been placed on an Amman Valley eyesore. A formal enforcement notice has been served on the owners of 178-194 Cwmamman Road in Garnant. It gives the owners six months to carry out renovation works or demolish the buildings. The derelict row of houses has been a blight on the area for many years. Carmarthenshire County Council is behind the move, aimed at making the area safe and improving the visual impact on the community. The enforcement notice has been served under the Building Act 1984. The council can step in and complete the work if the owner fails to meet the deadline. The council’s Empty Property Adviser Stefan Nurse said: “We want to work with the owners to either renovate or demolish the properties. “The owner has six months to complete the required works, namely demolish the properties and make the site safe or renovate them to a safe and habitable standard. “The authority is happy to provide the owners with advice, guidance and technical support to sat...