Do you have ideas about how Llanelli could be made better for those who live and work there, and for visitors to the town? Then don’t miss the Llanelli Vision meeting on December 3, which will help shape the future of the town.
The online event is free to attend and will include insights from key figures from Carmarthenshire County Council and other organisations working to improve the town.
The event is being hosted by us, South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership, in collaboration with 4theRegion, a membership alliance working to bring about positive change in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The meeting will focus on developing an exciting vision for an improved Llanelli Train Station and surrounding area.
The aim of community rail partnerships such as South West Wales Connected is to bring together the rail network with local councils and community organisations, rail users and other interested parties such as businesses to improve local rail services, stations and the areas around them. Next week’s event is a valuable opportunity to do exactly that.
“South West Wales Connected is an exciting new approach to bringing together people, businesses and organisations around a shared vision for your town,” says Jennifer Barfoot, Community Rail Officer for South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership. “Everyone’s positive ideas and perspectives can come together to shape a vision for a vibrant town with the train station at the heart of it.”
Talking at the event will be:
- Laura Aitchison, Team Lead – Housing Options & Chair of Tyisha Community Engagement plan for Carmarthenshire County Council
- David Darkin, Managing Director, Darkin Architects on Y Linc, Llanelli Town Centre development
- Thomas Evans, Transport Planner – Strategy and Infrastructure at Carmarthenshire County Council, discussing active travel routes
- Marie Turke, Treasurer & Co-founder of Incredible Edible Carmarthenshire discussing community food growing and ideas for unused land
- Dr. Sharon Burford, Swansea Bay City Region Project Manager for Pentre Awel
- Eleanor Shaw, Artistic Director – People Speak Up
Topics on the agenda include a number of exciting development plans for the area, such as the £200m plans for a Wellness and Life Science Village at Delta Lakes; improvements to active travel routes (walking and cycle paths); and other upcoming investments in Llanelli. Plans to create a community garden on an area of disused land behind the westbound platform in Llanelli station will also be discussed.
Community Rail Development Co-ordinator Rhiannon-Jane Rafferty, who has attended Vision meetings in other towns in our rail network, says the meetings are having a powerful impact, and is looking forward to the Llanelli event.
“The South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership is proving to be a very accomplished team delivering exciting pioneering and innovative events which are great fun to attend and demonstrate how much can be achieved with Zoom,” she says. “Their town visioning events are excellent, bringing a diverse range of stakeholders together representing a range of interests in the town and sharing interesting ideas which I’m confident will turn Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Llanelli station and surrounding area into a vibrant and welcoming addition to the community and contribute to regenerating the towns. This is a brilliant example of just what excellent social value a good Community Rail Partnership can contribute to our places.”
The Llanelli meeting aims to establish a vision for how Llanelli will improve, along with ways to make that vision a reality, helping people access funding, support and expertise to put their plans into action.
“We are keen to bring everyone together to share ideas and perspectives to co-create a shared vision for the station and surrounding area,” says Zoe Antrobus, Managing Director of 4theRegion. “What would you like to see there, what’s possible and how can we make it happen? We hope that you will join us on Thursday 3rd to give us your views and help forge a way to turn great ideas into positive actions.”