DEMOLITION experts have begun taking down the first of four blocks of council flats near Llanelli railway station.
Ty Cydwel, Ty Meriel, Ty Elizabeth and Ty Howard were built in the 1960s and do not fit in with Carmarthernshire Council’s long-term plans for the area.
Aberdare-based Walters Group has undertaken an internal strip-out of the buildings. Now a digger has started knocking down the smallest blocks.
Its huge pincers prized satellite dishes from the external walls and deposited them in a container, while other materials were separated into other piles.
Work began six weeks ago and will last another three months.
More modern housing will replace the 44 flats in due course as part of a wider upgrade of the ward.
The council’s regeneration plans follow consultation in Tyisha and comprise 110 new housing units, new shops and offices, improvements to the railway station, and more attractive links to the town centre and the life science and wellness village which will be built at Delta Lakes to the west.
A community steering group has been set up and the council is working with Dyfed-Powys Police and Llanelli Town Council, among others, to drive forward the Transforming Tyisha project.
Some passers-by took photos of the digger in action, and there was a feeling that the blocks had passed their use-by date.
Sian Thomas, who was walking her two dogs, said the council’s plans for the area looked quite nice.
“It needs to be smartened up,” she said. “It is quite rough, this area. They just need to make it nicer and more pleasant to the eye.
“But they are trying to do something about it, which is good.”
Beautician Ellie Dunn walks past the flats every day on her way to work, and said modern housing would be an improvement.
“I personally think that’s better,” she said. “It doesn’t look nice as it is.”
Rob Ford said he thought the council should have modernised the flats instead of knocking them down, but he accepted that whatever replaced them would probably look nicer.
“I remember when the flats were full, and I knew a few people who lived there,” he said. “They found my mate a bungalow.”
The Plaid-Independent council approved a £9.3 million regeneration package for Tyisha in October 2019.
Last year it invited potential developers and partners to come forward with housing proposals at the flats site on Maes Y Gors. A preferred developer is expected to be appointed later this year.
“Once a partner has been selected, we will work together to deliver a modern housing development which meets the needs of the community as well as landscaping the area,” said a council spokeswoman.
“We anticipate that building work would commence on the ‘four Tys’ site in 2023 after planning and other approvals have been secured.”
The Tyisha programme of work also includes the appointment of two community wardens, who liaise with Dyfed-Powys Police and other groups to tackle anti-social behaviour and improve the environment, and new neighbourhood watch schemes.
The ward has the highest population density in Carmarthenshire, and one part of it was ranked as the most deprived in the county in terms of employment, health, education and community safety.
The deprivation tag might be hard to shake off, but ward councillor Andre McPherson said it was not helpful and that there was another side to the area.
“Tyisha is an amazing place, and we need to focus on the positives,” he said.
“We’ve got a new park, and there was the generosity throughout Covid of people helping their neighbours and friends.
“It’s not a wounded soldier, it just needs to be fit for purpose for the 21st Century.”
Cllr McPherson, who helps runs a food bank in the ward, said there were residents with range of social problems.
He said it was important to support these people, including those who abused substances, as they were part of the community.
“It’s also about encouraging families and a wider cross-section of people into the area,” he said.
Cllr McPherson said he and his fellow Labour ward member, Cllr Suzy Curry, welcomed the demolition of the flats.
“I just hope this work will continue in the future with the same gusto as we are seeing now,” he said.
Small things, he added, could make a difference, such as the return of free skips for people to put bulky items in, or new traffic control measures.
He also hoped the whole of the ward would benefit from the promised investment, not just the area by the demolished flats.
The council is also exploring potential options for the former Copperworks school site and is also considering a new community hub, while separate work to restore the railway goods shed on Marsh Road is progressing.
The revamp of the vast shed, which dates from 1875, is being spearheaded by the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust.
Businesses and public sector services have expressed interest in relocating to the shed’s adjacent office block, where contractors are close to finishing their work.
Grant funding has now been secured for a new heritage area and community cafe.
Longer term, the aim is for the goods shed itself to become a flexible space for educational uses – potentially including youth theatre – skills training, and meeting other community needs.
Speaking last year, chairwoman of the trustees and Llanelli MP Nia Griffith said: “One of the great things is the lift it will give to the surrounding area.”
