LLANELLI traders and shoppers must be given their say on plans to move the town’s popular indoor market and demolish the Murray Street multi-storey car park.
That’s the demand from leading local Labour politicians who fear the piecemeal redevelopment of the town centre could be to the detriment of existing businesses.
Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith has further called for a new, bigger vision to be drawn up as a masterplan to map the future regeneration of the town.
‘What we really need is a proper vision for the town focusing on how we revitalise the town and increase footfall,’ said Ms Griffith.
”The proposed development needs to be part of a bigger vision that should be published, with wide consultation on what the people here in Llanelli want to see.
‘It should not be a piecemeal plan presented to them.’
Carmarthenshire County Council revealed four options for the future of Llanelli Market at a meeting with traders last week.
They are:
* Temporarily relocate the Market to outdoor or other provision before relocating to a new home on the current site.
* Relocate to Market Street South,
* Relocate to the former Woolworths building in Vaughan Street.
* Hybrid option of relocating the Market to the former Woolworths building with some traders going to empty retail sites within the town centre.
Ms Griffith said: ‘We are still all digesting the news from the county council that they announced last week.
‘We feel it’s really important that the traders, who are the people who are most affected, should have every opportunity to shape things as they move forward.’
Ms Griffith and Llanelli Town Council leader David Darkin will host a meeting with market traders at the Mayor’s Parlour next Tuesday, August 5, at 5.30pm to hear firsthand their opinions.
‘We understand that we can’t just ignore the problems of the structure of the current building and multi-storey car park, so we must do something, as we understand the council has the opportunity to draw down some very
significant funding from the UK Government.
‘But there are lots of issues we know are concerning people and we need to make sure that these are all properly considered.
‘For example, I’m very keen to see that this is not used as an excuse to put rents up for traders because that would make it very difficult for most of them to carry on,
and completely negate the whole aim of the project,’ said Ms Griffith.
‘We need to come together and have a really constructive conversation, but be very clear about what the problems are so that we can take these issues to the county council.’
Councillor Darkin said he believed the Government funding pot available for the town centre is a multi-million pound pot, and that the scheme has to be completed by Spring 2028.
It is believed experts have assessed the Murray Street multi-storey car park as having ‘concrete cancer’ and having only a few years of life left.
‘There are concerns that traders have been presented with a fait accompli with the plans drawn up without consultation,’ said councillor Darkin.
”The Chamber of Trade has been calling for a proper plan for the town centre for years but they have been ignored by the Plaid-led county council,’ he added.
‘We need a proper strategy.’
Labour won’t do much ! If anything Both Cardiff and Westminster under Labour are out to destroy the UK period
For the first time ever, I agree with Nia which really pains me to say. I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her though. The former Woolworths building needs serious work otherwise it would only be a short term measure. The city I moved from completely rebuilt the old market which now has absolutely no character and most of the stalls are empty because of the high rents to pay for the re-build. It has to be a careful balance otherwise it will kill off the market. Many of the buildings on Stepney street are run down and need serious work before anyone moves into them for it to be a viable option.
Andrew Brown I’m still coming to terms with nia being a member of Labour friends of Israel. Might explain her crap influence on Llanelli. Thinking of retirement in the sun ?
John Trowbridge Sounds like a plan
Ooooffff….. you can tell that Cllr Darkin has been announced as a Labour candidate and that there is an election looming. He was quick out of the blocks on this one!! Looking to get the advantage over some his party colleagues who are would be candidates?!🤷♂️
The market is my favorite part of Llanelli. Some of the stalls there are absolutely fantastic.
The current market and car park has always been a monstrosity. I don’t know of anyone that likes the building.
It also replaced an old market hall which everyone loved.
No brainer to get rid of it, but what will go in it’s place?
Llanelli town centre needs a dramatic rethink about what it wants to be. Ask younger people what they want from a town centre because they’re the next generation of shoppers. Build something new for them.
Jonathan Williams the other multi storey carparks built at the same time gave all been knocked down llanelli market is a waste of time lots of stalls close before 4 it must be one of the only markets where you can’t buy a banana on a Monday
If they make the move temporary and put the same sized market back in when it’s completed, as the Carmarthen so called upgrade really killed the market off . They should still be looking at covering the area from
The clock down to Andrew Prices and referb the shops that side and get some decent tenants in there. Something seriously needs to happen to get the empty shops back up and running in the town generally before developing areas in the current proposal .
Gareth R Thomas unfortunately most of those shops are owned by private landlords
Labour won’t worm they way back in sorry
I hate coming in town there no pleasure coming I reamember when town was the best town we had shops what was shops but I just hate it
Care about the town now do they ??? Makes a change
We have the perfect answer, the old tesco PERFECT parking , town centre, on bus station huge space inside all facilities toilets cafe lift .
Apparently Tesco decided no food could ever be sold on the site of their old shop !