For the past 7 years Llanelli people have had to go elsewhere for a boot sale. As one vendor said:
“For the first time in a long while I don’t have to go to Swansea for the nearest one.”
The Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Commerce has been trying for quite a while to enable this boot sale to take place. These people are local entrepreneurs and it is good that the Chamber has fought for this as they believe in local businesses in whatever way they arrive and however long or short a time they last, they are important to the life of Llanelli. Negotiations with Carmarthenshire County Council ,who own the car park, have been long and hard but success was here today, the 19th March , Mothering Sunday.
The president of the Chamber, Councillor David Darkin, wanted to be a part of it all so he had his own pitch there alongside the others.
As he said:
“I wanted local people to bag a bargain. This is all about bringing the town to life. People love a car boot sale, including me, and it’s great to see people selling things. It might help inspire some entrepreneurs of the future.”
The person who did all the spadework for this event was Tyisha Councillor Suzy Curry who is a supporter of the Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Commerce. The Chamber has been very proud of her achievements today to make the boot sale the success it was. She was predicting a busy morning and that is exactly what she got. She sold over 60 pitches with 43 cars. The charges £7 a single stall and £12 a double stall. Now what is this money to be used for in the future? Well, it goes towards the Tyisha Positive Action Group.
This group is made up exclusively of volunteers. They have worked and continue to work tirelessly for their local community. They run the local food bank and are supportive to people in the local neighbourhood who need help. With the cost of living making people suffer for lack of funds, the money raised today will be handed over to this group so that they can develop more projects and support the food bank.
“We would also like to launch some gardening projects in the area”.
This is not just a one-off day. The boot sales will continue on the first and third Sunday of every month. The more well-known they become, we hope the larger they will be and more money can be raised on a regular basis for Tyisha projects.
As the group says:
“We are determined to make it sustainable on an on-going basis and to ensure deprived young people have access to the benefits they are entitled to”.
Many people came to show their support today. The Mayor of Llanelli opened the event, Councillor Philip Warlow and Councillor Giles Morgan, Chair of the Rural Council wanted also to give his approval . Other supporters were our MP , Dame Nia Griffith, Peter Marmont-Emery of the Tyisha Positive Support Group, David Darkin, President of the Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Councillor Andre Macpherson. The star of the show is Councillor Suzy Curry for all her hard work in organising the whole thing.
The County Council did set some rules around Health and Safety and these were followed very successfully. The sellers, once in, were not allowed to leave the car park until the end at 12 noon. They were informed that they should bring their own refreshments.
No cigarettes, no alcohol nor anything illegal would be allowed.
All rules were followed and the ambience of the boot sale was great fun. When wandering around talking to the sellers, there was a great feeling of delight at being there.
John Allen who was selling plants:
“I’m doing all right,” as he filled carrier bags with sold plants. He works with gardening clubs and does a regular boot sale at Pontyates.
Davina said,” It’s a welcome start after all this time, local boot sale for local people. In this climate people really need it.”
Robert Crocker said:
“I live locally so it has been very useful for me. Long may it continue”.
General comments were: ”Car boots are a great place to buy a bargain but also ideal for making a bit of money”.
“I bought all my baby’s clothes for a bargain. Boot sales are great for saving me a lot of money.”
The Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Commerce is very proud to have been an important part of supporting the Tyisha Positive Action Group in setting up this event. The Chamber stands up for local people and local businesses and will continue to do so.
