EXCITING TIMES FOR FELINFOEL

WORK on a brand new community sports centre is about to get underway in Felinfoel.

A £937,670 project is afoot to redevelop the village recreation ground.

A sports hub with changing facilities for cricket, rugby and football teams is being developed at the site.  The building will also house training rooms and space for health and fitness activities, along with conferencing and function facilities.

The centre will act as a venue for learning and development, with health and education benefits for the community.  The ambitious project is a partnership between Felinfoel Communities First and Llanelli Rural Council. which is investing £511,670.

Other funding includes £300,000 from the Communities Facilities and Activities Programme, £50,000 from Cwm Environmental, £25,000 from the County Collaboration Fund, £15,000 from the Community Fund and support from Carmarthenshire County Council.

The community is also actively fundraising for the project.  Work is due to start in August and the centre is expected to be completed in May next year.

Communities First Development Worker Amy Wakefield said: “This project is a great partnership achievement. It will provide sports and changing facilities for the community.

“The building will have a positive impact on education, health, environment and child poverty as it will also be a venue for learning and development.”

The Welsh Assembly funded Communities First programme is aimed at helping to regenerate the most deprived communities in Carmarthenshire.

The aim is to improve the living conditions and prospects for people in the wards and ensure that funding is targeted at the poorest areas.

The team is run by Carmarthenshire County Council and a host of events and educational activities are staged in the area every year, along with specific regeneration programmes.

The council’s Regeneration Executive Board Member cllr Clive Scourfield said: “I am delighted that this project is progressing and very pleased that it has had the support of the County Council.

“I congratulate all involved for their hard work and extensive consultation with the community.

“The benefits will be far reaching for many.”

Llanelli Rural Council Leader cllr Giles Morgan said: “The provision of new changing rooms and community facilities at Felinfoel Recreation Ground has been in the forefront of the council’s capital scheme provision for a number of years and we are absolutely delighted to be working with Communities First Felinfoel, who have been excellent in attracting external funding for the project.

“I’m very much looking forward to the new building being available to the people of Felinfoel and the surrounding areas in the spring of 2011.”