COMMUNITY HELPS TRANSFORM AN AREA IN LLANELLI

An area in Llanelli is in the process of a new lease of life thanks to a project by Keep Wales Tidy and Tesco.

Residents in Glanymor have united over the last few weeks in order to help transform a neglected piece of land next to the Emmanuel Chapel in New Dock Road. The first phase of work has been completed which focused on clearing overgrowth and flytipping. Over a tonne of flytipped waste was removed over the course of four days. The next phase will see fencing erected and then further landscaping work inside of the fenced area.

Tesco staff from Trostre along with Glanymor & Tyisha Environment & Regeneration Action Group received expert advice from their local Keep Wales Tidy project officer so that they were able to finally begin renovating an area that has been an eyesore of the community for decades.

The transformation project comes after comes after 27,000 Tesco customers took part in a vote to choose Keep Wales Tidy as the charity to benefit from Tesco’s single use carrier bag charge in Wales from 1^st October 2014.

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Natural Resources said:

“Wales led the way in the UK with a successful and popular carrier bag charge.  We have seen a significant reduction in carrier bag use as a result of the changes. It is fitting that Tesco is reinvesting the proceeds of their carrier bag charge into environmental projects supported by Keep Wales Tidy, which will benefit communities across Wales.”   

The transformation project is just one of the benefits of the partnership between Keep Wales Tidy and Tesco. Community groups across Wales can also benefit from a cash boost thanks to the All Wales Grant Scheme, with grants of up to £500 available for small scale environmental projects.

Lisa Lewis, Community Champion for Tesco in Llanelli said:

“We’re proud to be partnering with Keep Wales Tidy. Together, we have a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to our local environment and to our community. What the local residents have achieved is incredible and we’re looking forward to maintaining the area so that the whole community can use it and enjoy it.”

Dan Snaith, Keep Wales Tidy project officer for Carmarthenshire said:

“We’re delighted to have received the vote of confidence from our supporters and Tesco customers. This partnership gives us the chance to further help communities across Wales transform neglected spaces into places cared for, cherished and enjoyed by all.

I’d like to thank all of the volunteers, along with Tesco staff, who helped make this project a success!”

PHOTO CAPTION: L-R – Delyth Rowland (Llanelli Town Council), Lisa Lewis (Tesco), Charles & Meryl Watson (community volunteers), Dan Snaith (Keep Wales Tidy), Brian Mogford (Tidy Towns).