Asset transfers

Success of asset transfers to Llanelli Rural Council

A NUMBER of recreation assets have been transferred successfully to Llanelli Rural Council.

They are part of Carmarthenshire County Council’s asset transfer programme, which has seen interest in around 82% of sites available, with around half of these already being taken over by local organisations.

In Llanelli, the Rural Council has worked with the county to take over the management of a number of assets, including Dafen Park, Pwll Recreation Ground and Trallwn Playing Fields.

Llanelli Rural Council Leader Cllr Tegwen Devichand said: “We have achieved so much in supporting the asset transfers of a number of important community facilities from Carmarthenshire County Council including the likes of Dafen Park, Pwll Recreation Ground, Trallwm Playing Fields as well as a number of local play areas. 

“Llanelli Rural Council’s intervention has meant we can safeguard these important play spaces and facilities from the threat of closure.

“To support the asset transfer programme the council has invested substantial funds in excess of £500,000 by carrying out an array of improvement works as well as installing brand new play areas at Heol Nant Swiss Valley, Pontyates Park and Pwll Recreation Ground.

“At the end of September the council is installing a new playground in Felinfoel on land transferred from the county council, to the rear of Ynyswen and directly adjacent to Felinfoel Recreation Ground.

“The council is also supporting Llanelli Town Council by carrying out grounds maintenance services to the various parks and playing fields which the council has asset transferred from the county council. “Sustaining local recreational facilities is a key priority for the Rural Council given the positive impact these facilities have on general well-being.

“The council is committed to working in partnership with the county council and Llanelli Town Council to support the asset transfer programme because it understands the importance attached to retaining wide scale community access to local play facilities.”   

The county council offered a grant of double the annual maintenance cost to those organisations that expressed an interest in taking over community assets, with the grant reducing month by month from April 2017 and stopping completely for those not completed by April 2018.

Resources executive board member Cllr David Jenkins said: “The asset transfers to Llanelli Rural Council are a real success story, which is already benefiting people living in their area.

“We look forward to more success stories such as this in communities across Carmarthenshire, as more asset transfers are being completed.”