New children’s play area for Llanelli’s Tyisha ward

A new children’s play area is the tip of the iceberg of a multi-million-pound regeneration plan to transform the Tyisha ward of Llanelli.

The children’s playground will be built on land off Ann Street and follows a major consultation exercise with residents and businesses to create a vibrant community where people want to live and work.

Feedback from the consultation showed that there was no play area in the Tyisha ward, which has the highest population density in Carmarthenshire.

The park is just one of various actions in a regeneration masterplan for the area.

Work on the £100,000 project, which also includes an enclosed dog walking area, will hopefully start next month to be completed by the end of March.

The park has been funded through the council’s housing revenue together with contributions from Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and Arbed Am Byth.

It has been developed in full collaboration with Llanelli Town Council which will take over the running and maintenance of the play area on completion.

Executive Board Member for Communities Cllr Cefin Campbell, also chair of the Tyisha project steering group, said: “When we consulted with residents, it was clear that a children’s play park was on their wish list for the area, and rightly so, as there are no other facilities for children to play in the ward.

“We are delighted that we have been able to fund this project with Welsh Water and Arbed Am Byth and with the co-operation of the town council who will take over the running of the park. Hopefully if all goes to plan, it will be open in time for the Easter holidays.”

The council’s long-term ambition for the regeneration of the Tyisha ward is to deliver new mixed-use housing developments, develop more community facilities and bring vacant business premises back into use.

Action will be taken to improve the environment and to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour along with providing opportunities for education, training and employment.

A total of £9.3million has been allocated from the council’s New Build Programme (Housing Revenue Account) specifically for the Station Road area to assist in its regeneration.

Executive Board Member for Housing Cllr Linda Evans said: “This is a very exciting time for the area and the park is just the first in a number of new developments and improvements for Tyisha for the benefit of the local community.”