Local community project opens its doors with support from students

Over the last couple of years, students on public services and business courses at Coleg Sir Gâr have been supporting the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust, which is a community led project in Llanelli.

The goods shed is a derelict grade II listed building which ceased operations in 1966 but once played a crucial role in the development of Llanelli as a major industrial centre.

Thanks to the help from students and other volunteers in Llanelli, the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust has finally opened its doors to the public and it’s hoped that it will be a hub for cultural, heritage and community.

Yvonne Rodgers, Vice-Chair of Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust said: “The Trust would like to thank the Public Services students for their hard work and amazing effort. They have shown amazing energy and enthusiasm both for the Goods Shed project and happily tackling any job handed to them.

“They have helped with consultation questionnaires for fellow students and thrown themselves whole heartedly into a variety of tasks including: ground clearance, litter picking, car parking, graffiti removal, setting up display areas, menu design and providing us with a host of fabulous ideas for future uses of the Goods Shed.”

Student, Aidan Rooney who has been a keen volunteer said: “It has helped the community which makes all my group feel uplifted about the whole situation and we know that it will help bring the whole community together so that’s why we enjoyed it.

“It’s going to help us with our course because not only will it look good on our effort in joining colleges and university, but it will look good on our CV.”

Learners were also part of the planning for the project and delivered presentations to transform the pacer trains and presented ideas including rustic cafes, vintage ice cream, community bike hire and heritage trails, railroad café and lounge, cafes in carriages, an escape room, train themed play areas and ideas about renovating abandoned pacer trains.

Public services lecturer Amanda Morgan who led the project at Coleg Sir Gâr said: “The trust is keen to gather the thoughts of young people as to what happens to the area and the old pacer trains so we were delighted to get involved and hopefully we will continue our community relationship long term.”