First steps to a brighter future
Multi-million-pound revamp under way
THE first steps to creating a new community park in Tyisha have been taken as part of multi-millionpound regeneration plans for the area.
The ‘Tyisha – Making it happen’ project which aims to transform the area to create a vibrant, new community continues to be a priority for the council, although the coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on some planned works.
Lockdown restrictions have meant that some physical works have been delayed, including the construction of the new play park at Ann Street - but now that has started.
There are also plans to relocate young people’s projects from the Station Road area along with temporary accommodation.
The distribution of a community newsletter also started in March 2020, but had to be stopped when the restrictions came in.
Monday saw the sod cutting at the site of the new park in Ann Street, marking the start of the first children’s playground in the area.
The project will feature brand new play equipment for young people in the ward as well as its very own dog walking area for local pet owners.
The investment, costing upward of £100,000, comes thanks to a three year campaign led by Tyisha Labour county councillors Suzy Curry and Andre McPherson.
Having obtained the necessary planning permission and funding, the scheme was due to start earlier this year only to be delayed by the coronavirus outbreak. However, it is now expected to proceed with the opening of the new facility taking place in a few months.
Attending the turf cutting ceremony on Monday, Llanelli MP Nia Griffith welcomed progress at the new park: “When I first met local dog owners, we were just planning a modest dog-walking area. But then when Suzy and Andre were elected as councillors in 2017, they said let’s think big and make it a priority to bring new community facilities to Tyisha for local families and youngsters. Now, after three years and with the help and support of residents, it is fantastic to see construction begin on site.”
Councillor Curry said: “I am sure that the new playground and dog walking area will be a magnificent addition to life in Tyisha. It will be very much appreciated by local children and their families who have waited for so long to have such a facility that they can call their own. It goes to show what can be achieved when a community pulls together with the aim of making their area a better place to live.”
Councillor Andre McPherson said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Tyisha to have a place to meet and socialise as well as for children to have somewhere to play. Thank you to the residents of Tyisha for your support in getting this off the ground.”
Looking at the wider Tyisha regeneration project councillor McPherson said: “This is a very exciting project and both of us as councillors have been involved since the start and explaining to residents about the regeneration.
“It is a melting pot of social housing and homeowners and we are looking to replace some flats with bungalows. We will be keeping residents up to date with developments.”
Carmarthenshire officers are continuing to carry out a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ work, for example, survey work has started on the old Copperworks School site where it is planned to build low-cost affordable family homes.
A number of residents from the four Ty’s and Clos Sant Paul have already moved or are in the process of moving; and a lot of work is being carried out with Dyfed Powys Police to tackle the drug, alcohol and antisocial behaviour issues in the area. The Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has invested £50,000 towards various projects in the Tyisha and Glanymor wards.
The council’s regeneration team has been working with property owners in Station Road and grants totalling £418,000 have been secured to bring vacant commercial floor space in four buildings back into business use, and a further three businesses have been awarded a total of £200,000 to provide homes above commercial premises.