Former store to hold council vote count

CARMARTHEN’S former Debenhams store continues to be used for different uses since it closed last year.

In its latest guise Carmarthenshire Council has confirmed it will turn the store space at St Catherine’s Walk into a busy vote counting venue following the local elections on May 5.

Voters across Carmarthenshire will go to the polls to elect who they wish to represent their local communities in the county, town and community councils over the next five years.

Ballot papers from the Carmarthenshire Council and town and community councils elections will be verified and counted on Friday, May 6 at the store – now known as the Carmarthen Hwb.

This year’s elections mark a first for allowing teenagers aged 16 and 17 to vote. Anyone wishing to vote must register before the deadline of midnight on Thursday, April 14 and can do so by visiting www.gov.uk/ register-to-vote.

The former two-storey Debenhams store has already been used for pop-up shops by independent traders and the long term plan is to transform the building into multi-million pound investment, signalling what may become the changing face of Carmarthen town centre over coming years.

Carmarthenshire Council, working with Hywel Dda University Health Board and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, are progressing at pace with plans to deliver their key strategic project after securing over £15m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund. The development, which is earmarked for more than £3.5m match funding from Carmarthenshire Council’s capital programme, aims to support people of all ages to access key services all under one roof.

The venture, which is still in the early development stages, could feature state-of-the-art leisure, culture and exhibition spaces alongside health and educational facilities, tourist information, customer services and more.

The redevelopment is expected to be completed in spring 2024.