Llanelli 'wellness village' project opens to public

The first phase of a controversial 83-acre, mixed-use development - including state-of-the-art leisure, health and business facilities - is set to open its doors, after years of delay.

Spearheaded by Carmarthenshire County Council, work on Canolfan Pentre Awel in Llanelli began in 2017.

But the £200m project has divided opinion over cost and funding - which led to the suspension of two Swansea University academics - as well as its location, at the heart of the Millennium Coastal Park.

The first phase, funded by the Welsh and UK government, with an additional £40m contribution from the Swansea Bay City Deal, includes the opening of an eight-lane swimming pool, gym and hydrotherapy pool.

Jane McDonald and Becky Foden, who run a flower shop in Llanelli town centre, are among those who have mixed feelings about the new development.

They are concerned the out-of-town site will drive trade out of the centre of Llanelli, and will be difficult for some people to reach.

"It looks all right [but] it's a lot of money," says Becky. "What about our market? And our town centre?"

"And it's far," she adds. "Where our old leisure centre is - the children could go over, but you're not going to leave a child to walk up there on their own."

According to Jane, it's "100% not the right way" to spend the money.

"I think they could have invested some of that money into the town centre, put more facilities centrally - so that everyone has got access."

Carmarthenshire County Council has said there will be regular buses running to Pentre Awel, which is described as being a short walk (0.7 miles) from Llanelli train station.

Parking will be available at the new site, as well as E-charging facilities.

Work began on the project eight years ago, which was then called a "wellness and life science village" and was a key part of the Swansea Bay City Deal.

Once complete, Pentre Awel will include a leisure centre, café, swimming pool and various local community services, as well as flexible office space, meeting rooms and green parkland.

Edward Morgan, 82, from Burry Port, is upbeat about the development, which will be completed in staged phases over the next couple of years.

He said he plans to use the onsite healthcare facilities for his regular blood tests, as the village complex will be more accessible for him and his wife than current options.

"I'm quite optimistic that it will be a useful addition to the town."

"I think it's certainly an improvement from the old swimming pool, which wasn't very clever," he told the BBC.

Llanelli leisure centre - in town - is expected to close once the development, with its eight-lane swimming pool and gym, is up and and running.

Llanelli Swimming Club has been based at the leisure centre since 1964, but have had to close a number of times to allow for vital repairs. The club plans to move to the new site in the coming weeks.

Club secretary Nicola Morris says having a new home at Pentre Awel will give the club "security".

"The current location is ageing," she explained. "If there was any further closures and repairs required, we wouldn't know how that would affect our club."

She said it would allow the club to "to compete with other sports with state-of-the-art facilities - like 4G pitches for rugby and football".

"So I can see that this will attract more people."

The council are understood to be considering repurposing the old leisure centre for use by the local school, Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant. The findings of the feasibility report are expected towards the end of this year.