Our Rural Towns: Llandeilo

As part of the Ten Towns programme delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council, the County’s rural market towns have received support to develop exciting new projects to add vibrancy and economic benefit to their town. This month, our focus turns to Llandeilo, exploring how the town has benefited from funding through Carmarthenshire County Council and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund [UKSPF]

Llandeilo has officially launched its latest visitor attraction located at Parc Le Conquet. A brand-new pump track has been developed, with support from the Council’s Ten Towns fund and Sports Wales.  A pump track is an all-purpose built cycling track, which can be used by all ages and abilities. The track is designed to be ridden completely by users, enabling riders to maintain speed and momentum by using their body weight and gravity to make their way round the track, instead of pedalling or pushing. The track has been completed since early Spring, but had its official launch on 2 August 2024, with the response to the new attraction being positive from local people.

Tomi and Danny Butcher, users of the new pump-track had this to say about their experience:

The Pump track is great; it means we don’t have to go in the car somewhere to ride our bikes on a pump track anymore. It’s been nice to meet new people too and see adults using it. We spend hours up there, there’s always someone using the pump track, sometimes on their bike but sometimes on their scooters or skateboards. It’s a really good way of learning new bike skills and exercising too.

Another user, Edward Friend added:

Such a superb investment, the kids love it, it’s such a great investment in Llandeilo and the area. You’ve done an excellent job.

Business owners in Llandeilo have benefitted from Carmarthenshire County Council’s Revitalising Rural Town Centres Fund, which helps business premises to refresh, enhance and add vibrancy to their shop frontages. A number of Llandeilo businesses have benefited from this fund and have begun carrying out the necessary works. Once work is complete, Llandeilo will welcome tourists with a vibrant high street, helping to increase visitors to the area. The Refreshing Rural Town Centres Fund remains open until the end of August 2024, to apply please visit the webpage. 

Llandeilo has successfully established itself as a town full of exciting events and festivals, that attract visitors from in and around the County, helping to support the towns economy throughout the calendar year. Menter Dinefwr, who are based in the recently redeveloped Hengwrt in the centre of the town, has developed a new event to be held in the Autumn. Helo Hanes will be a family focussed event, focusing on Llandeilo’s rich heritage. This event as well as others such as the recent Lit Fest in the town were supported through the Ten Towns Events fund which aims to support event organisers to increase town centre footfall.

For more information on what events are being held in Llandeilo this year, please visit Discover Carmarthenshire. 

The town is also the first town to open its Ten Towns pop up shop. The means were commissioned to explore accommodating small independent businesses into vacant high street premises. Jessica Anne Papercraft opened its door on August 2 in Rhosmaen Street following securing the space through the initiative. The aim of the project is to provide opportunities for small businesses to test trade on the high street with a view of providing a positive experience for future longer-term arrangements as well as filling empty high street spaces.

Jessica Ann commented on her experience:

I feel very fortunate to have seen the post regarding the fantastic opportunity of a pop-up shop, funded by Carmarthenshire County Council and I am excited at the prospect of building my business in Llandeilo.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s tourism development team recently held a Tourism and Business Roadshow in Llandeilo Market Hall in May. These roadshows enable conversations with businesses and Council officers to discuss topics such as marketing, business support, licencing and waste management. Tourism development officers are delivering a set of marketing actions to increase secondary spend within the town, such as Visitor Information Points at key footfall areas, new images, social media advertising and targeting national media titles. These roadshows also enable businesses to find information about new grant opportunities and funding options. The next tourism roadshow event is taking place in Whitland on 18 September 2024.

To keep informed about what the Council’s tourism department can do for your business, please visit their website.

Hwb Bach y Wlad, Carmarthenshire County Councils rural Customer Service team will be resuming their services from 5 September 2024, in Llandeilo Civic Hall. Hwb Bach y Wlad offers help, support and advice on a range of topics, including education, housing and health and wellbeing services.

Sessions will be held between 10am- 3pm.

For more information about Hwb Bach y Wlad, including when they will be in your area, please visit their website.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Community Cohesion and Planning Policy, Cllr Carys Jones commented:

The 10 towns project has been a great success in enabling the Council to showcase our rural market towns. Llandeilo is using SPF funding to create new and exciting events, increasing tourism to the area and footfall into local, unique and independent businesses. I encourage those who haven’t visited this picturesque town, to attend one of the many events being held there this year and soak up everything Llandeilo has to offer.

For more information about the 10 Towns project, please visit the website. 

To keep up to date with events in Carmarthenshire, please visit Discover Carmarthenshire for more information.