Big changes are on the horizon for Llanelli’s Tyisha ward, and the community is being placed firmly in the driving seat.
Carmarthenshire County Council, working in partnership with a number of key organisations, is undertaking a huge community engagement programme to gain views and ideas ahead of the development of a regeneration plan for the area.
It means residents, tenants and businesses will have real opportunity to help plan for changes and improvements that will affect their future.
Cllr Cefin Campbell, executive board member for communities, and Cllr Linda Evans, executive board member for housing, are leading the engagement programme saying they want everyone in Tyisha to bring ideas and opinions on what matters to them.
The council has brought community engagement specialists on board and a programme of consultation activities will be held during the summer, aimed at reaching everyone who lives and works in the area.
Local school children will be making a 3D model of Tyisha, and the community will be invited to events to gather views and show where they want change to happen.
Local councillors and the AM and MP for Llanelli are being involved from the outset.
Cllr Campbell said: “We know that Tyisha has its problems, but we also recognise that it has a fantastic community spirit. People really want to see the area improve and we want people to be part of the change. There is real potential to do something and we’re excited about what lays ahead.”
All the views, opinions and ideas gathered from the community will feed in to a regeneration masterplan which will be developed early 2019.
Whilst representing socio-economic and environmental challenges, Tyisha is seen as an area of strategic importance, lying between Llanelli town centre and the proposed Life Science and Wellness Village at Delta Lakes.
It has the highest population density in Carmarthenshire, and over a quarter of housing is social rented, in low demand and difficult to let. There is also a high proportion of flats and maisonettes which no longer meet the needs of the community.
These are amongst the issues that need to be addressed.
Cllr Evans said: “With the Llanelli Life Science and Well-being Village being developed right on the doorstep of the Tyisha we want to ensure that the wider community benefits from such a significant development. We are all coming from common ground – we want the area to improve. We really hope that residents, tenants and businesses will take this opportunity with both hands and work with us all, the council and our partners, to ensure future investment and development is what the community needs and wants.”
Joining the council for the engagement programme are Dyfed Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Llanelli Town Council, Pobl, and Ysgol Pen Rhos, amongst others.
Local officers and community representatives will be leading the engagement and will be attending a variety of community events, locations and projects during July and August.
This engagement model is being piloted in the Tyisha ward and if successful will be further developed and replicated in other communities across Carmarthenshire.
Further information will be made available to the Tyisha community in the coming weeks.
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