IMAGES of a new indoor market planned in Llanelli have been released along with details of a scheme Carmarthenshire County Council hopes will become a busy destination.

The plan is for 14 retail units on the ground floor of the Vaughan Street complex, 80 stalls on the first floor, and a central glass atrium above. There’d be bike racks and escalators and all toilets would be on the first floor.

Deliveries would be via Mincing Lane at the rear along with a few parking spaces close by.

Miriam Phillips, who runs a fruit and veg stall at the current market by St Elli Shopping Centre, said of the plans: “They look all right so far. It’s still early days.” She said traders had a meeting with council representatives about them last week.

Parvez Akhtar, of Parvez Fashions, said he was “totally against” the proposals and called on the council to upgrade the current market and focus on filling empty shops in Llanelli.

He felt the new market would be “very small” and deter people from visiting. “We need space and to display our products,” he said.

Fellow trader Gabor Hetesi, of IT repair business Gabe’s IT Repair, was optimistic about the plans but wondered about timescales and what the new rental arrangements would be. “The plans are looking good, it looks promising,” he said.

The council is asking for people’s views on the proposals by August 7 ahead of a full planning application being submitted.

A design and access statement about the project said the current market building with its multi-storey car park above dated from the 1970s and contained a material called reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete which is less durable than standard concrete and can fail when exposed to moisture.

It said the council undertook significant work in 2013 to maintain the building’s structural safety along with ongoing maintenance.

Options were explored such as distributing stalls and units throughout the town and reusing the existing site once the car park was demolished.

The council’s preferred option is a new-build market between 8-14 Vaughan Street extending a long way to the rear. Six of the ground-floor retail units would face onto Vaughan Street and the market’s total area would be 3,312sq m.

“Internally each floor has a distinct identity and character,” said the design and access statement.

“The internal route is deliberately meandering, encouraging visitors to explore past retail and market stalls.

“The first floor is more informal and accommodates the majority of market stalls. It also features a large café, visible from the entrance, which naturally draws visitors through the building and up to the first floor.”

It said the current market has 3,664sq m of floorspace featuring 17 retail units and 110 stalls.

Cllr Hazel Evans, deputy council leader and cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture, and tourism, said: “These proposals represent an exciting opportunity to create a modern new home for Llanelli Market and further strengthen Llanelli town centre.

“Through the pre-application consultation process we want to hear the views of residents, businesses, and stakeholders to help shape the proposals before a planning application is submitted.”

She added: “It is important to emphasise that Llanelli Market will remain open and continue trading throughout this process with any future relocation carefully planned to support traders and customers.

“Our ambition is to create a vibrant destination that supports traders, attracts visitors, and builds on Llanelli Market’s proud history at the heart of the community.”

A CALL for works at a Pembrokeshire seaside tearoom, once the site of a Victorian brickworks machinery shed, has been given the go-ahead by national park planners.

In an application recommended for approval at the July meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Caroline Jones sought permission to install solar panels to roof over an outside seating area at The Shed Tea Room, Porthgain.

The application, and a related listed building consent call, was for committee consideration as The Shed Tea Room forms part of Ty Mawr, a Grade-II-listed large stone-built former machinery shed owned by the national park itself.

An officer report for members stated: “The Shed Tea Room is a lean-to structure at the west end of Ty-mawr, a Grade-II-listed large stone-built former machinery shed, built c. 1890 to serve Porthgain brickworks. The lean-to itself is built of a mixture of stone and brick, retaining the stump of the brickworks chimney.

“The Shed has been used for retail purposes since 1999, and as a tearoom and restaurant from 2001, after which roof-lights were inserted. The north-western section of the lean-to was incorporated after 2003, when the present timber windows were inserted.

“After 2007, a lean-to scullery was added at the north end, alongside the chimney stump, with a small, fenced compound beyond. The south-western lean-to was added in 2024. The proposal comprises the addition of solar PV panels to the south-western lean-to. The panels – twelve in total – are all-black and frameless. The panels are configurated in a single block covering the majority of the roof, surface mounted on corrugated steel sheeting.

“The scheme is in keeping with the character of the listed building, and its setting in terms of design and form. As such, the application can be supported subject to conditions.”

The recommendation of approval was moved by Cllr Di Clements, and unanimously backed by members; the related listed building consent also moved by Cllr Clements, and again unanimously backed.

A CALL for a formal seasonal Pembrokeshire campsite with motorhomes camping on the site of a former scrapyard has been given the go-ahead by national park planners.

In an application recommended for approval at the July meeting of Pembrokeshire coast National Park’s development management committee, Mr A Stoddart, through agent Addison Design & Development, sought permission for a change of use of land for the formation of 11 ‘touring caravan’ pitches, tent pitches and the siting of three shepherd’s huts, partly retrospective, on land to the east of Talbenny Hall Farm, Talbenny, near Haverfordwest.

The retrospective element related to the retention of an existing storage shed and facilities building.

The application was for committee consideration as officers had recommended approval despite objections from local community council The Havens.

An officer report for members said a change of use was sought for a a former scrapyard site, “which has been remediated and more recently operated as a seasonal campsite, to provide a seasonal formal camping and glamping site”.

It added: “During the determination of the application, a significant amount of additional information has been submitted in response to consultee comments. In particular, the Local Highway Authority initially objected to the proposal on highway safety grounds pending the submission of further technical information.”

It said those concerns had been withdrawn after further information was received, the scheme before committee as it “relates to a new tourism development in the countryside, and because The Havens Community Council has maintained an objection on highway safety grounds”.

It went on to say: “The site will operate as a medium sized seasonal tourism development between March 31 and September 30 each year. The applicant has confirmed that the three shepherd’s huts will be removed from the site outside the operating season and stored within the existing onsite storage building.

“Officers consider that the previously developed nature of the site, its enclosed landscape setting, seasonal operation and the resolution of technical matters relating to highway safety, ecology and drainage demonstrate overall policy compliance with the requirements [of planning policy] and the proposal is therefore recommended for approval subject to conditions.”

At the meeting, members heard the 2023 submitted scheme had been delayed due to the applicant facing “exceptional personal circumstances”.

Concerns were raised at the meeting by objector Alison Gibbey on highways grounds, while agent Zac Addison told members the former scrapyard had been transformed into “a beautiful little haven,” the applicant not wanting to be “a nuisance to anybody”.

He said the ‘touring pitches’ would be solely used for motorhomes, with a maximum of 20 tents in the tent pitch area.

Moving approval, Cllr Di Clements reflected it was positive tourism in the county was spreading inland away from “honey pot” coastal areas, suggesting a ‘quiet time’ evening condition be included in any approval.

Members unanimously backed the recommendation of approval, Cllr Mike James commenting: “to have something like this in the rural areas, it’s really good to see this.”