THE TEAM behind the impressive Llanelli Railway Goods Shed project have launched a new set of public consultation events.
The Goods Shed project aims to save and restore the derelict Grade II listed building, originally built in the Brunel style in Marsh Street, and bring it back to life as a dynamic multi-purpose hub for the community.
The programme began with a meeting of community groups interested in using the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed, and is the biggest independently-organised project of its kind in West Wales.
Within the next few weeks, there will be a set of leaflet drops for residents living close to the Marsh Street Goods Shed building, as well as community surveys, a public display in Llanelli Town Centre and further group meetings for interested individuals, community organisations, social enterprises and businesses.
Robert Lloyd, the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust’s Project Officer, said: “The dialogue with the public is being cranked up to a whole new level.
“We are slap bang in the middle of what we call our development phase, conducting the site surveys and other preparatory work needed before we can complete further applications for capital funding.
“The key message we want to get across is that this is a project designed to breathe new life into what is an historic building. Getting the support of the community and tapping to everyone’s ideas for the project is crucially important as the plans for the future use of the building take shape.”
The whole scheme is currently estimated to cost approximately £1.7 million, but more than £100,000 of development funding has been secured from the Big Lottery Wales capital asset transfer scheme and the Welsh Heritage Lottery Fund.
On Friday (Mar 11), a variety of community groups came together to meet the Goods Shed Trust team, including chairperson Nia Griffith MP.
Following the meeting, she said: “Sometimes, a meeting goes well and you get a real buzz.
“That’s how it was last Friday when representatives of local organisations came together to pool ideas on their vision of how the former Goods Shed could be transformed into a vibrant community hub, offering a whole range of activities and appealing to a wide cross section of the population.
“The shed is deceptively spacious, with an office block the size of a small community centre at one end, a vast cathedral-like main space, a fullheight basement running the length of the building and plenty of land outside to provide both off-street parking and activity areas.
“Currently, our plans include space for business start-ups, community cafe, heritage area with a real locomotive in situ, arts rehearsal and workshop space, video-making facilities, exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, training and work opportunities and community garden.”
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