THE FRIENDS OF LLANELLI TRAIN STATION were recently given a boost by Network Rail.
Maintenance protection coordinator Barry Hadley met with the volunteers recently to brief them about how to work safely in proximity to the railway. He also provided high-visibility clothing and other protective equipment.
Mr Hadley said: “It was great to meet local volunteers who want to transform Llanelli station and I was more than happy to show them how this can be done safely.’”
The friends group was formed last year after MP Nia Griffith called for rail enthusiasts and people wanting to improve Llanelli’s image to join a group with the aim of speaking up for and looking after the station. They are now looking forward to making it more attractive and welcoming to those arriving in the town by train.
One of the first parts to be tackled will be the triangular area of rough ground by the Llanelli West level crossing gates. The idea is to create a garden with a memorial to the two men who were shot during the Llanelli railway strike in 1911. To provide inspiration to volunteers and gather support across the town for the project, architect David Darkin, who chairs the committee, has sketched a few preliminary ideas of what the garden could look like.
Nia Griffith MP explained: “I was very concerned when I realised that Llanelli was one of a very few stations on the Heart of Wales line, which did not have a local group looking after it. This means that we are missing out on the help available to enhance the station. That’s why I called people together for that purpose. Good work has been done in the past by local volunteers and schools, but we need continuity and now, with a formal group, we are also able to apply for grant funding for some improvements.”
Add Comment