What is a wellness centre?

DURING a recent council meeting, questions were asked about Llanelli’s new ‘wellness centre’ project – including ‘what is it?’

The question on everybody’s lips was asked by Cllr Siân Caiach, who said that a lot of people had asked her what a ‘wellness centre’ was.

“It sounds like a very good idea, rather than a sickness centre, but what on earth is a wellness centre?” she added.

“What are the plans for this, what is the timescale, and more importantly, what is it?”

Cllr Jane Tremlett replied that the wellness centre was part of Regeneration Executive Board Member Cllr Meryl Gravell’s brief and came under the Swansea Bay City Region proposal. Cllr Tremlett also admitted that she wasn’t an expert, but added: “I think a lot of it is looking at how we diagnose problems, very much in a very modern way.”

Chief Executive Mark James interjected to explain about the wellness centre. Firstly, he pointed out that the name was ‘probably not going to survive for much longer.’

He added that there was publicity concerning the centre being released the next day (Feb 24) but as it had already been released by other organisations he ‘didn’t see anything wrong in talking about it with members.’

“This is a project that we are working on in Delta Lakes with the university of Swansea, the Welsh Government, and Hywel Dda UHB,” he explained.

It would be the biggest investment and development I have ever dealt with – it by far exceeds what we did in Carmarthen town centre.

It would provide university research, treatment and medical facilities at a very very high standard. It would be unique in Wales.

Mr James agreed with Cllr Caiach – in itself a newsworthy event – that the project was ‘a little bit vague for quite a period.’

“However, that has now crystallised, and the Welsh Government, including three ministers, have fully come behind this, and are funding fully a project scoping document, which will be undertaken in the next couple of months,” he added.

“The potential here could create well over 1,000 well-paid jobs in this area, and see considerable development in Delta Lakes.

“I probably can’t say much more for now, other than that to say it is one of the most exciting projects I have ever come across in my 20 years as Chief Executive.

“If we could pull this off it would transform Llanelli in a way that I can’t think of anything else transforming Llanelli.”

Mr James also added that the council was working hard with partners, that there was potential private sector interest, and that the council leadership was being kept briefed.

He hoped to put a report before the Executive Board in the near future, and stressed that council members would be fully informed.

As The Herald has reported today, information was released concerning a ‘ground-breaking “internet coast” City deal bid,’ for in excess of £500m over 20 years, which was submitted to the Welsh and UK Governments.

The aim of this was to ‘address the integrated universal themes and challenges of energy, health and wellbeing and economic acceleration by harnessing the transformational power of digital networks and the asset base of Swansea Bay.’

However, it did not explain what a wellness centre is.

Following a meeting in December, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg UHB explained the wellness centre in the following terms: “The proposed Llanelli Wellness Centre is just one element of the ARCH project and aims to see a new leisure centre built which will also a wellness education centre, a health and wellbeing academy, out of hours GP services, therapies centre, hotel and conferencing and business facilities.”