Following the making of the Carmarthenshire County Council (Ffairfach to Whitemill Shared Use Route) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 pursuant to section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 a public inquiry in relation to the scheme will be held on Tuesday 28 November in Carmarthen Library, St Peter’s Street, commencing at 10.00 a.m. and is estimated to last three days.
The purpose of the inquiry is to hear representations from persons interested in the land comprised in the Compulsory Purchase Order and, at the discretion of the inspector, to hear representations from any other persons who may desire to appear and be heard.
If confirmed, the Order will authorise Carmarthenshire County Council to compulsorily purchase land and acquire new rights over land described in the Order and identified on the Order plans. It is the Council’s intention to develop and construct a path that is suitable for pedestrians and cyclists, and will extend in a westerly direction from Ffairfach, Llandeilo to Whitemill for a distance of approximately 19.22 kilometres.
About the Tywi Valley Path project
This exciting project is already underway as the former railway track between Carmarthen and Llandeilo, that runs through the stunning Tywi Valley, is being brought back to life as a major leisure and visitor attraction that will also provide an important transport link for rural communities.
Providing a 16-mile traffic free path through one of the most scenic areas of Wales, it will follow an almost adjacent route to that of the River Tywi – through stunning scenery which takes in castles, country parks and historical estates as well as attractions including the National Botanic Gardens of Wales and Aberglasney Gardens.
With some sections of the path are already completed, including a link between Abergwili and Whitemill, the Tywi Valley Path aims to attract visitors from all over the UK and beyond with the potential to generate around £4.4million a year for the local economy, creating jobs in local businesses through enhanced visitor attraction and spend.
Funding for the latest stage in the Tywi Valley Path project has been secured from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and Carmarthenshire County Council capital funding, with the sections of the path that are already opened funded by the Welsh Government and European Union.
Cllr. Edward Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services said: “This inquiry is an important step in the Council’s ambition to deliver a cycle and pedestrian path from Carmarthen to Llandeilo, which will be a huge boost to local towns and villages, and tourism throughout the county.”
For further information about the Tywi Valley Path project, please visit Carmarthenshire County Council’s website.
