AS PART of the Ten Towns programme delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council, the County’s rural market towns have received support to develop exciting new projects to add vibrancy and economic benefit to their town. This month, the focus turns to Kidwelly, exploring how the town has benefited from funding through Carmarthenshire County Council and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund [UKSPF].
Kidwelly is a historic coastal town on the Gwendraeth River. It is home to a recognisable and well-known Norman castle and a vibrant and popular town centre. The town is steeped in rich history and heritage, including the legend of the lucky black cat and warrior Princess Gwenllian.
A key focus for Kidwelly is the redevelopment of the town square, ensuring the space can be utilised for a range of events and allowing the successful monthly market to expand. The Town Council successfully secured financial support to redevelop the town square, which has created a welcoming and popular space for the community. Kidwelly Square is hosting the Christmas Light Switch on 16 November 2024, where you can meet Santa and experience stalls and live music. For more information, visit Discover Carmarthenshire.
This year, Kidwelly is hosting Carmarthenshire Winter Pride. The inclusive, family-friendly event will take place on December 14th, 2024, at the John Burns Centre. It will include stalls, entertainment and LGBTQIA+ art exhibitions. The event is open to all members of the community, regardless of their age.
A number of businesses in Kidwelly have taken advantage of the Revitalising Rural Town Centre fund, which has been made available to non-residential premises to refresh the exterior of commercial premises within the town. Once completed, the town will be refreshed and vibrant for its visitors. Five businesses have benefitted and have been able to enhance their business premises.
Other improvements, including increased signage linking the impressive Kidwelly castle to the town, are scheduled for completion by early spring 2025. The aim of this project is to direct the thousands of tourists who visit the castle each year into the town to grow footfall. Further small-scale enhancement projects will take place in Glan yr Afon car park, supported by the Tackling Towns fund, with work ongoing.
CETMA, Community Engagement, Technology, Media and Arts, a Kidwelly-based social enterprise, has been supported to coordinate events within the town to maximise Kidwelly’s tourist potential and build community cohesion. Caru Cydwelli was established to support businesses and other groups in creating their own community-led events that encourage the community to work together to promote what is great about Kidwelly.
Jonathan Williams from CETMA noted: “We’re very thankful to the Ten Towns Initiative, Carmarthenshire County Council and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund for providing us with the funding to carry out positive actions within Kidwelly.
It was great to see so many community members and local businesses get on board with the project. It shows that many people think Kidwelly has massive tourist potential, and we all need to work together to make it happen. “
You can read more about Caru Cymru here: Home | Love Kidwelly
Or visit their Facebook page to get involved: Facebook
CETMA Kidwelly is the central hub for many projects in the area. It is home to the foodbank and Kidwelly Community Fridge and provides sanitary supplies and baby boxes to those who need them most. SPF support has been given to CETMA to expand its circular economy project, which gives residents the opportunity to purchase second-hand equipment rather than buy new ones.
Jonathan continued, “Our circular economy project, which involves refurbishing, PAT testing, and then distributing donated electrical items, has been helping to ensure that items are given a second life instead of being disposed of.
The town has also benefitted from the Ten Towns Meanwhile spaces project. The Means were commissioned to explore accommodating small independent businesses into vacant high street premises.
Christina Hill and her business, Pretty Sip Boutique, have benefited from a pop-up shop in the town. Christina commented on her experience as a new business: “The help and support that I have been offered since taking part in the scheme has really helped to build my business, my confidence and my want to move things onto a face-to-face business.
“I would highly recommend anyone taking part in a scheme like this if they are wanting to trial their business and see whether it would be worth having a pop-up shop. I am definitely glad that I took the plunge and decided to trial my own pop-up. It has been an amazing experience and one I would tell anyone who wants to, to take.
“The Means have supported me all the way from visiting the shop and signing the tenancy to being there if there have been any issues.”
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Rural Customer Service team, Hwb Bach y Wlad, is visiting rural locations across the County, offering help, support and advice. Experienced HWB advisors can help Carmarthenshire residents with their Council enquiries and provide waste and recycling bags as well as Period Poverty items. Advisors can also signpost residents to relevant Council departments and organisations who can further assist with their enquiries.
Hwb Bach y Wlad will be at Kidwelly Princess Gwenllian Centre from 10 am to 3 pm on the second Monday of every month.
Hwb Bach y Wlad is teaming up with Eto and visiting four locations in rural Carmarthenshire to give people the opportunity to purchase repurposed Christmas gifts. The public is not able to drop off items but is encouraged to buy products from Eto. This is in line with Eto’s commitment to the circular economy—to keep items in use for as long as possible.
You can find Eto at the following locations:
Kidwelly Princess Gwenllian Centre 11 November 2024, 10-2pm
Llanybydder 28 November 2024, 10-2pm
Llandeilo 5 December 2024, 10-2pm
Whitland 10 December 2024, 10-2pm
To find out more about Carmarthenshire County Council’s dedication to tackling climate change, please visit the Council’s Wellbeing Objective 3.
For more information about Hwb Bach y Wlad, please visit their website.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Community Cohesion and Planning Policy, Cllr Carys Jones, commented: “The 10 Towns programme has been a huge success in bringing about a number of improvements to our rural market towns. For Kidwelly, the projects are helping to increase tourism in the area and focus on our commitment to combat climate change. I encourage anyone who hasn’t already, to visit this historical town and experience what Kidwelly has to offer!.
For more information about the 10 Towns project, please visit the website.
To keep up to date with events in Carmarthenshire, please visit Discover Carmarthenshire for more information.
