What's On Llanelli Weekendly [29-30.6.2013]

This weekend, no-one will be bored. Let's begin with the obvious.

On Saturday, the Lions hope to secure victory in their Australia tour with a second test match with the Walabies.
Kick-off at 11:05am (BST)
For more info: www.lionsrugby.com/home

Closer to home, there'll be plenty of action at Wimbledon throughout the day.
Confirmed schedule for the tennis championship here: www.wimbledon.com

At Silverstone, F1 qualifying for the 2013 British Grand Prix starts at 1pm on Saturday, with the race to follow at 1pm on Sunday.

And of course, then there's Glastonbury, the festival that gives so much to worthy causes like the alcohol industry. List of performers here: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk



Now for some local events. For a comprehensive list, see: visit.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/whats-on/
And for far better listings of local live music than Tin Dragon is currently able to compile, visit Llanelli Music Scene! If you have any music-related events that you wish to promote, contact the Llanelli Music Scene on facebook: facebook.com/llanellimusicscene

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Saturday 29th June
Eisteddfod Proclamation, Carmarthen
11am – 2pm

Next year, the national Eisteddfod comes to Llanelli. As a taster of what's to come, the Gorsedd procession and Proclamation Ceremony will be held in the centre of Carmarthen. The Gorsedd and representatives from many local organisations will form a procession through the town, and the ceremony itself will be held in Carmarthen Park during the afternoon.

11:00 Ysgol Llangynnwr
11:15 Bromas
11:30 Seingar
11:45 Ysgol y Dderwen
12:00 - 12:30 Clocsio
12:30 Ysgol Bro Myrddin
12:45 Banditos
13:00 Dawnswyr Talog
13:15 Ysgol Tre Ioan
13:30 Ysgol Nantgaredig
13:45 Castro

Contact: eisteddfod.org.uk
0845 4090 300

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Saturday 29th June
Annual Zumbathon, Antioch Centre, Llanelli
10am – 12:30pm

To raise cash for Heol Goffa school. Takes place at the Antioch Centre on Copperworks Road.
Fancy dress is optional. Cafe and play area on site will be open (children must be supervised).
Admission: £3.50 (extra donations are welcomed).

For more information: facebook.com/SlimmingWales

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Saturday 29th June
Summer Fayre, Five Roads Community Hall
10:30am – 2:30pm

A fundraising summer fayre and the Community Hall on Five Roads, Heol Hen, Llanelli.
Numerous children's activities, including: bric-a-brac stall, raffles, ice cream, bouncy castle, wass-off tattoos, beauty stand (nails painted, ear piecing, mini manicures etc...), name the bear competition, tea, coffee and hotdogs.

Event page: facebook.com/events/452968784784953/

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Saturday 29th June
Cwmamman Carnival, Parc yr Amman, Cwmamman.

Entertainment will include a traditional carnival float procession, arts, crafts, main arena, refreshment units, community stands and exhibitors, adult & child fun fair rides and stalls and new for 2013 a 7’s, 10’s or 15’s Rugby tournament.

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Saturday 29th June
Beatz Charity, Stamps, Llanelli

A new music night, Beatz Charity, to be held at Stamps on the last Saturday of each month makes its debut appearance this weekend.
Held at Stamps, each month's event will raise money for a chosen charity, with volunteering dance and house DJs devoting their time to the cause. All proceeds from the first Beatz Charity night will go to Help For Heroes.
Find out more about this Saturday's event on facebook: facebook.com/events/390276061076517

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Saturday 29th June
The Kazbar, Llanelli

Local artist Catherine Elms and Cara Pearce will perform at the Kazbar this Saturday
Free entry. £1.50 on all drinks after 10pm
More info: facebook.com/catherineelmsmusic

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Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June
Carmarthen Antiques Fair, United Counties Showground
9am – 4pm

Contact: towyevents.co.uk  01267 236569

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Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June
Towy Valley Vintage Show, Pontargothi Showground SA32 7NA.

Contact: tvvc.co.uk
01269 232320 / 01559 384499

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Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June
You Should Ask Wallace, National Botanic Garden of Wales
12pm; 1.30pm; 3pm

Neath-based theatre group Theatr na nÓg will perform their one-man play, You Should Ask Wallace, at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
The 50-minute play revealing the life and works of one of the 19th century's most remarkable intellectuals, Alfred Russel Wallace, will be shown three times daily.

More info: www.gardenofwales.org.uk
Theatr na nÓg on facebook: facebook.com/Theatrnanog

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire SA32 8HG.

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Sunday 30th June
Llanelli’s John Harston Foundation 10k & Junior Races, Festival Fields, Millennium Coastal Park, Llanelli.

On the grounds of next year's Eisteddfod, a day of running and other attractions will be held.
In it's 11th year, the course will start at Festival Fields with a series of Fun Runs for children of all ages, as well as an event for under 6's. Fair ground rides and free face painting will also take place. The main 10km Fun Run starts at 11.30am with renowned Welsh footballer, John Hartson, taking part in the race. The course will follow the scenic Millennium Coastal Path where runners can enjoy spectacular views of Carmarthen Bay and the Llanelli coast line. Runners can donate or raise money for the John Hartson Cancer Foundation which is Healthy Life Activities official charity for 2013.
For more info, contact: healthylifeactivities.co.uk 07968 859260

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Sunday 30th June
Merlin Bike Ride, National Botanic Garden of Wales
8am – 

Cyclists from all over the UK are saddling up ready to head for Carmarthenshire and the sixth annual Merlin Ride. This well -established Sportive starts and finishes at the National Botanic Garden of Wales - on Sunday June 30 - and has four distances : the Merlin, 105 miles; Emlyn, 85 miles; Cothi, 70 miles; and Druid, 50 miles. All four link together to form a terrific cycling experience for all.

The Merlin and Cothi routes take you over the infamous Black Mountain with a spot height of 1,681 feet and an alpine style descent to Llangadog with sweeping hairpin bends. Hosted at The National Botanic Garden, with easy access off A48 and large, free car parks, full toilet and changing facilities, early morning café, post event refreshments, Cycle Show, physio facility, free entry to one family member and much more. The ride starts at 8am.

The event raises money for local health -related charities including : Wales Air Ambulance, Macmillan Cancer Support, Ty Hafan, Prince Phillip Hospital Breast Care Unit and West Wales Prostate Cancer Support. The event is timed by Race Timing Solutions who provide an interactive service with your results posted as you finish. Entry is via the website merlinsportive.co.uk
Contact: gardenofwales.org.uk  01558 667149
National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire SA32 8HG.

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Sunday 30th June
Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band, Carmarthen Town Park
2pm – 4pm.

Art/Quiz in the park free from the tea shop.

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Sunday 30th June
Llandybie Indoor Market, Llandybie Public Memorial Hall

Great stalls from local traders.
Free entry with refreshments available on the day.
Contact: 01550 777936 / 01269 851968

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Sunday 30th June
Raft Race, Quay Centre, Carmarthen
10am – 4.30pm

Gwendraeth Valley Paddlers hold their annual Raft Race in Carmarthen. Guests are invited to try out canoeing, kayaking, and to take part in the Raft Race and Coracle Race plus other fun events on the River Towy. Leisurely strolls along the riverside paths and learn about Carmarthenshire history on the river is also recommended.
To sign up, download entry form (closing date 28 june) and see full events list and more about club sessions on gwendraethvalleypaddlers.weebly.com

Eastgate: Jenkins

[Unit 11. Eastgate, Llanelli]

Few other businesses in Llanelli today can claim such an enduring relationship with the town. With a 90+ years presence in Llanelli since its establishment as a family business, on 6th December 2012, Jenkins opened shop at the Eastgate cinema building - one of four outlets in the town centre. See photos from the opening here.

This year the Jenkins brand has risen to further prominence through awards gained at nation competitions and continues to expand with a new shop opened in Portmead, Swansea this month and another under construction in Briton Ferry, Neath to open in October bringing the company's total number of stores to 28. Not bad for a Llanelli-based family business in the context of globalisation.

Jenkins Bakery, New Dock Rd, Llanelli

Jenkins, St Elli's Shopping Centre, Llanelli

More about Jenkins Bakery on the official website
Or head over to facebook to find the latest on the bakery's deals!

Eastgate: Costa

[Unit 10. Eastgate, Llanelli]

Llanelli's first Costa opened at Eastgate on 12th October 2012.
Essentially a part of the cinema complex, Costa has an indoor seating area which provides direct access to the Odeon - a kind of waiting room for those who are early for their movie appointments.

As the chain's first step into the Llanelli area, Costa has also established its own presence on Eastgate, open daily from 7am (earlier than the cinema) and equipped with an outdoor seating area just few steps away from bus bay 1. The subsequent construction of a larger Costa in Parc Pemberton 8 months after Eastgate suggests that business is good in Llanelli.


Strangely, Eastgate Costa is not yet listed on Costa's own website.

*August 2013 update: 'Costa Coffee Odeon' is now listed on Costa's own website (although they placed the map marker some 5 miles off the actual location).

Been to Costa lately? Leave some feedback on Costa Eastgate's facebook page (official Costa page: facebook.com/CostaCoffee ) .

What's On Llanelli Weekendly [22-23.6.2013]

Welcome to a weekly (yeah, we'll see how long that lasts..) instalment to the Tin Dragon blog.
In these posts, I'll be sharing whatever info can be gathered on local events for the upcoming weekend.
If you know of any upcoming weekend events or one-time special offers at local venues and retailers, please leave a comment below!

So, in a week that has given us a good, unpredictable mix of Welsh weather, the summer solstice arrives! Things will cool down a little and there's a good chance of rain, but we're used to that, and numerous activities will take place through the long daylight hours. Midsummer is here at last!

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Friday 21st June
Summer Solstice Yoga, Dinefwr Park and Castle

Savour the solistice energy through an outdoor morning yoga session!
A yoga group will meet on the Croquet Lawn on Friday morning - contact National Trust for more info: nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr. Phone: 01558 824512

From Llanelli by bus, go via Carmarthen or Swansea to Llandeilo. Plan your journey here.

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Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June
Pendine Sands Speed Trials

Motoring enthusiasts are gearing up for a bit of vintage motorcycle speed testing at Pendine Sands this weekend. This 7-mile (11 km) stretch on the south coast of Wales has a history of motorsport events, straight-line speed stunts, landspeed records and some filming by BBC's Top Gear. Now, Pendine Landspeed Racing Club have gained control of the beach for their first ever event.

Organisers have insisted that rain will not pose major problems for the trials, the sands providing good drainage. Essentially, this will be two days of bikes and barbecues in the company of local residents and petrol heads from afar, including some "surprise guests". Accommodation can also be arranged at Grove Caravan Park (for those who aren't camping in the pits). In the case of severe weather, spectators and racers can find shelter in the nearby pub.

Admission to the Sands: £5 (free for under 12s)
Camping fee and a pit-lane/start-line pass are also £5 each.

For more info and to preview some of the entrants' machines, visit the PLRC facebook page.
Contact: pendinelrc.com
Phone: 07960 218682

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Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June
Crafts from Carmarthenshire, Aberglasney Gardens

Locally produced arts and crafts will be on display at the Gardens from Friday 21st June until Thursday 4th July.

To reach the Gardens from Llanelli, take the 196 bus (First Cyrmu; Eastgate bus interchange, Bay 2) to Carmarthen, then catch the 280 (Morris Travel; Carmarthen bus station, Bay 8) to Aberglasney Gardens.  Plan your journey here.

More info: http://www.aberglasney.org
Phone: 01558 668998
Aberglasney Gardens
Llangathen
Carmarthenshire SA32 8QH

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Saturday 22nd June
Midsummer Concert, National Botanic Garden of Wales
7:30pm - late

The Gardens Great Glasshouse will be open for special evening concert, featuring a performance by Symphonica Tywi:
"The 40-piece Symphonica Tywi orchestra will be playing favourite music from the classical world in the stunning surrounds of the Great Glasshouse, from 7.30pm until dusk on Saturday June 22. The concert will include many well known and loved classics including the 1812 overtures by Tchaikovsy - audience particpation required! - Rossini (William Tell) and scores from movies such as Lord of the Rings, Spartacus, Lawrence of Arabia and (in its anniversary year Dambusters. As ever Cantorion & Symphonica Tywi encourage audience participation and families are welcome. Dress code is "colourful" and both the audience and orchestra will be inside the Great Glasshouse."
Tickets: £10 (£8.50 for Garden members).

To travel from Llanelli by bus, catch the X12 to Carmarthen, then the 166 to the Gardens. – journey information here.

Contact: gardenofwales.org.uk
Phone: 01558 667149
National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire SA32 8HG.

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Saturday 22nd June
Vintage afternoon tea, St Peter’s Civic Hall, Carmarthen.
2pm - 4pm

Tea and cupcakes will be served in a 1940s style celebration, raising money for Bobath Children's Therapy Centre Wales, a registered charity that provides specialist therapy to children throughout Wales who have cerebral palsy. Money will also be raised through crafts stalls exhibiting homemade cakes, crockery and cookware, crochet and hand knitting.

Vintage entertainment and a good afternoon tea at St Peter’s Civic Hall for an entry fee of just £1!

Contact: bobathwales.org
02920 522600

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Saturday 22nd June
Burry Port Male Voice Choir, Ty Cymorth Hospice Appeal,
Carmarthen English Baptist Church
7pm

Burry Port Male Voice Choir with Carwyn Thomas on clarinet will perform to raise funds for the Ty Cymorth Hospice. The English Baptist Church is located on Lammas Street in Carmarthen – opposite the Boar's Head Hotel.
Admission: £5 (includes a £1 donation to Ty Cymorth) on the door.

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Saturday 22nd June
Baroque Music & Dance, Newton House, Dinefwr
6:30pm

In aid of the Marie Curie Home Nursing for terminally ill patients in Carmarthenshire. Features an exhibition of Playford-style dancing in costume; baroque music (soprano, violin, piano), poetry and prose, champagne reception, and an auction.
Doors/Champagne bottles open at 6.30pm. Music performance starts at 7pm.
Tickets (to include generous buffet): £25.
For more info, contact Angela Yardley: 01550 760206

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Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June
WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre
11am - 5pm

Minibeast hunt, dragonfly and butterfly walk, pond dipping, and insect-themed craft workshops will be held at the centre throughout the day.

For the full schedule and more information, visit http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/llanelli/whats-on/2013/06/22/june-weekends/

Cost is included in admission to centre (free for members).

Contact: pamela.styles@wwt.org.uk

Phone: 01554 741087

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Sunday 23rd June
In Focus, WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre
10.00am - 4.00pm

Visit the centre's main building for expert advice and the chance to try out binoculars and telescopes.

See the In Focus website www.infocusoptics.co.uk for the latest.

Cost is included in admission to centre (free for members).

More info: www.wwt.org.uk/visit/llanelli/

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Sunday 23rd June
Llanelli Multicultural Network AGM, Lakefield Hall
2pm - 4pm.

Residents are invited to learn more about Llanelli Multicultural Network at the Annual General Meeting. Come along and see how the LMCN is run and find out what's to come in the months ahead. Anyone not already a member of the network is welcome to sign up at the event. Light refreshments will be available.
For more information contact Paolo Piana: 01554 785954

http://lmcn.org

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Eastgate: Odeon

The defining feature of the Cinema building is, of course, the Odeon cinema. With a £2.73million price tag, it lies in the mid-range of NBDA's portfolio, whose 60 cinema projects over the past 5 years ranged in cost from £100,000 to £5 million. Having constructed its outer shell, Britannia was awarded a £1.2 million contract to fit out the cinema's interior.

Odeon's main entrance faces the bus interchange, just a few paces from bay 2, and further access to the cinema lobby is possible via the annexed Costa Coffee. Also incorporated into the cinema entrance/snacks counter area is a Ben and Jerry's ice cream bar. Odeon and Travelodge have been described as the 'anchors' of Eastgate, the former providing the leisure core of the quarter. Opened to the public on 11th October 2012, the cinema's footfall has been projected at 300,000 admissions annually.

In promotional materials, the Eastgate Odeon has repeatedly been referred to as a 'multiplex' cinema that offers digital and 3D film projection in every screen room. What is so multiplex about it? There appears to be no solid definition, but in a 1994 report by the UK Monopolies and Mergers Commission (predecessor to today's Competition Commission) a multiplex cinema was defined as:

"a purpose-built cinema with at least five screens and usually offering extensive free parking."

While Eastgate does not offer free parking, its Odeon does meet the former criterion. In later official documentation (VOA 2010), the definition became:

"a purpose-built cinema with at least five screens constructed since January 1985”.

And most recently (in a document directly related to Odeon's activities in Llanelli):

"the exact definition of a multiplex cinema has pointed specifically to cinemas with at least three screens and around 700 seats."

Based on early reports on the cinema's development, there appears to be some discrepancy between what was originally planned and what was eventually constructed. Planning permission for a 'six screen' cinema was granted in April 2010, and Odeon ownership – again, of a six-screen cinema – was announced in late 2011. Yet by July 2012, the number of screens had dropped to five. The likely reason for this change was an acquisition of seven Reel Cinemas, including the Eastgate site, by Odeon in 2011. A takeover agreement was signed on 15th July 2011 and the subsequent development of Llanelli's new cinema saw all five screens fitted with digital technology.

As for the total number of seats: 612 with 13 wheelchair spaces – according to the Odeon website . Generally, this figure has been rounded down to 610, although there are some minor discrepancies between Odeon's own seats-per-screen count and those announced by the Council during construction. Subject to your interpretation of "around 700", Eastgate's use of the term 'multiplex' is fair (albeit vague and a little pointless). Of greater interest is the main auditorium, fitted with 235 seats (according to Odeon; 230 in descriptions by the Council and NBDA) and 3 wheelchair spaces; it also has a particular sound system.

When the Council granted Odeon £20,000 to subsidise the installation of a state-of-the-art 3D sound system in Screen One, the loudest critics in the County couldn't contain themselves. (Shame on those self-serving cinema enthusiast Councillors!)

Deemed the "most advanced sound system of any in the UK", the 24-channel immersive sound system from Catalan sound engineering company, IMM Sound, was at that time way ahead of its competitors. Until early 2012, the norm in cinema audio arrangements consisted of 7 speakers plus 1 subwoofer. The 'Immersive 3D Sound' system leapt into new territory with 24 separate channels for a much larger set-up, placing speakers behind the screen and around the entire room, and with 5 channels dedicated to speakers fixed to the ceiling. It really was a revolutionary installation.

Then, in May 2012, Dolby released its own immersive sound format, Atmos: 128 channels, 64 speakers.

And much like the fate of Reel in Llanelli the previous year, IMM Sound products were discontinued as Dolby acquired the company.

In harnessing the talents and technology of IMM Sound, Dolby hoped to refine its own immersive sound format, contributing to the wider goal of establishing Atmos as the global audio standard in 3D cinema. While it is tempting to suppose that, had the Council waited just a few months longer, Eastgate could have opted for an even greater sound system from the prevailing digital sound pioneers, this is unlikely to have been the case. Dolby have announced that, in their quest for world domination, the first to benefit from upgrades to Atmos will be those cinemas which charge the highest ticket prices.

Thanks to the acquisition, Eastgate Odeon is now one of around 40 European venues equipped with Imm Sound that, now under the Dolby umbrella, is well-positioned become Atmos-ready. And although the new cinema has no need at all to change its current immersive sound system, should its owners upgrade to Atmos in the far future, switching would be a relatively simple expansion to the existing range of speakers and amplification. The know-how of operating a 3D sound system is already in place. For many other cinemas, the costs of upgrading outweigh the benefits.

Of course, regardless of all the spec, the cinema's success rests on customer experience. Have you visited the Odeon in Eastgate recently? How would you rate the customer service, comfort and overall viewing experience?

Does '3D sound' really make any difference?...

People are already sharing plenty of interesting views over on tripadvisor.co.uk and on FourSquare.com – and so should you! But I also love hearing from you directly so please leave a comment below or contact me via: @draigdun / facebook / Google+ / email

Tickets for the Odeon can be purchased online (with a 50p booking fee) here.
A reduced rate scheme 'Bargain Tuesday' offers discount tickets at £4.50.
Check out vouchercodes.co.uk/odeon for other offers.
Official facebook page: facebook.com/ODEON

Llanelli Town Centre Re-opening Day

Today's re-opening of the town centre saw a good crowd gathered around Central Square – and with precisely the sort of weather we wanted.

Tin Dragon kept a watch on events and had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

By 07:30, most of the market stalls were set up, with everything from fresh veg and jewellery to lawnmowers and inflatable Sponge Bobs neatly displayed along Stepney Street and Vaughan Street.

At 08:00, the final traces of construction work – those ugly plastic construction fences – were cleared away and the new brick paving was given a last-minute sweep.

From 10:00 onwards, four competing teams from local primary schools opened up shop, selling various hand-made items in attempt to earn the most profit and win the Carmarthenshire Young Traders contest 2013. Yet these young entrepreneurs looked beyond that money-centric measure of success and took pride in their enterprises, some promising to donate all their profits to charities.

Each team received a £100 budget from local sponsors, including: the St. Elli shopping centre; Plush Lettings property management; The Sweetie Palace; Rook's Trophies; and Hungry Horse.

"I'm one of these people who eats 5 fruits a day. Llanelli has 5 major projects, and this is one that has really transformed Llanelli." - Cllr Terry Davies

Just after 10:20, Councillor Terry Davies addressed the crowd for the inauguration of the newly renovated town centre. Having drawn a parallel between this completed regeneration project and a fruit, the Councillor thanked the audience and lifted the EU flag cover to unveil an information board dedicated to the new ERDF-funded installations in Central Square.

 Following this, Llangennech Primary School choir took centre stage under the glaring sun.

The town centre remained full of shoppers through the afternoon, Llanelli Outdoor Market firmly in place for the remainder of the week. Meanwhile, upstairs in the library, artwork by local schoolchildren was on display for the Llanelly House art contest initiative. Given that the competition award ceremony was held yesterday, today's exhibition was a quiet affair (at least around the time I dropped in). In another part of the library, representatives from County Council Leisure department were at hand to discuss geocaching, an activity that combines technology with outdoor exploration. Tin Dragon sees great potential for this in the area and will soon be involved in the Summer Geocache Challenge - more on that coming soon!

As is customary in the town, a lack of publicity for local events was evident today. Free parking in Council-run carparks, a measure intended to draw more visitors to the opening ceremony, was announced at the last minute, and an absence of exhibtion/geocaching signs outside the library meant that very few people were able to enjoy the full array of today's events.

On the plus side, with the unveiling of the information board in Central Square, we now know a bit more about that big glass structure – previously described as a 'glass umbrella' – and the mysterious 'bench'.

The Glass Canopy was designed by Laura Thomas, a woven textile artist and a specialist in textile artworks for public spaces. Laura is also a part-time Textiles tutor at Coleg Sir Gar, and carried out the Glass Canopy project in cooperation with project manager, Emma Price and contractor Alun Griffiths. Construction resources were provided by Innovative Glass Products, based in Clydach, and Staffordshire manufacturer, Broxap , contributed to the engineering of the canopy (find a detailed write-up of Glass Canopy here).

The individual glass panes are patterned, with inspiration derived from quilting textiles, carbon fibre, copper mesh and stainless steel – all relevant to the town's industrial past. The contrast between quilting and metalworks also highlights the integral role of women during industrial times, reflecting the division of labour between the tinplate works and domestic textile production. Check out Laura's early photos of the installation here.

Next on the information board, we have official confirmation of the name of the new seating arrangement/bench thing: the Bench. I bet no-one expected that.

Harking back once more to the tinplate era, London-based architect company, Dallas Pierce Quintero, replicated the folding process used in thin-gauge tinplate production to design a unique type of bench. A deep teal colour finish was intended to resemble that of raw steel, and words associated with tinplate production, in both English and Welsh, are inscribed on parts of the metal.


On close inspection, Tin Dragon noticed that some the colour finish is already starting to peal. Let's hope that a scuffed appearance is the worst we have to look forward to (and not someone successfully engaging with public art by jamming a few body parts in it).

More updates –as ever– coming soon!

Tin Dragon.

Town Centre Official Opening

If I hadn't caught word of it only this evening, there would have been a post much earlier. Let's cut to the chase: tomorrow marks the inauguration of the renovated town centre, completing one of five keystone regeneration projects in Llanelli.

As part of the ADREF programme – jointly funded by Carmarthenshire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund – £4.3 million has been invested in enhancing the town centre.

For 'streetscene' improvements, £2.9m was allocated to:

• the replacement of canopies along Vaughan Street and Stepney Street (£200,000);
• the installation of a free-standing stainless steel and glass canopy structure engraved with public art, accompanied by new sitting facilities;
• and the creation a newly-paved Central Square at the entrance of St. Elli Shopping Centre.

Around £1.4 million has been allocated to town centre businesses:

• Grants of up to £15,000 were offered to local businesses to facilitate a systematic renovation of property frontages (through Town Improvement Grants) and expansions of commercial floor space into/refurbishment of derelict sites (through Property Development Grants) within the town centre.

These 'environmental enhancements' have been complemented by the ADREF 'showcase' project, which seeks to inform the public of the regeneration programme in Llanelli and to convey the vision and values of town planners.

So, the renovation works are finally complete. When Central Square is opened to the public tomorrow morning, people will have much to contemplate for years to come – particularly the new seating arrangement:

What do you make of it?

Will it be easy to snag a coat or break a finger on these benches? Or will they serve as a neat place to chain a bike or tie a dog?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

contact me: @draigdun / Facebook / Google+ / email

Events begin at 10:30 tomorrow morning, with an official opening of Llanelli town centre, at Central Square. Following this, Llangennech Primary School choir will perform, and Carmarthenshire Young Traders competition 2013 will take place – a 'market trading competition' in Llanelli Outdoor Market featuring four local Primary Schools – from 10am until 2pm. Radio Carmarthenshire will also be in the centre broadcasting events live throughout the day.

The Outdoor Market is making a come-back (bigger than ever, apparently) on Thursday and Saturday, with everything from handmade jewellery, greetings cards, Welsh cakes, paintings, crafts, a cart full of sugary stuff, and more, on sale.

The 'Who do you think you art?' exhibition will be held upstairs in Llanelli library, featuring more than 250 art pieces on display throughout June. Introduction to Geocaching sessions will be also held at the library.

For the full list of events, click here.

If you can't make it, here's a Quidditch player's eye view of the new shopping centre: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTsHKZonvdo (note the depressing <1,000 views since it was uploaded in 2011)

P.S: Carms County Council are relenting on the parking issue, inviting everyone to park free of charge in all Council-run car parks. Just for the launch day.

We have a Central Square.

Most urban areas have a central open space. A space where everybody ends up at some point in their day, regardless of where they intended to be. These spaces often provide clues to the kind of metropolis in which you find yourself.

Big piazza: big city.

Squeaky-clean civic centre: top-notch street-cleaning service.

Empty market square: ghost town.


Some towns have more than one 'main' square, some less central than others. And some towns give their central open spaces a name – perhaps because town planners attach such great importance to their civic centres, squares, and plazas, or simply because it's convenient.

Llanelli's nominee for such a place is located at the intersection of Vaughan Street and Stepney Street – outside Boots and directly opposite the St Elli shopping centre.

Although not strictly a square or a quadrilateral, it measures roughly 40 x 30 metres (130 x 100 ft) and has become a centrepiece of the ADREF town centre scheme.

It's name?

Central Square.

That's according to at least two press releases from County Council (December 2012 ; April 2013 ).

Ac yn gymraeg..? 'Sgwâr Canolog'?



Anyway, Tin Dragon is pleased to reveal that, as of June 3rd 2013  'Central Square' has now been added to Google Maps.

Until very recently, the Square featured a couple of red bricked flower beds and a raised performance area. These reminders of the town's era of stagnation were removed late 2012 and are currently being replaced by a new central canopy structure which complements the main canopy installation along the retail district.

The central feature comprises a large stainless steel and glass 'umbrella' engraved with public art. Woven around it is a fascinating seating arrangement constructed of dark folded steel strips that currently look quite… dangerous! We'll see how it feels when it's all complete.

Do you have any good memories of the old Square? Maybe you could suggest a better name for it?
And what are your thoughts on this renovation?

Please let me know in the comments below or on Facebook / Twitter / Google+!

I'll meet you at the Square.

Tin. °—°

Seismic but Slow

It's a fascinating time to live in Llanelli. For decades, nothing seemed to improve: the town sunk deeper into its comfy seat on the Carmarthenshire coast while other localities in South Wales lapped up all the investment they could for successive infrastructural facelifts and tourism campaigns. On the precipice of terminal decline, Llanelli found itself beyond the reach of cosmetic assistance. The only way forward would be through total transformation.

Starting in 2011, over £60million of investment was earmarked for key regeneration projects. Planners recognised the need to revitalise the town centre first, in order to ensure that funding be concentrated more effectively and benefit the local economy in the most effective way.

This funding comes from a number of sources, primarily: the EU's European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government grants, Carmarthenshire County Council and private sector support. Projects include:

• the creation of a leisure quarter, East Gate, comprising a new bus interchange, restaurants, cafes, a multiplex cinema, a hotel, retail space and office accommodation – completed over the second half of 2012;
• the refurbishment of Llanelli Library (with this astonishing discovery made in the process), freshly equipped with Internet cafe, function hall, audiovisual library, children's library and reference materials  – re-opened in March 2012;
• the establishment of a theatre complex, Y Ffwrnes, which houses a creative and cultural centre for performing arts, media & community events – opened in January 2013;
• the restoration of Llanelly House – scheduled to open to the public as a major heritage attraction in September 2013;
• a systematic renovation of town centre aesthetics;
• financial assistance for small businesses in and around the town centre, enabling renovations to their premises;
• better periphery-centre access for pedestrians and cyclists, with routes developed from Dafen and Felinfoel, the coast and North Dock, and Trostre;
• a refurbishment of Coleshill Social Centre where a new 'Centre for Economic Inclusion' will provide information & advice to people who are marginalised or economically inactive, training & business support for small and medium enterprises, and other social and health improvement services;
• landscaping and other environmental improvements to the wider area.

(I will dedicate future posts to covering these projects in greater detail.)

"Where would you like to go today?"

On the ground, it all looks very promising - you can take it from me.
But you shouldn't need to take my word for it. And neither should the tens of thousands of prospective visitors from whose arrival the town is expected to reap the dividends of this grand regeneration scheme.

At the time of launching this blog, Llanelli lacks virtual presence. In the digital realm, on platforms such as Infoserve City-Visitor and Google Maps, the town's many enterprises are generally absent and representations of 'Llanelli' rarely stretch beyond the traditional, two-dimensional road maps. Traders should know that word-of-mouth is the most effective form of publicity. But it shouldn't be the only form. Besides, local gossip tends to revert back to bemoaning the belief that "there's nothing around here… all the shops are closed down… everything's a charity shop now".

This year, the ADREF town centre redevelopment project continues to distribute some £4.3million of assistance from the EU Structural Funds, helping retailers to maximise on aesthetic potential. Paying close attention to the small things, shopfronts have been renovated with bright new, glass canopies installed; buildings redecorated with pleasing, fresh hues; and a glass/steel umbrella structure and seating on the newly paved area where Stepney Street and Vaughan Street meet (and now that 'central square' area has a name!)

Considerable efforts have been made (Okay, so there was some cosmetic tweaking) to render the town more welcoming. For a town to be a comfortable place to live, it has to be welcoming; to flourish, it must be inviting.





Tin Dragon was founded on the belief that those of us who care about the town's prospects the most – i.e. the residents – can make a difference. Neither driven by finances nor steered by committees, we can draw on our local knowledge to offer accurate and up-to-date reflections of Llanelli to the outside. Nothing matches the scale or pace of community power online, and it is essential that the local residents have a say in shaping their future.

Physical regeneration projects such as those of ADREF do not concern themselves with encouraging businesses to reach out to consumers via the Internet. Even the great powers of investment lack substance on the web (see official East Gate website for an example of a user-alienating showcase, outdated news, a general lack of concrete information and zero effort in the integration of social networking).

It is true that the cyber-infrastructure of West Wales is inadequate. Promises to lift Britain's biggest cities to surfing speeds of up to 100Mb/s have done nothing to improve our 0.5 Mb/s connection speeds in Carmarthenshire. Our local businesses Welsh Government plans to remedy the situation are currently spread over 3 years, with new services for West Wales not arriving until 2014-15. Yet we cannot wait idly for another outside source help us move forward. Inadequate web presences of Welsh small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have long been recognised and local businesses persistently miss out in spite of warnings from experts globally.




Expect to see regular updates on the situation, beginning a string of additions to Google Maps, as Tin Dragon embarks on a mission to put Llanelli on the map. Local knowledge, networking, and individuals' enthusiasm to contribute to change will be at the heart of this effort.



Have you been in the town centre lately?  What are your thoughts on the renovation works?

Please let me know by leaving a comment below or send a message to Tin Dragon, write to me on Facebook , Google+, or Twitter