New community hub opens in Llwynhendy as old library gets fresh lease of life

The renovated facility, now named Canolfan Llwynhendy, is open to the public following completion of works funded by the Welsh Government, Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Rural Council, and Our Llwynhendy. Furnishing costs were supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The centre includes meeting rooms, a café, an automated library service, housing and employment advice, training opportunities, and a programme of events delivered through Pro-Vision Llwynhendy and Our Llwynhendy. Ownership of the building has officially transferred from Carmarthenshire County Council to Llanelli Rural Council.

The venue will operate Monday to Friday, with facilities available for hire seven days a week. An official opening ceremony is being planned, subject to ministerial availability, and a series of community events will be held to mark the launch.

“A fantastic venue for the community”

Council Leader and Chairman, Cllr Sue Lewis, said:

“Canolfan Llwynhendy is a fantastic venue for the community. It’s a fresh, light and welcoming space that has completely transformed the old library building. We’re proud to offer a place where people can access vital services locally and enjoy a wide range of activities.”

She added that the centre’s integration with outdoor improvements at Parc Y Gwili — including new play areas and landscaping — creates a seamless environment that encourages wellbeing and community use.

Cllr Deryk Cundy, Chairman of the Recreation and Welfare Committee, said:

“This is a real asset for Llwynhendy. The automated library service means longer opening hours and greater accessibility — no more part-time library services. But it’s not just about books; Canolfan Llwynhendy brings together a range of vital services under one roof.”

“The addition of a café creates a welcoming social space for residents to meet, relax, and engage with others, helping to build a stronger sense of community. Combined with the new play provisions and landscaping at Parc Y Gwili, the centre offers a seamless indoor-outdoor experience that makes the area a true destination for all ages.”

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Clash over £20m Carmarthenshire ‘Pride of Place’ funding

The county is set to receive up to £20 million over the next decade as part of the UK Government’s Pride of Place programme, which will channel £214 million into Wales to support high streets, community facilities and regeneration projects.

Labour: “Real money for real communities”

Cllr Cundy, leader of the Labour opposition group on Carmarthenshire Council, said the funding equated to £100 per resident over ten years and represented a major boost after years of austerity.

“This is fair and transparent — real money for real communities, funding that can revitalise high streets, improve local facilities, and support both rural villages and town centres,” he said.

He accused Plaid Cymru of “choosing grievance over growth”:

“Instead of welcoming help for Welsh people, Plaid prefer to complain. After more than a decade in charge of Carmarthenshire, Plaid Cymru seem quicker to complain than to deliver.”

Cllr Cundy stressed that it would be for the Plaid‑led administration to decide which areas benefit:

“Within the rules of the scheme, they have the chance to prioritise deprived villages, struggling town centres, or regeneration hotspots. If impoverished rural areas are left behind, that will be the result of Plaid’s choices locally — not Labour’s investment nationally.”

He added:

“Carmarthenshire alone will receive around £2 million a year, equal to £10 for every resident. Labour’s priority is simple: uniting Wales through investment, not playing politics with people’s futures. Because as the saying goes: you can’t spend a grievance in the corner shop — but you can spend £2 million a year improving Carmarthenshire.”

Plaid: “Disregard for rural communities”

But council leader Darren Price has joined fellow Plaid leaders from Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Anglesey in criticising the scheme’s design.

In their joint statement, they said:

“Any funding for communities across Wales is welcome, but it is clear this does not stem from an understanding of Wales’ needs. It is a political panic button pushed by Labour ahead of a difficult election.”

They argued that targeting investment zones of around 10,000 people would disadvantage rural areas:

“This Pride in Place programme specifically targets neighbourhoods with populations of around 10,000, of which there are only a handful in the four western local authorities we control. This approach highlights the Labour Government’s continued disregard for our rural communities that have been disproportionately underfunded over the years.”

The Plaid leaders added:

“The people of Wales can see through this. Labour has deserted its values and turned its back on promises to deliver fair funding for Welsh communities.”

Political stakes

The clash reflects wider tensions between Labour and Plaid over how regeneration money is distributed. Labour points to what it calls the “biggest Welsh Government budget settlement ever” and insists the Pride of Place scheme is about fairness and delivery. Plaid counters that the funding model is urban‑centric, leaving smaller villages at risk of being overlooked.

With Carmarthenshire Council responsible for drawing up the shortlist of communities, and the UK Government holding the final sign‑off, both parties are already positioning themselves to claim credit — or deflect blame — once the allocations are announced.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

‘Transformational for our communities’: South West Wales MPs react to £214m Pride in Place funding
Local MPs describe the £214m programme as a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity, though some councils say allocations fall short.

South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire each set to receive £20m, with further funding for Bridgend and Pembrokeshire.

#Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDarrenPrice #CllrDerykCundy #PlaidCymru #PrideInPlace #PrideInPlaceFund #PrideInPlaceImpactFund #UKGovernment #WelshLabour

Campaigners condemn ‘appalling scandal’ over autism provision in Llanelli

A report commissioned by the council has found that at least 115 children in Carmarthenshire currently have no suitable education provision, and others face waits of up to three years for a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

The findings have prompted strong criticism from families, campaign groups, and Labour representatives in Llanelli, who accuse the Plaid Cymru-led administration of failing in its statutory duty to vulnerable pupils.

The calls for urgent action come as the council confirms its intention to build a new school for Ysgol Heol Goffa, a specialist centre in Llanelli currently operating above capacity.

The new facility — approved after a long-running campaign and a petition with more than 9,000 signatures — will eventually accommodate 150 pupils, though campaigners argue this figure is too low to meet rising demand.

Shaun Greaney, Lliedi ward councillor, said: “The situation faced by children with autism and their families in Llanelli is an appalling scandal. In my view, there has been shocking neglect of their needs. Early intervention is essential to give these children the life chances they deserve. Yet the county council seems to have no clear plan, no timescale for action, and no answers to the problem, which is growing in scale.”

Education campaigner Becki Gilroy, whose daughter Millie attends Ysgol Heol Goffa, added: “Autistic children like my daughter Millie need specialist centres of excellence. Families need a more enlightened approach — not for their children to be placed in what can sometimes amount to not much more than a babysitting service.”

Campaigners have called for wider implementation of ‘Option 4’, the full recommendation from the council’s commissioned report, arguing that partial adherence will still leave many children without the support they need.

Councillor Deryk Cundy, Labour group leader on the county council, said: “I fear the education system in Carmarthenshire is in something of a crisis and could, in future years, collapse unless there is a clear strategy going forward. Most of our ASC provision schools are already full, with many children on waiting lists and more undiagnosed in inappropriate mainstream settings.”

He added: “Schools are working incredibly hard to help children with ASC, but to ignore the situation would be incompetence by this Plaid administration and is worrying in the extreme.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Ysgol Heol Goffa redevelopment plan approved by council
The specialist school in Llanelli is set to receive a long-awaited new building for up to 150 pupils.

Families urge better ASC support in Carmarthenshire schools
Parents say mainstream classrooms are struggling to meet growing needs of undiagnosed pupils.

Funding concerns ahead of Welsh Government change

Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith said the delay in approving the new Ysgol Heol Goffa project has placed funding at risk.

“When I last spoke to Lynne Neagle MS, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, she reassured me that money is still on the table — potentially around 75% of the cost. But the council will need to complete the required three-stage process to unlock it,” she said.

Ms Griffith also raised concerns about the wider shortage of suitable ASC provision:

“We know the existing units have next to no spare capacity. Families have had to put their lives on hold to care for their children because the proper provision is not there. It is as if all the odds are stacked against these pupils and their families. There is a duty to stand up for them and ensure better outcomes than at present.”

Senedd elections in May could result in a change of government, with campaigners fearing that future funding may be less generous than current commitments.

#ASC #AustismSpectrumCondition #Autism #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrShaunGreaney #HeolGoffa #Llanelli #LynneNeagleMS #NiaGriffithMP #PlaidCymru #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa

Decision on new Heol Goffa school expected this month

A long-awaited decision on a new special school for Llanelli could finally be made this month, with Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Glynog Davies, confirming he intends to bring forward a “definitive proposal” at a cabinet meeting on July 31.

The announcement follows years of uncertainty surrounding the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa, which serves pupils with additional learning needs and has long been described as overcrowded and unfit for purpose. Plans for a replacement school were first agreed in 2017 but were shelved last year due to rising costs — sparking protests, petitions and widespread community backlash.

Two options on the table

Following an independent review of specialist education in the Llanelli area, the council is now considering two revised options:

• A 150-place school, alongside specialist centres for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions attached to mainstream schools
• A 250-place standalone school, which would include provision for autistic pupils — and is the preferred option of Ysgol Heol Goffa’s governors and campaigners

Cost estimates range from £36.2 million to £58.1 million, with the Welsh Government expected to fund the majority of the capital investment.

Cllr Davies told full council on July 23 that “a lot of work” had now been done and that the proposal was “imminent” — though opposition councillors and parents say they’re still waiting for firm answers.

Political tensions and community frustration

Labour opposition leader Cllr Deryk Cundy pressed Cllr Davies for a clear timeline, saying parents deserved peace of mind after eight years of delays. Cllr Davies responded that the matter had to go before cabinet and reiterated his intention to make a formal proposal on July 31.

The exchange has reignited political tensions, with Plaid Cymru councillor Terry Davies accusing Labour of “generating headlines” rather than seeking genuine answers. In a Facebook post, he said:

“The announcement on Ysgol Heol Goffa has already been agreed with the school and its governors… If we’d pursued Labour’s previous proposal, the new school would already be facing serious capacity issues on opening day.”

But parents say the issue is far more urgent than party politics. Becki Gilroy, whose child attends Heol Goffa, responded:

“How dare you try and turn this around to the narrative that ‘Plaid are heroes for not building the original school as it was too small’. That’s a total insult to our intelligence. It was obvious from the start that the original plans didn’t meet current or future demand — but at least they would have provided a safe, accessible building. Right now, we’ve got water coming through the ceiling and doorways too narrow for wheelchairs.

Let’s be clear: the reason the council pulled the plug wasn’t capacity — it was cost. And now, after years of delay, we’re being told to wait even longer while they rework the plans. Meanwhile, children are stuck on waiting lists, denied the education they’re entitled to.

The David Davies review makes it crystal clear — unless a suitable school is built promptly, CCC is breaching its legal duties under the Equality Act. That includes failing to provide reasonable adjustments and accessible facilities for disabled pupils. This isn’t just a moral failure — it’s potentially unlawful discrimination.

And before anyone tries to politicise this, I’m not Plaid or Labour. I’m a parent of a disabled child who’s sick to the back teeth of being fobbed off. Our children deserve better — and the council needs to act before it’s too late.”

Campaigners demand action

The Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee, which has led protests and gathered thousands of petition signatures, says time is running out. In a statement earlier this year, the group wrote:

“Time is of the essence here; parents do not want to be waiting another five years plus for the new school. We agree that the school can be delivered in a more cost-effective manner, while also increasing pupil capacity to address the ever-growing need.”

The group has consistently backed the 250-place option, arguing that anything smaller would be outdated before it opens.

What happens next?

Cllr Davies is expected to present his proposal at the July 31 cabinet meeting, where councillors will review feasibility work and costings. If approved, the new school would replace the current Heol Goffa site, which has been described in council reports as “not fit for purpose” and facing significant accessibility and maintenance issues.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and specialist education in Llanelli

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school amid Reform UK surge and council delays
Published June 2024: Campaigners say political uncertainty and missed deadlines are putting disabled pupils at risk, as calls grow for urgent action on a new school.

Education cabinet member to propose new-build additional learning needs school
Published July 2024: Cllr Glynog Davies confirms plans to bring forward a new proposal for Heol Goffa, following feasibility work and community consultation.

Council says it’s looking at alternative scheme after axing Heol Goffa replacement school
Published March 2024: Carmarthenshire Council outlines new options after scrapping the previously approved school build due to rising costs.

MP says council decision to scrap new Heol Goffa school plans ‘wrong choice’
Published February 2024: Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith criticises the council’s decision to halt the new school project, calling it a setback for disabled children and their families.

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