Stop The Island House Closure

To try and generate some interest and to check where the loyalties of Llanelli lie, on Thursday I sent out an e-mail to 15 local councillors of Llanelli town wards to see how many would reply and support the attempt to save the Island House. At the moment 2 have replied stating their support and 3 have read the e-mail, I will watch my mailbox with interest over the weekend to see if any of them promotes the idea and has the courage to say so. Watch for updates....

Another edition of the Llanelli Star and another reminder of the campaign that is going on to try and save the pub from the bulldozers... I today e-mailed 15 local councillors asking for their support in trying to change the regeneration plans, we will wait and see how many reply... that in itself will gauge the support in Llanelli. Time will tell...

It seems no one is safe from the downturn, walking to and from the town centre today and it looked like the taxi business had the handbrake on. A long line of waiting cabs and very few passengers, could be in for some incentive to travel very soon... Buy one get one free!!!

All that was missing was the tumbleweed, I ventured into the town centre today only because I needed some fresh rollers for the painting project that is ongoing. The town was quiet and if it was not for the St Elli Centre and Home Bargains I might as well not bothered. When there are few people around the lack of open shops and empty shops looks even bleaker. Contrast this to Swansea, it is always busy there on a Sunday... Looks like people from Sospan vote with their feet.

I had occasion today to go to Trostre retail park, not somewhere I would normally venture to on a Saturday but with the onset of Mother's Day I had no option. I can see why Llanelli is dying, Saturdays in Llanelli town centre during my early years was a place that there was always a reason to go to, many stalls in the market and shops buzzing with people looking for bargains. Today the reverse is true, Trostre retail park full to bursting, actually queuing to get into the car park, brilliant for the retailers up in Trostre but depressing for the residents of Llanelli who would like the old days to return. 

There seems to be no improvement on the horizon...how sad for us all...If Wales win today at least the party spirit will be evident and the bars will prosper somewhat...

Welcome to my first posting...We have all seen the desecration of the town over the past few years, the plans for regeneration and the exodus of retailers due to both the credit crunch and out of town shopping at Trostre Retail park has not been kind to Sospan... The demolition of landmarks in the town centre appears to be an ongoing plan so trying to save another from the developers seemed like a worthy cause. With more shops closing and business being diverted to Trostre, soon there will be a very limited choice in the town centre. Promises are all very well but there is no progress to date and that looks like it will not change in the foreseeable future. 

The creation of a pedestrian area in Bridge Street is ongoing but will not alone attract new visitors to the town, there are also plans to spend about a half a million pounds on upgrading the bus station, and I can only assume this is to help people catch buses to Trostre and Swansea.