First Look At Jackson’s Lane Plans Today

Residents and businesses of Carmarthen are today being given their first chance to see what a regenerated Jackson’s Lane and King Street could look like. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthen Town Regeneration Forum is holding public consultation for the next three days. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The public consultation is being held at the former Myrddin Day Centre in John Street, Carmarthen, today from 10am-4pm, tomorrow from 10am-7pm and Friday from 10am-4pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The goal of the enhancement project is to make Jackson’s Square into an attractive, well-defined public space. The idea is to create an attractive route from Red Street which it is hoped will benefit traders in Jacksons Square and King Street through increased footfall. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It could become a new focal point and meeting place for the people of the town with shops, cafes and restaurants around all four sides. New kiosks in Chapel Street and new buildings in Jacksons Square would create additional space for businesses in the town which it is hoped would boost employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

King Street hosts a wealth of contemporary and traditional shops and businesses, creating a hub for local culture and the arts and crafts. A project that gives pedestrians the priority could create an opportunity for diverse activities and festival events which are linked to traders and galleries to spring up along the length of the street and naturally at its meeting points with St Peter’s Street, Nott Square and Jackson’s Lane. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pedestrianisation would allow business owners to put tables, chairs, displays and exhibitions outside on the street and it is hoped that this ‘open door’ culture would help to draw customers in. No longer would King Street be a thoroughfare to the town centre, it would instead become a destination in its own right ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team will introduce the concepts and explain the principles behind each proposal. Members of the public will be able to use the displays to understand the proposals, speak to members of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Regeneration team, and to provide feedback on the ideas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposals are part of the Carmarthen Town Regeneration Forum Master Plan and the consultation aims to allow members of the public a first look at some of the first schemes being developed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “I would urge Carmarthen residents to take the opportunity to see the exciting proposals for Jacksons Lane and King Street and to tell us what they think of them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “Carmarthen town centre has seen some radical changes over the years but unlike many other towns across the UK it has retained much of its original charm and character. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As tourists flock to the town in increasing numbers, many are attracted to the more traditional shops that you will find along King Street and the adjoining Jackson’s Lane. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Residents and businesses should take this opportunity to see these exciting proposals and give their views on them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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