Leader Unveils Exciting Plans For Parc Howard

The Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council has unveiled a series of exciting developments at Llanelli’s Parc Howard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Underlining the council’s ongoing commitment to the future of the park, Cllr Emlyn Dole said the sensitive development of the play areas and mansion house will lead Parc Howard into a new era. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Amongst the plans he has unveiled are proposals to transform the historic mansion house, with potential uses including a wedding and banqueting venue, conferencing suites and an outdoor marquee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The former cafe, which adjoins the mansion, could also be brought back to life selling refreshments and afternoon tea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are also plans to utilise the building as a regional centre for genealogy – tying in to Llanelli Town Centre’s Heritage Six scheme, which involves the library and Llanelly House. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Children are also being catered for, with brand new sections added to the park’s two existing play areas – including a giant four-mast space net with trampoline that will be the first in the world and has been especially commissioned for Parc Howard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Dole said: “This is a new era for Parc Howard. I have always voiced my full commitment to the future of Parc Howard and I have worked with my team to secure a range of investments and improvements that will encourage more people to use and enjoy this wonderful park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The park still is, and always will be, owned by the people of Llanelli but we want to make the most of it – there is a lot of value to heritage and culture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have allocated funding to kick start development with exciting new playground equipment to improve the offer for young children and families, and have committed further funding to the ongoing maintenance of the mansion house. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are also proposing the sensitive commercialisation of the mansion house with potential uses including a wedding, banqueting, conferencing and private event venue, and reintroducing the cafe that was once so popular. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We also plan to house a genealogy centre at the mansion which will tie in perfectly with Llanelli’s Heritage Six and our plans to improve the county’s archive services in Carmarthen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have worked with the Parc Howard Association and Friends of Parc Howard who are keen to support our proposals as a way of benefitting the park going forward with private investment that will create profits for the ongoing maintenance and development of the park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Very soon, we will also be speaking to the local community and sharing more detailed plans as we move towards securing planning permission for this exciting scheme.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​