New County Library And Gallery Work Starts

Work has started on an ambitious scheme to transform the former Riverside indoor market in Haverfordwest into a new County Library and Gallery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new facility will also provide tourism information; a Life Hub zone – with access to financial and health information – as well as a coffee shop and a children’s ‘play and discover’ library. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile, the Gallery will exhibit works of art from the National Library’s collections. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is anticipated that the flagship project will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Haverfordwest by enticing visitors to the top quality exhibitions which will be displayed on site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project is the result of an exciting partnership between Pembrokeshire County Council, the National Library of Wales and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funding for the scheme includes £285,000 from the Welsh Government to develop the new County Library and £90,000 towards the gallery fit-out from the Wolfson Foundation – a charity supporting science, medicine, the arts and education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Locally-based contractors, WB Griffiths and Son Limited, began enabling work on site just before Christmas and it is planned that the new facility will be open in the spring of next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Communities, Keith Lewis, said it was an ambitious project but one which could make a significant contribution to the town’s regeneration. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This was echoed by his Cabinet colleague and Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, Elwyn Morse, who added: “This is a tremendously exciting scheme. It will give Pembrokeshire residents and visitors access to a mix of high quality services under one roof and some fantastic exhibitions that will put Haverfordwest on the map as a prime tourism destination.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillors Lewis and Morse visited the site on Friday and were accompanied by representatives of the partners including Rhodri Glyn-Thomas, President of the National Library of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Said Mr Glyn-Thomas: “This excellent project will provide the National Library with a state of the art gallery in Pembrokeshire where it can exhibit its unique works of arts and extend a part of its services for the benefit of the people of south west Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​