Whitland Town Council and Community Groups are again pressing for a ‘safe routes in communities’ grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Town Council and the Carmarthenshire County Council are already putting in a significant amount towards the project . Town councillors believe this will lead directly to increasing the pace of economic regeneration. The huge challenges for the safety of pedestrians will be addressed and the heritage and tourism aspirations will be supported.

Cyclists, children, property have all been involved in accidents and school bus drivers are very conscious of the challenges of the area. There have been some very big problems in Whitland such as floods, train crashes, serious road accidents, fires and all of these need trunk road diversions and emergency services rushing to attend, which adds to the difficulties around the town centre.

Cycle and walking pathways are included in the plans along with a raised pedestrian crossing place where there are no pavements or really tiny ones. The main aspirations are to move the school bus park to serve as a potential transport interchange. This could be used for all the other initiatives going on like the re-opening of the disused Cardi Bach as a pathway/cycle way to reconnect and regenerate the rural hamlets to the railway station and Whitland. The livestock mart customers could also use the facility at convenient times.

Town councillors ask that the community help achieve this by calling in to the Hywel Dda centre from today (Friday) to Friday, January 22, to view the plans and fill in a short slip with their thoughts. The numbers of people helping with this will make a difference. A plan will also be put in the Library with a box for reply slips.