Work on a new tourism attraction in West Wales, which is aiming to attract 40,000 visitors a year, has started after the appointment of new contractors.
Welsh Water has appointed family-owned and Llanelli-based WRW Construction to carry redevelopment of its Llys-y-Frân visitor attraction and recreation park in Pembrokeshire.
The not-for-profit water company had to delay work at the site earlier this year after the contractor originally appointed, Dawnus, went into administration just a few weeks after beginning work..
The redevelopment at Llys-y-Frân will include a refurbishment and expansion of the visitor centre and full refurbishment of the café.
The new outdoor activity centre and waterside cabin will be built to support walkers, cycling and water sports enthusiasts and will include a food stop, meeting rooms, changing facilities and cycle hire.
The project ha secured £1.7m of EU funds was secured through the Welsh Government’s Tourism Attractor Destination programme, led by Visit Wales, which aims to create 13 must see destinations across Wales.
Vicky Martin, head of visitor attractions at Welsh Water, said: “We are pleased that our work to create a world-class, vibrant visitor attraction at Llys-y-Frân Country Park will soon recommence on site, with the appointment of WRW Construction.
“This redevelopment will create a hub for health and wellbeing, bring benefits to the local, rural tourism industry in Pembrokeshire, and represents a further investment in Wales to enable our customers and communities to enjoy fantastic countryside, recreational and education facilities.
“We are of course grateful for the support from Welsh Government and EU funding which is enabling us to deliver this exciting project for the area.”
In order to carry out our work safely, Llys-y-Frân Country Park and its reservoir will remain closed until our work is completed in summer 2020.
WRW has also won the contract to deliver a new sports centre of excellence for Coleg y Cymoedd as its Nantgarw campus.
Plans have been submitted for the new Sports Centre of Excellence at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Nantgarw campus to Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council.
If approved work will start next year.
The facility will provide learners with both a sports and teaching space and will include several classrooms, as well as new facilities for the college’s sports curriculum.
Huw Triggs, operations manager, WRW Construction, said: “We’re pleased to be delivering this important new sports centre for excellence, which will deliver real community benefits to Nantgarw and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
"We are looking forward to providing local training and employment opportunities throughout the project, alongside community events.”
Karen Phillips, principal at Coleg y Cymoedd said: “We are delighted to work with WRW to bring this centre of excellence to our Nantgarw campus.
"We are very proud of our partnerships with elite sports organisations in rugby, football and netball. The centre will provide a fantastic learning space for this high achieving area of the college and will combine both excellent physical training facilities and the digital tools to analyse and enhance the learning experience.”
