#cllrmartynpalfreman — Public Fediverse posts
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LLANELLI: Local councillors welcome Aldi jobs but demand traffic improvements as condition of planning permission for Sandy Road supermarket
The county councillors for the ward where Aldi wants to build a £7m supermarket in Llanelli have given a cautious welcome to the plans — while making clear that managing the impact on an already congested Sandy Road must be a condition of any planning approval.
Aldi is consulting on proposals to demolish the Pinopolis entertainment centre on Sandy Road and replace it with a new store — the German discounter’s first on the western side of Llanelli.
Pinopolis only opened three years ago. Under Aldi’s proposals, the entire site would be cleared and replaced with a single-storey supermarket with 100 car parking spaces, creating around 40 jobs once open.
Hengoed ward councillors Martyn Palfreman and Edward Skinner both acknowledged the potential benefits, with Cllr Palfreman saying a store of this scale would be genuinely useful for residents across a wide area.
“A supermarket on this scale on the western side of Llanelli would undoubtedly be convenient for people in this part of the town and those living in Burry Port, Pembrey and beyond, and that is to be welcomed,” he said.
Cllr Skinner highlighted the employment opportunities. “The opportunities in terms of jobs, both during the construction phase and once the store is open, are considerable,” he said.
However, both councillors stressed that traffic management on Sandy Road could not be an afterthought. The road already carries significant volumes of traffic and the addition of a major supermarket would increase pressure on the junction considerably.
The traffic concerns are not new. Sandy Road has been one of Llanelli’s most persistent congestion blackspots for years — with the junction at Maes-y-Coed only recently upgraded after a long campaign by local councillors. New traffic lights went live in September 2025, though residents warned at the time the scheme did not go far enough.
Early signs suggested the changes were helping — but Cllr Palfreman and Cllr Skinner had always made clear the September improvements were only the beginning, not the end, of what Sandy Road needed.
Cllr Palfreman said that position had not changed. “We fought hard for the improvements to the Sandy lights last year but we have always been clear that these need to form part of a wider scheme to reduce congestion along this stretch of Sandy Road,” he said.
“Permission for this new development must be conditional on further improvements being in place to manage the already large traffic volumes in the area,” he added.
Both councillors are meeting with Aldi managers this week to discuss the proposals directly, and have urged residents to give their views before the consultation closes.
The consultation is open until 11 June. Details are available at Llanelli library and online at aldiconsultation.co.uk/llanelli.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
LLANELLI: Aldi to build £7m supermarket on site of Pinopolis
The full details of Aldi’s plans for Sandy Road.New traffic lights switched on at Sandy Road as improvement works finish
September 2025 — the junction upgrade and why residents said it wasn’t enough.Councillors say Sandy Road changes are already easing congestion
#ALDI #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #CllrEdwardSkinner #CllrMartynPalfreman #Llanelli #Pinopolis #SandyRoad
Early signs the upgrade was helping — but more work was always planned. -
LLANELLI: £35m new Ysgol Heol Goffa to open in 2029 after years of uncertainty — but funding question hangs over Plaid Cymru government
Plans for a long-awaited new Ysgol Heol Goffa have moved forward after Carmarthenshire Council’s education scrutiny committee unanimously recommended they should proceed — with the school now expected to open in September 2029 if all goes to plan.
The new school will be located near Ysgol Pen Rhos, almost four miles from the current oversubscribed Heol Goffa site, and will cater for 150 pupils aged three to 19 with severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. That is 30 more places than the original 120-pupil scheme that the council scrapped in 2024 on cost grounds — a decision that sparked widespread anger and protests in Llanelli.
The £35 million price tag would be split between the Welsh Government, contributing 75%, and Carmarthenshire Council paying the remaining 25%. At Tuesday’s meeting, Labour councillor Martyn Palfreman asked for assurances that the Welsh Government’s 75% contribution would be protected given that a new administration — led by Plaid Cymru — was now being formed in Cardiff Bay.
Cabinet member for education Cllr Glynog Davies responded: “I’m confident that we will get that funding.”
Cllr Palfreman, however, said the funding question was not one to be taken lightly. Writing on social media after the meeting, he said any threat to that funding would be “unforgivable” — pointing out that pupils and parents had already suffered due to what he described as Plaid Cymru’s abandonment of its original plans and commitments on the matter in 2024.
The original plans for a new Ysgol Heol Goffa were scrapped by the council in 2024 after costs escalated, before new plans were subsequently agreed following pressure from Labour councillors and community campaigners.
The school has also faced a separate crisis over nursing provision, with calls for a watchdog investigation after concerns were raised that lives could be at risk.
The new school is currently oversubscribed — it has 132 pupils despite a capacity of just 118. Inspection body Estyn has found that several parts of the existing school are no longer fit for purpose and that facilities are outdated.
A report before the committee said the new building would “provide 21st Century facilities to meet the needs of children with more complex needs and profound additional learning needs”, including better post-16 provision for life skills and vocational learning, and improved play provision on the new site.
The new school would use the hydrotherapy pool at the nearby Pentre Awel health and leisure development — a significant benefit given the specialist needs of many of its pupils.
Cllr Davies described the preferred option as “excellent and fully costed”, adding: “It’s bigger, better, modern and future-proofed.” He acknowledged it had been a “long and very complicated process.”
Twenty sites were considered before the location near Ysgol Pen Rhos was selected as the most appropriate. Director of education Owain Lloyd said its proximity to Pentre Awel was a key factor.
Cllr Kim Broom summed up the sentiment in the chamber: “The parents, they want a new school, and the children deserve that.”
Carmarthenshire Council is also investing £4 million in a new autism unit at Ysgol Glan-y-Mor in Burry Port, due to open by September 2027.
Following the scrutiny committee’s unanimous recommendation, a decision will be taken by cabinet. The subsequent process includes a public consultation, a statutory notice, an objection report and a final decision by full council — currently scheduled for March next year.
Our Ysgol Heol Goffa coverage
New school plans for Ysgol Heol Goffa move forward after years of uncertainty
How the council agreed to press ahead after the original plans were scrapped.Council faces critical decision on future of Llanelli’s special school
The moment the original rebuild plans collapsed and the community’s reaction.‘Lives may be at risk’: Watchdog probe demanded over Llanelli special school nurse crisis
The separate staffing crisis that raised serious safety concerns at the existing school.Campaigners condemn ‘appalling scandal’ over autism provision in Llanelli
#CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrKimBroom #CllrMartynPalfreman #education #HeolGoffa #Llanelli #PentreAwel #PlaidCymru #specialSchool #YsgolHeolGoffa #YsgolPenRhos
Community anger over the wider state of additional learning needs provision in the town. -
Stradey Park boss hits out at ‘nuisance’ far-right group in explosive video
The boss behind the bid to rescue the Stradey Park Hotel has hit out at a controversial activist group in a fiery online video — accusing them of stirring division and “masquerading as principle”.
Businessman Ahsan Ullah, whose firm owns the hotel, said he is doing “everything within my power” to stop it falling into administration following months of chaos.
The once-popular Llanelli venue has been at the centre of a long-running row after plans to house asylum seekers there were scrapped — before the hotel shut its doors again earlier this month.
Security guards outside the closed Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli after the landmark venue shut with immediate effect earlier this month.
(Image: Llanelli comings and goings / Facebook)“Fight still continues”
In his latest video message, Ullah insisted the battle to save the hotel is far from over.
He said: “The fight still continues… I’m doing everything within my power to save this hotel from administration. It matters to its staff, its customers, to the community — and above all it matters to me.”
He also moved to shut down speculation about the building’s future use, stating unequivocally that it would not be used to house asylum seekers.
Fresh attack on campaigners
But the strongest words were reserved for controversial group Voice of Wales, which has been heavily involved in protests linked to the hotel.
Ullah accused them of inflaming tensions and chasing online attention.
He said: “Shoving smartphones into people’s faces… and uploading selectively edited footage for clout and clicks is not activism. It certainly isn’t journalism.”
In a cutting remark, he added:
“A more accurate description should be the nuisance of Wales. They do not speak for Wales.”https://twitter.com/ahsanforbritain/status/2036808881901379682?s=20
Community tensions still raw
The hotel, located in Furnace, Llanelli, became a flashpoint last year when proposals emerged to turn it into accommodation for asylum seekers.
Following backlash from residents and campaigners, the Home Office abandoned the plan — allowing the hotel to briefly reopen.
But ongoing financial issues have left its future hanging in the balance once again, with a High Court case adding further uncertainty.
“This is about saving the hotel”
Ullah struck a more conciliatory tone when addressing local concerns, saying he had held a “productive” discussion with local Labour councillor, Martin Palfreyman.
He said his priority now is stabilising the business, dealing with refunds and supporting staff.
“My duty is to protect this hotel, support its staff and secure a stable future,” he said.
What happens next?
With legal proceedings ongoing and no clear resolution yet, the future of one of Llanelli’s best-known hotels remains uncertain.
For now, Ullah insists he is focused on keeping the business alive — while warning critics he won’t be distracted by what he calls “noise”.
But after months of closures, protests and political rows, one question remains for locals:
Can the Stradey Park Hotel really be saved — or is this saga far from over?
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Stradey Park Hotel saga deepens as High Court winding-up petition filed
Legal action ramps up pressure on the Llanelli landmark as its future hangs in the balance.Hotel boss reveals abuse and threats amid closure crisis
Owner speaks out about the personal toll as tensions around the site escalate.“We are not walking away” – emotional plea from hotel boss
Previous video message saw renewed promises to save the troubled hotel.Stradey Park Hotel closes with immediate effect
Shock closure left staff and customers scrambling after brief reopening hopes.Home Office withdraws asylum hotel plans
Controversial proposal that sparked protests across Llanelli is officially scrapped.Llanelli businesses rally to support hotel staff
#AhsanUllah #CllrMartynPalfreman #Furnace #Llanelli #StradeyParkHotel #VoiceOfWales
Community steps in to help workers affected by the ongoing crisis. -
Council rules out BUYING Stradey Park Hotel as staff offered lifeline
The local authority has confirmed it has no plans to procure the building, nor has it received any approaches from the Home Office or other organisations regarding its future use.
This comes as the council moves swiftly to offer a lifeline to hotel staff, who were left reeling by the sudden announcement that the four-star venue had ceased trading.
Officers have made direct contact with employees to provide crucial employability support during what has been described as a “very difficult and worrying time.”
The council’s statement follows a personal video plea from Stradey Park Hotel CEO Ahsan Ullah, who vowed “we are not walking away” and pledged to return the hotel to normal operations.
Crucially, the council has also gained assurance from Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith, following her discussions with the Home Office, that the building is not being considered for any temporary housing plans.
This echoes the earlier “no asylum hotel” pledge secured by the MP, which aimed to reassure the community amid widespread speculation.
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Linda Evans, expressed her “extreme disappointment” at the owners’ decision to close the hotel “in such sudden fashion.”
Cllr Evans emphasised that the council’s “priority is to the staff of the hotel,” highlighting the immediate support being offered to those directly affected.
Local councillors Martyn Palfreman and Edward Skinner, representing the Hengoed Ward, welcomed the council’s measures to help staff.
They also reiterated their relief at the UK Government’s assurance regarding the hotel not being used to house asylum seekers, encouraging residents with concerns to contact them directly.
The shock closure of the Stradey Park Hotel has prompted a wave of community support from other local businesses, offering jobs and alternative venues for cancelled events.
#AhsanUllah #asylumSeekers #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #CllrEdwardSkinner #CllrLindaEvans #CllrMartynPalfreman #DameNiaGriffithMP #EmployabilitySupport #HomeOffice #hospitality #hospitalityBusiness #hotelClosure #jobs #Llanelli #NiaGriffithMP #StradeyParkHotel #tourism -
Ammanford deputy mayor tops Labour’s Senedd list for Carmarthenshire
Higgins brings legal and union background to the top of the list
Labour members in the new “super constituency” of Sir Gaerfyrddin, covering the Westminster seats of Caerfyrddin and Llanelli, have backed Higgins to head the party’s closed list under the expanded Senedd arrangements.
A fluent Welsh speaker, Higgins told members he wanted to “represent Sir Gaerfyrddin to make a difference on the ground, ensuring national policies deliver for our communities.” He pointed to his experience as a Citizens Advice lawyer during austerity and later as a manager for a health trade union representing members across Wales during the pandemic.
Currently deputy mayor of Ammanford, Higgins also sits on Ammanford Town Council and Lliedi Community Council. He has lived in Tycroes all his life, trained as a barrister, and worked for Citizens Advice Cymru before joining an NHS trade union as a policy officer. Away from politics he plays rugby for Tycroes RFC 2nds and is active in local groups including Tycroes Local Aid.
Teacher from Burry Port takes second place
Second on Labour’s list is Dawn Evans, a teacher from Burry Port. In her pitch she described herself as “a proud Welsh speaking woman, rooted in Carmarthenshire,” and spoke of her personal experience when her son Iwan was left with lifelong disabilities following ambulance delays.
“That experience shaped me,” she said. “I promised myself that if I ever had a chance to improve health and care services for others, I would.”
County councillor and consultant joins the slate
Third on the list is Martyn Palfreman, Labour County Councillor for the Hengoed ward. He is also a consultant specialising in improvement across social care, health and public services, with a career background in practice development and service transformation.
Llanelli architect and town council leader makes his bid
Fourth is David Darkin, an architect and leader of Llanelli Town Council, who launched his bid for the Senedd list in July. He has combined his professional expertise with civic leadership, and has been active in local politics and community design.
Advisor to Lee Waters MS takes fifth spot
Fifth is Lewis Eldred Davies, Labour County Councillor for Kidwelly & St Ishmael. He works as an advisor to Lee Waters MS, the controversial former transport minister who is not standing again at the next election.
Llanelli councillor and mental health campaigner completes the list
Sixth on the list is Andre McPherson, Labour County Councillor for Tyisha ward and a member of Llanelli Town Council. A qualified personal trainer, he also chairs the Board of Trustees for MIND’s Llanelli branch, supporting mental health services in the community.
Electoral outlook
While Higgins heads the slate, Labour’s prospects in Carmarthenshire are far from certain. Our previous poll reporting suggested the party is in line for just one seat in this constituency, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK both gaining ground as Labour’s support edges back.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea Council leader ranked second on Labour’s Senedd list for Gŵyr Abertawe
Rob Stewart placed second on Labour’s candidate list for the Swansea “super constituency”.BAME and union activist tops Labour’s Senedd list for Neath, Swansea East and Brecon
Labour confirmed its candidate line‑up for the neighbouring “super constituency”.David Darkin launches Senedd bid for Carmarthenshire
Llanelli architect and town council leader announced his candidacy earlier this year.Reform UK pulls ahead as Plaid slips and Labour edges back in new Senedd poll
Latest polling shows Labour under pressure in Carmarthenshire and across Wales.#ammanford #ammanfordTownCouncil #andreMcpherson #caerfyrddin #calumHiggins #carmarthenshire #cllrMartynPalfreman #davidDarkin #dawnEvans #kidwelly #lewisEldredDavies #llanelli #llanelliTownCouncil #senedd #seneddElection #seneddElections2026 #welshLabour