#llanelli — Public Fediverse posts

LLANELLI: Aldi to build £7m supermarket on site of Pinopolis — the entertainment centre that only opened three years ago

Aldi is planning a brand new £7 million store in Llanelli — and this time, it’s heading to Sandy Road, on the site of the Pinopolis family entertainment centre opposite Ysgol y Strade and Coleg Sir Gâr’s Graig Campus.

The site is currently home to Pinopolis, which only opened in April 2023, offering bowling, darts, soft play and a diner under one roof. It won’t be fighting the development.

David Edwards of Pinopolis confirmed the centre was now looking for a new home, saying the Sandy Road site was “no longer economically or operationally viable.”

He added: “Aldi provides a deliverable alternative to the site, which will bring benefits to the local community. We encourage our customers to support the application and have their say on the consultation.”

Pinopolis on Sandy Road, Llanelli
(Image: Google Maps)

Aldi has been on an aggressive UK expansion drive in recent years, actively targeting new sites in towns where it believes there is unmet demand for discount grocery shopping. The Sandy Road proposal represents what the company describes as a “renewal of its commitment” to Llanelli.

This would actually be the third Aldi to serve Llanelli. The original store was in the town centre, next to the historic Buckleys Brewery building. It closed last year, having been deemed unsuitable due to operational constraints — and plans were subsequently approved to convert it into a Pure Gym.

The closure disappointed many shoppers who valued the convenience of a town centre location. The second store — which opened at Trostre in December 2021 — remains open. The proposed Sandy Road store would be in addition to Trostre, not a replacement for it.

Aldi real estate director Rob Jones said: “We are thrilled to bring forward plans for a new Aldi store in Llanelli. We encourage residents to participate in our consultation to learn more about the scheme and share their views.”

According to Aldi’s own figures, the proposed store would create up to 40 new jobs, with store assistants paid a minimum of £13.50 an hour. Additional employment would be generated during the construction phase and through the supply chain, the company says.

The plans include 133 car parking spaces — six accessible and nine parent and child spaces.

There is one obvious question the planning application will need to answer: traffic. Sandy Road has been one of Llanelli’s most stubborn congestion hotspots for years.

The problems intensified following the installation of traffic lights to serve the housing estate built on the site of the former Stradey Park rugby ground — the historic home of the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC before the move to Parc y Scarlets.

Carmarthenshire Council has made multiple attempts to ease the congestion, including road improvement works and junction changes.

Councillors said the most recent improvements were already making a difference — but the arrival of a large supermarket on the same stretch will inevitably revive those concerns.

Aldi says families in towns without access to a discount supermarket pay up to £836 more per year on average for their groceries — rising to £2,437 in areas dominated by higher-priced supermarkets. The company says the new store would help tackle that “postcode penalty” for residents in west Llanelli, Pwll, Burry Port and surrounding communities.

A statutory pre-application consultation is running until 11 June.

More on retail in Llanelli

Former Llanelli Aldi could become a gym
How the town centre store’s closure led to plans for a Pure Gym on the site.

Opening date for Llanelli’s Trostre Aldi announced
When the Trostre store opened in December 2021 — Llanelli’s current Aldi offering.

Entertainment for all the family as Pinopolis opens in Llanelli
The launch of the venue that now faces making way for the new Aldi store.

Councillors say Sandy Road changes are already easing congestion
The most recent chapter in Sandy Road’s long-running traffic story.

#ALDI #Llanelli #Pinopolis #SandyRoad #supermarket

LLANELLI: Retail giant JD Sports to unveil new mega-store at Parc Trostre this weekend

The move sees the “King of Trainers” relocate from its existing unit to a sprawling new space, promising an “enhanced shopping experience” for local customers.

Opening its doors on Saturday, March 21st, the new store boasts an additional 3,156 sq. ft, giving shoppers even more room to explore the latest trends.

JD Sports, a leading name in sports, fashion, and lifestyle brands, will continue to offer popular labels including Nike, Adidas, Montirex, and New Balance.

The new mega-store will feature a sprawling layout with the latest sports and lifestyle brands. (Image: JD Sports)

The grand opening weekend, running from Saturday, March 21st, to Sunday, March 22nd, will feature exclusive launch activities and the chance to win top prizes.

JD STATUS members can try their luck at the “Roundel Locker game,” selecting a key from a duffle bag to unlock one of six lockboxes containing JD-branded products or gift vouchers.

The arrival of the bigger and better JD Sports store comes amidst a period of significant change and activity at Parc Trostre and the wider Llanelli retail landscape.

Shoppers can look forward to an extensive selection of the latest footwear from top global brands. (Image: JD Sports)

Just last month, the retail park saw a “fried chicken frenzy” as Popeyes landed in Llanelli, drawing 14-hour queues of eager customers.

However, the area has also faced challenges, with police being granted extra powers after antisocial behaviour at two Llanelli retail parks earlier this year.

Concerns have also been raised about parking, with new cameras potentially fining Llanelli shoppers £100 for parking too long at other retail sites.

Despite these issues, Parc Trostre continues to attract major retailers, with Mountain Warehouse opening a new Llanelli store recently, and B&M reporting a hit with shoppers on its opening weekend.

This expansion by JD Sports signals continued confidence in Parc Trostre as a key retail destination, further highlighting the shift in shopping habits towards out-of-town retail parks, while Llanelli town centre continues to face significant challenges.

#Business #Carmarthenshire #JDSports #Llanelli #NewStore #ParcTrostre #retail #shopping

Bus strikes across South West Wales come to an end after deal agreed

The company announced this week that a revised pay offer has been accepted by staff, lifting the threat of further walkouts and restoring certainty for passengers.

Agreement brings relief after months of disruption

Industrial action by Unite members had caused widespread disruption to services in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Llanelli and beyond, with strikes stretching into the autumn and winter.

Several rounds of negotiations saw offers rejected, strikes postponed, and services repeatedly thrown into doubt. At one stage, Unite confirmed action would continue into January, escalating concerns for commuters and local councils.

The breakthrough came after First Cymru tabled an improved offer, which has now been accepted.

First Cymru statement

Doug Claringbold, Managing Director of First Bus Cymru, said:

“We are pleased that the revised offer has been accepted by colleagues and that the threat of further strike action has been lifted. This agreement provides certainty for our teams and our customers, and enables us to move forward together.

“Our priority now is to restore confidence and deliver the reliable, consistent services that our communities depend on every day. We want to thank our customers for their patience during this period of uncertainty, and we look forward to welcoming back anyone who may have been affected by the recent disruption.”

Looking ahead

The end of the strikes will be welcomed by thousands of passengers who rely on First Cymru buses daily for work, school and essential travel. Local leaders, including Neath Port Talbot Council, had previously voiced concern about the impact of prolonged disruption on communities and businesses.

With the agreement now in place, attention turns to rebuilding trust and ensuring services run smoothly through the busy winter period.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Unite confirms suspension of First Cymru bus strike after improved pay offer
Early breakthrough as improved pay terms paused action and offered hope of a resolution.

Neath Port Talbot Council leader says First Cymru bus strike postponed
Local leadership welcomed a pause, highlighting the impact on commuters and essential travel.

First Cymru bus strikes set to continue into January as dispute escalates
The dispute deepened, with extended action threatening winter reliability across the network.

First Cymru bus strikes confirmed as workers reject latest pay offer
Unite members rejected terms, confirming new strike dates and pushing negotiations to the brink.

First Cymru confirms bus strikes will go ahead after pay offer rejected
Operator response followed the rejection, warning of significant service disruption.

First Cymru bus strikes postponed after new pay offer
A new offer paused planned walkouts and reopened dialogue between the parties.

First bus strike to cause major disruption across South and West Wales
Initial warning set the tone for months of uncertainty across Swansea and neighbouring areas.

#busStrike #busStrikes #featured #firstCymru #industrialAction #llanelli #neathPortTalbot #payDeal #southWestWalesTransport #swansea #uniteTheUnion #uniteUnion