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MarketTimesDecember2016

Like so many Welsh towns, Llanelli in 44 Carmarthenshire has seen its industrial strength eroded over recent decades. King Coal disappeared in the 1970s and the town’s tinplate and steel industries are no longer the power houses they once were. But this town has a strong fighting spirit, as the mighty New Zealand All Blacks discovered to their cost. On October 31st 1972 — a date etched on the hearts of the locals — the Llanelli Scarlets beat the mighty All Blacks nine points to three. And the town and its charter market have been defying the odds in a similar David and Goliath style ever since. Once known as Tinopolis because of its tin, the town has retained tin and steel plants, whilst reinventing itself as a tourist and leisure centre. As well as a golf course and a millennium trail, two new out-of-town shopping centres have sprung up, which can so often set in motion a downward spiral for the town centre and its market. Yet Llanelli’s six-days-a-week indoor market is thriving, with more than 60 businesses occupying all 128 units. And the outdoor market which takes place every Thursday and Saturday has done well, with a steady 14 or so traders, since it moved onto the pedestrian High Street some 15 years ago. Amanda Davies, Carmarthenshire County Council’s markets manager, describes the market as the heart of the town, and although footfall is not what it once was, the traders — many of them third, fourth and fifth generation market people — exemplify that proud, community spirit. A charter market that would have once been a farmers’ produce market, Llanelli gained its original market hall in 1864. This was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for a multi-storey car park with a new market hall beneath it. When St Elli’s shopping centre was built 15 years ago on the site of the open market adjacent to the indoor market, the planners and developers had got their act together. The shopping centre leads seamlessly into the market, with market units that are more like shops lining the entrances. The outdoor market was moved on to the pedestrianised High Street, which was a godsend for traders who are now in the town centre location with the best footfall. Despite its age the indoor market looks reasonably bright, and the council has recently invested almost £1million as part of its action plan to regenerate the town centre. The investment includes public wi-fi, improvements to the fire alarm, ventilation system and mains electrics within the market hall and the precincts. The work, which is nearing completion, has Amanda Davies is markets manager for Carmarthenshire Council and Mark Curtis is assistant manager Fruit and veg man Alan Seward is a third generation market trader. His grandfather, William Seward, used to bring his home grown veg to market on a barrow been carried out outside of opening hours which has made life easier for traders. Amanda and her assistant manager Mark Curtis have a good rapport with traders. They work as a team promoting the market through initiatives such as school visits and themed events involving the town’s beloved Scarlets rugby team. Amanda said: “We are blessed with a solid, loyal customer base and we promote the market as the green heart of the town.” Amanda’s grandfather used to trade on the market, and Mark used to work on the open market and returned as a market cleaner, security guard and then clerk, before being promoted to assistant manager. They are both passionate about the market and its role at the heart of their community. Amanda was instrumental in making Llanelli the UK’s first dementia-friendly market, which involved training traders in the “do’s and don’ts” that help dementia sufferers shop there safely. “But really it was what we were all already doing,” said Amanda. “Our traders really look after their customers to the point where, if they don’t see a regular customer for a day or two, they will ring them up to check they are all right.” Alan Seward, a third generation fruit and veg man on the indoor market, confirmed the goodhearted approach. Suzanne Keenan started Pandora’s Box on Llanelli indoor market four years ago and now does well selling ethnic clothing, crafts, jewellery and bags


MarketTimesDecember2016
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