Welsh Water & Llanelli Rural Council were, last week, pleased to welcome Helen Mary Jones, Member of Senedd for Mid and West Wales to Swiss Valley reservoirs to explain plans for an exciting partnership that will offer recreation opportunities for the local community.
Swiss Valley Reservoirs (Cwm Lliedi), near the urban centre of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, is a well-loved local beauty spot, popular with walkers, anglers, and widely used by families.
The Senedd Member’s visit comes on the back of the announcement that Llanelli Rural Council has adopted the site through an innovative partnership project. The community adoption of a Welsh Water site is the first of its kind in Wales and it is hoped that it will provide a blueprint for others in the future. To support the adoption a Site Management Plan has been developed with the aim of enhancing the area for both visitors and biodiversity.
With the recent news of a £121,000 ‘Access to Water’ grant from Welsh Government, the partnership is one step closer to delivering its ambition for the site to become a hub for health and wellbeing. The funding will enable access improvements; a pontoon that allows easy access to water for paddlers of all abilities; zoning; a boat wash for biosecurity; and the refurbishment of toilet facilities.
Joining the Assembly Member on her visit was Councillor Giles Morgan, local ward member for Swiss Valley, who said, "The Reservoir is very well thought of by the residents of Swiss Valley, Llanelli and beyond. There is excitement in the community at the prospect of this pioneering adoption scheme between Dwr Cymru and Llanelli Rural Council proceeding. People want the reservoir to have financial investment, but they are also offering to invest their own time to help look after this “jewel” of a community asset. This scheme has the full backing of my community and we can’t wait for it to start."
Vicky Martin, Head of Visitor Attraction Strategy for Welsh Water, who said, "We were delighted to welcome Helen Mary Jones MS to Swiss Valley. It was wonderful to showcase the community adoption, which will enable local people to get involved in caring for their local beauty spot and to enjoy a wider range of recreational activities on their doorstep."
Commenting following her visit, Helen Mary Jones MS said: "I was very impressed to see for myself the plans to increase opportunities for outdoor recreation which will enable people to gain more enjoyment from this beauty spot. This scheme will support a green recovery in Wales, in line with covid19 guidelines, and the delivery of The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act."