CWMAMAN DESERVES BETTER
Make the Workmen’s Hall Site Safe. End the Dereliction. Unlock Its Future.
Cwmaman Town Council is asking residents and supporters to sign a public petition calling upon Carmarthenshire County Council to take appropriate action towards securing a safe and permanent solution for the former Workmen’s Hall and adjoining shop in Garnant.
Why is the Council launching this petition?
The buildings are privately owned and have remained in a severely deteriorated and derelict condition for a considerable period.
Their condition continues to cause concern within the community, particularly in relation to public safety, the appearance and amenity of the area, and the long-term future of this prominent site.
The former Workmen’s Hall has an important place in the social history of Garnant and the wider Cwmaman community. However, the building is not listed and the Town Council is not campaigning for an unrealistic heritage restoration.
The priority is to secure a safe, lawful and permanent solution.
Public money already spent
Information obtained through Freedom of Information procedures confirms that Carmarthenshire County Council has spent more than £81,000 of public money in connection with essential safety works at this privately owned property.
Cwmaman Town Council is seeking further clarity regarding:
- the total amount spent;
- how much is recoverable from the private owners;
- how much has been recovered to date;
- any outstanding balance;
- whether recoverable costs are secured against the property; and
- what further recovery action is being undertaken.
The Town Council believes residents are entitled to understand how public money has been used and what steps are being taken to recover any sums properly due.
A long-running campaign for action
The condition and future of the former Workmen's Hall and adjoining shop have been a concern in Garnant for many years.
Deputy Mayor of Cwmaman Town Council, Cllr Kevin Madge, has been raising concerns and campaigning for action on the site for approximately 14 years.
Cllr Madge has continued to pursue the issue through his role as an elected representative, including seeking answers regarding the condition of the property, the public money spent on essential safety works and the long-term future of the site.
Cllr Madge said:
“People in Garnant have lived with this situation for far too long. I have been raising concerns about this site for around 14 years and, despite previous redevelopment proposals and significant expenditure on safety works, we still do not have a permanent solution.
“This campaign is not about trying to preserve a building at any cost. It is about making the site safe, dealing with the dereliction and finding a realistic future for an important location in Garnant.
“Residents also deserve transparency about the public money that has already been spent and what action is being taken to recover any money properly due from the private owners.
“Garnant deserves better, and I hope residents will support the Town Council’s petition so that we can demonstrate clearly the strength of community feeling.”
The petition is being promoted by Cwmaman Town Council following the Council's decision to seek community support for further action.
While Cllr Madge has played a significant role in pursuing the issue over many years, the petition represents the corporate position of Cwmaman Town Council and the wider concerns being expressed by the local community.
Previous planning permission
The site has previously received planning permission for a substantial care-home/residential development involving more than 70 units.
Despite that redevelopment potential, the proposed scheme has not resulted in a permanent solution and the existing buildings have continued to deteriorate.
The Town Council is therefore asking Carmarthenshire County Council to clarify the current status of the previous planning permission and to confirm whether discussions are taking place with the private owners regarding redevelopment or another viable future for the site.
What are we asking Carmarthenshire County Council to do?
The petition calls upon Carmarthenshire County Council to:
- Confirm the current structural and public-safety position.
- Take any further action considered necessary to protect members of the public, neighbouring properties, pedestrians and highway users.
- Consider all statutory enforcement powers reasonably available in relation to dangerous, ruinous, dilapidated or seriously detrimental buildings and land.
- Require the private owners, where legislation permits, to take appropriate action.
- Consider appropriate default action where owners fail to comply with lawful requirements.
- Establish a clear route towards a permanent solution, including demolition and clearance where this is professionally determined to be necessary, appropriate and lawful.
- Confirm the status of the previous planning permission.
- Engage with the owners regarding a viable redevelopment or alternative future for the site.
- Provide Cwmaman Town Council and residents with a clear written action plan.
- Provide a transparent update regarding public expenditure and recovery of costs.
Private ownership
Cwmaman Town Council fully recognises that the former Workmen’s Hall and adjoining shop are privately owned.
The Council also recognises that Carmarthenshire County Council must act lawfully and respect the legal rights of the property owners.
However, the Town Council does not believe that private ownership should mean that a severely derelict property can remain unresolved indefinitely where its condition continues to affect the surrounding community.
What does Cwmaman Town Council want to achieve?
The Council’s objective is straightforward:
Make it safe.
End the dereliction.
Secure accountability for public money.
Unlock the site’s future.
This is not a campaign to preserve the existing building at any cost.
It is a campaign for a clear and permanent solution to a long-running problem in the heart of Garnant.
Sign the petition
If you support Cwmaman Town Council’s call for action, please add your name to the petition.
Paper copies of the petition will also be made available locally for residents who prefer not to sign online.
Help spread the word
Please share the official petition with family, friends and neighbours and help us demonstrate the strength of community feeling.
CWMAMAN DESERVES BETTER
Make it safe.
End the dereliction.
Unlock its future.
For further information, please contact:
Cwmaman Town Council
[email protected]