Council's Annual Report 2024-2025

In Summary

There has been significant activity in economic recovery and growth in 2024/25. This has been achievable because of the service securing external funding – most notably through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Programme (UK SPF) and Levelling UP Programme. Together with support from Welsh Government, these funds have enabled Economic Development to directly deliver programmes in Skills, Town Centre Regeneration, Communities and Business Support. Strategic projects like the Carmarthen Hwb and Pentre Awel are well underway with construction progressing at pace. 

The £38.68m budget for UK SPF has been fully spent with all projects now complete. Over 520 Carmarthenshire projects received funding from our SPF allocation, ranging from small town improvements to large strategic projects. Businesses and communities have received significant investment, and the programme has made a significant impact on the local economy. Economic Development’s dedicated SPF Project Management Team and Anchor Teams have successfully delivered the following outputs:

• 529 FTE jobs created,
• 154 FTE jobs safeguarded,
• 508 people supported to gain employment,
• 3,652 new volunteer opportunities created,
• 6,988 existing volunteer opportunities supported,
• 3,378 local events or activities supported,
• 842 enterprises received non-financial support,
• 7,611 people attended training sessions,
• 1,264 people supported to gain a qualification,
• 209 adult numeracy courses delivered,
• 2,185 people engaged with a keyworker,
• 417 organisations received a grant.

 
How are we Doing?

• Employment rates have improved slightly in Carmarthenshire to 72.8% at the end of March 2025, compared to 72.0% for the previous year. However, they continue to be below the Welsh and UK rates of 73.4% and 75.4%, respectively. Unemployment figures increased slightly to 3.6% in March 2025 compared to 3.0% March 2024. This is above the rates in Wales (3.5%) but below the UK (3.8%). Economic Inactivity  in Carmarthenshire remains high despite a slight improvement from 21.7% in March 2024 to 21.1% in March 2025. This is above the Welsh rate of 19.9% and well above the UK rate of 17.7%.
• The proportion of those aged 18 to 64 qualified to National Qualification Framework (NQF) Level 4 or above in Carmarthenshire reduced for the first time since 2020. The most recent data (December 2024) indicates a result of 40.7% which is a significant reduction from 46.3% the previous year. This is well below the Welsh result of 46.4%, which increased from 45% the previous year. Developing skills and qualifications improves employability prospects, boosts career prospects, and creates a well-skilled and able labour market. It also ensures that we have a workforce that is fit for the future. Following a downward trend for the last few years, the proportion of those aged 18 to 64 with no qualifications increased according to the most recent data (December 2024) – 6.4% compared to 5.3% the previous year. We continue to be below Wales (7.9%).  
• 1,789 Direct and Indirect Jobs were created with regeneration assistance during 2024/25. This is almost double the previous year’s figure of 955.
• 151 individuals were supported through Council employability schemes to earn the real living wage during 2024/25, a slight decline on 158 in the previous year. Many of the clients supported were still receiving advice and guidance at the end of the financial year as they experience multiple barriers and have complex needs. Therefore, additional support is needed before they access employment opportunities.
• Economic Development secured over £58m of funding during 2024/25 via private sector investment and various successful applications for external funding.
• Overnight and day visitors contributed £683m to the local economy supporting 6,649 full time jobs.

 

Progress Against Outcomes 

Outcome: Businesses supported, and employment provided. 

Significant support and growth have been delivered across Carmarthenshire through Economic Development in 2024/25, with 1,353 direct jobs created/accommodated, 436 indirect jobs created through construction, and 346 jobs safeguarded. 

A total of 3,953 volunteers have been supported through programmes such as the Sustainable Communities Fund and the Shared Prosperity Programme (SPF). 2,328 businesses have been supported via Business Support, the Regional Learning Skills Partnership, and town centre regeneration initiatives. 

 

Markets

The provision markets in our primary towns continue to provide a key service to our residents and visitors. Building upon their success, we have held a junior trading event in each of our town centres which was well attended. The event gave the opportunity for local school children to experience market trading by developing a business idea and turning it into an enterprise, gaining valuable experience of the world of work and business.

 

Business Support

Economic Development continued to offer an array of business support measures aimed at creating and safeguarding jobs, providing funds to purchase capital and revenue equipment, and building and refurbishing properties for economic use across the county. 

1,061 business were supported with grants and loans through Economic Development in 2024/25. For example, under the SPF Business Growth and Start Up Programme, a total of 194 businesses were supported, delivering £3.4 million of investment, creating 317 jobs, and safeguarding 97 jobs. 

 

Employment Sites

Over the past 12 months, Economic Development has worked in partnership with Welsh Government to develop and deliver several employment sites to create space for businesses to either start up or grow, creating jobs and growth.

Parc Gelli Werdd is a new and sustainable development of employment space totalling 32,500sqft located on the Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site. The development comprises industrial units and offices in three buildings, targeting the following sectors:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Agri-Food Technology
• Creative
• Energy and Environment
• Financial and Professional. 

One of the highlights of the space is that it has used Active Building principles involving an on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) and a fabric first approach, involving high levels of insulation that will reduce space heating costs. Designed with the aim of achieving ‘Net Zero carbon in-use target’ and having achieved BREEAM  “Excellent” and EPC  “A” ratings. This development includes an innovative building management system (BMS) that incorporates a bespoke metering and monitoring platform to enable both billing and detailed performance monitoring. Data collected via the BMS will be used to provide future learning in relation to sustainability and de-carbonisation, to both enhance the performance of the development and to inform the construction and operation of new premises. By adopting good practice, tenants should be able to enjoy lower energy costs because of the sustainable features of the development.

In addition, planning consent has been secured for the development of 7,500sq ft of industrial units at Beechwood employment site in Llandeilo. It is envisaged that this development will be delivered in 2025/26 in partnership with Welsh Government through the Rural Joint Venture.

 

Outcome: People are supported to take advantage of local opportunities whether it be through starting a business, gaining qualifications, or gaining meaningful employment.

Ten Towns Programme

We have been delivering this programme to support the regeneration of ten rural market towns across the County. The Authority has invested £1m capital funding together with a further £1.2m investment from the Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver a range of initiatives to support the needs of businesses and the wider community:

• £260,000 has been invested to support the conversion of empty premises bringing them back into business use.
• 95 properties have received funding to improve their shop frontages.
• Public realm improvements, street cleansing, and art murals have been undertaken to enhance the vibrancy of the towns.
• 8 rural events have been supported to draw additional visitors into the towns.
• Each of the towns has received funding to support initiatives that have been identified as a priority by the respective communities e.g. development of a community hub; pump track; events space; bunk house; new market development; car parking facilities.
• Several initiatives have been supported to raise awareness of the circular economy including swap shop activities, library of things, and repair cafes. Additionally, local schools have designed artistic installations made from waste products which are displayed in their respective towns.

Sustainable Communities Fund

Funded via the Shared Prosperity Fund, the Sustainable Communities Fund has enabled an investment of over £6m into local community led projects. The scheme has delivered the following outputs:

• 70 projects supported,
• 37 jobs created,
• 32 jobs safeguarded,
• Over £900,000 local spend,
• 42 new or improved amenities / facilities,
• 12,900m of pathways created or improved,
• 586 events or community activities,
• 2,933 new volunteering opportunities.

Case studies can be found via the link: UK Shared Prosperity Fund - Sustainable Communities Projects - Carmarthenshire County Council

Employability and Skills Fund

Funded through the SPF, the Employability and Skills Fund has been supporting people into jobs with:

• 11 projects supported,
• 45 supported into jobs or self-employment,
• 1,201 gaining a qualification,
• 111 volunteering opportunities.

 

Town Centre Regeneration

Over the last 12 months, Economic Development have continued to deliver town centre regeneration initiatives in the three primary town centres of Ammanford, Carmarthen, and Llanelli. A total of £4.2million has been invested in our towns through a plethora of initiatives aimed at improving the offer. We have delivered grants to businesses to improve their properties, public realm improvements, and funding to support events in our town centres.

Activity has been coordinated via each town’s respective Task Forces and Forum, where key stakeholders from private sector, voluntary sector, other public bodies, and the local authority come together to discuss and coordinate activity in our town centres.

 

Town Centre Events

Several Town Centre events and festivals have been supported by Economic Development during 2024/25 bringing many organisations and communities together in our primary town centres of Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli and boosting footfall in our towns. 

 
Carmarthen Hwb

Enabling works for the project were completed in April 2024, with the main construction contract signed in July 2024. Works are progressing well on site. The main site accommodation has been delivered and fitted out; and groundworks sub-contractors have completed the breaking out of the internal slab and drainage installation. Roofing works commenced in early November and plant room roof commenced in December 2024. Secondary steel, intumescent, and section104 drainage connection completed. Works are expected to be completed by Spring 2026.

 

YMCA – Llanelli

In November 2019, the Council was successful in obtaining the full award of £2,000,000 Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme strategic funding for the YMCA development. The proposal was to redevelop an iconic building within Llanelli town centre to bring it back into use. The development consists of 1,700m2 over four floors and a basement area. This former YMCA building will house commercial and community use on the ground and first floors, with eight two-bedroom apartments on the second and third. The housing units have all been occupied whilst the retail units and office spaces are currently being advertised online for businesses to submit their interest.

 

Market Street North

In November 2019, the Council was also successful in obtaining the full award of £2,000,000 Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme strategic funding for the Market Street North Scheme. Planning approval for the development was granted in August 2020 for the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of a three-storey building to provide five commercial use units at ground floor level and 10 2-bedroom apartments on the first and second floors. The demolition works were completed in December 2020. The project officially started on site in September 2023 and is expected to be completed in September 2025. 

 

Public Realm Improvements

Several public realm improvements have been delivered in Ammanford, Carmarthen, and Llanelli. These projects have improved the physical appearance of our town centres. Some examples of completed projects are as follows:

 

Ammanford Market Square Quay Street

Extensive works have been carried out at Market Square Ammanford, with the removal of a vacant bus stop, relocation of a cycle shelter, improvements to lighting and railings, and a better pedestrian access between Carregamman Car Park and town centre. Coupled with a complete resurfacing of the market square, this area now provides a larger central location for the market to be held and other community events in the town centre.

 

Carmarthen

Several projects are in progress across the town centre to improve visual appearance, accessibility, connectivity between key town centre locations, and modernise street furniture. The Tackling Towns projects include Carmarthen Castle, St Peters Car Park Entrance, Guildhall and Notts Square, King Street and Queen Street, Red Street and Market Precinct, Chapel Street, Cambrian Way, John Street, and Town Signage.

 

Cowell Street

In response to COVID-19, Cowell Street underwent a temporary traffic restriction, and social distancing measures were put in place. This allowed for the assessment of potential effects on the street environment. Preliminary studies indicate that the space was positively used by companies, and there are no appreciable negative effects on vehicle circulation. In response, enhancements to Cowell Street's public realm were identified as a crucial undertaking in the Llanelli Town Centre Recovery Plan. After the recovery plan was released, Atkins was hired to conduct a feasibility study to look at ways to improve the public realm and placemaking in several important parts of Llanelli town centre, including Cowell Street.

The presented plan demonstrates a pedestrian ‘friendly’ design. For example, a proposed 1.6m wide crossing is to be added, existing laybys to be raised to footway level and further existing crossing point to be added in line with the active travel guidance. Furthermore, the project also entails to re-tarmac parts of the street. Project works started on the 27th of August and were completed in 9 weeks.

 

Regional Learning and Skills Partnership

The Regional Learning and Skills Partnership (RLSP) for South West Wales is one of four skills partnerships working with the private sector, public sector, skills/training providers, education providers, and key stakeholders to ensure that we are delivering the right skills for our future workforce.

The RLSP produces and analyses labour market intelligence; gathers evidence from regional employers through the sector cluster groups and via surveys; and publishes a 3-year Regional Skills and Employment Plan. This informs Welsh Government on the skills needs across the region now and in the future.

The RLSP also leads on the delivery of the Skills and Talent programme for the Swansea Bay City Deal. The work of the programme is to specifically identify skills needs of the eight City Deal projects and develop new modules or courses to meet future skills needs where they do not already exist. A total of 25 pilot projects have been funded across the whole region.

Carmarthenshire Employability Schemes

There are two employability programmes in Carmarthenshire designed to assist individuals who are either unemployed or seeking additional employment. The Communities for Work+ and the Carmarthenshire Working programmes (funded by Welsh Government and through the Shared Prosperity Fund respectively) both provide support to individuals aiming to enter the workforce immediately, or after participating in training or volunteering opportunities to build their confidence.
Both programmes offer a variety of training options, assistance with CV preparation and interviews, as well as job searching support. Throughout the year, the programmes organise job fairs in Llanelli, Ammanford, and Carmarthen, collaborating with local businesses to facilitate recruitment for job vacancies. Over the past year, the programmes have supported 185 businesses, helped 312 individuals secure employment, and enabled 184 individuals to engage in volunteering opportunities.

 

Outcome: Businesses are supported to take advantage of local supply chains and procurement opportunities.

The Corporate Procurement Unit is working closely with colleagues in Economic Development to deliver Procurement and Business Surgeries. These offer procurement advice and guidance to potential suppliers, advice on business grants to those eligible, and wider business support. The Procurement and Business Support Surgeries have proven very successful, with nine held to date. All have been fully booked with the maximum of 12 businesses per day. More surgeries are booked for May, July, and September 2025. A procurement event has also been organised in conjunction with Business in Focus, Cwmpas, Antur Cymru, and Business Wales.

The Procurement team and Business Support team deliver a monthly Procurement and Business Support Surgery throughout the county which gives businesses an opportunity to discuss accessing work with the Council, and the support and funding available to them. Engagements are also undertaken through email, inclusion in the business newsletter, and occasional telephone calls. Recent contracts include the substantial Property Works contract, where the business team engaged with the dozens of businesses who were awarded contracts. Case studies are to be written of the positive outcomes. In addition, they continue to work with Economic Development on future tender exercises to promote them to local businesses who might be interested in tendering; and sharing its work programme on a quarterly basis to identify further opportunities to promote these opportunities to Carmarthenshire businesses.

 

Procurement Opportunities

In June 2024, the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework (SWWRCF) was tendered with an approximate total value of £800 million. Procurement and Property Design adopted a variety of supplier engagement initiatives to attract local contractors to tender, promote the tender requirements, and to enhance tender submissions by offering tender support where required. Following a Getting Tender Ready webinar held in the last financial year, we held a briefing session for this tender at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli in April 2024 where 186 contractors attended. To further enhance and support suppliers interested in tendering for this opportunity, we organised a live Tender Webinar via Business Wales in June 2024. The webinar was organised to assist contractors with the tender process.

 

Community Benefits

Through the delivery of Community Benefits and Targeted Recruitment, Training Procurement ensures that contractors/suppliers provide employment and training opportunities for those that have barriers to entering employment. These barriers include long term unemployment, economic inactivity, disabilities, health conditions, aged over 54, amongst others. We also work closely with contractors to provide apprenticeship opportunities over and above what they would normally provide.
We work with several contractors across several frameworks, including the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework (SWWRCF), South West Wales Regional Engineering Contractors Framework (SWWRECF), and the Property Works Framework (PWF).
Opportunities are measured in person weeks , with 5,011 person weeks created in 2024/25 – more than doubling our target of 2,462. 64 jobs were also created, beating our target of 60.

 

Pentre Awel

As part of delivering the Pentre Awel Zone 1 contract as the main appointed contractor, Bouygues UK (BYUK) were required to provide opportunities to local contractors to bid for sub-contracting work on the project. Regular meetings were held to identify mechanisms to advertise supply chain opportunities and capture the spend. This included tracking the supply chain materials by location and the location of individuals employed on site. Using a reporting model developed and adapted in conjunction with the Centre for Local Economies Strategies (CLES), Bouygues are finalising the figures to be broken down by post code and region. This data will cover the larger packages, including groundworks, and mechanical, engineering, and plumbing. Currently, Bouygues reports that 74% of contractor spend is within Wales.

Pentre Awel provided numerous opportunities for targeted recruitment (TR&T) opportunities. We set a target of 4,680 person weeks of TR&T and have already delivered 5,495 weeks. Some of this has been achieved through innovative practices adopted by the Council and Bouygues, including the introduction of Employability Hubs – working with local employability support projects to set up monthly employability hubs on site. The hubs allowed the contractor the opportunity to meet with potential employees and take them through a detailed introduction of how working on the site would look. This process led to an effective sifting process which, in turn, led to a higher level of retention on site.

Cyfle are a registered charity that deliver a shared apprenticeship scheme in Carmarthenshire and beyond. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) had recently shut the financial subsidy attached to Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) apprentices, which meant a number of first year apprentices could not find employers and would not have had the opportunity to complete their apprenticeship. Bouygues also agreed to finance the subsidy for 10 M&E apprentices through Cyfle. The apprentices were inducted at Pentre Awel and then placed with local SMEs. This allowed them to complete their second year and gave local employers the opportunity to work with an apprentice.

Outcome: Look to improve the availability and affordability of early years education and childcare settings across the County, to address one of the common barriers faced by individuals looking to return to or find employment.

Affordability

Carmarthenshire fully promotes and supports the Welsh Government 30 hours Childcare Offer (CO), recognising that affordable, available, and accessible childcare enables parents to work. This supports the drive to increase economic growth, tackle poverty, and reduce inequalities. We support registered providers and eligible parents through the roll out of the new National Digital Service.

With the Childcare Offer for Wales, children of eligible parents could receive a maximum 30 hours of funded early education and childcare a week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. The Childcare Offer for Wales is a combined offer, made up of Early Years part time education and childcare provision. Therefore, children must be of an age to be eligible to access both elements at the same time. If parental eligibility has been established, children will usually receive the childcare element of the offer from the term after their third birthday, until they are offered a full-time education place.

The Additional Support Grant (ASG) provides funding to help ensure that eligible children with additional support needs can access the childcare element of the Childcare Offer in the same way as other eligible children. 16 children received support through the CO Additional Support Grant (ASG).

Is Anyone Better Off?

Case Study for Startup and growth Grants – Lignum Joinery Ltd

In June 2024, Owen Smart approached Carmarthenshire County Council for a start-up grant. These grants are funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Once Owen’s application had been received, he was guided by the grant team through the process for which he successfully secured the substantial grant award. The money made available contributed towards the equipment costs of setting up and opening the workshop in Ammanford during the summer of 2024.

Owen said ‘the support I received from business development team was exemplary. They guided me through the whole grant process which initially appears quite daunting, however they provided me with all the advice that I needed to be successful with the startup grant. The startup costs for my business were high due to the high prices for some of the equipment we needed. Being able to apply for grant support towards essential equipment made a huge difference to my investment costs. This initial financial boost ensured that the equipment purchased will be fit for purpose for the long term.’

Once the business was established and specific markets identified, the business needed to invest in specialist equipment. Lignum Joinery made a further application for a growth grant. Owen says ‘once again, the support I received from the business development team was perfect. They guided me through the growth grant process and provided me with the additional advice needed to make successful applications. We have now completed one startup and two growth grant applications which have helped us with start and develop our business.’

Owen added “I can wholeheartedly say that the support provided to myself, and my business made, a huge difference and has afforded the business a great start for the future.”

 

The Story Project

Theatrau Sir Gâr partnered with The Wallich on The Story Project – a vibrant collaboration between people with lived experience of homelessness and addiction, and the Welsh performing arts community. The project aimed to uncover hidden talents, nurture creativity, and introduce new voices and audiences to theatres across Wales.

Over 10 weekly sessions in Ammanford and Llanelli, 15 participants worked with local artists to create and perform a powerful piece of theatre. The final performance was moving and educational, with many participants describing the experience as life changing. They reported increased confidence, new skills, and aspirations for the future. One participant, initially fearful of entering a theatre, is now a regular attendee and volunteers as a technical assistant and ambassador.

This project also helped us explore creative, supportive ways of working with individuals with lived experience of homelessness. Building on this success, we’ve continued our partnership with The Wallich through a weekly art hub. The pilot supports creative development, community building, and public storytelling in a safe and inclusive space. 

 

Skills and Talent Programme Awards Funding to Innovative Educational Initiative

In 2020, two Welsh Medium schools, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Maes y Gwendraeth, collaborated with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to lead the first pilot project to be funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal Skills and Talent Programme. The project aimed to address a critical skills gap in the region by offering students the opportunity to achieve Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Engineering and Digital Studies through the medium of Welsh. This was the first programme of its kind and, since being approved, has successfully enrolled hundreds of students to take the Level 2 and Level 3 courses. Many of these leaving school with the qualification and moving on to college, university, or apprenticeships.

The programme was designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities within the engineering and IT sectors. By working closely with the University, students gained practical skills using state-of-the-art equipment and have benefited from the research conducted by the University. This hands-on experience within the schools ensures a seamless transition to higher education.

There has been a significant increase in the number of students enrolling in these qualifications across both schools. Approximately 40% of students who complete Level 2 courses continue to Level 3, demonstrating a clear educational pathway and sustained interest in these fields. Since starting the pilot project, 843 students have enrolled in Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Engineering and Digital Studies, showcasing the success and demand for these courses.

Dr Llinos Jones, Headteacher Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin said "The Skills and Talent Programme Awards have been a catalyst for transformative change, enabling our innovative educational initiative to reach new heights within our schools. This funding has not only expanded access to vital learning resources but also empowered learners with future-ready skills, fostering long-term regional growth and opportunity.'

 

How can we do Better?

We will strengthen support for local businesses by expanding early engagement and procurement opportunities, helping more local firms access Council contracts and supply chains. Our business support network will be enhanced to provide tailored advice, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote the “Think Carmarthenshire First” approach. We will continue to deliver and monitor regeneration projects in our town centres and rural areas, with a renewed focus on tackling vacant properties, supporting events, and improving public spaces to boost footfall and community pride. Recognising the importance of skills and employability, we will further develop training and upskilling programmes, working closely with the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership and local employers to address gaps and support people into quality jobs. We will also review and expand our employment land and premises offer, ensuring that new and existing sites meet the needs of growing sectors and support sustainable development. Finally, we will seek additional funding and partnerships to maximise investment in our communities, while monitoring the long-term impact of our projects to ensure they deliver lasting benefits for residents and businesses.

In Summary

The Council declared its commitment to addressing the climate and nature emergencies in 2019 and 2022, respectively. We will continue working towards becoming a Net Zero Carbon Local Authority by 2030 and addressing the issues that are driving a decline in our biodiversity and support nature recovery. 2023/24 was the halfway point in our net zero plan programme and has resulted in 37% reduction in the carbon emissions targeted. Our third Environment Act Forward Plan 2023 – 2025 sets out the actions we are taking to tackle biodiversity decline and this year saw the publication of three major strategies to support biodiversity: the Green and Blue Infrastructure, Tree and Woodland, and Grassland Management for Pollinators.

Areas of the County are susceptible to the negative effects of the climate emergency, especially flooding. The Council has implemented interventions through the Flood and Water Management Act and Shoreline Management Plan to mitigate these effects.

Efforts to decarbonise housing stock have also advanced, with over 51% of homes now achieving a minimum B and C energy performance rating. We have adopted a fabric-first approach to energy efficiency, incorporating solar panels, thermal insulation, and hybrid heat pump systems. These measures not only reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty but also stimulate the local economy and support workforce development.

How are we Doing? 

• Carmarthenshire is one of the most proactive counties in Wales in terms of investment in low carbon energy projects. This is positive and substantiates the forward-thinking approach that the county adopts with regards to addressing the threats posed by the climate and nature emergencies.  The most recent data for 2023 indicates that there was a total of 10,103 projects in Carmarthenshire generating 346MW of energy. This is the fourth highest level in Wales and an increase on 2022 figures.
• Flooding is always a concern in Carmarthenshire and, according to 2024 data from Natural Resources Wales, over 18,000 business and homes are at risk from either river, tidal, or surface water flooding. This is an increase from the 2019 figure of 15,000.
• There was a 27% increase in the number of properties at high or medium risk of flooding between 2019 and 2024, rising from 5,400 to just under 7,000. Natural Resources Wales predict that due to climate change, this will more than double again to over 15,500 by 2120.
• The increasing threat of the climate and nature emergencies places greater emphasis on the need for suitable and proportionate flood defences to protect those at greatest risk. Through our Flood and Water Management Act and Shoreline Management Plan, several interventions have been completed. This includes the installation of new defences and upgrades made to existing defences.
• In our 2024 residents’ survey, the largest proportion of respondents indicated ‘Neither’ when asked whether the climate emergency is being addressed locally. This might suggest that people are unaware of the measures put in place. For those that did answer, slightly more people disagreed than agreed. 

 

Progress Against Outcomes 

Outcome: Continue to work towards becoming a Net Zero Carbon Local Authority by 2030

Breakdown of the Council’s Carbon Footprint

The latest data for 2024/25 reflects continued strong performance. Our carbon footprint (measured in tonnes of CO2 emissions) have reduced by 37% compared to our 2016/17 baseline year. This sustained progress highlights the effectiveness of the measures we have implemented. Given the extensive actions outlined in our Net Zero Plan executed in 2024/25, we expect the forthcoming data to further demonstrate the impact of our commitment to reducing emissions and advancing our climate goals. 

Data is vital to our carbon monitoring, and we are improving its accuracy through the rollout of our meter upgrade programme. This provides real-time data that plays a crucial role in assessing the impact of our initiatives, as well as identifying priority areas for further investment.

 

Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund

In our pursuit to decarbonise the County’s transport, the Council secured funding from the Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund to trial electric vehicle (EV) gully charging in both urban and rural settings. Utilising the Kerbo Charge Gully system, 13 residents with on-road parking were fitted with charging facilities. Phase one of the trial has been a great success, with users recording positive experiences based on installation and maintenance, and an improvement in understanding EV charging solutions. The users have praised the EV gully as a convenient, safe, and cost-effective home charging solution – especially for those without off-road parking. The gully system eliminates tripping hazards from cables, ensuring a flat and secure walkway – day and night, whilst enabling users to charge at cheaper overnight rates. This trial has provided an insight into the scalability and adoption of EV solutions within the County, and whilst the impact of the trial is still being assessed the intention is full adoption. Phase two of the trial has recently commenced with a further 10 systems installed. 

 

Electric Vehicle Transition

The transition to electric vehicles has accelerated, with a notable increase in the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) across various sectors. We have been proactive in expanding our EV fleet. For instance, in 2024, the Council secured £431,632 in funding from the Welsh Government. This facilitated the acquisition of 40 new EVs – 30 vans and 10 cars. Combining this funding with additional collaborative procurement efforts has significantly boosted the proportion of EVs in the Council's fleet, increasing from 1.8% to 8% to March 2024.

 

Business Renewable Energy Fund

Economic Development has championed sustainability in delivering several programmes across Carmarthenshire, including the Business Renewable Energy Fund (BREF). BREF provides grant aid to businesses who invest in renewable energy systems to make their business more efficient and sustainable. To date, we have supported 28 businesses which have delivered an anticipated saving of 640 tonnes of CO2 emissions over three years.

 

Housing Decarbonisation Plan

In February 2023, the Council made a clear commitment to ensure that all our homes are energy efficient and achieve a minimum B and C energy performance rating as quickly as possible. Over 51% of our homes have already achieved this standard, an improvement of just over 19% since making our commitment.

Future investment in our existing homes will continue to be based on improving the energy performance of our homes through our ongoing planned maintenance programmes. This integrated approach ensures that we are improving the energy performance of our homes and reducing carbon emissions, whilst simultaneously improving and maintaining the general condition of our homes. 

The works to improve the energy efficiency of our homes approach is based on using a fabric first approach, which improves the thermal efficiency of our homes and includes installing renewable technology, where appropriate. This includes installing solar panels and increased thermal insulation as part of our re-roofing programmes, and hybrid heat pump systems as part of our on-going boiler replacement programme. 

In addition to the current works, we are also developing target energy pathways for all our homes to help determine a suitable and cost-effective approach for further improving energy performance. This will help to:

• Reduce fuel bills for tenants to mitigate fuel poverty. Particularly important due to the current cost of living crisis affecting so many of our tenants.
• Improve the thermal performance of our homes and indoor air quality to promote health and well-being.
• Grow the local economy by providing long term investment programmes.
• Upskill the local supply chain and provide more training and work opportunities for local people.

Our new build Council homes embrace decarbonisation. They are energy efficient, well insulated, and have the latest innovative technologies that support the Council’s Net Zero Carbon principles. These have helped reduce our carbon emissions by on average 70%, and create affordable warmth for tenants, growing the green economy, and creating sustainable communities.

 

Carmarthenshire Museum

Carmarthenshire Museum completed a £330,000 project to redevelop our car parking facility in 2024/25. This was funded by a £264,000 grant by Visit Wales as part of their Brilliant Basics Fund. The project has provided new accessible spaces, pedestrian pathways, and an improved layout to enhance visitor experience. The improved car park enhances access to the museum and links directly to the Tywi Valley Cycle Path. With the installation of a new EV bike charging unit encouraging cultural participation and tourism. The project includes energy efficient lighting and sustainable design considerations – including the use of fully recyclable aluminium signage, and the development of a new Story Garden that improves the biodiversity of the green space outside the museum entrance.

 

Outcome: Improve current and explore new developments to limit the effects of flooding and other environmental threats which affect our residents and service users.    

Revised Local Development Plan (LDP)

A Strategic Flood Consequences Assessment was undertaken to guide and inform future distribution and location of development, including housing, employment, and future decision making. This defined the extent of projected flood risk, incorporating climate change assumptions, and forms key evidence in support of the preparation of the revised LDP.

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) documents have been prepared to accompany the revised LDP. These include SPGs on Open Space; Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI); Trees, Woodland, and Hedgerows; and Placemaking and Sustainable Design. Together, they provide developers with clear expectations and equip planning officers with the tools to embed GBI into both strategic planning and site-specific development.

 

Nutrient Management Plans

The Council are a key Member of the Cleddau, Tywi, and Teifi Nutrient Management Boards (NMB), and play a central role in delivering actions identified through the Nutrient Management Plans prepared by the boards. These actions are underpinned by legislation and supported by the Welsh Government.

The Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) for the riverine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) affected by nutrient guidance in Carmarthenshire were adopted in March 2025. The NMPs and the associated action plan serve to:

• Facilitate the removal of phosphorus to support the delivery of new development.
• Act as a framework to monitor the situation regarding other nutrient pressures.
• Offer holistic opportunities to consider the effects of flooding and other environmental factors.

Actions identified in the NMPs to limit the effects of flooding and other environmental threats include:

• Promoting natural flood management: tackle the impacts arising from peak flow events to not only reduce nutrient transmission into the rivers but reduce the risk of flooding downstream through better regulated flows.
• Opportunities for riparian buffers and other nature-based solutions, including natural flood management, to slow the flow and improve water quality more generally.
• Design interventions to consider factors such as public safety, wildlife habitat, and floodplain management where they facilitate development and/or contribute to restoration of the riverine SAC to favourable condition status.

 

Green and Blue Infrastructure

We continue to use Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) as a strategic tool to help mitigate environmental threats. This includes flooding which directly impact our residents, local businesses, and service users. In this respect, Carmarthenshire has developed a draft GBI Strategy and Supplementary Planning Guidance, and toolkits to support implementation of the principles and content of the revised LDP.

Carmarthenshire's Draft GBI Strategy sets out a county-wide approach to enhancing and conserving the local GBI network, improving water management, supporting climate resilience, and addressing a range of other environmental and placemaking priorities. The strategy prioritises the use of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) such as sustainable drainage systems (SUDS), habitat restoration, and tree planting – all of which contribute to reducing flood risk, improving air and water quality, and buffering the impacts of extreme weather.

 

Flood Risk Management

Effective flood risk management is a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard our residents, businesses, and service users from environmental threats. By continuously improving existing practices and exploring innovative solutions, we can better mitigate the impacts of flooding and ensure resilient communities and our placemaking goals.
We employ a comprehensive approach to flood risk management and are seeking to develop our team accordingly. We have developed a new local strategy that sets out how we will seek to manage flood risk and deliver local and national objectives. We are also developing flood risk plans – operational documents that detail the actions we will take in our highest risk communities to manage flood risk. In the recent year, we have developed our skills and resources with regards to capital works and now have a significant capital works programme. Through Welsh Government grant awards, we have been able to advance our knowledge of flood risk and implement structural measures. 

Non-structural measures complement these physical defences by focussing on policies and practices that reduce vulnerability. These include community awareness programs to educate residents on flood preparedness, and early warning systems that provide timely alerts about impending flood events. 

In new developments, we are continually seeking ways to enhance their flood risk management strategies. The new planning policy document Technical Advice Note 15 (released in March 2025) is key in supporting this. Advances in technology offer promising avenues for innovation. For instance, the use of drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows for more precise mapping and analysis of flood-prone areas, enabling targeted interventions. Additionally, developing integration of real-time data from weather stations and river gauges into predictive models can improve the accuracy of flood forecasts, allowing for more effective response planning.

 

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)

Another development is the adoption of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). These systems mimic natural processes to manage surface water runoff, reducing the burden on traditional drainage infrastructure. Features such as green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens not only mitigate flood risks but also enhance urban biodiversity and improve water quality.
Collaboration and knowledge sharing are also vital for advancing flood risk management. By partnering with academic institutions, private sector experts, and other risk management authorities, we can leverage diverse expertise and resources. Such partnerships can lead to the development of innovative solutions that are both effective and sustainable.

 

Flood Schemes

We have continued developing our flood risk management capital works programme through 2024/25, building on the successes of previous years. This year, our programme comprised of 21 schemes, aimed at managing the flood risk at 740 homes and businesses in Carmarthenshire. We have completed schemes in Ammanford, Newcastle Emlyn, Kidwelly, Llandovery, and have property level protection schemes ready to go early in 2025 in Llanybydder, Llandysul, and Llangennech. We have also secured £2.1 million in flood risk management grant funding for 2025/26.

 

Air Quality

Significant progress has been made in raising awareness and improving air quality across Carmarthenshire:

• Educational Outreach: Officers delivered informative talks to primary schools, highlighting the health impacts of air pollution and encouraging behaviour change.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Air quality monitors were installed outside eight schools, enabling over 2,000 pupils to access live data and undertake local environmental projects.
• Active Travel Promotion: In partnership with the Road Safety Team, approximately 2,500 pupils used the WoW Travel Tracker, recording over 130,000 active journeys in the 2024/25 academic year.
• Interactive Learning: The “Abbie Ayre and the Shed of Science” show reached 790 Year 5 pupils across over 20 schools, using performance to explore air quality issues and promote sustainable travel. 

Is Anyone Better Off?

The Council’s progress on decarbonisation and nature recovery is delivering measurable benefits for wellbeing. Over half of council homes now achieve Band C energy ratings, providing warmer, healthier homes and reducing fuel bills for thousands of tenants. Flood schemes completed this year have strengthened resilience for homes and businesses, protecting communities from disruption and loss. Biodiversity strategies and nature-based solutions are improving habitats, supporting pollinators, and enhancing access to green and blue spaces. These actions contribute to improved physical wellbeing, reduced anxiety about climate risks, and stronger, more resilient communities, alongside potential financial savings from energy efficiency and flood risk reduction.
We remain committed to becoming a net zero authority under our Net Zero Carbon Plan, actively mitigating climate impacts and promoting a sustainable future. Securing grant funding has enhanced our ability to deliver these measures, ensuring better value for money and maximising investment in climate resilience.
The Flood Defence and Coastal Protection Unit has worked extensively with communities to build resilience and awareness of climate adaptation. Initiatives include workshops and training on flood preparedness and property-level protection, supported by industry specialists such as Flood Mary (Mary Donohue). Internal collaboration has strengthened emergency response processes through weekly adverse weather meetings and regular drills to test and refine plans, ensuring readiness for real-life scenarios.

 

How can we do better? 

While progress is strong, there is still more we must do to meet the scale of the climate and nature emergencies. Flood risk continues to rise, and with over 18,000 homes and businesses now at risk, accelerating both structural and natural flood management interventions remains essential. Despite significant work, many residents remain unaware of the actions underway, highlighting the need for clearer, more visible communication and engagement. Continued investment in decarbonising transport, expanding EV infrastructure, and improving energy efficiency in remaining homes will be critical to reaching net zero by 2030. We also need to further strengthen ecosystem restoration, expand nature-based solutions, and ensure that new developments fully embed resilience and biodiversity gains. By enhancing collaboration, improving public awareness, and scaling up proven interventions, we can go further and faster to secure a healthier, greener, and more climate-resilient Carmarthenshire.

 

In Summary

• The Welsh language is a defining feature of Carmarthenshire’s identity as a place. Our Welsh speaking communities are resilient. However, there has been a significant decline in the number of speakers across the County. These results have further increased the importance of promoting and normalising the use of the Welsh language.
• As Carmarthenshire experienced the highest percentage loss of Welsh speakers in all of Wales for the second decade running, firm and confident action, as outlined in the ‘Carmarthenshire Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2023-2028’, must be taken to stop this declining trend. 

 

How are we Doing? 

• The Census data for 2021 indicates that Carmarthenshire is home to 72,838 Welsh speakers, 39.9% of the population.
• Our 2024 residents survey received just over 3,500 respondents, with most agreeing that it is important to promote and protect the Welsh language.
• 179 members of staff attended various levels of Welsh Learning courses between September 2023 and June 2024 (Academic Year), a reduction on the previous year (242).

 

Progress Against Outcomes

Outcome: Increase in the number of Welsh speakers.

The Welsh Language Strategic Forum is led by the Council and includes representation from the County's language promotion organisations and public bodies with statutory responsibilities. The Forum has continued developing a programme of promoting the Welsh language in Carmarthenshire and has contributed extensively to co-planning for the implementation of the Promotion Strategy Action Plan in accordance with the Promotion Standard.

Over the course of the year, the Forum has been leading on the preparation of action plans which support the overall vision of the Strategy “to make Welsh the main language of the County. Our aim is to restore Welsh to a language spoken and used by the majority of our inhabitants consistently, and in all aspects of life.”  

We have developed action plans to support making Welsh the norm in areas like encouraging use with pre-school age children, increasing the proportion of families who successfully transmit the language at home and increasing the number of residents who learn Welsh.

As a Council, we are fully committed to supporting our staff to learn Welsh, and the work of the Learning and Development Advisor has been key to accessing provision from the National Centre for Learning Welsh. During the year, there has been an opportunity to collaborate with the Centre on a range of opportunities for staff. The feedback from those opportunities has been very positive, with staff noting a change in the use of Cymraeg in the workplace in elements such as holding meetings with colleagues, taking minutes, and carrying out assessments.

 

Outcome: Increased confidence and use of Welsh as a thriving language.

Theatrau Sir Gâr 

Theatrau Sir Gâr have supported local Welsh artists and creators in developing new theatre ideas and activities through dedicated research and development opportunities. Highlights include:

• A children’s theatre piece inspired by the Mabinogion: exploring script, music, and multilingual storytelling using Welsh, British Sign Language, and English.
• A powerful new work by a Carmarthenshire-based artist drawing on lived experience of OCD.
• Support for a Welsh theatre company to adapt and scale down a production about former rugby coach Carwyn for rural touring.
• Upcoming support for a Welsh-language youth opera inspired by the poetry of Taliesin. 

 

Libraries – Stars on the Shelves Project

In January 2025, Carmarthenshire Libraries proudly took part in the Stars on the Shelves initiative – an all-Wales programme designed to inspire young readers and writers through direct engagement with celebrated Welsh authors. This project offered a unique opportunity to bring literature to life for local schoolchildren through interactive workshops and storytelling sessions.

Over the course of the project, eight events were held across Ammanford, Llanelli, and Carmarthen libraries, welcoming approximately 210 pupils from eight school classes. Authors including Dr. Ffion Jones, Robin Bennett, Sion Owen Thomas, and Eloise Williams led sessions that explored storytelling, character development, and the writing process. Children had the chance to ask questions, participate in creative writing activities, and have their books signed – creating lasting memories.

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

Council wins ‘Employer of the Year’ and ‘Workplace Learner of the Year’ for Welsh Language excellence

Carmarthenshire County Council has been awarded ‘Employer of the Year’ by Learn Welsh Ceredigion-Powys-Carmarthenshire, from Aberystwyth University. Recognising its commitment to supporting staff to learn and use Welsh in the workplace.

Adding to the celebration, David Lewis, Operational Delivery Assistant within the Place, Infrastructure, and Economic Development department, has been named ‘Workplace Learner of the Year.’

David has made huge strides on his Welsh learning journey, and he describes the opportunity to learn the language through work as “something special.” He credits the support from the Council, as well as the inspiration and enthusiasm of his tutors, for motivating him to continue developing his skills and confidence.

“I’ve definitely taken big steps forward in my Welsh learning journey,” said David. “I’m really enjoying reading Welsh magazines and books for the first time, and I’m looking forward to taking the next level course.”

In addition to classroom learning, the Council and Learn Welsh CPC has developed a wider Welsh language programme that promotes a positive linguistic culture across the organisation.

These awards reflect the Council’s commitment to nurturing a bilingual workforce and creating a supportive environment where the Welsh language can flourish, where staff can attend Welsh courses during working hours, and courses are funded corporately.

 

How can we do better? 

We continue to take active steps to promote and normalise the use of Welsh in Carmarthenshire. This includes working with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office on a pilot project to strengthen internal use of Welsh, embedding a new Welsh language apprenticeship post (Level 4), and re-establishing the Carmarthenshire Welsh in Education Forum and the County Welsh Language Forum to monitor progress on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy. We will also review our Welsh Language Skills Strategy and continue to support staff and departments to meet Welsh Language Standards, ensuring residents can access services in their preferred language.

In Summary

• Total crime in Carmarthenshire increased during 2024/25 – a trend consistent with other Local Authorities within the Dyfed-Powys Force Area. However, the rate of reported crimes per 1,000 population remains comparably low. Effective partnership working will support in sustaining these low rates.
• The residents survey for 2024 indicated that most respondents like living in Carmarthenshire.
• Most people agreed that they feel safe in their community. However, there was some disparity within local community areas, for example Llanelli exhibited an overall negative score.

 

How are we Doing? 

• 99.22% of food establishments in Carmarthenshire met food hygiene standards during 2024/25.
• All 173 (100%) Trading Standards businesses that were due a programmed inspection during 2024/25 were completed. This is much improved on the 2023/24 performance of 49%.
• During 2024/25, 18 defendants were convicted of Animal Health and Trading Standards related offences, with 141 months of imprisonment and 500 hours of community service handed down. Furthermore, £61,310 in costs were awarded to the authority and £127,600 in compensation and redress for victims of crime.

 

Progress Against Outcomes

Outcome: Sustain low crime rates whilst continuing effective partnership working to address increasing rates evident in some areas of the County.

Community Cohesion Team

The Mid and South West Wales Community Cohesion Team is one of eight regional teams funded by Welsh Government. It continues to deliver a consistent and collaborative approach to community cohesion across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys. The team actively supported national and regional campaigns to raise awareness and promote inclusion:

• Refugee Week (June 2024): Shared key messages across social media platforms to highlight refugee experiences and promote understanding.
• Hate Crime Awareness Week (October 2024): Coordinated training sessions delivered by the Wales Hate Support Centre and hosted a high-profile engagement event at Parc Y Scarlets to raise awareness and encourage reporting.
• Holocaust Memorial Day (January 2025): Commemorated through social media campaigns and symbolic lighting of public buildings in purple.
• LGBT History Month (February 2025): Promoted inclusion and visibility through shared digital content and community engagement.

The team delivered and facilitated a range of training opportunities to strengthen local capacity: 

• “Cohesion in our Communities” session showcased best practices from three small grant-funded projects.
• Delivered targeted training for local authority staff on:   

o    Online hate and third sector safety,
o    Hate crime awareness for managers,
o    Inclusive communication through “The Power of Language,”
o    Collaborated with Victim Support to develop campaigns and training on hate crime awareness and reporting.

Three impactful projects were funded through the Mid and South West Wales Community Cohesion Team Regional Small Grants Scheme:

CETMA’s ‘INCLUDE: Say No to Hate’ campaign delivered impactful events across Llanelli, Carmarthen, and Fishguard, including coffee mornings and a strong social media presence. The initiative engaged 240 attendees, 10 partner organisations, and secured 11 “Safe from Hate” commitments. With over 67,500 social media views, the campaign significantly raised awareness of hate crime, strengthened local partnerships, and laid the groundwork for future expansion.

The Llanelli Unites initiative hosted three inclusive events featuring spoken word, music, and cultural performances. It exceeded targets by attracting 88 attendees, and engaged with diverse partners such as People Speak Up and Llanelli Queer Collective. Through multilingual promotion and accessible venues, the events successfully reached underrepresented groups. Survey feedback highlighted a positive impact on perceptions of community cohesion and identified opportunities for deeper engagement in future events on perceptions of cohesion.

St Clears Town Council delivered a week-long Anti-graffiti Arts Project that engaged schools, youth groups, and older residents to address hate-related graffiti through creative expression. The project exceeded its participation target with 75 attendees. The project integrated equality themes into school curricula, and led to a visible reduction in graffiti, and increased interest in public art.

 

Transforming Tyisha Project

The Tyisha ward has been identified as one of the more significantly deprived wards within Carmarthenshire and has an important geographical position between the town centre of Llanelli and the new Pentre Awel development. A project team has been created to transform the area with key objectives on:

• Reducing crime and antisocial behaviour,
• Improving health and well-being,
• Increasing employment and educational opportunities,
• Improving the environment,
• Delivering improvements across housing stock and developing key strategic sites for new housing and community facilities.

The Transforming Tyisha project is an important part of a suite of strategic interventions currently being undertaken by the Council involving investment, development, engagement, and enforcement measures delivered through a holistic and sustainable approach. The main ethos of the project is to transform the area into a vibrant, cohesive, and resilient community that will adapt to the changes needed. This will be completed through significant behavioural change, forming one of the toughest challenges for the project. This change is a long process delivered through educational programmes, service changes, and raising awareness. Following this change, the community should be able to independently target the key issues in a sustainable manner, alongside Council interventions.

Community engagement is a key element to making any placemaking project successful. We need to ensure that we engage with the community every step of the journey. This will ensure that we develop community cohesion, resilience, and longevity for the community once the project comes to an end.

 

Is Anyone Better Off? 

Clos Sant Paul – Transforming Tyisha

As part of the Transforming Tyisha programme, a “Planning for Real” exercise revealed that residents of Clos Sant Paul felt unsafe due to high levels of crime and antisocial behaviour. Community members frequently reported individuals loitering under the influence of alcohol and substances. Six residents expressed that they were unable to use their front gardens and were considering relocating via the social housing register.

In response, a partnership with Dyfed Powys Police led to an Environmental Visual Audit to identify practical solutions, such as:

• Installation of low-level fencing to deter loitering,
• Introduction of Neighbourhood Watch schemes,
• Deployment of ring doorbells and additional CCTV,
• A joint crime action plan with regular patrols,
• Support from local agencies to address substance misuse.

A robust community engagement plan was also implemented to build cohesion, confidence, and resilience. These efforts aimed to empower residents to take ownership of local issues and sustain improvements beyond the life of the project.

Post-intervention surveys showed 90% resident satisfaction, with comments such as “Made the area safe and looks better” and “A safe area for my children to live and play”.

Overall, crime in the Tyisha ward has reduced by 34%, demonstrating the effectiveness of a holistic, community-led approach to regeneration.

 

How can we do better? 

We will work closely with Dyfed Powys Police and other partners to deliver an updated joint action plan to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across Carmarthenshire, including surveillance operations, enforcement measures, and awareness campaigns. We will complete the final year of the three-year Community Cohesion Plan, support the Safer Communities Partnership, and review safer routes and traffic calming measures in towns and villages. In collaboration with the Public Services Board (PSB), we will also enhance engagement and recruitment practices to improve representation from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, providing clear guidance and support through our website and community networks.

In Summary

During the year, Leisure and Tourism in Carmarthenshire achieved several notable milestones. Pembrey Country Park distinguished itself as the only site in Wales to hold both Blue Flag and Green Flag accreditations, underscoring its excellence in coastal and parkland management. Cefn Sidan Beach, within the park, retained its Blue Flag status, reflecting high standards in water quality, environmental stewardship, safety, and visitor facilities. The park also earned the title of Best Campsite at the South West Wales Tourism Awards and represented the region at the National Wales Tourism Awards in March 2025. It also hosted the high-profile ‘Battle of the Beach’ event, drawing over 700 competitors from across Europe. 
The 14-bed Caban accommodation and restaurant continued to perform strongly, maintaining near-perfect customer reviews and a 4-star Visit Wales rating. 
Meanwhile, CofGâr, the County Council’s Museums and Arts Service, received the Best Attraction award for the Museum of Land Speed in Pendine. This museum is known for its sustainable design and engaging exhibits, and has attracted global visitors, and hosted a diverse range of events, including corporate functions, children’s activities, and weddings, all set against the scenic backdrop of Pendine’s seven-mile sands.

 

How are we Doing? 

• Overnight and day visitors contribute £683m to the local economy supporting 6,649 full time jobs.
• There were almost 750,000 visits (in person and online) to our libraries during 2024/25. This is a 13% improvement on the previous year of 660,000. This increase was achieved through various events in our libraries such as Makerspace events, Saturday Clubs, Digital Training Sessions, Crochet and Sewing Clubs, as well as World Book Day visits and Christmas Craft Fayres. Our digital visits continue to remain high with customers benefitting from our range of digital eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, and training apps.
• The number of visits to our leisure centres during 2024/25 are at an all-time high and just below two million (1,941,547), which equates to just over 10,000 visits per 1,000 population. Growth in fitness sales, especially in rural settings, and improvements in group sessions and data capture have all helped improve attendances.

 

Progress Against Outcomes 

Outcome: People feel empowered to lead active and healthy lives through access to fit for purpose services and provision.

Lifting Through Change

The project was launched in Whitland to support women who are peri-menopausal or menopausal. The initiative combined strength training sessions delivered by Actif with expert-led information from health board teams. The programme aimed to reduce osteoporosis risk in older women whilst increasing awareness of the signs, symptoms, and challenges associated with menopause. Participants received guidance on nutrition, pelvic health, and psychological well-being. The 10-week pilot demonstrated significant benefits, including increased confidence to engage in physical activity, improved knowledge, and enhanced well-being scores. Based on its success, plans are underway to secure additional funding to expand the project and develop a digital resource to reach a wider audience. 

 

Actif Sport and Leisure

Investments into the facility portfolio have included the new Athletics Facilities and 3G pitch at Amman Valley Leisure Centre, changing facilities at Penrhos 3G, Health Suite Replacement at Carmarthen Leisure Centre, and smaller scale investment into refurbishments and equipment provisions at various leisure centres. Programmes have continued to evolve and develop in conjunction with listening to customer demands and utilising targeted grant funding to ensure a robust response. This has been fruitful, demonstrated by growth in attendance and associated improvements in income.

 

Pembrey Country Park  

Pembrey Country Park is now the only site in Wales to hold both Blue Flag and Green Flag accreditations, highlighting its excellence in both coastal and parkland management.
Cefn Sidan Beach, located within the park, has once again earned the prestigious Blue Flag award. This internationally recognised accolade, administered by Keep Wales Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, reflects the beach’s outstanding water quality, environmental management, safety standards and visitor amenities. 

Pembrey Country Park was named Best Campsite at the South West Wales Tourism Awards, recognising its outstanding facilities, customer service, and commitment to sustainability. The park went on to represent the region at the National Wales Tourism Awards in March 2025. The park hosted the flagship ‘Battle of the Beach’, which attracted over 700 competitors from across Europe to Carmarthenshire.

 

Caban Accommodation

Our 14-bed Caban accommodation and restaurant continues to thrive, with customer reviews averaging close to 5 stars and the site proudly holding a 4-star Visit Wales rating. 

 

CofGâr

CofGâr, the County Council’s Museums and Arts Service, secured the award for Best Attraction for its renowned Museum of Land Speed in Pendine. The site celebrates the history of land speed records on the famous sands and attracts visitors from all over the world. This fun, hands on museum is a model of sustainable design that hosts special exhibits alongside interactive displays. Its purpose-built function space has welcomed a variety of events this year, from corporate meetings and children’s activities to a beautiful wedding ceremony, all whilst offering spectacular views of Pendine’s seven-mile sands.

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

Mindful Movement (with CYCA)

Two eight-week Mindful Movement courses were delivered in partnership with CYCA (Connecting Youth, Children, and Adults) underpinned by their Resilience Model. The programme supported participants through journaling, stress awareness, and gentle exercise, empowering individuals to reflect, set goals, and improve their mental and physical well-being. The initiative had a transformative effect on participants, with many reporting reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and a renewed sense of purpose.

One participant shared, “The sessions have really helped my anxiety through yoga, discussion, and journalling. I will definitely carry on these techniques.” 

Another described a life-changing experience: “I now smile more; I socialise and am happier in life – it’s been a big turning point for me.”  

Participants also gained motivation to make positive lifestyle changes. One individual was inspired to start a business and write a book, saying, “I feel so happy, and I am loving life.” 

Others reported improved family relationships and emotional resilience: “I now shout less at the children… my anxiety has reduced, and I feel I can cope with more in life.” 

The programme supported individual growth but also fostered a sense of community and empowerment, equipping participants with lifelong tools to manage stress and maintain well-being.

 

How can we do better?

We will invest in new and improved leisure and tourism facilities, including the opening of Pentre Awel Zone 1 in Llanelli as part of a flagship health and well-being hub. We will continue to participate in the Celtic Routes Project to promote Carmarthenshire as a tourist destination and complete a business feasibility study to support the ambition to reopen Kidwelly Industrial Museum as a modern community resource. We will also roll out Actif Anywhere for schools, provide Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time and after-school support, and establish a network for early years partners to reinforce the importance of being active from a young age.

In Summary

• The current Waste Collection Strategy continues to provide an increase in reuse and recycling tonnage performance, surpassing the National Target Statutory target of 70%.
• The average municipal waste per person not recycled has reduced.
• The percentage of waste sent to landfill has reduced.
• The Council has increased the kerbside glass collection service to 99% of residents.
• Ongoing and enhanced awareness raising and educational support through a comprehensive community outreach plan to promote recycling and sustainability.
• Further development and delivery of our Eto reuse and Circular Economy projects. The education programme and shop provision promote resource efficiency, recovery, repair, and a circular economy to various social groups, communities, and residents.
• The Council has improved the average number of days taken to clear fly-tipping incidents, which continues to fall. 

 

How are we Doing? 

• Our recycling rate continued to improve to 71.3% in 2024/25, exceeding the National Recycling Target of 70% by the end of March 2025. The most recent all-Wales data from 2023/24 shows a national recycling rate of 66.6% and places Carmarthenshire with the sixth highest in Wales. Comparative data for 2024/25 will not be available until January 2026.
• The percentage of waste sent to landfill reduced further to 1.31% but has not met the National target of Zero Waste to landfill by 2025 (the Welsh Government’s requirement is that ‘Landfill will be eliminated as far as possible, with the view that the Local Authority is striving towards +70% reuse and recycling targets.’)
• Our 2024 residents survey received just over 3,500 respondents. Although the majority tend to agree that their local environment is pleasant and well looked after, there is a high proportion which disagree. The overall score of 0.03 has worsened very slightly on the previous year’s result of 0.04. Some comments highlighted issues in relation to street cleansing, waste, and litter, which are likely to be contributory factors.
• The average municipal waste per person not recycled has remained static at 122Kg at the end of 2024/25, compared to 121Kg in 2023/24. National comparative data shows Carmarthenshire’s rate is better than the all-Wales figure, and second of all counties.
• Our bi-monthly Local Environmental Audit and Management System (LEAMS) surveys conducted during 2024/25 shows that there is more litter found in the streets of Carmarthenshire, with smoking related and fast-food litter being the most predominant. In addition, black and blue bags discarded in our streets have also influenced the levels of litter found, particularly in the Llanelli area. We have commenced an anti-litter communication plan to support the Council’s strategy in tackling this issue. Once complete, a local action plan will be developed and include engagement with key businesses, communicate a clear anti-litter message, set out how we will work with the local community and volunteer groups to reduce litter, and identify enforcement actions for those that continue to litter.
• The average number of days taken to clear fly tipping incidents has improved to 2.2 days during 2024/25 with just under 1,700 reported incidents cleared.

 

Progress Against Outcomes 

Outcome: On track to meet the national recycling targets. 

Recycling

• Our initial recycling figure for 2024/25 is awaiting verification by Natural Resources Wales but indicated to be 71.3%. This exceeds the statutory national target of 70% for 2025. This success is due to a new kerbside collection system with features like weekly collections for dry mixed recycling and food waste, and separate collections for glass and 3 weekly black bags. This system aligns with the Council's vision for implementing a modern waste service that is compliant with Welsh Government’s Blueprint collection methodology.
• Kerbside glass collection was initially implemented to 95% of households during the waste service change in January 2023. Further households have been included during 2024/25, with 99% of households now receiving a glass bottle and jars kerbside collection service.
• To support households without kerbside collection and to supplement collections exceeding the container provision, we have 25 community bring sites positioned at strategic locations around the county.
• A comprehensive community engagement programme was put in place during 2024/25 to promote recycling and achieve our aspirations of increased recycling capture:  
  o    Delivering 22 presentations to community groups and stakeholders.
  o    Supported 10 community led events to promote recycling, reuse, and sustainability. 
  o    Engaged directly with 10,037 households through face-to-face engagement via a community recycling advisor to support kerbside recycling compliance. 
  o    We completed 950 reactive monitoring of kerbside set out rates to establish further recycling support requirements to certain households.
• We have continued to collaborate with relevant organisations such as Wrap Cymru, Natural Resources Wales, and CWM Environmental to ensure all businesses and Council buildings were prepared for the new Workplace Recycling Regulations which came into effect in April 2024. This involved offering direct support and advice to schools, businesses, and third sector organisations to develop and share best practices to achieve effective recycling systems across the commercial sector and align with broader national waste management goals. Officers attended trade and tourism events within the County to support and answer any questions on the new legislation. Commercial waste recycling exceeded 80% by the end of the financial year.

 

Circular Economy

The Council is promoting a Circular Economy through several initiatives: 

• Canolfan Eto, Nantycaws:
  o    A reuse workshop and shop that receives donated items from our recycling centres to repair and upcycle them for resale. 
  o    Education centre.
  o    Paint reuse facility where unused paint is recycled/re-blended for resale.
• The Education and Events Coordinator for Eto Education Centre and School/Community Outreach has attended 74 schools to undertake talks and presentations, issued 190 educational learning packs on sustainability and circular economy, and welcomed 24 schools to the facility in Nantycaws.
• A Circular Economy Capacity Building event was held at Sero in February 2025. There were four talks with Q&A sessions on local circular economy project development, sharing best practice, and lessons learned. The goal was to equip community members with further information and knowledge to progress in their circular economy projects and endeavours.
• Cabinet Member circular economy awareness raising training was held in March 2025. This explained the circular economy concept, its legislative relevance, its relationship with the WBFGA, and how we as a Council are satisfying goals with our circular economy work.
• Supported Ynni Sir Gar with their Library of Things project ‘Pethau Pawb’. Funded by the Welsh Government Circular Economy fund, we established and promoted a new “Library of Things” in Llandovery to contribute to the delivery of the Programme for Government commitment to support 80 repair and reuse hubs in town centres.

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

Circular Economy Benefitting Communities

We have supported community projects with seedcorn funding to set up new circular economy projects within local communities.

 

Cadernid, Castell Newydd Emlyn Resilience

Creation of a CE hub within the town centre of Newcastle Emlyn to house a Library of Things, a community fridge and freezer, and a repair café.

 

CETMA, Kidwelly

Expand their kitchen equipment library to include other non-kitchen equipment e.g. tools including PAT testing and support a 2nd generation online shop.

 

Llanybydder Old School

Set up a Repair Café in Llanybydder Old School building, created a social space for residents’ well-being, and ran educational workshops to teach people how to do basic plumbing, DIY, knitting, crocheting, cooking, weaving, wool spinning, upcycling, gardening, and growing food.

 

Permaculture Tywi Fabric Upcycling Group

Repurpose waste yarns and fabrics into new products for community and charity benefit.

How can we do better? 

We aim to maintain or exceed the Welsh Government statutory recycling target of 70% in 2025/26. We will begin the next phase of our waste service changes by adopting the Welsh Government blueprint for kerbside sorting and expanding the range of recyclable materials collected from 2026 onwards. We will also work closely with communities to raise awareness, tackle contamination in the blue bag recycling stream, and provide clear information and support to ensure waste is disposed of correctly.

 

In Summary

The Council prioritises maintenance of the highway network, especially during Winter, to ensure uninterrupted access to essential services. However, the road surface condition deteriorated in 2024/25, with a significant increase in reported defects. We have continued to work through major strategic challenges such as the national 20mph campaign, development of regional transport planning, and the trajectory towards net zero carbon aspirations.
We have been proactive in delivering change and have successfully obtained grant funding to support service delivery. However, we face challenges with reducing capital and revenue budgets, rising public expectation, supply chain pressures, and deteriorating asset condition. This has led to a difficult operating environment for Highway and Transportation services.
We have worked with Welsh Government (WG) to secure funding via the Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) to assist in delivering our contribution towards ensuring the resilience of our network. This will be delivered in line with our Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP), which prioritises investment that safeguards strategic connectivity. 

 

How are we Doing?

Road Condition Survey – Percentage in Poor Condition

• Compared to the 2022/23 survey, there has been no change in the percentage of our Class A roads considered in 'Poor Condition', while there are slightly more of our Class B roads, and slightly less of our Class C roads.
• Our 2024 residents survey received just over 3,500 respondents. In the question, ‘I am able to access the services that you need’, whilst many responded ‘neither’ (29%), slightly more respondents disagreed (35%) than agreed (33%). The score has worsened slightly on the previous year, suggesting that sentiments have not returned to those in 2022, which were positive.
• In the statement ‘there are good transportation links around me’, the residents survey score declined from -0.45 to -0.59.

Progress Against Outcomes

Outcome: Look to improve access to services through enhanced transportation networks and infrastructure.

We are actively investing in enhancing public transportation and infrastructure across the county.

 

Connecting Communities

Tywi Valley Path

£16.7m UK Government Levelling UP funds are being utilised to deliver this ambitious project that connects rural communities within the Tywi Valley. The first four-mile section between Abergwili and Nantgaredig opened in April 2025, providing a valuable safe, sustainable, and affordable means of connecting communities. 

Addressing Rural Transport Needs

Bws Bach y Wlad Bus Service

We have developed an initiative to bridge the gap in public transport accessibility for residents in North Carmarthenshire's rural areas. It directly responds to the discontinued Bwcabus service, ensuring residents can connect to economic opportunities and fostering regional growth and development. 

Enhancing Road Infrastructure

A484 Sandy Road Improvements (Phase 1)

This completed project has yielded several benefits for Llanelli. The redesigned Sandy Road roundabout and its approaches promote a shift towards active travel options like cycling and walking. This improves air quality, reduces traffic congestion, and improves public transport journey reliability. In doing so, this improves accessibility and the economic vitality of Llanelli town centre. The second phase of the project has secured funding from the WG Transport Fund and will be delivered in the Summer of 2025. This will see improvements made to the Sandy Road/Maesycoed junction to improve traffic flows, reduce congestion, and provide a safer environment for all road users.

 

A, B, and C Road Maintenance

We continue to prioritise funding across the road network in a risk-based manner, with priority given to the busier sections of road. In 2024/25, we invested £2million in highway surfacing. Improvements in the road condition indicator are shown on C class roads, with A roads remaining steady, and a slight decline in class B road conditions. The Council acknowledges the need for further funding to address the condition of unclassified and rural roads. Through the Welsh Government Resilient Roads fund, we secured £500,000 of funding to carry out major repair works across the County. This funding supported us on several significant emergencies, including three collapsed road embankments, two failed retaining walls, and two collapsed culverts. 

 

Maintenance

We prioritise maintaining the highway network throughout the year to ensure residents have uninterrupted access to essential services and vulnerable residents receive care and support. Strategic routes are treated with salt as part of the Winter Service Plan to maintain the flow of vital services and supplies. 
Road surface condition continued to deteriorate in 2024/25 particularly on lower class roads. The number of customers reporting surface defects and potholes (2,567) decreased by 21% compared to 2023/24, but this is still an 88% increase compared to 2022/23 figures. Reductions in preventative maintenance programmes leave our roads vulnerable to rapid deterioration, increasingly as weather extremes become more frequent.

 

Safety

Each year, the Road Safety Team carry out a programme to identify locations where personal injury collisions are a cause for concern, then devise engineering measures to reduce the risk of collisions occurring. This is carried out using collision data from Dyfed-Powys Police, who are responsible for collecting all personal injury road traffic collision data. This provides the means of making sure that the direction and focus is current and remains relevant. Between 2015 and 2023, Carmarthenshire saw a 25% reduction in personal injury collisions. Deaths and injuries from road traffic collisions impose a significant economic, environmental, health, and social burden on society. The reduction of collisions and casualties supports a key corporate objective for healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities.

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

Empowering Rural Communities

We reaffirmed our commitment to the wellbeing and prosperity of rural residents by launching two initiatives: Bws Bach y Wlad and Hwb Bach y Wlad. These represented significant steps in ensuring that residents of North Carmarthenshire have access to vital resources and support, regardless of rural barriers.

Thanks to essential funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, the Bws Bach y Wlad offered a service five days a week as part of a nine-month pilot project. The initiative is designed to empower and enrich the lives of residents living in rural areas by addressing the challenges of isolation and limited access to essential services. Bws Bach y Wlad does this by providing easy access to vital support services, pursuit of educational and employment opportunities, and recreational activities. These opportunities also extend to the young people of rural Carmarthenshire, who benefit from discounted rates for travelling so that they may explore opportunities beyond their immediate vicinity.

Building on the success of this project, we have also introduced Hwb Bach y Wlad – a comprehensive support hub tailored to meet the diverse needs of rural residents. Individuals can now receive advice on council services, cost of living, waste and recycling, consumer and business affairs, housing issues, and referrals to partner organisations. It is an extension of our Hwb Customer Service, which has reached over 6,000 customers by visiting community halls, food banks, leisure centres, and farmer’s marts.

Cllr Edward Thomas, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, and Infrastructure Services, said:

“Carmarthenshire County Council remains dedicated to enhancing the lives of all residents, and these initiatives underscore our unwavering commitment to fostering thriving and inclusive communities in rural Carmarthenshire.

By providing essential support services and bridging the gap between remote areas and vital resources, we are empowering individuals to thrive and fostering inclusive communities in rural Carmarthenshire.”

 

How can we do better?

We continue to invest in transport infrastructure to improve access to services and support economic growth, with a focus on sustainability and rural connectivity. Our plans include developing a Regional Transport Plan (standardised term), progressing the South West Wales METRO, and investing in electric vehicle infrastructure supported by a forthcoming Fleet Transition Strategy. We will review the Highway Capital Investment Programme, pilot Transport Surgeries to improve public engagement, and develop a new Car Parking Strategy to align with our economic and sustainability goals.