Street plans boost to town house

Cars will no longer travel along Bridge Street in Llanelli

The restoration of one of Wales' oldest town houses is to be boosted by a £1.3m grant to pedestrianise the street it stands on.

Campaigners aiming to return Llanelly House to its former glory said it was an important step in their plans.

Cars will be banned from Bridge Street in the Llanelli conservation area and will link 11 listed buildings.

It is was part of a £13m package for 15 projects announced by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Llanelly House, built in 1714, was the Welsh finalist in the original BBC2 series Restoration, which saw the public vote for run-down buildings they thought should be saved.

'Critical'

It was originally hoped that Wednesday's announcement by social justice minister Edwina Hart would include £500,000 for work for the exterior of the building.

Other grant awards in Wales: Cinema lovers' joy at £1.5m boost

But project director William Wilkins said a separate bid for money for the house itself would be made next year.

"We can now proceed with real confidence that we can create something of great value for the people of Llanelli," he added.

"This decision is critical to our ability to get the grants we need to restore the house."

Work is expected to start next summer.

The pedestrianisation scheme aimed to create a better setting for the listed buildings, including the parish church, enhance the environment for visitors and improve the air quality.

The grant was awarded as part of the assembly government's physical regeneration fund to tackle derelict or decaying buildings and improve town centres and industrial areas.