A green-blue portrait of Llandovery

Image: Brecon Beacons National Park on Llandovery's doorstep

Llandovery is an important market town in the wider Upper Tywi Valley area and a gateway to the Brecon Beacons from north Carmarthenshire.  The town lies on a broad floodplain at the confluence of three rivers – the Afon Bran, the Afon Gwydderig and the River Tywi.

Llandovery has both red squirrel habitat and distinctive “ffridd” habitat – the fringe between more intensively managed upland fields and the open mountain habitat.

The town also contains several popular tourist and local attractions. The Brecon Beacons can be accessed along walking and cycling routes. There are also recreation opportunities along the riverside for walking, golf and fishing. The ruins of Llandovery castle overlook the river and a cluster of heritage assets and independent shops can be found in the town.

However, despite Llandovery’s riverside location and setting, the town centre lacks a strong connection to its river corridors and green space.

 

Image: Llandovery town on Market Day

“The tree lined approach to the town enhances the setting”

“There is a lack of walks from the town or access to the river and limited green space and seating in the town.”

– Stakeholder, online survey

See Appendix A for a summary of all stakeholder comments.

What are the key challenges facing Llandovery?

Flooding

Llandovery is not a highly developed town. However, almost the entire town is at risk of river flooding.

Flood defences protect around a third of the town, however, the majority of Llandovery remains at risk and there are large areas of impermeable ground around the Green Lodge Industrial Estate and the town centre. Climate change is also expected to gradually increase the intensity of rainfall, further increasing flood risk. This risk is expected to be exacerbated by climate change.

Economy and public realm

Llandovery is a developing market town with an economy formed of small businesses alongside traditional sectors such as agriculture, services and tourism industries. A new creative quarter is being supported for makers, designers, engineers and creative entrepreneurs.

Llandovery’s economy and retail centre is threatened by the long-term effects of Covid-19 and wider trends. The town aims to boost the local visitor economy with plans to re-brand the town as a cycle hub. Poorly maintained town centre buildings and spaces detract from an otherwise attractive town centre. Making more of Llandovery’s natural environment could play an important role in promoting the visitor economy.

Image: Cycling with Cyngordy Viaduct in the background

Population

Llandovery is experiencing a decline in population that may impact its active local community. As elsewhere, the GBI network will need to respond to needs of an ageing population. The social and economic status of Llandovery residents is around the average for Wales in most areas of the town. Improved access to a high quality GBI network across the town may help to draw people back to the town.

Welsh language

Consultees reported little visual use of Welsh and Welsh speaking staff in the town, or Welsh speakers establishing their own businesses in Llandovery. Support for the use and promotion of the Welsh language and culture is a key objective of Llandovery’s Economic Growth Plan.

Access to green space

Carmarthenshire’s Open Space Assessment (2020) highlights deficits in the provision of and access to public open space, such as formal parks and gardens. It also highlights a deficit in provision for children and young people.

Map of key opportunities in Llandovery

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View the full GBI toolbox, learn how to use the toolbox with each town and explore the map of green and blue infrastructure assets in Carmarthenshire in more detail.

Overview of key opportunities for Llandovery’s GBI network

The paragraphs below provide further commentary on the GBI opportunities highlighted in the map above.

Residential areas and key roads to the south of the town and along the river corridors should be prioritised for protection against river flooding.

There are opportunities for depaving or increasing permeability at the extensive car parks, paved and heavily built-up areas in the towns, including at the railway station – this would reduce the risk of surface water flooding and improve the gateway to the town.

Targeted SuDS features could also be implemented around vulnerable community facilities like the Castle Sports Ground. Prioritising de-paving and multifunctional SuDS features as part of strategic new developments will also bring significant value.  These include the Ysgol Rhys Pritchard School site, the Llandovery Maker Space and the Church Bank Industrial Estate.

Natural Resources Wales has identified large areas along the River Tywi, Afon Bran, Afon Gwyderrig, golf club and cricket pitch where planting additional floodplain and riparian woodland would aid Natural Flood Management (NFM). Access to riverside areas could be improved, and these areas could simultaneously be enhanced for wildlife.

Interpretation boards around the town’s rivers and green spaces should highlight bird watching opportunities and providing information on local habitats and species. Improving the signage on natural features around assets like the castle, and on routes that link to the Brecon Beacons, may encourage visitors to stay longer and explore the town.

Creating green spaces where visitors and locals can enjoy Llandovery’s heritage assets – such as Llandovery Castle – would increase the attractiveness and visitor value of the town.

Despite the attractive landscape setting Llandovery sits within, there is a scarcity of green features in the town itself. Localised environmental enhancements could include green boundary treatments (streets), improved pedestrian routes, landscaping, pockets parks or green roofs on bus stops. This would create a stronger sense of place and distinctiveness.

These features could also provide outdoor space for local hospitality businesses and would better support Llandovery’s ambitions to be a starting point and destination for outdoor recreation. Greening the emerging “makers” business quarter and improving its walkability would also help to attract further investment into the area.

Key corridors where street trees would provide most value include extending the tree lined approach to the town, routes from the railway station and the walking route between the high street and new “makers quarter”.

While narrow streets make street trees more challenging, the reconfiguration of some parking spaces could help make space for street trees in the public realm.

Wider woodland planting in the surrounding landscape will be important to enhance environmental resilience in the wider area.

Key destinations that should be linked by high-quality green routes include the town centre, Poor Man’s Wood, the Ynysdawela Nature Park, the Heart of Wales line and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Another key focus for walking and cycling routes will be to better connect the town to its riverside – by improving access along the River Bran.

High quality wayfinding will be important, particularly to encourage increased tourism passing through the town. GBI should be closely integrated into plans for the proposed Cycle Hub and its wider strategy.

Opportunities to provide multiple functions in existing green spaces can be found around Llandovery Castle and in local parks. This could include managing them as ‘wilder’, less managed landscapes.

Wildflower planting should be pursued along mown grass verges – particular at key “gateways” to the town and along the railway corridor.

Growing spaces established in the grounds of Llandovery’s schools could also function as outdoor classrooms. Within these grounds, living walls and rain gardens features would also reduce surface water run-off and combat air pollution.

Other disused areas of open space should be explored for potential transfer to community groups as community gardens. Links with the Llandovery maker space could also make shared tools and space available for the community.

Existing play spaces in Llandovery could be enhanced with more opportunities for nature-based, imaginative play which also benefits biodiversity.

However, there is also an opportunity to weave “playful spaces” throughout Llandovery’s GBI network, by providing incidental play features (such as landscaping or public art) along river corridors. Opportunities to create natural playful spaces at the planned Llandovery Parc Antur (Adventure Park) could be a priority area to start.

Key opportunities in Llandovery beyond GBI include boosting the local economy and high street to create a centre for the community. They also include supporting start-ups and “makers” and promoting the town’s location and natural environment for outdoor recreation and tourism. This is discussed further in the Economic Growth Plan for Llandovery.