WORK will begin on Monday on the final phase of transforming a former Amman Valley eyesore.

Carmarthenshire county council leader Cllr Kevin Madge has welcomed the imminent start on the third phase of the redevelopment of the Palais site in Garnant.

The Palais opened on December 31, 1923, to be used as a cinema and dance hall which held regular dance competitions. It changed owners and became the British Legion Hall in 1934. It was named Haig Hall after Field Marshall Douglas Haig and was used as a memorial hall for the war heroes of Cwmaman.

But the old Palais has become a major eyesore as it is now in a very poor state of repair. Local residents highlighted the site in previous community consultation exercises as a site which should be developed.

This involved the site being acquired by Carmarthenshire county council with assistance from the Western Valleys Regeneration Area Fund. The corrugated iron clad building which exhibited major dilapidation was demolished and the site was cleared.

Phase Two involved treatment of japanese knotweed and the acquisition of an adjacent parcel of land considered essential if the site was to be enhanced to its full potential.

Phase Three will include the creation of a recreational amenity area with interpretation boards and an area for the parking of vehicles. The area created will link with the nearby Amman and Loughor Heritage Trails and Amman Valley Cycleway and will be available for use by the local community as well as visitors and tourists.

County council chiefs hope to draw walkers, riders and cyclists to the area as well as developing much-needed links to regional walking and cycling routes. They say previous consultation exercises in and around the Garnant/Cwmaman area identified the lack of this type of provision in the Amman area.

Works will be based around the creation of surfaced pathways, car parking facilities, equestrian parking facilities, low-key planting with landscaping and seating and viewing areas.

Cllr Kevin Madge said: “I am delighted that work is starting on the final phase of the redevelopment of the site. The Palais had sadly become an