The award will fund the development of a state-of-the-art training barn, with the barn forming part of a £23.1 million development at Pemberton which proposes to provide a new stadium for the Scarlets, an indoor training facility and an athletics track.
Director of Resources at Carmarthenshire County Council, Roger Jones was delighted to hear that their application for funding had been successful: “The County Council is thrilled with the award which demonstrates the value placed on the development by the Sports Council for Wales.
“This grant will now ensure not only the availability of appropriate training facilities for elite rugby within Carmarthenshire, but will also provide much needed faculties for the sporting community generally and hopefully help develop future sporting champions.”
The National Lottery has made a massive contribution to sport in Wales, impacting on provision throughout Wales. Chair of the Sports Council, Philip Carling explains: “Lottery funding has a huge impact on facility provision throughout Wales. It makes a difference to participation and performance and, ultimately, the health of the nation.
“We have quite a balancing act when it comes to lottery investment. It is channelled into buildings and people – creating new facilities, improving existing facilities, supporting volunteers, establishing clubs, supporting the disabled and providing back-up to our talented athletes.
“We’re delighted that we can assist the Scarlets in developing its facilities which will impact on the regional teams, right down to the younger age-groups as well as the wider community.”
Scarlets Chief Executive Stuart Gallacher said: “It’s marvellous that this grant has been approved. It’s an important step towards a vibrant, competitive future for the club as the professional era moves forward.
“The stadium complex is now assured a top class training barn which will bring great benefits to the community, economy and the Scarlets.
“The community will benefit from public use of the barn. We see it being used for different sports at different times, with local amateur and community-based sides among those using the facility. This promotes health and wellbeing and partnership links between community organisations.
“The economy will benefit from direct employment at the barn, added to the jobs created by the stadium. As the barn will be used regularly by the public, there will be indirect employment through the greater purchase of goods and supplies locally.
“The Scarlets will benefit from having a state-of-the-art training barn which will help attract new players and which will help in our ongoing pursuit of rugby excellence.”
The funding earmarked for the Scarlets by the Sports Council still has to be formally applied for by the region, although their overall, outline plans have received approval.
