The platforms of a former railway station in north Carmarthenshire have been uncovered after years of being hidden from view by a dense blanket of brambles and weeds.

Clearing and renovation work has been ongoing at Bro’r Orsaf, Llanfihangel ar Arth, over the last few months as part of a community effort to celebrate the history of the area.

The local history club was successful in applying for two grants to help with the scheme: a Tidy Towns grant provided by the Welsh Government, and an Environmental Works Project grant provided by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of its £203 million Carmarthenshire Homes Standard project.
Before work began, the area was overgrown and strewn with hundreds of bags of litter. A local contractor was brought on board to clear the area, peeling back the overgrowth and exposing historic features that tell the story of times gone by.
As well as bringing the platform area back to life, the grants have also enabled new fencing and drainage works to be completed.

Environmental Works Project Manager Clare Tinkler said: “The Environmental Works Project forms part of the Carmarthenshire Homes Standard – a major improvement programme to update council homes and benefit communities. This project is a prime example of how this funding can be used to enhance communities and bring people together.”

It is hoped that further grant funding will be secured in the near future to complete the scheme as far as the tunnel area, with the history club then planning to take over the lease of the land to develop it as a site of historic interest.

Carmarthenshire’s Executive Board Member for Housing, Councillor Hugh Evans, said: “It is wonderful to see history being uncovered in this way. I’m sure that the area will be nurtured and well looked after by residents for years to come.”