Call for independent inquiry into Carmarthenshire Council’s Atriwm project defeated

A campaigner calling for a public inquiry into Carmartenshire Council’s Atriwm project at the former Debenhams building in Carmarthen, says that a residents’ petition should have been heard before councillors’ inquiry motion.

Community campaigner Scott Bayes says he only found out after a meeting that two Labour county councillors had called for an independent inquiry into the County Council’s Atriwm project, currently underway at the former Debenhams premises at a meeting of Full Council the previous day.

Cllr Rob Evans and Cllr Nysia Evans, Labour county councillors representing Dafen and Felinfoel wards, brought forward the motion at Full Council on Wednesday, November 11, but it was defeated.

Bayes presented his petition to the County Council on Thursday, November 12. The e-petition, organised by Bayes, ran from September 2 to November 2 and received 848 signatures. It calls for a public inquiry into the project.

Bayes said he was disappointed that the motion had been debated before residents’ petition was presented to the Council—and that he only learned about it after today’s meeting.

He stated: “I only found out after today’s meeting that this motion had been discussed at Full Council yesterday. I was disappointed to learn that it had been brought forward the day before I was due to present a petition signed by 848 residents.

“The petition represents a clear call from the public for an independent inquiry. It should have been presented to the Council before councillors brought forward their motion. Residents have been raising these concerns and calling for answers. Councillors should not use the issue to claim credit for a campaign that has been driven by the public.”

The Council’s scrutiny committee did not support holding an independent inquiry, citing the potential cost.

The committee agreed that a report setting out project costs would be published on December 11.

Bayes said the promised report was not enough.

“A report on costs is welcome, but it is not a substitute for a full independent inquiry,” he continued.

“We need to see the full costs, the figures and the evidence behind the decisions. Residents deserve to know how the project moved from its original budget to its current projected cost, and what oversight took place.

“I will keep pressing the Council for answers and holding it to account.”

The project, known as the Hwb/Atriwm, at the former Debenhams building in Carmarthen, has faced questions over its rising costs and how the project was approved and managed.