WORK on a new bowling alley in Carmarthen could get under way by the end of the year after almost £800,000 in funding was secured.

Church leaders want to develop a bowling alley at the former St Ivel factory in Johnstown.

Towy Community Church has been given £798,202 from the Community Asset Transfer Programme (Cat) — a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and Welsh Assembly Government.

It means the ambitious Xcel Bowl project in Llansteffan Road can now get under way.

The scheme is being supported by Carmarthenshire Council.

Towy Community Church leader Mark Bennett said: "We are thrilled to be able to go ahead with a project that will bring sustainable long-term benefits to local people."

Project co-ordinator Lynne Collinson added: "If all goes well, we hope to be on site by the end of the year and hope to open in December 2011."

Alongside the 12-lane bowling alley, the first phase of the development will also include a food bank and a furniture recycling facility to benefit families experiencing hardship, projects that will be funded by the profits from the bowling business.

The second phase of the project will include a 50-seat community café and 500-seat conference centre. The aim is to create an accessible community facility which will run as a social enterprise, with all profits being ploughed back in to projects that will benefit the community.

Projects in the pipeline include a free debt counselling service, money management classes, and arts activities aimed at teenagers.

In January, the county council granted £10,000 from its Community Regeneration Fund to contribute towards pre-project survey costs, and has supported throughout the Big Lottery bid.

Carmarthenshire Council has been working in partnership with Towy Community Church from the outset, and has agreed favourable lease terms for the 2.7- acre former cheese packing factory site.

The council's regeneration executive board member Clive Scourfield said: "This is fantastic news, and we look forward to seeing work start on this exciting project.

"We are proud to support Towy Community Church in its vision to create a multi-purpose life centre which will create new jobs and empower the community."

ian.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk