Merlin's 'too pagan' for town

PLANS for a statue of Merlin as part of the rebranding of Carmarthen's Greyfriars Shopping Centre as Merlin's Walk are expected to be rejected tomorrow, because of the wizard's "pagan links".

The Greyfriars site dates back to 1282, and is seen as having great historical importance to Carmarthen, as one of the largest Franciscan friaries in Wales.

Council planners gave permission for a name change back in June, but are likely to oppose plans for new signs and a 7ft Merlin statue, at a meeting of Carmarthenshire Council's planning committee tomorrow.

But centre manager John Nash said: "To all intents and purposes we have now changed to Merlin's Walk, or Maes Myrddin in Welsh. We applied for a name change, which was agreed in June. This application is for signs and the statue, and now there seems to be this objection."

Town and county councillor Alan Speake is against the plans. He said: "If the name of Greyfriars is eradicated, then the historic link with the history of our town will be gone forever."

Carmarthen Civic Society is also objecting.

Member Henry Wilkins said: "How can history be swept aside?"

Carmarthenshire Council conservation manager Ian Thomas said of the planning bosses's objection: "To introduce a statue of a mythical pagan figure into this historic context would be harmful to the character of the area."