04-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Councillor claims Ammanford masterplan is a 'smokescreen'
Cllr Anthony Jones believes the proposed masterplan is a way for Carmarthenshire County Council to profess there are plans to develop and improve Ammanford.
This comes after the county council released an update on the Ammanford masterplan, confirming that a feasibility masterplan is being carried out.
Cllr Jones said: 'The recent county council capital budget plan shows no investment in Ammanford, and I believe this masterplan is a smokescreen to pretend there is an intention of doing something.
'Timelines of a masterplan will now put an investment further away and be used as an excuse not to invest until the report is back and then shelved.
'Personally, I can't believe the county councils plan is another study! This will mean more taxpayers money spent on consultants than providing for the town.
'Ammanford requires immediate investment like the Debenhams and Wilko's store where action was undertaken immediately to benefit Carmarthen Town. We welcome this for Carmarthen, but we are promised a plan in comparison.'
Cllr Jones, who is leader of the Labour Party on Ammanford Town Council, has also blamed the Plaid Cymru administration.
He continued: 'This lack of investment for Ammanford comes from the lack of proper representation from the Plaid Cymru county councillors elected to serve the town; their silence is deafening.
'Ammanford has been demoted by the decisions at County Hall. The eviction of town council is the final insult without consultation or consideration of options for the taxpayers who paid for it before Carmarthenshire took custodianship of our assets.
'This administration is worse than Conservatives, because they pretend to care while disposing of an asset required long into the future. Ammanford continues to be exploited with jobs losses and Plaid Cymru elected representatives saying nothing.'
Meanwhile, Cabinet member for resources, Cllr Alun Lenny has responded to Cllr Jones claims, reiterating there is a masterplan for Ammanford.
Cllr Lenny said: 'The new feasibility study which Labour's Anthony Jones ridicules, is substantially funded by the Welsh Labour Government!
'It builds on the masterplan by enabling the County Council to be ready to bid for substantial UK Government funding once the details are announced later this year.
'This study is an essential part of the process of securing huge investment to transform Ammanford Town centre, something which most local people would welcome, I'm sure.
'I'm personally quite shocked that Anthony, whom I've known well for many years, should accuse me of not telling the truth and misleading the council when I said that there is an Ammanford Masterplan. That's a very serious accusation.'
