CARMARTHENSHIRE county council’s has bought Ammanford’s former courthouse site – for an undisclosed sum – to “take forward ambitious regeneration plans to redevelop the town centre.”

The council’s regeneration department has bought the building, together with the adjacent former police station site, and is working on a development brief for a mixed-use proposal on the site.

“The department is focused on attracting interest from the private sector or other partners to regenerate this area of the town,” said a council spokeswoman.

Council leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “I am delighted that the local authority has been able to buy the Ammanford Magistrates’ Court site. It is next door to the old police station site, which we acquired earlier in the year.

“Having ownership of the two neighbouring plots increases the attractiveness of the combined site for private developers and other potential partners.”