A LABOUR Councillor has hit out at the local authority’s decision to purchase a Carmarthen building from money originally earmarked for a housing scheme in Ammanford.

Carmarthenshire County Council recently announced its decision to purchase the Guildhall in Carmarthen however, according to the latest information on the capital programme the money used to purchase the building was originally part of the budget for the Ty Dyffryn Extra Care Scheme in Tirydail.

County Councillor Kevin Madge has reacted with anger over the authority’s decision and claims the money should have stayed within the Amman Valley.

Cllr Madge said: “I am angry that slippage money has been removed from the extra care home in Ammanford to buy the Guildhall in Carmarthen.

“A budget has been allocated to the Amman Valley area and that is where it should stay.

“Ammanford and the surrounding area needs more social housing and a lot of buildings are having to be taken over by town councils, I believe the money could have gone to better use.”

However, a statement from the county council said budget contingencies that were initially built into the Ty Dyffryn Scheme were not required and as per normal practice were reinvested into the capital programme and in this case the funding available was reallocated to the Guildhall Carmarthen.

Cllr Madge however believes the future running costs and maintenance of the hall will be a major issue.

He added: “I think a lot of people in the Ammanford area will be angry when they find out just how much money is being ploughed into Carmarthen.

“When I was council leader I was always accused of not giving the Amman Valley a good slice of the cake, but this latest revelation shows that the Plaid-led council is not doing what it should for the people of the Amman Valley.”

Responding, the council said it acknowledged that there are many important buildings throughout the Amman and Towy Valleys and the Council is continually working to improve such facilities.

The council’s executive board member for resources Cllr David Jenkins added: “Future maintenance was a consideration in the executive board’s deliberations. However, it was decided that the building is of significant historic importance to the residents of Carmarthenshire and should be retained in public ownership and the building should be purchased.”