Plans to introduce a council customer service hub in Ammanford Town Centre have moved a step closer.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board has agreed funding to establish an Ammanford Hwb to give people face to face access to a wide range of council services and provide support for employment, training and volunteering needs.

It will be modelled on a Hwb in Llanelli Town Centre.

A suitable property is now being sought in the centre of Ammanford.

When open, it will provide customer services, a cash desk, housing support, employment engagement programmes and IT facilities to support people looking for employment, education, apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities.

The council is in negotiation with potential partners to collaborate at the Hwb to bring even more services to the town centre.

Cllr David Jenkins, executive board member for resources, said: “We have been planning to bring a Hwb to Ammanford Town Centre for some time given the success of the model in Llanelli.

“As an executive board we are pleased to have committed funding and have asked officers to proceed in identifying and purchasing a suitable building.

“All going well we anticipate opening the Hwb in the autumn.

“We know from experience that the Hwb attracts many people in to town to access a wide range of services from the council and our partners. This also brings our staff in to the town centre who will themselves support existing businesses in the area.

“We hope this will be welcome news for Ammanford.”

The news follows concerns raised by residents and local county councillors over the future of Ammanford Town Hall.

Carmarthenshire County Council confirmed last October that Ammanford Town Hall and the old library building would not close as plans to close the buildings had been due to be considered by the council’s executive board, only to be deferred at the 11th hour.

Speaking last year, Cllr David Jenkins said: “We are mindful of the impact any potential rationalisation of office space could have on towns who rely on trade and footfall generated by staff and customers of council buildings.

“This is why we asked officers to revise an earlier version of this report to develop a more prudent proposal.”