A PUBLIC meeting was held on Friday to discuss controversial plans to remove beds from Amman Valley Hospital.

More than 300 people attended the event in Ysgol Y Bedol to voice their opinions about the possibility of the facility being left without beds.

It was chaired by County Councillors Kevin Madge and David Jenkins, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards, and Cwmaman Mayor, Dafydd Wyn.

Speaking at the meeting, Roger Jones, a member of the public said: “These plans are not about improving hospital services, it is about moving their location and that is away from us in the Amman Valley, the user of these services.”

Councillor Kevin Madge added: “This is the first of many meetings we hope to hold, and we are planning to organise a mass demonstration in August to show the strength of feeling.

“We had about 300 people attend the meeting on Friday night who want to protect Amman Valley Hospital.

“Hywel Dda Health Board should be improving services in the Amman Valley, not cutting them back.

“We will go to wherever we need to go to make sure our voices are heard.

“Whether we need to go to Hywel Dda, to Cardiff, or all the way to the minster we will.

“We will not be giving up on this fight.”

Mr Edwards echoed his sentiments, saying: “What was crystal clear from the meeting was that the entire community is united in its opposition to the proposals.

“To see a packed hall on a hot Friday night tells me that residents care about their local services and that they’re not prepared to sit back allot the health board to do what it likes.

“There was unanimous support to retain beds and bring more services to the hospital, and I would encourage everyone to tell the health board that we are not prepared to see services go.

“It is a position that I and my Plaid Cymru colleagues will be arguing forcefully in our response to the health board.”

An action group has been set up in the aftermath of the meeting to resist the bed closures at Amman Valley Hospital.

The Amman Valley Hospital Action Committee will meet on Thursday at 7.30pm at the Community Centre in Glanamman to discuss plans.

All are welcome to attend the meeting.