CONSULTATIONS have begun in the Towy Valley ahead of a vital Meals on Wheels Service being withdrawn from Carmarthenshire in October.

Carmarthenshire County Council have started speaking to users of the Royal Voluntary Service’s (RVS) Meals on Wheels service to get their views.

Discussions began in the Towy Valley, as well as Teifi and Taf.

More than 30 people from the valley were asked how they would like to move forward with the service after October.

The majority said they could manage by themselves or would be able to visit local businesses.

Five options were presented to those asked, which included nearby businesses delivering them meals, the RVS establishing a new activity and lunch club, and an RVS volunteer picking them up to attend a lunch club.

They were also asked if they would like to be collected and taken to pubs or cafes for meals, or have frozen meals delivered by Wiltshire Farm Foods and have an RVS volunteer visit to heat the meal up and provide a chance to socialise.

A spokesman for the RVS said: “We want to give older people, whatever their level of ability, the tools to help them shape and have more control over their later life experiences.

“To achieve this we will use an evidenced based approach programme aimed at nutrition, gentle exercise and cognitively stimulating activity in social environments.”

More than 200 residents are visited on 280 days of the year by the Meals on Wheels in Carmarthenshire.

Speaking following the announcement that the service would be withdrawn in April, Councillor Jane Tremlett, executive board member for health and social care, said: “Particular attention will be paid in the reviews of our most vulnerable users to ensure any replacement service supports the health, well-being and nutritional needs of these older people.

“The council remains committed to working in partnership with RVS and it is important to emphasise that this is not a cost saving exercise, as the funding currently provided will be reused to fund alternative options.”

The consultations will next move to Llanelli before visiting the Amman and Gwendraeth Valleys later in the summer.