Carmarthenshire County Council’s heavyweights rolled into Ammanford today to hear the public’s view of proposed cuts to the authority’s spending plans.

The council is facing the stark reality of having to reduce its expenditure by more than £45million over the next three years and has looked to enter into a dialogue with residents over where the axe will fall.

Council leader Councillor Kevin Madge and director of technical services Cllr Colin Evans were in town listening to suggestions and explaining the council position in the latest of a series of roadshows being held across the county in a bid to take the authority’s message to the people.

More than 100 residents spoke with the councillors and authority officers in the first two hours of the roadshow.

“The people of the Amman Valley are intelligent and know hard decisions have to be made,” said Cllr Madge.

“We are trying to be honest with people about what we are facing as a council.

“People accept that there are cuts coming – we all have to face that reality.

“We want people to see where we are proposing cuts and explain to them what those cuts will mean in real terms.

“It is vitally important that people with strong views get the chance to express them and put forward their ideas. We are willing to listen to what people have to say.”

Cllr Evans added: “There is a level of understanding amongst the public with regards the difficult decisions we are facing.

“People want – and deserve – to be informed about what is going on.

“They are intelligent people and they know what we are facing.

“There are some really difficult decisions to be made and we accept we are not going to be able to please everyone, but we have to be realistic.

“We are here to listen to people’s views and their ideas.

“The roadshows have proved people want us to be honest and straight with them about what is ahead.”

The council is continuing its public consultation over cuts online until January 4 and is urging anyone with ideas as to where additional savings can be made to get in touch.