A TOWY Valley funfair owner has launched a scathing attack on the organisers of Ammanford Big Day Out.

Andrew Holmes, of Holmes Funfairs, has been left fuming after he was told that his services were no longer required for this year’s event – despite supplying rides and stalls at the event for a decade and a half.

Mr Holmes said: “I don’t understand, the fair has been a part of Ammanford Big Day Out for the past 15 years and has always been a very successful event.

“We have always had a very good relationship with the county council and Ammanford Rotary Club as well as the other organisers, so I don’t know why this year has been different.”

The summer event – the high-point of the children’s holiday period in Ammanford – sees hundreds of families turn out on the recreation ground and over the years has featured rides, stalls, football tournaments and lots of live entertainment.

The event is run by a team of organisers made up of the Rotary Club of Ammanford, Ammanford Town Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and Ammanford Enterprise Partnership (AEP)

Speaking on behalf of AEP, Alex Smith said: “We have decided to go in a different direction this year.

“Rather than hiring out a pitch to a funfair we have decided to hire inflatable equipment ourselves and the money made will go back into a pot for next year’s event.”

However, Mr Holmes believes organisers should be supporting local businesses rather than simply seeking to generate cash.

“I am told they have decided to use a company outside of the county,” he said.

“I thought they were supposed to be all about supporting local businesses, yet they are happy to go elsewhere.

“My brother and I moved to the area 17 years ago and my children attend Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, for them to push us out like this has left me feeling very aggrieved.

“They said they wanted to go down a different route and use inflatables – well we have plenty of inflatables on offer.

“To have one of our main events for the summer pull out for no reason has been a hard pill to swallow.”

Responding to Mr Holmes’ claims, Alex Smith said: “Funding is drying up so we need to maximise our money in any way we can.

“We offered Holmes Funfairs a pitch just off the side of the main area but they refused.

“This year’s Big Day Out is promising to be bigger and better than ever before with plenty of activities for the whole family”