Guardian opinion (From South Wales Guardian)

Guardian opinion

8:00am Sunday 14th October 2012 in Ammanford news

Ammanford town council is planning a bumper round of festivities this Christmas.

But the exact nature of the Quay Street celebrations remain a secret.

Will Santa be parachuted into town in the style of the Queen’s famous drop heralding the start of the London Olympics? Or make a dramatic entrance down a death slide from the top of the former Lloyd’s Bank?

On second thoughts, perhaps not… Stung by criticismof last year’s substandard Christmas lights, the council has effectively doubled its Yuletide budget this time – and rightly so.

The extensive Quay Street works are set to be completed by November 2 and the November 17 switch-on will coincide with a world record attempt on the largest number of Santa’s elves ever assembled. So, all in all,Ammanford’s Christmas spectacular should bring a smile to the town’s face after what has been a very difficult year.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ONE of the most controversial planning applications in recent years comes before Carmarthenshire planning committee tomorrow (Thursday).

If the 336-home development in Penybanc is approved, the village will virtually double in size.

County planners, who are recommending approval, will have a hard job to sell the idea to local residents, who fear there is insufficient infrastructure to support such an ambitious scheme.