Campaign to bring castle back to life (From South Wales Guardian)

Campaign to bring castle back to life

12:00am Sunday 21st October 2012 in Ammanford news

AMMANFORDtown councillor Jonathan Davies is backing a campaign to ensure Ammanford Castle no longer remains the town’s best-kept secret.

After attending last week’s meeting at Ammanford Town Hall Cllr Davies conceded that the relic remained “largely unknown” as far as townspeople were concerned.

“There are fourth or even fifth generational families in Ammanford who are simply unaware of it,” he said.

“The most common question I get asked is: ‘Where the heck is it?’”

Local historian Terry Norman agrees. “Nobody knows about it,” he said.

“The site is completely wooded over – Ammanford Castle’s historical significance has, quite literally, been hidden in the undergrowth.”

But Cllr Davies feels all that is about to change.

“Council leader Kevin Madge and county councillor Colin Evans are both extremely supportive and agree that this is all about taking pride in Ammanford’s heritage and history,” he said.

Cllr Davies said there were plans to make the castle a focal point for projects aimed at bringing people into Carmarthenshire and, specifically, into Ammanford. “This part of the county deserves some TLC,” he said.

Plans are already being drawn up for a Lord Rhys Fun Run from the castle grounds to Carreg Cennen near Llandeilo to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.