AMMANFORD is to celebrate one its great achievements with a series of new road signs.

Fourteen years after the Ammanford became the first Fair Trade town in Wales, approval has finally been given for road signs advertising that achievement.

Ammanford became the first Fair Trade Town in Wales back in 2002 and since then Ammanford Fair Trade Town Group has been working hard to have road signs declaring Ammanford that fact approved by Carmarthenshire County Council and the Welsh Government.

A formal submission was made by Council officials to the Transport Minister in June 2015, with little signs of progress since.

However, following representations from Assembly Member Rhodri Glyn Thomas last month, the Edwina Hart has now confirmed her authorisation for the signs.

Mr Thomas congratulated the volunteers of the local fair trade group, and said he would be encouraging the council to install the signs as quickly as possible.

"I'm delighted for the local volunteers who have not only worked hard to earn Fair Trade status for the town, but have continued that work and activity over many years putting Ammanford and the surrounding areas at the heart of a great number of positive initiatives.

"Fair Trade road signs for the town can help send a powerful message to residents and visitors alike about the type of community we are. Only benefits can come from their installation.”

Like other members of the Ammanford Fairtrade Group, Phil Broadhurst has been campaigning for the road signs to be installed.

"It's great that we finally have confirmation that the wording on the road signs has been approved,” said Mr Broadhurst. “It's been a long, long time coming, but to have the approval is a major step forward, and we're grateful to both Rhodri Glyn Thomas and the Council officials who have helped get us to this point.”

"We've secured funding from Fair Trade Wales and from Ammanford Town Council towards the costs of the road signs and hopefully there will be no further delays in seeing them installed.

"We approached Rhodri Glyn Thomas because he has been a strong supporter of Fair Trade during his time as an Assembly Member.

"Ammanford should be proud of its status as the first Fair Trade Town in Wales. We have been an inspiration to others across Wales, the UK and the world.

“With Fairtrade Fortnight starting later this month, this positive news is an excellent start to our fifteenth year of campaigning as a Fair Trade Town Group."