RESIDENTS throughout the Amman and Gwendraeth Valleys are being encouraged to respond to a consultation in our order to protect facilities in their communities.

As part of developing a Local Place Plan for Carmarthenshire County Council’s Local Development Plan, community and town council’s in Cwmaman, Llannon and Llanedi are seeking residents’ thoughts on the areas.

Without engagement, communities could lose vital facilities such as play areas, as smaller councils must provide evidence to the county council that sites are wanted and used, to justify expenditure.

Rob Venus, Community Development Officer at Cwmaman Town Council, explained: “There are some tough realities behind this plan but some great potential if communities engage with the discussion.

“We have 11 play areas in Cwmaman for example. If we do not know they are wanted it is possible that some may be lost; there is only so much public money afforded to us and we need to target it at the community’s priorities.

“But this is an opportunity for people to have their voices heard, recorded and then taken forward on what they want to happen in the community.

“They can tell us what they want, what the don’t want, what developments they want, and where they do or don’t want them.”

Christine Davies, Llannon Community Development Officer, added: “I hope that residents will take this vital opportunity to let us know how they want their community to develop.

“There are big plans set in motion with regards to the park in Tumble where residents responded to a consultation.

“This new consultation is so much more widely focused, and residents from the whole of the Llannon Ward will have a big opportunity to accept the way their communities move forward and develop into the future.”

Meetings are being held across the area, where residents will get the chance to see the work currently being done and put their thoughts forwards on what they would like to see more of.

A drop in event will take place at Cwmaman Community Centre on June 26 between noon and 8pm for residents in the Amman Valley.

Cwmaman residents who can’t attend the event can send feedback to robvenus@cwmamantc.org.

There will also be a drop in session at Tycroes Village Hall between 9am and 5pm on June 30 where residents can feed back with their thoughts on over development, parking, traffic and speeding amongst other issues in Llanedi.