RESIDENTS of a multi-million pound extra-care housing facility in Ammanford believe they have been "abandoned" by the local authority following the closure of the on-site catering service.

The kitchen service at Ty Dyffryn closed its doors on January 4 due to the catering provider withdrawing its services.

Over the last 10 days, some tenants have been left to rely on family members or eat microwave ready meals.

The tenants, aged between 55 and 94, feel as if they have been let down by Carmarthenshire County Council and have been left wondering what service will be taken away next.

One resident said: “We don’t know who we can go to if we want to find out what is going on.

“Not all residents have cookers, so some of us have been left with no choice but to eat microwave meals every day for the last 10 days.”

Another added: “The closure of the kitchen has knocked the heart out of the place.

“It is worrying as some of the tenants who used the facility every day haven’t left their room since the kitchen closed as they feel as if they have nowhere to go.

“Our social life has gone downhill as hardly anyone uses the communal room anymore.

“A meeting is due to take place this week, but provisions should have been put in place before the facility closed.”

The Meals on Wheels service stopped in October and residents believe that marked the beginning of the end of their kitchen service, which attracted residents from the wider community as well as tenants.

An alternative meal option given to tenants which includes Just Eat, an online takeaway delivery service, has been slammed by relatives of residents.

“I moved my dad into Ty Dyffryn because of the kitchen facility,” said one relative, who wished not to be named.

“It was a place where he could go for at last one hot meal a day.

“He is a double amputee so is limited in what equipment he can use.

“To see Just Eat as an alternative meal option is ridiculous.

“Some residents here can’t use a computer and they want proper meals not takeaways.”

Pam Harris, a relative of one the tenants, added: “It is budget over bodies.”

Jason Smith, Older Persons Services Manager at Family Housing, said: “Regrettably the catering services have been withdrawn at Ty Dyffryn and we do understand that this has been difficult for some of our residents.

“We are working with Carmarthen County Council and their social work teams to support anyone with particular care and support needs to discuss and arrange alternative meal provision where required. “Meetings have been arranged with our residents to understand their views as we look at the way forward with the Council.

“The withdrawal of the catering services has affected some social activities but our communal area with coffee machine remains open for residents to socialise, we still have regular ongoing activities available to both residents and the wider community and will continue to encourage and support residents in organising these.”

Jake Morgan, Director of Community Services, added: “Our social work teams are supporting anyone with particular care and support needs to discuss and arrange alternative meal provision where required. Meetings have been arranged with tenants to look at the way forward.”