PARENTS have joined forces in a bid to upgrade the playgrounds in Ammanford and Cwmamman.

They are working with local town council officials to help them raise money to upgrade the local parks and play equipment.

Parents say they feel “left behind” with parks in neighbouring villages including Tycroes and Tumble getting revamps.

Both councils have taken over the running of the parks as part of the community asset transfer programme from Carmarthenshire county council.

In Cwmamman, one mum, Catrin Morris has set up a community project with the aim of working with parents and council officials to help improve the appearance of the play areas and upgrade the playgrounds.

Catrin said: “Our outdoor spaces are key to the health and well-being of our children and community as a whole and should be of the highest priority following the year that we have been through.

“Our project - Cwm-unity - has a social cohesion ethos and through working together we hope to achieve great things. We want to initially improve the areas and then seek funds to upgrade the playgrounds and promote our spaces by holding events.”

You can support the Cwmaman campaign by joining the Facebook group Cwm-unity.

Meanwhile in Ammanford, parents have started a crowd-funding campaign to raise money to improve Ammanford park after a Facebook group calling on the town council for repairs gained more than 1,000 members.

Ammanford town council said that due to Covid social distance regulations swings were initially removed from the play area.

The council said it had received some grant funding from the county council to improve some of the facilities in the park.

The council also agreed to allocate funds to address concerns made by members of the public and improve the equipment at the park within budget constraints.

Ammanford and Cwmaman town councils have allocated park budgets for improvements, but the cash-strapped councils are now working with the action groups to help raise further money through grant funding and fundraising.

A crowdfunding page for Ammanford park can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ammanford-play-park-regeneration-project