Independence for Llanelli
Many would argue that over the past eleven years Llanelli has suffered from being part of Carmarthenshire.
Many would argue that over the past eleven years Llanelli has suffered from being part of Carmarthenshire. Long gone is the time that Llanelli has it’s own borough council regardless of all it’s ills. We now look to the Carmarthen centric councillors for leadership. In a decade where the county town has boomed and the largest town has fallen towards bust, I ask the question whether Llanelli should now be given it’s own county borough council.
When talking to people around to or in the supermarket, all they seem to be worried about is how few good jobs there are and how bad traffic congestion is. They mention how difficult it is to contact the council to fill a hole in the road or how poor the provision of services for the elderly are. One explanation is that the council departments are located too far away but this is just one of a few. Carmarthenshire is a strange county. To the south-east you have a dense urban conurbation and then there is a mainly rural area based around Carmarthen. One local authority balance the needs of both.
From week to week we read in the press about the ‘wonderful things’ that the councillors are doing for Llanelli as if it were a personal gift from them that we don’t really deserve. They are wasting millions of pounds on making the town centre look pretty, but they don’t have a more comprehensive plan on how to attract more businesses into the empty retail units. Meryl Gravelle, Mark James and company are not committed to the district and they never will!
I see Llanelli as being a district with great potential, but there is nobody driving the necessary development and investment needed for the potential to be used. A local council will have the foundation and ability to concentrate on the development of Llanelli as a town and as a district. The will be a focus on the area, but will also provide an opportunity to work with Swansea council and others in providing decent 21st century infrastructure, creating a legacy for future generations.
Because of the urban nature of Llanelli and the surrounding area, we should look at greater links with Swansea and not to Carmarthen. But most importantly, we need to be able to run our own town our own way. Llanelli has certainly lost its way and it needs to be put back on track.