Kidwelly

Perhaps the forgotten town in Carmarthenshire, Kidwelly seems to go on without much help or interest from the outside world. For an ancient and historically important town, the words “unrealised potential” seem to scream out at you as you wonder the dirty and unattractive streets. It may be a reflection on Wales as a nation that the place where our people’s princess, Gwenllian, was killed standing up against the superior might of the Normans, is more famous for having the UK’s oldest Renault dealer than it’s Norman Castle and the memory of the battles.

Living in Kidwelly during University vacation, it saddens me to see so few tourists having a picnic or pointing a camera at the beautiful landscape. But then again, why should I expect to see any tourists? There are no decent public amenities such as toilets and it’s a struggle to buy a sandwich and a cuppa. The town’s rail station is inaccessible to the elderly and disabled and there is evidence of neglect and that it’s hardly ever used. Again, no facilities are provided at this important portal to the town.

The roads are forever congested with Renault estates and business is hardly booming. Town councillors only look after their own land-grabbing interests at meetings held in camera. The town square is disgusting and unimaginative. I could continue to list the ills of this town, but I’m getting a little bored.

I am just ashamed that We as a nation just neglect places like Kidwelly. The town stands as a testament to the courage of the indigenous Welsh and the strength and ingenuity of the Normans. One of the final resting places of the Welsh monarchy. A place that played a role in the development of the industrialised world. Why do we treat our heritage like sh*t but can’t help throwing money at metropolitan style developments in Cardiff and Swansea.