Concerns have been raised about the state of an “unsafe” children’s play area in a Welsh town.
The play area is located at Ammanford Park in Carmarthenshire. It has a number of activities for children, including a slide, a swing and other pieces of equipment that should appeal to young families.
However, the play area has been heavily criticised in recent months. A Facebook page was set up earlier this year in order to “ try and improve the park” and make it less of a “dangerous environment” for children. To date, the group has attracted more than 1,000 members.
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One local resident, who did not wish to be named, said the play area is not safe for use and that it is indicative of a wider problem affecting Ammanford as a town.
“The play park is in a neglected, uncared for and unsafe condition,” they said.
“How is it that Ammanford, as a large town, the third largest in Carmarthenshire, is forgotten about? Nearby small villages have much better parks. Look at the park in Tumble - it’s state of the art and it’s fantastic.”
The park is managed by Ammanford Town Council, which has previously said that its current condition is down to a lack of funding. The concerned resident posed a question to the town council, and added that children are forced to be creative if they need to use the toilet, given that the facilities at the park are closed off.
“My question to councillors is how can other areas have better facilities when we have been neglected for years?,” the resident asked. “Where does our rates money go?
“Our park has been neglected for years, with hardly any play equipment. Do they seriously expect children to play in this unsafe park? Also the park’s toilets are closed again, so children have to go behind the bushes."
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With regards to the wider point about Ammanford being “forgotten about”, just last week that sentiment was echoed by local county councillor Rob James, who spoke out after an artificial sports pitch in Ammanford was shut down for public safety reasons. He too brought up the issues affecting the play area in the town's park.
“You can see from this closure (of the artificial pitch), the lack of sports facilities in the Amman, not building new schools for Ammanford pupils and the state of Ammanford children’s park, that this area is constantly being treated as the poor relation of Carmarthenshire.”
Carmarthenshire Council said the facility was closed so that it could be cleaned and treated and that it would be open and available for use over the winter months.
On the issues faced by the play area at Ammanford Park, the town council has been asked to comment.
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