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Llanelli considers breaking free from Carmarthenshire County Council Llanelli considers breaking free from Carmarthenshire County Council
(about 2 hours later)
Town councillors are discussing an attempt for Llanelli to break away from Carmarthenshire County Council amid claims the town is being neglected.Town councillors are discussing an attempt for Llanelli to break away from Carmarthenshire County Council amid claims the town is being neglected.
Mayor Winston Lemon said Llanelli desperately needed new jobs and the town centre was a "disgrace".Mayor Winston Lemon said Llanelli desperately needed new jobs and the town centre was a "disgrace".
Councillors are discussing the issue on Wednesday but a final decision will not be made for some time.Councillors are discussing the issue on Wednesday but a final decision will not be made for some time.
Carmarthenshire council said millions of pounds had been invested into Llanelli recently. Carmarthenshire council said millions had been invested into Llanelli and the plan was a "non-starter".
Councillor Lemon said: "We're so used to being an industrial town, one of the biggest industrial towns in the world.Councillor Lemon said: "We're so used to being an industrial town, one of the biggest industrial towns in the world.
"Surely there must be ways and means of keeping industry in and around a place like this."Surely there must be ways and means of keeping industry in and around a place like this.
"You see all the land being plundered for housing and people coming into Llanelli from God knows where for God knows what because there are no jobs here.""You see all the land being plundered for housing and people coming into Llanelli from God knows where for God knows what because there are no jobs here."
He questioned the way public money was being spent by Carmarthenshire council and said there was a need to regain control of decision making.He questioned the way public money was being spent by Carmarthenshire council and said there was a need to regain control of decision making.
He said the town centre was a disgrace and much needed to be done to revive it.He said the town centre was a disgrace and much needed to be done to revive it.
Research commissioned by BBC Wales last year suggested that Llanelli had the highest shop vacancy rate (27.9%) in Wales among the major towns and cities.Research commissioned by BBC Wales last year suggested that Llanelli had the highest shop vacancy rate (27.9%) in Wales among the major towns and cities.
The town had also seen the largest vacancy rise over the past three years.The town had also seen the largest vacancy rise over the past three years.
Mr Lemon said there was plenty of public support for Llanelli to leave Carmarthenshire council.Mr Lemon said there was plenty of public support for Llanelli to leave Carmarthenshire council.
"This isn't a flash in the pan, this is something I've been thinking about for years," he said."This isn't a flash in the pan, this is something I've been thinking about for years," he said.
"I've been watching the demise of Llanelli. I'm born and bred here... lived here all my life and it's just gone from bad to worse.""I've been watching the demise of Llanelli. I'm born and bred here... lived here all my life and it's just gone from bad to worse."
Llanelli Town Council would take a vote on a possible break-away in principle. There was a borough council based in the town between 1974 and local government reorganisation in 1996.Llanelli Town Council would take a vote on a possible break-away in principle. There was a borough council based in the town between 1974 and local government reorganisation in 1996.
Carmarthenshire council disputed the claims made by Mr Lemon and said millions of pounds had been invested recently. The existing assembly and parliamentary constituency of Llanelli, which includes communities such as Burry Port and Kidwelly, has a population of around 78,000.
In a statement, council chief executive Mark James gave examples of the new £25m Eastgate development including offices, shops and a cinema, and the new £15m Furnace Theatre. This is larger than four existing local authorities - Merthyr Tydfil, Anglesey, Blaenau Gwent and Ceredigion. According to the 2011 census, the population of Carmarthenshire is 183,800.
He said millions had been spent on new schools, council house improvements and leisure developments such as Parc y Scarlets and Ffos Las racecourse. But Carmarthenshire council chief executive Mark James said the Welsh government was concerned that councils were already too small.
"They could not break away. It would need a complete reorganisation of local government in Wales," he said.
"The Welsh government view is that many councils are already too small and hence the reason why they are forcing collaboration. This is a non-starter."
The council also disputes the claims made by Mr Lemon and said millions of pounds had been invested in the town recently.
Examples put forward by the council include the new £25m Eastgate development which features offices, shops and a cinema, and the new £15m Furnace Theatre.
The council said millions had also been spent on new schools, council house improvements and leisure developments such as Parc y Scarlets and Ffos Las racecourse.