Seaside Public Meeting

Last night around 100 people attended a Public Meeting held in Glanymor to discuss some of the recent incidents in the area involving drugs and Anti Social behaviour.

The meeting was organised by Seaside Resident Amanda Carter and hosted by Kelly Davies of the Seaside Sports & Social Club. 

Sean Rees, Independent Llanelli Town Councillor said:

“Thanks to Amanda and Kelly for organising this evening.

“From the conversations I’ve had with many, I completely share the community’s concerns and frustrations. People should not have to feel like they are living in fear of what is about to happen next.

“The increase in groups that are gathering down in this area engaging in drugs and having a pure intent of causing anti social issues is very worrying. The growth of the County Line networks where drugs are being moved from bigger cities like Birmingham into our smaller communities presents just the latest challenge in a series of problems for our police.

“I think it is only when you actually live in our community that we know of the challenges we face. All of us see it every single day, in our streets, our back lanes, our parks and playgrounds and our other community facilities. I’m sure if we went round the room here tonight, every single person would have their own story to explain what we have had to cope up with for many years.

“There ought to be a duty of care here to our community. These housing associations and some private landlords need to take responsibility not only for the upkeep of some of their properties but also for the people that they are moving in. The lack of monitoring is concerning.

“Surely it can’t be right that while their lowest paid employees struggle on the breadline, the average annual salary of a Housing Association Chief Executive now is over £160,000. Just to put that into context, that is more than what the Prime Minister gets. Another classic case of profits coming before people.

There is no accountability, no responsibility and it would appear no credibility left.

“There has been a noticeable increase in the number of HMO’s (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) in our area.

“In my years on the Planning Committee of Llanelli Town Council, I don’t think there has been a monthly meeting where a HMO hasn’t been proposed for either Seaside, New Dock or the Morfa areas. We should not be the dumping ground for Carmarthenshire. We at the Town Council have and rest assured will continue to object to such HMOs because we want to regenerate our area for the better.

“Yet, time after time again, the County Council’s Planning Committee overrule us and go ahead anyway. Surely what these properties should actually be used for is housing for families!

“There is currently a County community engagement regeneration programme for the Tyisha Ward so why again should the Glanymor Ward be left behind?

“We need that programme to be extended to cover us too so everyone can be brought together regularly in one place – the Police, Housing Associations, Councillors but most importantly us as a Community so that we can all have our say. This in partnership as a sustained joint effort to tackle the scourge of these drugs, anti social problems and to avoid any potential future tragedies from happening.”