Council fails to see (Carmarthen Journal)

Meryl Gravell, Carmarthenshire council leader, stated (Journal, January 9) that people are failing to realise that closing schools and care homes, and centralising everything within our county will "provide a better public service".

What Meryl Gravell and the council are failing to realise is that receiving education and care within a community offers the confidence and the support for children to thrive educationally and for the elderly to feel secure and happy.

When are council leaders going to start listening to what the people of Carmarthenshire are asking for? Everyone accepts the current situation is not viable and there is a need for reorganising. But this should be done in a creative manner, with schools and possibly even care homes working together to provide a better service; rather than offering closure to everything small and forcing our children and the elderly to travel for miles to receive this so-called better service.

I urge everyone who opposes this ridiculous centralisation to use their vote effectively in the local council elections in May, to ensure that this tired regime does not get another chance to destroy our communities.

Angharad Clwyd
Dyfed organiser - Cymdeithas yr Iaith

Carmarthen Journal - 23/01/08