In response to an invitation from regional assembly member Joyce Watson AM, Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant AM visited Kidwelly yesterday to see work in progress at Morfa Maen where Carmarthenshire County Council is building County Council bungalows suitable for senior citizens. Although Housing Associations have built many properties over the years, these are the first council-built properties in Wales since the big sell – off of council properties by the Tories in the 1980s. Unlike many councils in Wales, Carmarthenshire has retained direct control over its housing, and is on schedule to finish a complete refurbishment of properties over the next couple of years.
Nia Griffith MP commented,
“It was great to welcome the Minister to see the building work in progress, and I am very proud that our Labour councillors on Carmarthenshire County Council are leading Wales. I know that local County Councillor Keith Davies has been lobbying for this for some time, and this project is very dear to the hearts of fellow Labour councillors, Kevin Madge Leader of the council and Tegwen Devichand, the Executive Board member for Housing. As life expectancy increases, so does demand for well-designed, easy to access smaller properties, and I hope these bungalows will be the first of many.”