Village set for boundary swap

Petitions from both sides were given to the Boundary Commission

A largely Welsh speaking village is expected to swap counties over a border dispute that has divided opinion.

The Boundary Commission for Wales says Cwmllynfell, now in Neath Port Talbot, should become part of Carmarthenshire.

Campaigners for the switch said they would be better off in a more rural county than a mainly urban one where Welsh was less frequently used.

But opponents fear for the future of their local school and social services under the changeover.

This is what the people of the community wanted Mark James

Cwmllynfell is one a string of villages in the upper Amman Valley controlled by different local authorities even though in some cases they are within yards of each other.

Those in favour of the switch argue most villagers go shopping and use services in Ammanford in Carmarthenshire.

They said they had more in common with the county than Neath Port Talbot.

The majority of people who attended public meetings organised by the Boundary Commission appeared to back the switch, along with the community council.

But Neath Port Talbot Council strongly opposed to the change stating it provides first class education and care services for the community.

A spokesman said: "In terms of effective and convenient local government, we strongly feel that the status quo should prevail."

The changes, which now have to be approved by the Welsh assembly, will affect around 910 on the electoral role.

Mark James, chief executive of Carmarthenshire Council, said: "This is what the people of the community wanted.

"We now hope that the Welsh assembly supports this."