‘They ain’t going to like this’

Carmarthenshire Council spent £90,000 modernising the facility last summer, but local youngsters have already written messages all over the block.

Rather than the traditional Kilroy woz ere' and Jim Luvs Jane' messages, these youngsters have decided to use the freshly-painted walls to issue a plea for help.

"If only there was more 2 do round ere we wouldn't b doin this," says one message.

"They aint going to like this - oh no," says another.

A third says: "We r Amman Vallians - wot do u expect?"

If there was any doubt as to the authors of the graffiti, a third messages spells it out.

"Who r, Who r, Who r we? We are the kids from Amman Valley - and Tregib," it reads. Another adds that the author is "just being an Amman bum."

While the messages may well be heartfelt, community leaders have slammed the authors as lazy and selfish.

"These youngsters need to realise that you only get out of life what you put in," said town mayor Irena Hopkins. "I have no time at all for people like this.

"In Ammanford, we have a youth council, scouts, guides and there are lots of other organisations to get involved with, but some people just cannot be bothered to do anything worthwhile.

"I know so many lovely young people in Ammanford, but in every case they have gone out and looked for things to do rather than waiting for everything to come to them.

"If these youngsters are so desperate to do something like this then why don't they get themselves a pad and pencil and take up art, rather than vandalising the community's facilities.

"These young people really need to stop and take a look at themselves."

l Two groups keen to hear youngsters' views on the town are holding open meetings in the coming weeks. The Amman Youth Forum is meeting at Streets in the Miners' Welfare Hall, Wind Street, at 6pm on March 12, while the Ammanford Youth Council is due to meet at 6pm at the town hall on April 25.