A £36 million 'levelling-up fund' aimed at combatting Carmarthenshire's regional inequality is turning deaf years on the hard-pressed Amman Valley in favour of the more affluent western areas.

This is the claim of county councillor Kevin Madge who is now calling on the fund's managers to explain their reasoning for allocating money to its two chosen projects.

A total of £36m has been secured by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of the UK's new levelling-up fund. £16.7m has been awarded to the Tywi Valley cycle trail which comprises a 20km off-road walking and cycling route linking Carmarthen to Llandeilo.

The remainder will see Carmarthen's former Debenhams store developed as a hub with the aim of forging stronger sustainable links between local people and businesses.

"I don't have anything against either of these two schemes, but I'm extremely angry at the fact that the Amman Valley has once again been completely ignored," Cllr Madge told The South Wales Guardian.

"I've represented the Amman Valley for the past 43 years and when I started, I realised how important it was to invest in the area and provide opportunities for our young people.  Four decades on and things are just the same, if not worse.

"The Amman Valley is an extremely deprived area.

"There are food banks all over the place, there are residents who can't afford to heat their homes and there are 30 per cent of children attending our schools who are receiving free school meals.  

"People are getting extremely angry because they're fed up of being ignored."

Each of Carmarthenshire's three parliamentary constituencies were included in the levelling-up application process comprising Carmarthen West, Llanelli and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr which centred around developments for Ammanford town centre.

The final funding allocation, however, was won by Carmarthen town and the Carmarthen to Llandeilo cycle link.  But it's the Amman Valley, according to Kevin Madge, which is desperately in need of support.

"There's Ammanford, Brynamman, Ystradowen, Glanamman, Betws, Saron, Tycroes then down towards Penygroes in the Gwendraeth Valley....all these places needs support but there's been no consultation with us whatsoever. 

"I want to know how this money is going to be spent and who's going to benefit.  Because it certainly isn't us."