A Garnant resident believes there is a drug problem in the village after a building was set on fire and a chapel was vandalised.

Last week in Garnant, a blaze that the fire service says was started deliberately broke out at the Workmen’s Hall.

Then, on the same night in a separate incident, the Bryn Seion Chapel in Glanamman was vandalised.

The Workmen's Hall in Garnant was set on fire. The Workmen's Hall in Garnant was set on fire. (Image: Newsquest) Local Brian Peverill said: “There is a very high marijuana intake around here. There are a lot of growers in the area and there are also a lot of distributors.”

Brian’s claims were echoed by other residents in the area who chose to remain anonymous.

One man said: “You’ve got drugs everywhere. Wherever you walk along the town you can smell cannabis. The police have got to sort this out.”

Regarding the Workmen’s Hall fire, another resident said: “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been empty for a long time and something needs to be done about it.

“The hall has been empty since the 1990s. At one point they were growing marijuana in that building.”

One more local added: “They should pull the building down. It’s not safe. Children are going in there.”

The investigation into the Workmen’s Hall fire is ongoing which lasted for several hours on Monday, August 26.

The fire started at 7.45pm which forced Cwmamman Road to be closed until around 1am.

Multiple fire crews attended the incident from Amman Valley, Ammanford, Port Talbot and Pontardawe.

According to councillor Kevin Madge, the condition of Workmen’s Hall has been a constant concern in Garnant.

Mr Madge has written to Carmarthenshire County Council many times to take the building into public ownership, rather than allowing the owner of the property to leave it abandoned.

The council has enforced the owner to secure the roof of the property under section 78 of the Building Safety Act 1984 and to prevent the building from trespass under the Local Government Act 1982.

Furthermore, the authorities have reiterated to locals not to enter the building for their safety and wellbeing.

Bryn Seion Chapel in Glanamman was vandalized.Bryn Seion Chapel in Glanamman was vandalized. (Image: Newsquest) Meanwhile, the owner of Bryn Seion Chapel confirmed that its school rooms were damaged on the same night of the Workmen’s Hall fire.

The chapel is not being used on a full-time basis and is currently up for sale.