Llandeilo / My town / Elinor Jones

Though I live to the north of Llandeilo in the Tywi Valley – without a doubt, Llandeilo is my local town. I have lived near Llandeilo since I was nine years old. This is where I went to school and where I now socialise.

My favourite viewpoint, for a number of reasons, is that seen from Penlan Park where you have a view down the valley past the bridge and on to the hills of Llanwrda. It is possible to to see for miles on a fine day. This is where we would congregate as school children to play.

I recall as a child going each Saturday morning to the old market and it is a great saddness to me that the building where the market once stood has been empty for many years. I would like to see the building restored and used for the community in some way.

I continue to do my weekly shop in Llandeilo and am a great believer in the saying ‘use it or lose it’. I cannot understand why people would chose to travel miles in their car when we have a great many shops on our doorstep.

Although we have a number of shops selling fine goods we also have a great number of shops selling the everyday necessities such as the butcher, the grocer and even the florist now sells organic produce.

Where able the shops are trying to source local produce so that we can buy local meat, cheese and vegetables. I’m very much of the opinion that in the current economic climate those who do not already do so will be compelled to buy local produce locally – and that’s not a bad thing.

Even though the shops have changed hands many times over the years nevertheless the character of Llandeilo has remained the same – as if the personality of the town is greater than that of the shopkeepers themselves and I truly hope that this vivacity will endure.