Reform Councillor’s Social Media Post Sparks Criticism from Llanelli Town Council

A social media post by Reform UK councillor Michelle Beer has drawn sharp criticism from Llanelli Town Council leaders, who accuse her of misunderstanding how public services are run in the town.

Cllr Beer, who represents the Lliedi ward on Carmarthenshire County Council, invited residents on Facebook to suggest ideas for “children’s playgrounds, youth services, safety improvements, or local events.”

A seemingly harmless and proactive engagement opportunity for residents to voice their ideas, but senior town councillors said the post showed a “serious local knowledge gap” about which authority manages those services.

“Does Councillor Beer understand how local services actually work?” asked Town Council leader David Darkin. “All parks and playgrounds in Llanelli, apart from Parc Howard, were handed to the town council years ago. Her post gives the wrong impression about who runs these facilities.”

Cllr Darkin, who leads the Labour administration on the town council, said the message “raised serious questions for many in the town,” adding:

“At first glance it looks like a routine attempt at engagement — but in fact, it shows ignorance of how public services work in Llanelli.”

He also said the episode “highlighted a wider problem for Reform UK,” claiming it reflected “candidates who lack credibility and a genuine connection to the communities they claim to represent.”

Cllr Beer, who lives in Kidwelly, around eight miles from her Lliedi ward, responded to the criticism online saying:

“As one of the county councillor representing the Lliedi ward, I stand by my recent Facebook post inviting residents to share their ideas on children’s playgrounds , youth services, safety improvements, and local events. My intention was simple and sincere: to listen to our community and understand what matters most to them.

“In a time (and I heard this often when I was campaigning) where people often feel unheard by those in power, this was a genuine effort to spark conversation and gather insights directly from families, young people, and the people I serve in the ward.

Fellow Lliedi councillor Shaun Greaney defended the town council’s record on community improvements, pointing to a £300,000 refurbishment of Penygaer changing rooms, transforming them into a modern community hub with accessible facilities and a new play area.

“Our parks, playgrounds, and community spaces are thriving thanks to investment and dedicated staff,” he said. “We’ve delivered on our promises to improve local facilities. It seems to me that Councillor Beer is trying to jump on our coat-tails.”

Under Carmarthenshire County Council’s Community Asset Transfer programme, most parks and community facilities in Llanelli are now managed by the town council, while Parc Howard remains under county ownership but is run in partnership with the Parc Howard Association, a volunteer group.

The row comes amid growing political activity ahead of the next Senedd election, with local representatives debating how best to deliver — and communicate — improvements to community facilities.