A grandfather has taken matters into his own hands by using a hammer to flatten dangerous nails at a children's playground in Carmarthen, after claiming the council failed to address his repeated complaints for about a year.
Nigel Drean, 66, from Pontyberem, said he first reported missing fence slats and protruding nails at Johnstown Park to Carmarthen Town Council approximately 12 months ago. Frustrated by the lack of action, he decided to act himself, focusing on four nails sticking out horizontally where a slat was missing. “I tried pulling them out but couldn’t so I flattened them instead,” he said.
Grandfather's Safety Concerns
Mr Drean, whose grandchildren attend Johnstown Primary School and Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen, stressed that his actions were not intended to cause trouble but to ensure safety. “I’m not out to cause trouble. I want to make things safe,” he said.
He explained that he had phoned the town council about a month ago and was told the perimeter fence was scheduled for replacement in a couple of months. However, he raised serious concerns about the immediate risk: “In the meantime some poor child or adult may rip their hand or leg open on the nails.”
Council Response and Planned Repairs
Carmarthen Town Council said it would carry out another inspection of the park. The council’s finance committee had approved a £12,835 quote to replace the perimeter fencing the evening before the Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted them. Minutes from the meeting indicated the work was expected to start as soon as practicable, and the council described it as a priority project for 2026-27.
Mr Drean noted that while town council staff he spoke to were always polite and responsive, the nail issue remained unresolved. He identified additional nails needing removal or flattening and said, “I’m tempted to do it but I would rather they (the town council) did.” He added that he has reported other health and safety issues to the council in good faith.
