HYWEL Dda Health Board is playing down claims it is drawing up plans for a 24-hour community mental health facility in Aberystwyth.

Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet heard that plans had been discussed at the Public Service Board for a dedicated mental health facility in the town.

The council has previously said that it was aware that the health board was in talks over providing a facility in the area and had identified potential locations.

However, the health board has said that it has not finalised any plans so far, but are looking at the provision of a facility in the Aberystwyth area.

A spokesperson said: “Hywel Dda Health Board can confirm that we are looking at options in the Aberystwyth area, however we have not yet committed to anything at this stage.”

The board had launched a consultation into Transforming Mental Health and had said it wanted to provide 24-hour community mental health centres across the board area, with Aberystwyth the most likely location for a facility in Ceredigion.

Ceredigion Cabinet member Alun Williams, who used to work as a mental health nurse and is Cabinet member for mental health, said he backed the proposals put forward as part of the consultation by the health board and said they would be “groundbreaking”.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow