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image captionDylan Thomas s boathouse has helped make Laugharne popular with second-home owners and tourists
Communities in Carmarthenshire have been left defenceless against the rise of second homes, a senior county councillor has said.
Cabinet member Cefin Campbell said they accounted for up to 40% of property in some areas, pricing out local people.
The council passed a motion calling for a stronger Welsh Government clampdown through tax and planning rules.
The Welsh Government said the authority was not using the power it already had to charge a premium on council tax.
Mr Campbell, the cabinet member for communities and rural affairs, said younger families forced to leave their area would help bolster pupil numbers, the local economy and the Welsh language if they stayed.