New report into Burry Inlet cockles welcomed

A new report which shows that cockles in the Burry Inlet were not killed by pollution has been welcomed.
The report published by the Environment Agency shows that the estuary is cleaner than it has ever been.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for many years, has halted development and regeneration along the Llanelli coastline. It has directly led to the loss of much needed jobs and investment in the town and surrounding area.
Carmarthenshire’s regeneration executive board member Cllr Clive Scourfield said it was now time that opponents to the developments accepted the findings once and for all.
“We hope now that this report will finally stop the scaremongering about water quality,” Cllr Scourfield said, “and that those who have been using this issue to halt every single development in the Llanelli area and beyond will accept the reality – something we have been stressing for many years - which is that the estuary is cleaner than it has ever been.
“This report clearly shows that cockle mortality has not been caused by pollution, which we very much welcome and hope that it will be accepted once and for all, even by those who do not like or agree with its findings.”
The Welsh Government-commissioned investigation looked at all the possible causes for the mortalities that have damaged the industry since 2002, in one of the most in-depth studies of its kind. The study, led by experts from Hull University, concluded that a combination of parasites, over-crowding and conditioning of the cockles after spawning is likely to have contributed to the mortalities.
Cllr Scourfield added: “The cockle industry now needs support to go forward and I welcome the Welsh Government’s decision to produce a management plan with specific measures to overcome the likely causes of the mortalities.
“It is hoped that this will help minimise the risk of cockle mortalities and help the industry along the Burry Inlet to thrive once again.”
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Alun Davies said: "It is good news that the water quality has been ruled out because it means we are a step closer to finding the root cause of the mortality of cockles and to addressing the issue that has affected the livelihoods of the cockle gatherers for some time."

Force flies the flag for 'lesbian gay bisexual' month

Force flies the flag for LGB History Month | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Dyfed Powys Police will be flying the rainbow flag above some of its buildings in February in support of lesbian gay bisexual transgender history month.
The flag will be flying across the force as part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History Month which takes place every year in February and celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.

Banwen project helps South Wales architects lift another award

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership have scooped another prestigious award – this time for a project in Banwen.
The Dove Workshop plays a prominent role in supporting the community in the Dulais Valley.
Architects from the Lewis Partnership have been involved with a number of improvements to the workshops, including a new cafeteria area.
“Our role in developing the Dove Workshop has been hugely rewarding for the benefits the project brings to the local community,” said David Ward, associate director of the Lewis Partnership.
“Now, we have picked up a prestigious Neath Port Talbot Borough Council Building Control award for our work at Dove.
“The award is the icing on the cake for project which does a huge amount to develop community spirit in the Dulais Valley.”
The award was presented when the cream of the construction industry in Neath Port Talbot gathered at The Towers Hotel for a special ceremony.
This year was the ninth year for Neath Port Talbot to host the awards. The leader of the council, Councillor Ali Thomas was in attendance to present certificates and commemorative plaques to the successful builders and contractors.
The winners of each category will now represent Neath Port Talbot at the South Wales Regional Awards.
Councillor Thomas said: “It is a great achievement for everyone who attended to be nominated for these awards and it all goes to demonstrate their commitment to produce quality buildings for the citizens of Neath Port Talbot.”
Paul Davis, Building Control Manager for the council, said: “The awards serve to promote the Building Control service provided by the authority and encourage high standards of construction.”
Lewis Partnership associate director Mr Ward said: “It was a great honour to pick up the award for the Dove project and we were delighted to see the high standards of our work recognised.”
The Dove Workshop was first established during the Miners’ Strike of 1984 - 85 by a group of women from the Miners’ Support Group in the Dulais Valley.
The role of the Dove Workshop today is to identify and support adults in the community seeking education, training and advice on business start-up.
The Workshop established a Social Enterprise in 1989 to further develop child care provision, offer office services and more recently a community café and catering service.
The brief for the project was to provide a larger area of cafe accommodation and associated kitchen areas in response to the success of the old ‘Sarn Helen Café’ which had outgrown its part of the building.
The project is of great benefit to the community in providing an improved facility and further employment.
The community centre has gained contracts for hospitality with Land Rover and BMW in relation to the off-road centre, which is adjacent to the site, and also with the Ford World Rally Team during Rally GB.
The extension to the cafe area was crucial for the continued success and further growth and sustainability of the centre.
The accommodation provides for approximately 180sq.m. of cafe seating accommodation and 76sq.m. of kitchen preparation, storage and cooking areas with ancillary areas.
The project was completed in March 2011 and was subsequently nominated by the Building Control Team of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for their Built in Quality Awards. 

Presentation picture top: David Ward, associate director, with the Lewis Partnership (second from left) accepts the award from representatives of Neath Port Talbot Borough Council.
Weblinks –
http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk
http://www.npt.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=2482&pr_id=4599
http://www.doveworkshopuk.org/
On Facebook, search ‘Lewis Partnership Ltd.’
On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect 

Photos attached: The cafeteria area at Dove Workshops.

The Lewis Partnership of architects was founded in 1995 by partners of established architectural firms based in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Bridgend. The firm has a wide knowledge of the design and project management of a wide variety of building types, and draws on the experience of chartered architects and a complimentary technical and secretarial staff. Projects are prepared and completed using high-tech Autocad computer-aided design The company has gained accreditation to the International Quality Assurance Standard BS EN ISO 9001 : 2000. During 2007, the company gained RIBA Chartered status. The company is one of Carmarthenshire Council’s preferred Architectural Practices in their Building Control Partnering Scheme.
The company is based at No13 Park Crescent, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 3AE. Telephone 01554 777998.

Assault on teenager investigated in Newtown

Assault on teenager investigated in Newtown | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

An assault on a teenager is being investigated by police. The 17-year-old victim was walking along Newtown’s Broad Street when he was assaulted and punched several times to the face.

Officers clamp down on underage drinking

Officers clamp down on underage drinking | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Officers from Welshpool Neighbourhood Policing Team seized alcohol from a group of youngsters who’d gone unaccompanied to a local restaurant and taken their own alcohol with them.

Jenkins Bakery website news page updated

The news page for the Jenkins Bakery website has just been updated with the latest on Pancake Day! See - http://ning.it/e35nrV

South Wales bakery goes flipping mad for pancakes

Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday, February 21) is the day when people go flipping mad for pancakes.
And Llanelli’s biggest bakery will be doing their bit to mark Pancake Day
“Pancakes are popular all the year around at all of our shops,” said Jenkins the Bakers director and company secretary David Jenkins.
“But all our shops will be making a special effort with pancakes on Tuesday.
“We reckon that we sell something like 15,000 pancakes every Shrove Tuesday, so you can see how popular they are.
“In fact, we sell different varieties – we have a fruit pancake and a plain pancake and this year we are experimenting with a chocolate chip pancake
“The order book from our shops already totals more than 15,000 pancakes, in their different varieties, for Shrove Tuesday!”
Mr Jenkins added: “This is a busy time of year for us as we start to put out a special range of typically Welsh products to mark St David’s Day.
“We pride ourselves as being a bakery business which knows its customers and we know how people love to celebrate different events such as St David’s Day and Shrove Tuesday.”
The Jenkins bakery employs 300 people, full and part-time, across 25 different stores in South Wales.
The company has the Gold Standard Welsh Food Hygiene Award and the Investors in People award.
The business employs 70 people at its Trostre HQ, while the Jenkins shop network stretches from Carmarthen to Bridgend. There are 13 shops in Carmarthenshire and even one as far afield as Powys.

Racing cert for Premier football stars

Racing cert for Premier stars | This is South Wales

Llanelli is to become a magnet for soccer stars and celebrities under exciting plans unveiled by football personality Robbie Savage.
The 39-time capped former Wales international and BBC Five Live radio presenter has snapped up 70 acres of land near Ffos Las racecourse and last week submitted plans for a 35-bed hotel and a 60 to 70-seater restaurant and bar.

Game fair coup for Carmarthen showground

Game fair coup for showground as event switches from Gelli Aur | This is South Wales

Carmarthen's Nantyci showground will host the Welsh Game Fair this summer.
In what has been described as a major coup for the town, it will see the event move from Llandeilo’s Gelli Aur for the first time in its history since it started in 1986.