Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Plans for a five-day festival in Pembrey Country Park in June have been approved. Carmarthenshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee granted an application by Student Seed Ltd for a premises licence subject to conditions for the Beach Break Live event planned for June 14-18. A site visit took place on Monday and the licensing sub-committee heard evidence all this week. For the BBC story, see - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8653816.stm See earlier post - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/beach-break-live-plans-still-being.html

Wales rugby stars Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones have joined a team of developers transforming an historic waterside Llanelli landmark building into a top restaurant. Work has started on restoring the iconic and church-like structured Pumphouse (pictured above) that once operated massive gates on Llanelli’s North Dock. The Scarlets and Sale, Wales and British Lions pair have formed a new company along with award-winning restaurateur Simon Wright and local entrepreneur Robert Williams. The private company, Bendigo 9-10, was selected by the Llanelli Waterside joint venture partnership as the preferred developer to renovate and run The Pumphouse, which overlooks Llanelli’s North Dock. Work on the project is now underway following planning and listed building consent and the scheme has benefited from a tourism investment grant and CADW funding. It is part of the £250m redevelopment of the town’s waterside, which is being driven forward by a partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government

Residents in Carmarthenshire are being urged to give home composting a go. Garden waste such as leaves, twigs, grass cuttings and hedge trimmings can easily be composted. It is also one of the most environmentally-friendly and cost-effective ways of dealing with this type of waste. So if you are not already home composting, now is the perfect time to try with Compost Awareness Week being held from May 2 to 8. Compost bins can be purchased from Carmarthenshire County Council for just £10 including delivery. Council waste minimisation/recycling officer Karen McNeil said: “Amazingly, around one third of our waste can be easily composted at home – from garden clippings to cardboard, tea bags to paper. “By composting instead of putting everything in the rubbish bin we can greatly reduce the amount we send to landfill sites, which are filling up fast. “No garden is too small to compost, and it is a quick and simple way to reduce the amount we throw away, as well as giving back rich, free soi

Carmarthen Town AFC has unveiled an exciting new range of sponsorship opportunities which will appeal to a wide spectrum, ranging from individual fans to major businesses. The Welsh Premier League side has spent the last 12 months developing its clubhouse and community programme and is now gearing up to challenge for a place in European competitions. Sponsorship deals are now being arranged for a whole host of different packages linked to Carmarthen Town AFC, a team regularly featured on S4C’s Sgorio programme and in other TV, press, radio and internet coverage of the Welsh Premier League. Sponsorship is available at all levels, from the naming rights for the Richmond Park stadium and the main team and shirt sponsors to support for match-day hospitality packages, match balls and players. “We have something to suit everyone – no matter how big or small their wallet!” said club chairman Jeff Thomas. “Carmarthen Town AFC has always prided itself on being a club with great community roots.

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A superb hat-trick from Craig Frater was enough to give the Llanelli Reds youth team all three points in an entertaining win at Haverfordwest on Thursday night. The Reds are now top of the West Division of the MacWhirter Youth League with four league games remaining after beating the Bridge Meadow side by 3 goals to 2.

BBC News - Carmarthen's £74m retail centre opens

Carmarthenshire Youth Council (CYC) is looking forward to the future with their newly elected members. Members were elected during their annual general meeting held at County Hall on Wednesday April 28 and their key priorities for the next year were confirmed. Charlene Davies from Carway has been elected as Chair for another year, Peter Morgan from Ammanford is Vice Chair, Shannon Davies from Carway will take on the role of secretary while Jess Hughes from Ammanford will become treasurer and Mike Edwards from Carmarthen is the new Communications Officer for the CYC. The new representatives for Funky Dragon - the Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales – are Shannon Davies, Abi Watts from Carway and Ronan Lewis and Bobby Lewis from Carway. Their priorities are to focus on school council projects, raising awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), making information more accessible to young people via the Carmarthenshire Youth Magazine and their

A St Clears couple have been prosecuted for benefit fraud. Brian King, aged 71, and Susan King, aged 66, claimed to be renting a property from a landlord in Milton Keynes, when in fact the property was owned by their daughter, who was also living there. As a result, they were overpaid £8,022.38 Rent Allowance and £394.78 Council Tax Benefit for the period July 30 2001 to February 1 2004. Mr and Mrs King, of Noddfa, Llanddowror, St Clears, each pleaded guilty to an offence of making a false statement in order to obtain benefit, contrary to S.112 Social Security Administration Act 1992. They were fined £400 and ordered to pay £357 costs. Carmarthenshire County Council and the Department for Work and Pensions brought the prosecution and will seek recovery of the overpaid benefit.

Young people from the Carmarthen SMART Project, delivered by Carmarthenshire Youth Service, are on their way to becoming the next Gordon Ramsey. As part of their course they have been learning how to cook and how to make healthy meals from scratch. The young people have spent time at the Gwenllian Court Hotel with Executive Head Chef and Hotel Director Adrian Bartels, where they’ve developed key skills and confidence. Emily Evans, Carmarthen SMART Coordinator said:“This has been a real turning point for the young people; they are now confident enough to take on cooking challenges and have learnt that healthy eating can be very enjoyable. “The team is very proud of their achievements and some of the young people are even considering a career in the food industry.” Martin Harries, aged 15 added:“I’ve really enjoyed this experience and I’m amazed with what I’ve achieved. “We’ve all worked really well as a group and we would like to give special thanks to the Gwenllian Court Hotel for thei

Young people taking part in the Carmarthenshire Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, led by Carmarthenshire Youth Service, have excelled once again. A presentation evening was held at Queen Elizabeth High School to recognise young people’s efforts. The Award in Carmarthenshire has gone from strength to strength and over the past year 1,200 young people have been working on the Award and 947 new beginners have taken to the challenge; nearly 500 young people have received bronze, silver and gold awards and were highly commended for their efforts within their communities during the ceremony. Young people received their Awards from Welsh referee Nigel Owens who also gave a speech on how inspiring the young people were. Nigel Owens said:“I wish I had the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, it truly does open many doors and it is a great way of developing skills outside the class room. “Credit should go to the young people and all the leaders and volunteers who give up so much

A Llanelli woman has admitted that she was working while claiming benefit. Jade Marie Jones pleaded guilty at Ammanford Magistrates Court to charges under S.111 Social Security Administration Act 1992 of failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support, Housing and Council Tax Benefit while living in a flat in New Dock Road, Llanelli. The court heard that 20-year-old Jones, of no fixed abode, had been overpaid £870.75 Rent Allowance, £209.63 Council Tax Benefit and £1,043.65 Income Support. Jones was fined £135 and ordered to pay £75 costs. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council and the Department for Work and Pensions who will seek recovery of the overpaid benefit.

A pilot scheme is being set up to provide older people in Carmarthenshire with help to keep their homes in good repair. This month’s meeting of the full county council has approved a two year pilot for 2009/10 - 2011/12 involving a handy person scheme in partnership with Care and Repair Carmarthenshire. The council agreed to vary the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy to provide financial assistance to elderly applicants on low incomes for critical repairs within their homes and to provide £60,000 private sector capital funding to Care and Repair Carmarthenshire for 2009/10 and 2010/11 to administer assistance, set up and run a handy person service. The aim of the project is to prevent older people’s homes falling into disrepair; to improve the suitability and safety of the housing stock to enable older people to continue living as independently as possible in their homes and their communities for as long as possible. By providing timely, good quality repairs it will reduce the like

Fingers crossed, the Myrddin Shorts film festival should be previewed on Wedi7 on S4C this evening. For more information, see - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/film-festival-time-in-carmarthen.html

A DVD of the Llanelli Reds games in season 2009/2010 is now on sale at the club at Stebonheath. For just £5 you can have a permanent record of the Reds games both at home and away. Meanwhile, the U19s League Cup Semi Final with Ely Rangers will be played at Stebonheath Park on Thursday 6th May.KO 7.30pm. The two sides met at Stebo earlier this season when the Reds won by the only goal of the game in a Welsh Youth Cup tie. The Under 18s final game of the season at Maesteg Park has been switched to Friday 7th May instead of Thursday 6th May. This is to avoid clashing with the U19 semi final. The Reds are pleased to announce that five players have already agreed contracts with the club for season 2010/2011. Antonio Corbisiero, Stuart Jones, Chris Venables, Chris Holloway and Jordan Follows have all signed on the dotted line. The club have also agreed terms with defender, Martyn Giles, who has been playing for Newport County this season in the Blue Square South League.

Felinfoel Communities First in partnership with local community groups pulled out all the stops to keep local children entertained over the Easter half-term. From Easter Egg hunts with the Llundain Fach and Danybanc Residents Association to Treasure Hunts with the Felinfoel Events Committee, litter picks and health and wellbeing sessions, the officers ensured their was plenty of fun available. Communities First is a Welsh Assembly initiative aimed at regenerating deprived communities. The Felinfoel team is run by Carmarthenshire County Council, and a host of events and educational activities are staged in the area every year, along with specific regeneration programmes. Development Worker Gaynor Price said: “We always try to put different activities on for children during school holidays as it gives them a chance to socialise and have fun in a constructive way. “Our half term events were well attended, and we had lots of support from parents and local businesses, so we are very gratefu

Ten drivers were stopped by teenagers in Ammanford for speeding and told to slow down or else. Members of the Panty Teen Crew targeted motorists in New Road and Pantyffynnon Road using a Speed Indicator Device. Anyone caught travelling or 35mph were stopped and asked to explain themselves to the youngsters or face a fine and points on their licence. The operation was a joint initiative involving local police, the council’s Road Safety Unit, and Communities First Pantyffynnon. The Speed Indicator Device was purchased by Carmarthenshire’s Community Safety Partnership. Road safety is a key priority for the partnership which is working hard to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads Communities First development worker Emma Martin-Jewell said: “We have been working closely with the police to tackle speeding in the area. We have carried out a survey with local residents on this issue and it has been highlighted at local PACT meetings. “It is a key priority for u

A number of junction safety measures are being considered along the A48 from Pont Abraham to Carmarthen. This follows fatal accidents in recent years at the Cwmgwili Junction where consideration is being given to closure of some central reservations which will deny right turn movements and U-turns. The Welsh Assembly Government, their agents the South Wales Trunk Road Agency and their consultants, including Carmarthenshire County Council, wish to avoid a situation where one junction is treated in isolation. They are all concerned treating just one junction would move any problem and potential risks along to the next junction. For this reason the First Minister is seeking a holistic approach to the section from Pont Abraham to Cross Hands. All representations will be reported to the County Council’s executive board for consideration. The measures proposed require the making of Traffic Regulation Orders. The Assembly has asked the Authority to initiate the process of making these Orders.

Plans for a five-day festival in Pembrey Country Park in June are still being discussed by county councillors. Carmarthenshire’s licensing sub-committee is discussing an application by Student Seed Ltd for a premises licence for the Beach Break Live event planned for June 14-18. A site visit took place on Monday and the licensing sub-committee is hearing evidence all this week with a decision expected tomorrow, Friday. The sub-committee heard evidence from Dyfed-Powys Police when it started this week.

Carmarthenshire councillors are being given extra responsibilities for looking at the issues of crime and disorder. This month’s meeting of the county council agreed that the authority’s social justice scrutiny committee should be renamed the social justice, crime and disorder scrutiny committee. The committee will have annual reports from authorities such as the police, and fire service and will have power to scrutinise crime and disorder and substance misuse strategies that the authorities are jointly required to formulate and implement under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. A crime and disorder matter includes anti-social behaviour or other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment, or the misuse of drugs, alcohol or other substances.

People are being asked to help solve a 100-year-old mystery of a painting now on display at Carmarthenshire County Museum (pictured above). The watercolour painting by popular Carmarthenshire artist B A Lewis has baffled museum staff who have been trying to identify its location. It shows a big top with the words “Courageous Events Hall” across it, and is dated 1904. One suggestion is that it is a view of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which visited Carmarthen in 1904. Buffalo Bill, or William Frederick Cody, toured Wales from 1903 to 1904. His show featured Indians attacking stagecoaches and wagon trains, and being seen off by cowboys and soldiers. He came to Carmarthen on May 13, 1904 and the Indians, now known as Native Americans, brought their families with them and set up camp. Museum staff would love to hear from anyone who can solve the mystery from over a century ago of what the scene is depicting and its location. County Museums Officer Ann Dorsett said: “Despite the best effo

Letting the grass grow has led to a new home for endangered water voles in Llanelli. The population of the species has declined by over 90 per cent in the UK, but they are hanging on in the ditches and wetland areas around Llanelli. A partnership of organisations – Carmarthenshire County Council, the Countryside Council for Wales and Environment Agency Wales - are working together in the Llanelli area to help one of the most endangered mammals in the UK. Loss and fragmentation of their habitat have been significant causes of their decline and now water voles and their habitat are protected by law. Recently, there were signs of water vole burrows at an unexpected site in the grassland alongside Delta Lakes, adjacent to the A484. The grassland is managed by the council and is regularly mown. However the best solution to help the water voles was to stop mowing the grass alongside the lake. This will allow a habitat to form that will help the water voles and provide them with valuable feed

A new hedgehog survey is being launched in Carmarthenshire following concerns that numbers of the creatures are declining in the county. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and Carmarthenshire County Council have teamed up to find out more about the status of this much loved species. People are being encouraged to help out by reporting when they have seen any hedgehogs, whether they are dead or alive. Hedgehogs are generally common in parks, gardens and farms, and their spiny bodies make them unmistakeable. But it seems that the creature made so familiar to children by Beatrix Potter’s ‘Mrs Tiggiwinkle’ is not as common a sight as it once was. The council’s Biodiversity Officer Isabel Macho said: “The hedgehog has recently been added to the list of priority species in the UK, with its own Biodiversity Action Plan. “Anecdotal evidence suggests that numbers have declined in Carmarthenshire, but our records of their distribution are relatively poor. “We hope that people will let us

Carmarthenshire councillors have adopted a strategy for sustainable development of the county in the future. This month’s meeting of the full county council voted to back the Preferred Strategy for the Local Development Plan which sets out the strategic planning policies for the county. The council voted for Option 1 of five which is for sustainable distribution of development, which encourages the dispersal of employment, housing and other types of development to identified settlements and village groups or clusters. This allows a range of opportunities for growth across the county, whilst protecting the natural environment and limiting the need to travel. The other options were for urban growth, with most new housing and employment development steered towards the urban centres of Carmarthenshire; dispersal, which stresses the distribution of housing, employment and other forms of development on a broadly equal basis between all identified settlements within the county without necessa

When it comes to getting your name in the public eye, you can score a goal with Carmarthen Town AFC. Shirt sponsorship is the easiest way for businesses to make sure they are in the limelight and Carmarthen Town AFC has some exciting opportunities for forthcoming seasons. “As a Welsh Premier League side, we always have a major profile,” said Carmarthen Town chairman Jeff Thomas. “We are regularly featured on TV, coverage of matches is extensive in Welsh newspapers, fans see the names of shirt sponsors week in and week out and many buy replica shirts as leisurewear. “If you name is on a Carmarthen Town shirt, then you are really in the public eye. Your sponsorship gets further coverage in the match programme, on our public address announcements, on publicity material and on our websites. “Showing your support for Carmarthen Town AFC is a great way to show you are backing the local team’s mission to succeed in the Welsh Premier League. It is also a very cost-effective way of making sure

There's a nice spotlight on the Myrddin Shorts film festival in the Carmarthen Journal's Out and About section this week. Rush out and buy a copy now! See earlier post - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/film-festival-time-in-carmarthen.html

Simon Buckley, chief executive of Evan-Evans brewery, has a new monthly column in the Carmarthen Journal (see the Out and About section this week). Fed up with the election ,with still just over a week to go? My advice is hit the supermarket and get some bottle ales in to try. Sit in the garden and enjoy this fantastic spring weather. Don’t be shy, try the Welsh beers first. Some 34 years ago, when I joined the brewing industry in Llanelli, every brewery brewed fizzy bottle beers. Bottle beer then was very definitely the poor relation to cask beer. Cask ale is still the King of Ales, but increasingly we are seeing more and more of the crafted bottle beers, many produced by the small brewers here in Wales. Iven Kelleher, my graduate brewer joined me for a tasting. We tasted 10 bottle beers, and for the sake of being even-handed and fair, we did not taste our Evan-Evans bottled beers, Cwrw and Warrior. That would have been too easy! One thing is for sure, is the quality of the product i

BBC News - Anti-drink drive group critical of Andy Powell award Amazing!

The Llanelli Reds Under-18 side beat Afan Lido in their last home game of the season on Tuesday night. Goals from Jordan Martin, Kristian Corbisiero and James Beckett were enough to seal the points in 3-1 win!

BBC Sport - Boxing - Enzo Maccarinelli beats Kotlobay to claim Euro title Well done, Enzo!

Gwendraeth Youth Forum has been hard at work to ensure they can carry out community projects within the Gwendraeth Valley. As part of their fund-raising the young people held a duck race event on Saturday April 24 at Pontyates. The Gwendraeth Youth Forum is a group of young people between the ages of 11-25 working together to bring about positive change in their community. Rhys Morris, Gwendraeth Youth Forum Leader said: “The young people are working really hard to develop worthwhile community projects and their aim is to encourage more young people to do something positive in their community. “I hope these events will raise significant funds for the Forum in order to create and provide opportunities for young people and the community as a whole.” Youth Forums are held across the county and are open to all young people 11-25 years. The Forums give young people the opportunity to have their voices heard and issues raised are reported back to the Carmarthenshire Youth Council. To get inv

An event aimed at attracting more adult volunteers to work with youth organisations in Carmarthenshire will be held at CAVS, Carmarthen, between 9:30am and 12pm on Saturday May 15. Following an initial idea from The Prince of Wales, Uniformed Services delivering activities for young people in Wales have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together under the banner of Dreigiau Ifanc/Young Dragons. The event will give people an insight into volunteering and information on the Uniformed Services within the county. Carmarthenshire is one of two pilots areas in Wales that will develop Young Dragons and organisations including Carmarthenshire Council, CAVS, Dyfed Powys Police, Scouts, Guides, Army Cadets, the Young Farmers and Urdd are all working together to get more people involved in activities available across the county. The overall aim of Young Dragons is to increase the number of volunteers to help run uniformed youth organisations and increase the numbers of young people acr

The leader of Carmarthenshire County Council has attended an all-Wales summit to look council and other bodies working together to deliver public services. Cllr Meryl Gravell took part in the first Public Services Summit on the All Wales Efficiency and Innovation Programme organised by First Minister Carwyn Jones. The event was attended by around 150 Leaders and Chief Executives from local government in Wales, together with senior representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government and other public bodies in Wales. Cllr Gravell told this month’s meeting of the full county council: “The Summit was organised against the backdrop of the most difficult financial situation faced by public services for many decades. “The First Minister stressed that all public services - including the NHS, education and social services - were facing a period of growing pressure on their finances as well as the impact of recession and an ageing population.” At the Summit it was announced that a new all-Wales Eff

BBC News - Opponents to student festival brand plans 'shambolic' The licensing hearing continues . ..

Second leaders' debate: Fighting talk fails to convince former servicemen | Politics | The Guardian The Guardian reporter conducted his litmus test at the Conservative Club in Cowell Street, Llanelli, last week.

I'm not taking a view on the politics. Just think this is good value for seeing Paxman squirm!

Thanks to you, folks, this blog is continuing to pick up a momentum. It's now hit the 8,000 page views mark. That's a 1000 views since April 1. Keep the hits coming, folks! Many thanks. See earlier blog - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/7000-visits-chalked-up.html Meanwhile, the blog has chalked up its first visitor from Malawi. The full country by country list (figures from January 6) is as follows - United Kingdom (GB) 1,555; United States (US) 302; Europe (EU) 33; Qatar (QA) 29; India (IN) 20; Australia (AU) 16; Germany (DE) 14; Canada (CA) 12; Ireland (IE) 11; Malaysia (MY) 6; France (FR) 6; Belgium (BE) 6; Russian Federation (RU) 5; Singapore (SG) 5; Italy (IT) 5; Ukraine (UA) 4; Bahrain (BH) 4; Spain (ES) 4; United Arab Emirates (AE) 4; Philippines (PH) 4; Netherlands (NL) 3; Romania (RO) 3; New Zealand (NZ) 3; Sweden (SE) 3; Pakistan (PK) 2; Hungary (HU) 2; Poland (PL) 2; Norway (NO) 2; South Africa (ZA) 2; Denmark (DK) 2; Bulgaria (BG) 2; Cote D'Ivoire (CI) 2

Making his mark at the Myrddin Shorts Film Festival in Carmarthen on the Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend is Tim Couch. Couch has been interested in film since the age of 16 but was unable to fully embark on film-making until he was a student at Trinity University College, Carmarthen. His first film 'The Feeling of Cake' was an improvised piece using actors from the School of Theatre and Performance at Trinity, and was well received by Tim's peers and lecturers. After a two-year break Tim is back again with 'Wayne', a film which is an extension of one of the characters taken from Tim's earlier work. Wayne synopsis - 'Wayne' is a ‘mockumentary’ about Tim Couch and Wayne Evans. Tim is a documentary filmmaker who comes to film Wayne. Everything seems to be going well at first but then Tim meets Wayne's boss Antonio and everything seems to take a turn for the worse. Written and Directed by Tim Couch Approx. running length – 10 mins MAY NOT BE SUITABLE

Enjoying the Match of the Day in style is top of the menu at Carmarthen Town AFC’s new revamped clubhouse at Richmond Park. The new suite offers premier views of Richmond Park and a value-for-money hospitality package which is winning new fans for the Welsh Premier League side. Recent guests at the Richmond Park hospitality suite have included three prominent Llanelli Scarlets players, Ken Owens, Rhys Priestland and Jonathan Davies. The suite is already a big hit with Carmarthen businessmen. Recent hospitality sponsors have included Delme Owens, of Carmarthenshire Tyre Services, Nigel Roberts, of the HSBC bank, Neil Alexander, of EMC Electrical Services, and David Butler, of Clay Shaw Butler accountants. Mr Butler said: “The revamped facilities at Richmond Park are excellent. Corporate hospitality is key for any successful sporting club nowadays and Carmarthen Town AFC has got it right with a package which offers superb value for money.” Club chairman Jeff Thomas said corporate hospita

Yet more Ffos Las success for McCoy Another AP treble!

WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Broadcaster Humphrys to sell Welsh farm John Humphrys says goodbye to Talog.

A new extension at a Carmarthen family centre will be unveiled this week. The Carmarthenshire County Council-run Argel Playgroup and Family Centre at Johnstown has been expanded to allow greater space for children and families to enjoy. The family centre provides a supported environment for children and families in the Carmarthen area, offering playgroup sessions, supervised contact and one-to-one work with children. The extension has been financed by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of its investment in children’s services facilities, and will be officially opened by Children’s Services executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge on Thursday, April 29. Manager Debbie Stacey, who has worked at the centre for over 20 years, said: “The excellent refurbishment work carried out includes an extension to the building and a new patio area which provides much needed, valuable, additional space for the children to explore and play.” She added: “The centre is a safe, stimulating and nurt

A Carmarthen woman who was caught littering for the second time has been ordered to pay a total of £280 by the magistrates court. Stacey Leigh-Ann Howell, aged 20, of Dan Y Castell, Bridge Street, pleaded guilty by post to an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty on Friday, November 27 last year at the McDonalds overflow car park in Carmarthen when they saw a woman open the door of her car and leave a takeaway bag on the ground. The officers approached her and explained that it was an offence to throw litter and that they were going to issue her with a fixed penalty notice of £75. They asked her if she had ever received a fixed penalty notice in the past and she said she had not. However, records later showed that this was second time Howell had been caught littering and as a result a letter was s

A Swansea man has been fined £400 by the courts and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £372.08 for illegally carrying waste. William Bryan Dean, aged 46, of Clwyd Road, Penlan, Swansea, was convicted in absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that on December 12 2009 the council’s environmental enforcement section was contacted by Dyfed-Powys Police who had stopped a vehicle in the Bonllwyn area of Ammanford which was carrying waste and the driver was not a registered waste carrier. The driver was subsequently interviewed by environmental enforcement officers and admitted that he did not have the relevant licence for transporting waste. The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fly-tipping. Head of Street Scene David Hughes said: “All businesses that

Two students from Trinity University in Carmarthen will be aiming to make their mark at the Myrddin Shorts film festival being staged in the town on the May Bank Holiday weekend. Vicki Smith (pictured below) will be screening Fifteen and Lisa Heavens will be showing http://watched. Smith is a third-year student at Trinity University College, Carmarthen, currently studying a degree in Advertising & Media. Fifteen is the first film she has produced, directed and edited. She likes to focus on design and hopes to pursue a career in design, events or promotions. Fifteen synopsis - Fifteen, based on a true story, is about two youngsters who mix harmless fun with alcohol and end up in a bit of trouble causing someone to be left in a life or death situation. The film focuses on one main character who is celebrating her 15th birthday with her friend but things turn horribly wrong when alcohol is involved. Starring – Caroline Beasley, Tom Owen, Nicky Warlow, Amy Griggs Written and directed b

Peer through the mist and you might just see the sand dredger loitering outside Burry Port harbour in this picture taken today.

Just think of the profile you could enjoy if your business took over the naming rights to Carmarthen Town AFC’s home ground. “Media coverage through television, radio, newspapers and the internet always mentions where we play,” said club chairman Jeff Thomas. “So we are now giving businesses the opportunity to link themselves to Carmarthen Town AFC by taking on the naming rights of the stadium at Richmond Park. “It’s an innovative step for us, but we have a ground licensed for domestic and UEFA games and we are eager to use it to its full potential. “For example, you could be hearing commentators speaking about Carmarthen playing at Debenhams Park, rather than Richmond Park. “Such profile represents a fantastic opportunity for a business to get their name on the tip of everyone’s tongue.” In addition, the club is also looking for businesses, or even individuals, willing to lend their name to the rooms at the new clubhouse suite at Richmond Park. The main hospitality room offers premier

Match Report The Llanelli Reds Championship hopes ended on the North Wales Coast on Saturday afternoon even though an emphatic display of attacking football gave them a rousing win over Prestatyn Town! With rivals TNS winning at Aberystwyth, the Reds super human performance of winning five games out of six in just eleven days, was not enough, as they eventually finished just two points behind the men from Oswestry.

Two Gwendraeth Valley men have been fined by the courts for not complying with council’s recycling scheme. Jason Paul Larkin and Lee Charles Holland from Maes Y Wern in Carway appeared before Ammanford Maguistrates Court charged with an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the council’s contact centre had received numerous complaints regarding refuse at a property in Carway. The council’s environmental enforcement officers visited the household on a number of occasions and found that there was a large quantity of both blue and black bags at the property; the blue bags contained non-recyclable items, and were also being put out for collection on the wrong week. Despite a warning letter, the situation continued; and a notice was served compelling the householders to comply with the recycling scheme, however, Larkin ripped up the paperwork and became aggressive towards the officers, Holland

Dropping litter has cost two teenagers a total of £325 each. Adam Stephen Evans and Shaun Smith both pleaded guilty to an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty in Ammanford town centre on Thursday, October 1 2009 when they saw a group of males sitting on the ground outside the former Woolworths store eating and drinking. After a short time they got up, leaving a number of items of litter on the ground. The officers approached the group and three of them admitted leaving the litter. The officers explained that they would be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 for littering and as they started to take down their details, two of the males ran off. The officers gave chase but the pair fled the area. However, approximately an hour later the officers caught up with one of the males and his details

CPD Caerfyrddin / Carmarthen AFC Phew! A Chris Thomas brace and one each for Dale Griffiths and Danny Thomas gave Town a comprehensive win over visitors Cefn Druids. With Bala drawing at Port Talbot the result ensures that Town will play in the new super league structure next season. Manager Deryn Brace said: "Yes, it was a huge relief to finish in the top ten. But it was also a big well done to the players who have played under a great deal of pressure over the last few weeks."

Blue and black bags are now being delivered to householders across Carmarthenshire. Each year the council supplies a roll of black bags and two rolls of blue bags to homes on the kerbside recycling scheme. Residents are given one roll of black bags only (52 bags) as they are being encouraged to reduce as much of their waste as possible in a bid to cut the amount of waste going to landfill and recycle as much as they can. Blue bags are used for recycling paper, cardboard, cans and plastic and if residents run out at any time during the year more will be delivered. Each roll now has a luminous green/yellow stripe on one of the bags towards the end so that when that particular blue bag is put out for collection the crews know they need to leave more blue bags. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for residents to recycle. There are now around 75,000 households out of approximately 82,000 in Carmarthenshire that benefit from kerbside recycling. The green bin/blue bag scheme which also

"They swarm to the lights, and sometimes when I sing, I swallow them" - Katherine Jenkins on the dangers of fly swallowing during open-air performances. It has apparently "happened at least 10 times" to the mezzo-soprano, but she shrugs it off as just "one of those things".

A worrying three-quarters of car seats in Carmarthenshire are wrongly fitted, according to safety checks. Child car seats across the county were inspected as part of Child Safety Fun Days organised by the council’s Road Safety Unit at Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthen, Amman Valley and Llanelli leisure centres. A total of 250 seats were checked over the four days and road safety officers found that 75 per cent were fitted incorrectly. Of those, 30 had major faults, seven were incompatible with the car and two seats had to be condemned. The aim of the events was to raise awareness of the risks to babies and children if seats are not fitted properly. It is also against the law not to have the correct child restraint. Parents and guardians were given expert advice and warned about the dangers of using second-hand car seats. Road Safety Manager Keith Griffiths said: “The safest way for young children to travel in cars is in a child seat that is suitable for their weight and size as well as the v

An apology to Robert William Stevens (pictured) Oh dear. Wouldn't want to be doing the post-mortem on this one. There is now lively debate on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121185774563069&v=wall&ref=search

Carmarthen Town Reserves v Loughor Tuesday evening 27th April 2010 Richmond Park KO 6:15pm

Carmarthenshire is one of the best placed counties in Wales to weather the recession – according to the Welsh Local Government Association. Steve Thomas, chief executive of the WLGA, gave a hard-hitting presentation on tackling the crisis for local government funding to this week’s meeting of the full county council. Mr Thomas said: “We are in this mess for a number of reasons, not least because of our friends in the banking industry. You know what the issues are. You have budgets to set and the blame game is not going to help you. Difficult choices, whoever is to blame, are still there.” He warned of a possible reduction of £2.2 billion by 2014 to the Assembly’s budget, with capital spending decimated. The Assembly would have to take some strategic decisions and if areas such as health were protected, more of the cuts would fall on local government. If schools and the police were protected, there would be a greater impact on other council services. Councils would have to consider no l

Getting back online after a couple of days of slog splitting the book project into chapters. Boy am I looking forward to doing the index!