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

Help for rural and farming communities has been welcomed by Carmarthenshire’s executive board member. Cllr Jim Jones, whose portfolio includes rural affairs, has given his support to an initiative which aims to help keep their properties and belongings safe. Dyfed Powys Police have developed an information pack which includes advice on how to help prevent thefts of metal hefts, heating oil, fuel and tack, plus a leaflet on rogue traders and other general information. Cllr Jones said: “This is an excellent initiative which will provide invaluable help and advice to people in rural and farming communities. “I would encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity, the information these packs contain could help avoid any thefts or damage to their property. “ To obtain an information pack e-mail michelle.evans@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk or write to PC 793 Michelle Evans at: Llanelli Police Station, Neighbourhood Development Department, Waun Lan Yr Afon, Llanelli, SA15 3AD, enclosing

A new football club benefiting 20 youngsters has been set up thanks to a cash boost. Trostre Juniors Football Club formed last September after receiving help from the Community Chest grant £1440 was distributed by Carmarthenshire County Council’s sports and leisure team to support it and help develop two new teams - Under 9s and 10s. The money was also used to train new coaches. Tracy Hall, Junior club secretary said: “The grant has provided the club with all the essentials needed to set up the football team.” The club was created after interest was expressed from parents and forms a natural progression into Trostre Seniors. So far the club has delivered a successful football tournament attracting children from primary schools and other football clubs. Community Chest is funded by Sport Wales and distributed via the council’s sport and leisure section. Youth clubs/groups, sports clubs/organisations and non-sporting organisations with an interest to provide physical activity (eg com

Toot-Toot...Puff the Magic Dragon and a few of his friends are coming to Llanelli Retrofest on September 26-27. With open top bus tours and town criers, traders and exhibitors, church bells ringing out and a lot more besides, all that has been missing from the festival build-up has been monster hissing steam engines from ages past. But Llanelli and District Model Engineers Society have come to the rescue, agreeing to send steam engines into town that will roll up and down Vaughan Street and Stepney Street giving a real yesteryear feel to all the activities. The magnificent machines gush plumes of white steam and will present some fantastic picture opportunities when they chug up and down Llanelli’s high street. It is thought this will be the first steam engines of this kind will have appeared in the town’s streets for more than 100 years. Steam engineers chairman Robert Raynor said Llanelli Retrofest collided with their ninth annual autumn steam rally at Pembrey Country Park, which r

Free cinema tickets have been handed out to the winner of a Carmarthen Library reading challenge. Tiffany Edmonds of Cynwyl Elfed was the winner of the ‘Six Book Challenge’ run by the library as a summer reading project for older teenagers and adults. The aim of the competition, run in tandem with the children’s summer reading challenge, was to encourage youngsters to read more by seeing adults and teenagers reading and completing their version of the challenge. All adults who completed the challenge had their names entered into a draw to win a family prize. Carmarthen’s VUE cinema donated four tickets to the library for the challenge. Are you interested in taking part in the next reading challenge or event? Find out more from Carmarthenshire Libraries.

The race is on in Carmarthenshire for young sporting ambassadors. Carmarthenshire council’s sport and leisure team are looking for inspirational and dedicated young people to become Gold Young Ambassadors. You need to be aged 16-21 and in sixth form, college or university. At gold level, ambassadors will assist the county co-ordinator in providing overall leadership of the Young Ambassador  programme in Carmarthenshire. The programme develops young leaders and volunteers further by providing them with responsibility of being an ambassador for PE, school sport and sport within the community. There are three stages – bronze, silver and gold – that start at primary school age right through to university level. The idea is for each school, college or university to have good sporting role models that encourage pupils to take part in sporting activities. Carmarthenshire student Nia Jones has just landed a role on the national steering group. The Platinum Young Ambassadors have their voice

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales Keith Towler has officially opened a new youth facility at Glan-y-Mor School – the first in his seven years in the job. Mr Towler said how pleased he was to be able to open a youth centre, instead of seeing one close which has happened more and more over the past few years. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the £1.1million youth and leisure facility at the school in Burry Port. Mr Towler said: “I spend a lot of time talking with children and young people about what is important to them, we need to hear their voices. “It is clear to me that children and young people in Carmarthenshire do have a voice and they do get that voice heard.” He praised the vision and commitment of everyone involved in the project, which was delivered through Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme. Mr Towler, who is due to complete his seven years as Children’s Commissioner shortly, said he was unlikely to see another youth club opening

Jobs and employment opportunities are on offer at two events coming up in Ammanford. A Feeding Britain’s Future Jobs Fair is taking place at Ammanford Jobcentre on Wednesday, October 1. The initiative is about engaging with employers in the food industry, and the Jobcentre has been working closely with Tesco in Ammanford. There is also a ‘Be your own Boss’ self employment day at Ammanford Jobcentre on Friday, October 3. Qualified people will be on hand to provide advice and guidance to budding entrepreneurs or anyone who may be considering starting their own business. The events are part of a county wide programme to help people get back into work. Latest figures show that unemployment continues to fall in Carmarthenshire making it one of the lowest claimant areas in Wales. There has been a decrease of 23% in the number of claimants over a period of 12 months, from 3,211 in June 2013 to 2,472 in June this year. It continues to fall with a further decrease of 6.8%, or 181 people, in t

Latest figures show that unemployment continues to fall in Carmarthenshire making it one of the lowest claimant areas in Wales. There has been a decrease of 23% in the number of claimants over a period of 12 months, from 3,211 in June 2013 to 2,472 in June this year. It continues to fall with a further decrease of 6.8%, or 181 people, in the last month, now ranking Carmarthenshire as sixth lowest in Wales for Jobseekers Allowance claims, and lower than the Welsh average. In particular, the number of young jobseekers aged between and 18 and 24 has plummeted over a 12 month period. Statistics show that claimants in that age bracket fell by over a third from June 2013 to June 2014 – from 995 to 645. Many young claimants have found work in the retail and hospitality sectors. Jobcentre Employer and Partnerships Manager Menna Davies said: “The good news continues for Carmarthenshire with a drop of 815 claimants on the Jobseekers Allowance register.” Figures for Carmarthenshire show that ma

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star -  Fresh from the success of their annual concert at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Côr Meibion Llanelli have finalised some of the details for their autumn/winter programme. Events in this, the choir’s 50th anniversary year, include – Saturday 18th October 50th Anniversary Dinner Stradey Park Hotel Thursday 30th October Cymanfa Ganu at Soar Chapel, Llwynhendy. £5 for a programme. Monday 17th November 2014 Festival of Light Elli Centre 6.30p.m. Saturday 22nd November 2014 to Wednesday 26th November2014 Choir trip to Obendorf and Salzburg. Saturday 13th December 2014 Christmas Concert Greenfield Chapel 7pm. Meanwhile, Cerith Owens, the director of Loud Applause Productions has some big events coming up in his programme. Saturday, October 18, sees the World War 1 Centenary Gala Concert, supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. The concert will featur

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post -  Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. Earlier this week I had a weird moment when I experienced a feeling of déjà vu and a premonition at exactly the same time. Luckily, I wasn’t driving my car at the time. I was driving a mini-bus of OAPs to a day centre. I felt a little groggy, but I was stopped from passing-out when an old gentleman sat in the back shouted “Pull over”, so I did. I turned to ask him why he wanted me to stop and he said “I didn’t. I suddenly remembered I forgot my pullover!” The past and the future merging together is a trend in television these days with many old TV series being dusted-off, re-made and updated. We already have several new versions of old shows in the schedules, the most recent of which is “Sunday Night At The Palladium”. Not, as it was known when it ran through the 1950s and 60s, “Sunday Night At The London Palladium. The

Social entrepreneur and multi-millionaire Kevin Green has plenty of reason for celebrating this week. He’s spent his 51st birthday in Tobago and he also been able to celebrate a breakthrough moment as an in-demand international motivational and business speaker. “This summer and autumn has seen me break through onto the world circuit of speakers,” Green said before taking the stage at Wales’ biggest business exhibition in Cardiff. “I’ve done public speaking on an international level on plenty of occasions, but the last couple of weeks have seen the whole thing take off to a new level.” Green completed a whirlwind tour of Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia before taking a short holiday break in the West Indies and then returning to home territory for the Introbiz Business Exhibition at the Cardiff City House of Sport. “I’ve been clocking up the air miles,” Green laughed. “But it’s been a wonderful experience and the chance to talk to so many people on my tour of the Far E

Landlords with properties in Carmarthenshire are being urged to keep up with new legislation. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Housing department is keen to keep in touch with all private landlords so they can help keep them informed about new and ever-changing legislation which affects the way they can let and manage their homes to tenants. As part of their efforts they are hosting a Carmarthenshire Landlord Forum at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli, on Wednesday October 1, where guest speakers will talk about changes in the industry, including the benefits system which will affect tenants. It is also an opportunity for landlords to meet each other and get free advice from industry experts. Cllr Tegwen Devichand, Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “This is a free event which could be invaluable to landlords. There are many changes coming through, and we want every landlord to be clued up about the way it will affect their business. “We’re keen to help and provide support to ensure

A lecturer from the UK’s top ranked course for physiotherapy and practising physiotherapist at Hywel Dda University Health Board will today (24 September) be the first in Wales to be given the green light to prescribe medicines to patients without the need for a doctors’ countersignature. Ushered in by changes to the Human Medicine’s Regulation, the Welsh Assembly has published new legislation that will mean quicker access for Welsh patients to the necessary drugs needed to treat their condition. Gary Morris works as an Associate Lecturer in Cardiff University’s School of Healthcare Sciences and is an advanced physiotherapy practitioner in neurological rehabilitation for Hywel Dda University Health Board. He completed his independent prescribing conversion training in June this year, and will today be the first physiotherapist in Wales registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an independent prescriber. “Many people with long term conditions require a combin

The team at Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants in Carmarthen played their part in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning for the cancer charity Macmillan. Staff baked a dazzling range of cakes and treats for the morning and opened the doors of the firm's conference room to customers, friends and the public. The event raised £608 for the charity. David Butler, director of Clay Shaw Butler, said: "It was a great effort by the staff. They worked very hard on providing a feast for all visitors. Everyone entered into the spirit of the event and we raised a wonderful sum for Macmillan." The World's Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan Cancer Support's biggest charity fundraising event. The charity asked people across the UK - and sometimes further afield - to hold a coffee morning, where donations on the day are made to Macmillan. In 2013, 154,000 people signed up to the coffee morning, raising a record £20 million for c

Unemployment has plummeted in parts of the Llanelli area over the last three months, latest figures reveal. Burry Port has seen the largest drop with 24% less people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, followed by Dafen and Lliedi at 18%, Felinfoel and Glanymor by 16%, and Trimsaran by 15%. Unemployment generally has fallen across Carmarthenshire with a decrease of 23% over a period of 12 months. The number of claimants went down from 3,211 in June 2013 to 2,472 in June this year, and continues to fall with a further decrease of 6.8%, or 181 people, in the last month. Carmarthenshire is now ranked as the sixth lowest authority in Wales for Jobseekers Allowance claims. In particular, the number of young jobseekers aged between and 18 and 24 has plummeted over a 12 month period. Statistics show that claimants in that age bracket fell by over a third from June 2013 to June 2014 – from 995 to 645. Many young claimants have found work in the retail and hospitality sectors. Asda in Llanelli tow

A digital window is being unveiled in Llanelli town centre tomorrow. The ‘Ffenest Digidol’ is being unveiled at 10am outside Ffwrnes Theatre. (Thursday Sept 25th) and will give a fascinating glimpse of Llanelli’s industrial past. It will be a permanent canvas for artists and filmmakers to showcase moving image works in the public realm. Twelve strips of movable video panels occupy a panoramic window in Ffwrnes Theatre overlooking the Eastgate Plaza. The digital images are superimposed with views in and out of the theatre, showcasing the artists’ work and activating the public space below. Animated artworks and films will be specially commissioned for the unique canvas every six months. The Studio Of Cinematic Architecture was commissioned by Carmarthenshire County Council and EMP Projects to create the ‘Digital Window’ as part of the Adref Llanelli Town Centre Regeneration Programme public art strategy. It includes the bespoke bench and free standing canopy in the central square, and

A Carmarthen man has been fined £200 for continually putting his rubbish out on the wrong day and putting non-recyclable waste in blue bags. Antony Ricketts, age 20, of Barnsfield Terrace was also ordered to pay costs of £186.31 and a victim surcharge of £20 by Carmarthen Magistrates. He failed to attend court and was convicted in absence to an offence under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The court heard that since July 2012, the council’s environmental enforcement section had received numerous complaints of rubbish bags being put out on days when collections were not due. Officers spoke to Ricketts in person and provided him with information, however reports continued to be made to the council’s enforcement team, who visited the address and found evidence to link black bags, and contaminated blue recycling bags, to him on several occasions. A Fixed Penalty Notice was hand-delivered to Ricketts on April 2, 2014. A reminder was also sent on April 22, 2014; howeve

Delivering care in the community and supporting patients to stay well and out of hospital has been given a boost following the start of a new cohort of community trained nurses to the enhanced community nursing service. Hywel Dda University Health Board made a commitment to build on community services to the people of Cardigan and surrounding areas. The range of treatments being provided includes wound dressings, responding to urgent requests and providing end of life nursing care. Following a period of training, the eagerly awaited nursing workforce started on 14 July and the early results are encouraging. Within the first two weeks, 27 people were referred and care was provided to people ranging in age from 16 to 90 years old, often avoiding admission to hospital and assisting discharge home. Comments received from patients and relatives have been positive and express appreciation of the support given by the enhanced community team. One relative said “May I take this opportunity to

A healthcare clinic, provided by specialist doctors visiting from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, is just one of the new services available for patients in the Cardigan area, heard stakeholders and members of the public at the latest meeting and drop-in session. For the first time, a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) specialist clinic is taking place every three months in Cardigan Hospital. It provides a local, community based service to support symptom management of the disease, which attacks the motor neurones and can affect mobility, speech and more. Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Executive lead for the Cardigan development, Director of Strategy & Integration / Therapies & Health Science, Kathryn Davies said: “The MND clinics in Cardigan illustrate the type of new service we can deliver locally in the future as we provide new ways of delivering care.” Information about the clinics and plans for the new integrated care resource centre and provision of integrat

Summer may only just be coming to an end but it is that time of year again to organise your yearly flu vaccination, especially if you are at risk of health complications should you catch flu. You can receive the flu jab free if you are aged 65 years or older, are pregnant, or have a health condition that puts you at risk of flu complications such as severe asthma, chest or heart complaints and diabetes. And if you care for someone who is elderly or disabled, whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill, you are also encouraged to get the vaccination. As part of the 2014 - 2015 seasonal flu campaign, 2, 3 and 4 year olds will also be vaccinated at their GP surgery using a nasal spray, and children in school Year 7 vaccinated through the school nursing service. Teresa Owen, Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Flu isn’t just a cold. It can be a really serious illness for some people. If you’re in any of the at-risk groups, the flu jab is free of charge

The Welsh Government’s plans to build a six lane motorway through one of Wales’ most important wildlife habitats may be unlawful, according to advice given to an environment charity. Friends of the Earth Cymru has today launched a judicial review of the new M4 plans [1], after the Government refused to reconsider the decision to build through the highly protected Gwent Levels wetlands. A judge will now examine whether the Welsh Government unlawfully limited the range of reasonable alternatives, by only considering a new motorway south of Newport and two similar variations. They will also consider if the plan’s substantial damage to protected wildlife sites is permitted by law. Environment groups, transport experts and business representatives have all opposed the new motorway, with fears it could damage Wales’ environment and economy. Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gareth Clubb said: “This motorway would cause massive damage to important and protected wildlife. We think the We

The 11 members of Bwlchnewydd Chapel, near Cross Inn, Laugharne, held a special service to welcome nine new members. Much to the delight of all, another two individuals came forward during the service stating that they, too, would like to be a part of the Bwlchnewydd family. Therefore, the growth in membership at Bwlchnewydd Chapel on one day was 100% ! Seven years ago the future of Bwlchnewydd Chapel was hanging in the balance. However, through the efforts of the 11 members and the generous support of the National Lottery, CADW and other agencies, the building was restored and the congregation returned. The building was re-opened with much celebration and efforts were made to encourage others to join. The Minister, Rev Huw M George stated that, “There is definitely something exceptional about Bwlchnewydd and to experience 100% growth in this day and age is something special in itself. We are making every effort to ensure that our voice will be heard and that the message we sh

Show your support to the high street and visit Carmarthen Market this Friday. Traders are celebrating the National Support Your High Street campaign. Not only will you be able to do your shopping but you will also be entertained by Radio Cymru broadcaster Marc Griffiths. There will also be cookery demonstrations using produce from the market by Lisa Fearn of the Pumpkin Patch Kitchen & Garden. Between 11am and 3pm Marc Griffiths will be finding out more about the goods available to buy in the market as well as finding out more about some of the traders.  Shoppers will be able to see some of the clothing and accessories close up and taste some of the flavours of the market with tasters. Come and see the county council stand at the former Computabuilda unit in the centre of the market hall. Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member responsible for markets, Cllr Jeff Edmunds, said: “It’s great to see the traders coming together and supporting this national campaign

Ammanford traders are giving the Gwyl y Twrch Trwyth Festival a colourful welcome to the town centre. The Festival and the Support your Local High Street Initiative is providing a shop window for what traders have to offer and they have decorated their shop windows to promote the festival, too. The displays follow a boar theme linked to the produce sold at each shop. Among the businesses that have decorated their shop windows is the ismooth cafe in College Street where one of the two boars in the window is good enough to eat! Erika Beynon of ismooth said: “We decided to make a boar out of cake which we have cooked and decorated and put in our window. We also have the original papier mache boar made for the launching of Twrch Trwyth. “Traders have really got behind Twrch Trwyth which is nice to see. There has been a lot of decorating. It is helping the Third Sector as well as private traders and has brought us together. For traders these are exciting times!” Angela Phillips

Hundreds of young people have had jobs in Carmarthen thanks to town centre development. Latest figures reveal that the number of jobseekers aged between 18 and 24 has fallen by over a third since this time last year – from 995 to 645. Many young claimants have found work in Carmarthen town centre through the opening of new shops and businesses. Jobcentre Employer and Partnerships Manager Menna Davies said: “The retail and hospitality sectors have contributed considerably to these reductions over the last six months, with Carmarthen town showing particular buoyancy with several major recruitments with national businesses and small medium size enterprises also showing signs of confidence and recruiting again.” Unemployment generally has fallen across Carmarthenshire with a decrease of 23% over a period of 12 months. The number of claimants went down from 3,211 in June 2013 to 2,472 in June this year, and continues to fall with a further decrease of 6.8%, or 181 people, in the last mon

Buskers from as far away as Bristol are talking about the Llanelli Retrofest. Their music is going to be the mainstay of the event bringing the streets of Llanelli alive, in what is hoped to become a massive annual event in Llanelli’s calendar. More than 20 buskers are already registered, each vying to become the best busker, with singers from Llanelli’s strong folk scene keen to show what they can do, as well as those from further afield. Busker sites will be created along Vaughan Street and Stepney Street over two days and more sites are being set up on the Curly Path leading to Asda and in the Stepney Street and Cowell Street precincts. Buskers or historical street entertainers who are interested in taking part should call 01267 224923.

Further to a fun ABBA Challenge Performance Workshop at the Ffwrnes, Llanelli, last weekend with participants from 13 schools across the region, the Hywel Choir look forward to presenting The Town Remembers at St Elli Parish Church, Llanelli on Saturday 4 October where they will be joined by the Llanelli Choral Society and tenor Aled Hall for the WW1 Centenary event. Highlights of the event will include 100 remembrance lanterns scattered around the grounds of the church and 100 candles burning inside the church as well as the church internally theatrically lit for the event. A central simple shrine will see six candles, each representing the millions of lives lost, periodically extinguished by young choristers as the night progresses. Narrations will be given by Nia Griffiths MP, The Hon. Robin Lewis OBE, The Town Mayor Roger T Price, Warrant Officer Stuart Millson 10 year old Chloe Millson and speaker Jeremy Hywel. Musical highlights will include favourite WW1 singalongs with the Hy

Carmarthenshire County Council’s efforts to deliver community energy projects has been hailed inspirational as part of a UK conference hosted by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey MP. Councils and public sector organisations from around the UK attended the Powering Up conference, run jointly by The Department of Energy and Climate Change and the OxFutures initiative . The council’s Sustainable Development Manager, Kendal Davies – part of the Property Services department - was a guest speaker at the event, and spoke about the efforts Carmarthenshire is making to deliver energy efficiency measures, as well as the challenges we face. He said: “One of the obstacles to developing community schemes is the cost of seeking planning permission and the unpredictability of the outcome. To help overcome this, we employ a dedicated renewable energy development officer as part of our planning service, and also provide a free pre-application advice service. “Financ

All roads lead to good old Sospan Fach for Llanelli Retrofest on September 26-27. There will be steam engines, vintage cars and open top buses with free parking in all county council car parks in Llanelli on the Saturday and Sunday too. Llanelli’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Carmarthenshire County Council’s transport management team can put on up to five days of free parking each year, and are pleased to announce two of the days have been secured to attract more people in to town for the Llanelli Retrofest. Chamber president Andrew Stephens said: “This is a big bonus for the festival, which we are confident will become a major event in the town’s calendar of fun activities. “It is a fun couple of days designed to bring life to Llanelli’s streets and the fact there is free parking will be a big attraction.” The free parking will run from 9.30am each and all day in all the county council’s car parks in Llanelli.

Côr Meibion Llanelli brought him home - and, boy, what a homecoming it was for West End and Broadway singing star John Owen-Jones. The Burry Port singing sensation, who has starred in Les Miserables and The Phantom of The Opera, was the special guest at Côr Meibion Llanelli's 50th anniversary concert at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli. John Owen-Jones wasn't just the icing on the cake for the choir's 50th birthday; he was the dazzling candle power that set the evening alight. His cascade of West End stardust had the audience of 500 at the Selwyn Samuel on their feet for a well-deserved standing ovation. Singer, showman, entertainer, John Owen-Jones brought it all to Côr Meibion Llanelli's 48th annual concert. It was first class, a master-class and world class. From the opening bars of Kiss of a Spiderwoman, he had the audience tied into his wonderful web of musical magic. This was the singer's final Llanelli appearance before a tour of Japan and