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

Margaret Street Surgery in Ammanford has been recognised for their commitment and support for carers and their families.  The surgery has achieved the Investors in Carers Silver Level award - a scheme which is delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board and supported by its local authority partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The Investors in Carers initiative is designed to help health facilities such as GP practices and hospitals focus on and improve their carer awareness and enhance the help and support they give carers. A carer is someone, of any age, who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; in most cases becoming a carer is not out of choice, it just happens. Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Chair and Carers’ Champion, Mrs Bernardine Rees...

Thanks to the support of Amman Valley Hospital’s League of Friends, an additional 16 car parking spaces will be created at the rear of the hospital site, adjacent to the main car park, to help ease parking pressures. Work will be completed by Friday 14 April. The 16 car parking spaces include two disabled bays. In addition to the new parking bays, the League of Friends are also supporting improvement works to the hospital driveway and the installation of a new security access barrier to the main hospital car park. Arwel Davies, Honorary Treasurer of the Amman Valley Hospital League of Friends said: "We are delighted to be supporting such an important development at Amman Valley Hospital to improve facilities for visitors and staff at the site. We are contributing over £100,000 to this development thanks to a legacy left to us from the late Mrs Gwenllian (Gwennie) Morgan of Tircoed Road, Glanamman." Patients and visitors to the hospital are being advised of temporary disrup...

Come and celebrate St David’s Day in Ammanford. A wealth of activities have been organised on the day by Menter Bro Dinefwr in conjunction with Carmarthenshire County Council’s economic development division and Communities First, as well as a window display competition which will be judged beforehand. Menter Bro Dinefwr has arranged for local schools will be performing on a stage in Quay Street throughout the day from 10am to 2pm. There will be a surprise event as well as a Twmpath on the street. Other events include a Peppa Pig theme session at Ismooth Café and reading activities in the Library. Communities First has organised a marquee with various exhibitions. Businesses have been given the opportunity of putting on a special offer for the day. A window display competition will be judged by Huw Rees (or Huw Fash as everyone knows him) on Tuesday February 28. There will be a trophy for the best window display. Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration a...

Property owners in Ammanford are being urged to apply for grants to develop their business premises. Applications are being invited for the Ammanford Regeneration Development Fund which will assist owner occupiers, businesses and commercial property developers to help create high quality commercial and business premises and new job opportunities in the town. The incentive on offer is aimed to stimulate the supply of high quality commercial premises and encourage re-use of current vacant properties in the town. Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The main aim of the Ammanford Regeneration Development Fund is to make more high quality commercial premises available in Ammanford to create jobs and attract more people into the town.” Council leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “This is a scheme that has evolved from the Ammanford Task Force. I hope it will encourage the private sector to invest in Ammanford.” Ammanford Town W...

Christmas arrives in Ammanford on Friday with the switch-on of the town’s lights. Organised by Ammanford Chamber of Trade and Ammanford Town Council, and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, the event is set to bring hundreds of families in to the town centre for a host of festivities. The main events happen along Quay Street with live music and entertainment, Christmas stalls and a funfair. The Town Mayor will switch the lights on at 6pm but a whole day of activities is planned with an outdoor market from 8am-4pm. From 4-7pm, children will get the chance to meet Santa, who will be in his grotto at the Pensioner’s Hall, and Radio Carmarthenshire will bring live music to the main stage at the top end of Quay Street. Friday night’s festivities will be followed by more Christmas activities on the weekend. Small Business Saturday kicks off early with plenty of local traders taking part. Ammanford Library will also host a Christmas Book Fair with a chance to meet authors and get b...

Carmarthenshire County Council is working with Aspect Developments to regenerate a key Ammanford gateway site. Ammanford’s old police station and former magistrates court is set to be transformed through a mixed use development, with plans that include retaining the Court House and conversion into office suites, together with the construction of an extension to provide retail space on the ground floor, and residential accommodation above. Aspect Developments is to submit an application for planning permission. The College Street site was recently discussed at the Ammanford Regeneration Taskforce, set up earlier this year by council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole. He said: “This is a key gateway site to Ammanford and its redevelopment is part of our aspirations to regenerate the town. I’m really pleased to see the plans getting underway to transform this site into a development which will create jobs and housing.” Hywel Richards of Aspect Developers said: “We are looking forward to bringing t...

Did you know Carmarthenshire Markets is on Facebook? The social media platform provides up to date news on what’s happening in Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ammanford and Llandeilo indoor and outdoor markets. The page showcases what the markets have to offer, any special offers or discounts, events, available units, events and general information. There are a number of Christmas themed events going on throughout December including appearances from local school choirs singing carols, elf activity days, the annual Reindeer Day and meet and greet with the cast of The Friendships, Robinson Crusoe pantomime and these will be featured too. The council’s executive board member for markets, Cllr David Jenkins said: “Whichever way you look at it, there’s no denying that social media has become hugely powerful and influential – we must maximise its potential to engage with our traders and shoppers more than ever before.” Traders regularly dress up and fundraise for charity and we share these pictures ...

A wild willow boar created by the people of Ammanford is now on show at the town’s library. The boar was created for the popular Twrch Trwyth Festival which took place in September. Ammanford takes as its emblem the wild boar or 'Y Twrch Trwyth', from the legend that King Arthur had hunted wild boar in the Amman valley. Y Twrch Trwyth is also the emblem of a number of organisations and groups including Ammanford Cricket Club, Twrch Trwyth Motorcycle group and Amman Valley School. The account of Arthur’s boar hunt comes from the story of Culwch and Olwen; it is the first written record of Arthur and can be read in the Mabinogion, a medieval collection of Welsh myths and legends At the festival, people were given the opportunity to help create a boar with the support of willow weaver Cassandra Lishman. The willow was part of Cassandra’s own crop and was soaked in water for five days prior to use. A basic frame was constructed by Cassandra and visitors then wove the willow stran...

Children have enjoyed half term holiday fun at Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli libraries with pantomime favourites Dick Whittington and Alice Fitzwarren. Actors from Jermin Productions, which is staging Dick Whittington, spent time with the children and even joined in a Lego session! Osian and Griff Parry who visited Ammanford Library with their grandmother Sue Parry, who is a library member, are pictured meeting Dick Whittington and Alice Fitzwarren.

The public are being asked for their view on plans to improve traffic congestion at the intersection between Wind Street and Tirydail Lane in Ammanford. The council has received a grant of £400,000 from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund to develop proposals to address congestion at this location and to look at the feasibility of longer term major infrastructure improvements. The Wind Street and Tirydail Lane junction is a vital intersection of routes leading to and from the Upper Amman Valley to the trunk road network and the M4 and there is significant congestion at peak times. A number of studies have been carried out in recent years to look at options to resolve the traffic congestion; and proposals have now been agreed with Welsh Government (as the Highways Authority for Wind Street which is a trunk road) to replace the traffic signals with a roundabout. Pedestrians would still be able to pass safely through the junction using signalised pedestrian crossings. The plans ...

School pupils have been sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs at Ammanford Library by local police. The Library has had pupils at three schools, Ysgol Bro Banw, Ysgol Betws and Ysgol Parcyrhun, visit as part of National Crime Month working in partnership with the police. The youngsters were sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs by their local Police team, given baseball hats, had their thumbprints made into key-rings, tried on various items and sat in the police car. Deputy Sheriffs are local school children who look after their school and each other. They are encouraged to take an active interest in looking after their school premises reporting incidents to adults who can take the necessary action.

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. www.philevans.co.uk ------------------------------------------ IF YOU HAVEN’T ANY REGRETS, YOU HAVEN’T LIVED Sinatra’s “New York, New York” is a really stupid song. Take the line... “Regrets? I’ve had a few. But then again...too few to mention.” If they’re too few to mention, Frankie baby, why bother to mention them? Yes, you’re right. I’m feeling grumpy. I’ve been wondering whether I’ve always made the right decisions in my life, whilst secretly knowing I haven’t. Because nobody goes through life without making wrong decisions. That’s what makes us human. Well, that and staring out of our front room window on rainy autumn afternoons, jangling the loose change in our pockets while commenting on the shoddy job the neighbours across the road made of trimming their front hedge. I regret the time I was distracted by a telepho...

An ambitious 15-year plan has been unveiled which aims to transform the economy of Carmarthenshire. The regeneration plan identifies six key transformational projects which will create more than 5,000 new jobs and make the economy of the county more productive and competitive. The six projects are based upon specific geographic locations across the county, with each focusing upon local need and opportunity. They are Ammanford; Carmarthen; Carmarthenshire coastal belt; Cross Hands growth zone; Llanelli; and the rural economy. A range of business sectors are being targeted including the creative industries, tourism, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, energy and environment, financial and professional services. In addition, investment in key infrastructure projects to unlock economic opportunity will be targeted, together with investment in rural Carmarthenshire to tackle poverty. The council will also develop a new programme of support to improve skills and help longer term unemployed...

Ammanford's latest world record attempt is to bring together the largest gathering of snowmen – which will be snow mean feat. The Guinness Book of Records bid for the largest number of people dressed as snowmen in one place will be a highlight of the Wonders of Christmas Festival on Saturday November 28. The event will be taking place at Arcade Square adjoining Margaret Street Car Park. Last year a total of 290 Snowmen were assembled. The current world record stands at 340. Angela Phillips, Secretary of Ammanford Chamber of Trade is asking parents to dress up this year, commenting that “we’d have made the record last year if parents had dressed up as well as their children”. In order to be registered snowmen will have to be wearing a white top and bottom, have a hat, scarf, 3 black buttons and importantly a carrot coloured nose. Noses will be available to purchase on the day for those who don’t bring their own. Registration will start at the Amman Centre at 10.00am until 1.00pm a...

Students at Coleg Sir Gâr’s Ammanford campus have been giving their views as part of a consultation exercise on charging for post 16 transport. The council’s transport section has been holding drop-in sessions at schools and college campuses throughout the county. Pupils, teachers and parents from all county secondary schools and staff and students from the five main college campuses are being asked for their views. The council currently provides free school/college transport to approximately 3,000 young people aged between 16 and 19 in the county. However, with a potential reduction in budget of almost £40 million over the next three years the council has no choice but to reduce spending on discretionary services (the things it is not required to do by law) such as post 16 transport. All partners involved have tried to find a way of sustaining the service. Those that can’t make the session at their school/college can attend one of the sessions at another location. There is also an o...

From staying healthy and finding work to saving money or keeping in touch, there are lots of ways that being online can make both the things you love and life’s little jobs quicker, easier and cheaper. If you’ve never touched a computer or a tablet before, or you just need some tips to make the most of being online, Communities First can help. Digital 'drop in' events are being held in Ammanford, Llanelli and Llwynhendy Libraries for ‘Get Online Week’ when there will be free information and support to make the most of the internet, computers and tablets. The session at Ammanford Library will take place this Monday (October 12) from 1.30 to 3.30pm. The Llanelli session is this Thursday from 10am to 1pm, and the Llwynhendy session this Friday from 1-3pm.

An Amman Valley woman has been fined £200 by magistrates after she was caught dropping a cigarette end on the ground. Michaela Jackson Griffiths, aged 39, of Heol Felen, Garnant, was also ordered to pay £200 prosecution costs and a £25 victim surcharge. Griffiths failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and the offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 was proved in her absence. The court heard that on March 5 earlier this year she was caught by council environmental enforcement officers dropping a cigarette end in Lloyd Street, Ammanford. Griffiths was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 for the litter offence but she failed to pay it. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We are determined to clean up the county and will take action against anyone who is caught dropping any type of litter. “Cigarette ends in particular are a nuisance as not only do they look terrible but they are difficult and ...

Residents in Ammanford are being urged to take up the challenge to recycle at least one more item from around the home. The council’s recycling team will be in Quay Street in the town centre on Friday, September 11 between 10am and 3pm to encourage people to recycle as much as possible, and not just in the kitchen. They will be able to answer any general recycling questions and will have information leaflets as well as blue bags and replacement food bins for those that need them. Executive Board Member for Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “Most people regularly recycle items like plastic milk bottles and glass jars, but it’s just as easy to recycle many other items from the bathroom, living room and even the bedroom. “Empty aerosol cans, plastic coat hangers, toilet roll tubes, toothpaste boxes, shampoo/shower gel bottles, bottle tops, receipts and envelopes can all be recycled in your blue bag.” Figures show that approximately 60% of rubbish in Carmarthenshire is being recycled, b...

There is an open invitation to find out about the magnificent new £10-million Extra Care Housing development being created in Ammanford. An information day on Friday, April 24, is being staged by Family Housing Association Wales at the Pensioner’s Hall, Quay Street, Ammanford 2-6pm. The development being delivered by Betws company TRJ Ltd is at Gwynfryn, opposite Coleg Sir Gar on Station Road. It is planned to open early in 2016 providing 50 apartments for people over 55. There will be 37 one-bedroom flats – one double bedroom; 13 flats with two bedroom- a double bedroom plus a single bedroom The information day will be attended by advisers to offer advice on eligibility and the broad range of facilities provided by modern extra care housing. The Extra Care complex will have community facilities including a cafe and restaurant, community lounge, craft and therapy rooms. Residents will have individual apartments with privacy and security. Their accommodation will allow for a range of ...

There is an open invitation to find out about the magnificent new £10-million Extra Care Housing development being created in Ammanford. An information day on Friday, April 24, is being staged by Family Housing Association Wales at the Pensioner’s Hall, Quay Street, Ammanford 2-6pm. The development being delivered by Betws company TRJ Ltd is at Gwynfryn, opposite Coleg Sir Gar on Station Road. It is planned to open early in 2016 providing 50 apartments for people over 55. There will be 37 one-bedroom flats – one double bedroom; 13 flats with two bedroom- a double bedroom plus a single bedroom The information day will be attended by advisers to offer advice on eligibility and the broad range of facilities provided by modern extra care housing. The Extra Care complex will have community facilities including a cafe and restaurant, community lounge, craft and therapy rooms. Residents will have individual apartments with privacy and security. Their accommodation will allow for a range of ...