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

Three people have been fined £75 for dropping cigarette ends. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices for dropping litter whilst on patrol in the Upper Brynamman and Llandeilo areas. Two women were caught by officers in the Black Mountain Centre car park in Upper Brynamman and a third woman was caught in Rhosmaen Street in Llandeilo. Failure to pay the fixed penalty notices could lead to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said the council had a zero tolerance approach to littering. “Our enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county and we will not hesitate to fine anyone we see dropping litter,” he said. “Cigarette ends are one of the most common types of litter found on our streets. They are also one of the most difficult and expensive to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed by normal cleaning...

Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) is hosting the second Sgwrs Iach – Let’s Talk Health for Amman Gwendraeth at Aelwyd yr Urdd, Brynamman on Tuesday 9 June. Those interested in their health service, who want to find out more about local developments and services or who want to share their views and experiences with their local NHS provider are invited to attend between 10am and 12pm. The first Sgwrs Iach – Let’s Talk Health event in Amman Gwendraeth was held in Llandybie in February with around 50 people in attendance. Hot topics raised covered waiting times; transport and parking at Glangwili; access to GPs and finances and resources, plus many more. Representatives from the Executive Board and Carmarthenshire County Management Team will be available to speak to at Aelwyd yr Urdd. Chair of Hywel Dda UHB, Bernardine Rees, said: "Our first round of Sgwrs Iach – Let’s Talk Health events proved a great start to having more meaningful engagement with the public, patients and our ...

Boss 'confident' crisis-hit centre to remain open | This is South Wales The boss of a struggling Amman Valley community centre said she is "100 per cent confident" it will stay open. The Black Mountain Centre, in Upper Brynaman, was plunged into crisis after the facility failed to secure a vital lottery grant. But Sian Tucker, who runs the centre and is now in urgent talks with Carmarthenshire Council and Welsh ministers, said there is no chance it will close.

A man has been fined £75 for dumping two black bags at the recycling site in Brynamman. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notice to a resident of Morriston, Swansea. Documentation was found in the bags which helped them to catch the offender. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum penalty of up to £2,500. Unfortunately, fly-tipping is becoming an increasing problem at recycling sites across the county. Only recyclable waste should be taken to the sites. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “These sites are important facilities for communities and it is very disappointing that they are being misused in this way. This will not be tolerated and anyone caught dumping rubbish will be prosecuted.” Residents are being urged to put their waste into the recycling banks and not leave it on the ground. The banks are emptied regularly but if they are full then people should t...

Amman Valley School of Dance Glee Club set for evening of fun (From South Wales Guardian) Members of the Amman Valley School of Dance Glee Club are currently busy rehearsing for their upcoming production - 'Thank you for the Music'. Bringing song and dance to the stage from pop, rock and classics performed by a host of wonderful home grown talent, 'Thank you for the Music' is sure to be an evening of fun the whole family will enjoy. The performance will be staged at Brynaman’s public hall cinema next Tuesday, March 13.

Residents in Brynamman are being urged to have a good clear out and recycle any rubbish they have lying around the home. A waste amnesty is being held on Saturday (October 29) in the car park next to the Bowling Green off Brynceunant between 8am and 10.30am. Householders can take advantage of this one-off chance to dispose of any large items of rubbish for free. Most household waste can be taken along including bulky waste items such as furniture and electrical goods. However, asbestos, tyres, paint, garden chemicals, batteries, gas bottles, construction waste and trade waste will not be accepted. As much as possible will be recycled. The event has been organised by Carmarthenshire County Council and the aim is to encourage residents to dispose of waste that may otherwise be fly-tipped as well as encourage them to recycle and/or reuse as much of their rubbish as possible. Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “I hope residents take advantage of this opport...

People are being advised that the public computers at Brynamman Library will not be available today. The equipment is being taken away for upgrades to be carried out, and should be returned by Thursday. Staff apologise for any inconvenience caused.

A man has been fined £75 for dumping household waste next to the recycling banks in Brynamman. The council’s environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notice after finding the rubbish at the bring site in Nantgarw Road. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum penalty of up to £2,500. The council hopes this fine will act as a warning to others that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “We are very disappointed that the council’s recycling sites are being misused in this way as they are important facilities for communities. “We want to encourage people to recycle as much of their waste as possible, however, people are dumping all types of waste at the sites and we have also had people leaving their recyclables in plastic bags next to the containers because they are too lazy to empty them into the banks. This is littering; it makes the area look unsi...

Joint working between Carmarthenshire County Council’s Home Improvement Team and the Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade may have saved the life of a Brynamman couple. The Home Improvement Team regularly checks for the presence of smoke detectors as part of routine visits to advise people on ways to improve their homes, and sends referrals to the fire brigade where necessary. On one such visit to a property in Station Road, Brynamman, the team noted that there was only one working smoke detector in the premises, located on the upstairs landing. Following a referral, firefighters from the Ammanford Fire Station visited and installed two free smoke alarms. Only weeks later, a fire broke out and the occupiers were able to escape before coming to any harm. Station Manager, Adrian Nicholas, said: “This incident could have been fatal without this vital early warning. There is no excuse for not having working smoke detectors in your home, as the Fire Service will test existing alarms or install n...

Security fencing can be erected at Brynamman CP School, Carmarthenshire planners have decided. The county planning committee approved an application by the local education authority to carry out the work at the school in Brynceunant, Upper Brynamman. An officers’ report to the committee said: “The proposed fence is now quite typical in terms of school locations and would not harm the amenity of nearby residents or the openness of the area, whilst offering increased security for the school.”

A new car park has been unveiled at the site of a longstanding eyesore in Brynamman. Land in Mountain Road has been completely transformed in recent months into a much needed parking area for the community. Three buildings on the corner of the road have been bulldozed after complaints from residents. Two of the properties had been empty for many years, and sheds at the site have also been cleared. The work has been carried out by Carmarthenshire County Council, as part of a £167,000 environmental improvement scheme. The project was co-funded by a grant of £116,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Western Valleys Strategic Regeneration Area Programme. It forms part of the 10 year Group Renewal programme in Upper Brynamman, which is leading to regeneration schemes across the area. The council’s Principal Area Renewal Officer Clive Thomas said: “The buildings were in the centre of the village and were an eyesore for the community. “We are pleased to have been able to complete this sch...

Hollywood star Minnie Driver’s mission to save Brynaman Lido has been welcomed by Carmarthenshire council chiefs. The actress launched a campaign via Twitter last week to raise funds for the 80-year-old attraction which is in need of major repair. The council does not have the budget for the significant amount of work needed, and is currently working with the lido committee to explore funding options. However, the news that Minnie Driver has shown an interest in the lido, believed to be the last of its kind in Wales, has been welcomed. Now the council hopes people will support her campaign and have even called for her to launch a Hollywood fundraiser. Regeneration and Leisure executive board member Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “We welcome Ms Driver's interest and would also welcome any kind of contribution she could make for the restoration of the lido. “As a council facing huge financial cuts we are not in a position currently to invest funds in projects such as this, and are seeki...