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

Don’t ‘Messi’ about with a Golden Boot competition - Johnstown pupils are competing for a Golden Shoe! Their goal is to be making a difference by travelling to school by foot and car sharing with other children. Classes are competing against one another to develop pedestrian and road safety skills and reduce traffic congestion, whilst promoting physical exercise and improving air quality. The class that travels the most footsteps per pupil and gets the furthest around Carmarthenshire in one week will receive a certificate and a golden shoe award. Designed by Carmarthenshire County Council’s road safety unit, The Which Way Today challenge is supported by the Carmarthenshire Community Challenge. Executive board member for transport services Cllr Colin Evans said: ”I have to commend our transport officers for coming up with innovative ideas to promote road safety, ecology and exercise all in one package.” Each time a pupil has travelled in a sustainable way to school during the week, th...

Nearly 50 groups have signed up to Carmarthenshire Community Challenge since its launch last September. From fruit and vegetable allotments, eco gardens, river clean ups to composting toilets are some of the inspiring projects taken on by green fingered county residents. The aim is to help reduce impact on the planet, shrink your carbon footprint and improve the place you live. Anything that is helping the environment in some way such as saving energy, creating community gardens/shops, allotments, reducing and reusing resources, helping biodiversity, tackling climate change or finding environmentally friendly ways to travel can create real benefits in your community. If you have a spare few hours, or can assemble a new group to help make a difference in your community then contact the Carmarthenshire Community Challenge team. The team can give you advice and support on the way forward and link you up with similar projects. Executive board member for sustainability, Cllr Pam Palmer sai...

An award winning rural bus service tailored to meet the needs of its passengers is going from strength to strength. Since taking to the road four years ago, Bwcabus has carried nearly 65,000 passenger journeys, covered over 458,000 miles and has over 2,000 registered users. It operates in response to pre-booked journey requests from 7am – 7pm, Monday to Saturday. The service enables people to travel between local towns and villages within north Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Passenger Alison Pimbblet of Cribyn said: “Bwcabus has become an essential service to me and my family. Its flexibility has allowed me to work and its affordability has aided my teenage daughter to attend college and meet up with friends.” Whether you need to access healthcare, local services, employment, and training or to visit family and friends Bwcabus can assist. The scheme is supported by Carmarthenshire Community Challenge. Executive board member for sustainability, Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Bwcabus not...

Green fingered Bancffosfelen villagers are offering a helping hand to residents who are unable to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Not-for-profit Banc Organics do the growing and distribute them in the Gwendraeth Valley. The community supported food growing scheme offers a wide range of seasonal fruit and vegetables, which is grown by volunteers at two sites, and then sold as weekly boxes. Members can chose what they want grown, with some households being eligible for vouchers towards the cost of the produce. The scheme, supported by Carmarthenshire Community Challenge, runs from January to June and boxes are delivered to pick up points near the customer’s home. The council’s executive board member for sustainability, Cllr Pam Palmer said: “This is a great opportunity for families to buy home grown produce if they’re not in a position to be able to grow them. “Growing your own vegetables and fruit is cheaper than buying and much more satisfying. Also, home grown has a much bet...

A Carmarthenshire Post Office is going from strength to strength after a mini army of volunteers joined forces to save it from closure. In 2009, Dryslwyn store was under threat of being lost to its community until residents rallied around to keep it going. Four years on, the not-for-profit store - which also serves as an internet café, tearoom, grocery store and off licence - is thriving. The venture, supported Carmarthenshire County Council, is part of the Carmarthenshire Community Challenge. The scheme urges communities to develop their own local projects to promote sustainability and help reduce their impact on the planet. The idea is that everyone can help make a difference to the area they live in, and that simple lifestyle changes can make a big impact. Executive Board Member for Environment, Cllr Jim Jones, said: “The store is a real community resource providing local people with a range of amenities and reducing rural isolation, meaning they don’t need to travel to access vita...