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

Funding of almost half a million pounds has been secured for road safety projects in Llanelli and the Amman / Gwendraeth area. The council has received a total of £445,500 from the Welsh Government’s Road Safety Capital Grant which supports road casualty reduction schemes across Wales. It includes £225,000 for a route treatment scheme in Llanelli on the B4297 between the Halfway lights and Talyclun in Llangennech and a grant of £220,500 for a similar scheme on the B4297 between Tycroes and Gorslas. Both schemes will provide reduced speed limits, enhanced warning signs, driver feedback signs, traffic calming, traffic islands, junction visibility improvements, improved crossing points and upgraded red light cameras. Head of Highways and Transport Steve Pilliner said: “I am delighted that the council has secured this funding so that both these schemes can be carried out this financial year. “These schemes will significantly improve safety for both road users and pedestrians along these ...

Plans to refurbish Pontyberem CP School are well underway. A major investment, which is part of the county council’s Modernising Education Programme (MEP), is being proposed to remodel the building which will improve its facilities and increase capacity. Internal works would include a complete reconfiguration of the building with new floors and ceilings, installation of a lift platform for wheelchair users, updating electrical equipment and a new ventilation system. In addition the building will undergo a full decorating programme, and will provide specialist rooms for additional learning needs, design and technology and art, as well as new toilet provision. An extensive outdoor repair scheme with re-surfacing and security fencing works is also planned. Work is expected to start next autumn. It is proposed that the scheme will be jointly funded by the council and the Welsh Government, through its 21st Century Schools initiative. The council’s executive board member for education, Cl...

A major award has been won by Rheilffordd Cwm Gwendraeth Valley Railway, a heritage and community line being developed on a unique disused rail corridor starting in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. The £75,000 award will enable the establishment of a Velorail (cycle-rail) operation in the first phase, bringing a family tourist attraction to the area. The Velorail project will introduce to the UK a form of activity popular in France, using ‘carriages’ propelled by two ‘cycles’, with seating for another two-three people. Velorails are great fun for everyone and suitable for all ages and abilities. The operation will ‘kick-start’ the development of the entire Rheilffordd Cwm Gwendraeth Valley Railway, which runs between Kidwelly and Cwm Mawr near Pontyberem. The railway was originally built on the tow path of probably the world’s first industrial canal – the first canal in Wales - providing a unique rail corridor with rail, cycle track and long tracts of waterway along the sam...

A young driver from the Gwendraeth Valley has not only improved his driving skills but has been lucky enough to win a £250 cash prize. Joshua Rees, aged 17, from Penygroes, recently completed a Pass Plus Cymru course. The scheme helps young people aged 17 to 25 who have recently passed their test to improve skills and gain extra experience. Usually costing around £160, it is significantly discounted to £20, with the balance made up by the council’s road safety unit, thanks to funding from Welsh Government. Not only did Josh build his confidence in the driving seat, but he was also the winner of the Pass Plus Cymru quarterly prize draw. The £250 cheque from Road Safety Wales was presented to Josh by the council’s Executive Board Member for Transport Cllr Hazel Evans. Josh said he would be putting the money towards a car. Speaking about the course, he said: “I found it very beneficial, especially the experience of driving on the motorway and at night. I found the information about stop...

A Gwendraeth Valley man has been fined £300 for leaving bags of glass on the ground at a recycling site. Joseph Edward Malcolm Smith, aged 19, of The Dingles, Cwmgwili, was seen by council environmental enforcement officers leaving three bags of glass next to the recycling banks in the Co-op car park in Cross Hands. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 for the offence, which happened on February 15 this year, but failed to pay it. Smith failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and the case against him was proven in his absence. He was prosecuted for an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was also ordered to pay £158 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Our recycling sites are important facilities for the local community and they need to be kept tidy but unfortunately some people are too lazy to use the recycling banks so just leave them on t...

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 ...

Pupils are already seeing the benefits of a new £18.4million development at Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth. The scheme, which is being carried out in two phases, includes a new two storey design and technology and science block, linked to the existing building. A new sports hall will house four badminton courts, together with an adjoining classroom and changing rooms. An energy centre is being constructed, and external work includes a new school entrance, hard play areas, car park, bus parking area and games courts. Phase two will comprise the refurbishment of various areas within the existing buildings together with re-modelling of playing fields. It is expected that phase one will be completed before the summer holidays which will allow the school to occupy the new buildings from this September. The investment at Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth is being made through Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme . It follows the reorganisation of Maes yr Yrfa and Gwendraeth Seco...

An unique event coming up in the Gwendraeth Valley will give local people their time to shine! It is hoped that ‘Nantyglo Has Talent Meets X Factor’ will unearth some hidden talent in the Cwm, with a special panel of judges ready to gives their thumbs up – or down – to singers, dancers, magicians and even talented pets. The event has been organised by tenants of Pontyberem’s Nantyglo Sheltered Scheme, who are looking forward to throwing open their doors to their neighbours on Saturday, September 6. Six Nantyglo tenants will also make up the judging panel, with Enid Osborn, Hywel Walsh, Irene Holden, Ann Shirtslinger and Jim Cowell, alongside host Andrew O’Leary. Anyone of any age can enter, and there’s some cash prizes up for grabs. Sheltered Scheme Officer Amanda Wheelhouse said: “We’re all very excited and looking forward to welcoming new faces to Nantyglo. Someone sparked the idea a few weeks ago, and all the tenants have really got behind it. “We’re all for thinking outside the ...

Latest news from Ffos Las racecourse in Carway in the Gwendraeth Valley -    Family Fun Raceday Thursday 21 August Whilst enjoying a flutter or two, you can be rest assured the little ones will be kept entertained with the fantastic entertainment that will be provided throughout the day. The Panic Circus will be here with their big top, providing free entertainment and activities for the kids. We will have inflatable skill sessions with the Scarlets, As well as face painting, balloon modelling, Golf taster session with Glyn Abbey Golf Club and mini tennis session from Swansea Tennis Centre. Website - http://www.ffoslasracecourse.com/

Residents of Pontyberem are playing their part in shaping services for people with dementia. The small Gwendraeth Valley village has been officially recognised as Carmarthenshire’s first Dementia Friendly and Supportive Community, helping people understand dementia and providing feedback on a range of topics to the county’s Dementia Action Board. Carmarthenshire County Council has worked with partners to deliver and evaluate this multi-agency approach with a view to developing a model which can be used throughout Carmarthenshire. The project was officially launched at Pontyberem Memorial Hall recently, with members of the community joined by a range of organisations who provide support for people with dementia. Over the next few months, villagers will help establish a community profile including the physical environment, facilities, services and groups, and will take part in a quiz to find out how much the community understands about dementia. People who suffer with dementia, and the...

Some householders in the Llanelli, Burry Port and Gwendraeth areas are to be affected by a change in bin collection days. The change will involve a small number of residents living in parts of the Tyisha, Lliedi, Hengoed, Glanymor and Bigyn wards of Llanelli as well as the Llangennech, Bryn, Llwynhendy, Bynea, Pwll, Burry Port, Cross Hands, Tumble and Pontyberem areas. Not all households in these areas will change; those that are affected will receive a letter from the council with details of their new collection day. The changes will come into force this week. There are also some residents who will not experience a change of collection day, but may find their rubbish is collected at an earlier or later time. People are therefore being reminded to make sure they place their blue / black bags and food bin out for collection before 6am. The changes are due to a review of refuse/recycling rounds being carried out across the county to make the service more efficient. Executive Bo...

A Gwendraeth Valley woman has lost three and a half stone in weight thanks to a Carmarthenshire Actif Fitness programme and healthy eating. Ruth Lloyd was forced to rethink her lifestyle after suffering a heart attack two years ago. She was just 50 years old. The thought of not being around to see her sons again spurred the mum of two into action and turn her life around. She gave up her full time job in the bank, changed her diet and joined Carmarthen Leisure Centre gym after her weight ballooned to 13 stone. Now Ruth from Pontyberem is more active more often and fits neatly into a size 10 dress size. She also eats healthily, walks her dog and works part-time from home. Ruth said: “At the time of my heart attack I had been under quite a lot of stress and my weight had escalated to a dress size 18. “One Saturday morning I woke, got out of bed, and started getting ready for work. I bent down to put my socks on and had the most excruciating pain in my chest. My husband was in bed...

A Gwendraeth Valley community is playing a unique role in helping people understand dementia. Pontyberem has been chosen to pilot a Dementia Friendly and Supportive Community Initiative, providing feedback for the development of future services. Carmarthenshire County Council, through its Dementia Action Board, is working with partners to pilot the initiative, which will establish a community profile including the physical environment, facilities, services and groups. People with dementia, and their carers, will be asked how they feel about their community - how they engage, what difficulties they face, the impact dementia has on their lives, and what can be done to help. A quiz will also be undertaken to find out how much the community understands about dementia. Cllr Jane Tremlett, Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, Dementia Care Champion and Chair of the Carmarthenshire Dementia Action Board, said: “We want to ensure that people living with dementia are able t...

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 woman has been fined for failing to clean up after her dog at a popular Gwendraeth Valley park. The 38-year-old was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 at Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park near Tumble. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol at the council-run attraction following complaints of owners not clearing up after their pets. Failure to pay could result in prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum fine of up to £1,000. Carmarthenshire County Council is working hard to tackle the problem of dog fouling and will not hesitate to prosecute those caught breaking the law in this way. Council Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park is used for recreation and leisure by families as well as for walking dogs and it is only fair that people should be able to enjoy the park free of dog mess. “Our enforcement officers carry out patrols across the county but they cannot be everywhe...

Housing Minister Huw Lewis has officially opened the new headquarters of the Gwendraeth Tenant Network at Pontyates. Mr Lewis was welcomed to the HQ by a choir from the nearby Ysgol Gwynfryn, before unveiling a plaque and declaring the facility open. The Gwendraeth Tenant Network has been running for many years, but - in conjunction with Carmarthenshire County Council’s Housing Services Division – tenants saw an opportunity to develop a redundant day club building into a resource centre. The council agreed to lease the building to the tenants and they now operate the centre as a community hub for all Carmarthenshire Council housing tenants. The Minister said: “It gives me great pleasure to open the Gwendraeth Tenant Network’s new headquarters. Housing is about so much more than putting a roof over people’s heads, it’s about creating vibrant communities and offering people new opportunities I am delighted that just such a community exists here in Pontyates. “The fact that this comm...

A Carmarthenshire youth worker has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award. Cindy Hunt, aged 55, is a finalist in the Society Guardian Public Servant of the Year award. She was nominated by her colleagues and the young people she works with for her dedication and inspiration. Cindy, who has been a youth worker for 14 years, supports young people in two comprehensive schools in the Gwendraeth Valley, helping them to cope with upheaval in their lives. For some, family problems are disrupting their school work, for others the temptations of drugs or alcohol are threatening to send them off the rails. She said: “Sadly there are so many issues for young people in society today - there are harder drugs on the street and easier access to alcohol. A lot of young people find it hard to deal with their mum and dad breaking up. They might have so many issues in their head that learning at school is not happening for them.” Cindy’s approach is to 'start from where the young ...

There's a real ale festival at Ffos Las Racecourse in the Gwendraeth Valley on Sunday, September 16. You can enjoy the last of the Flat racing action for 2012. On the day you can expect great flat racing action combined with free beer tasting and great entertainment. Performing live with great entertainment after racing are 'Expecting Company'. Tickets only £14.

Young people from the Gwendraeth Valley have been learning about waste and what they can do to reduce their impact on the planet. Pupils from Ysgol Y Gwendraeth visited the Materials Recycling Facility in Johnstown, Carmarthen, to find out what happens to the rubbish we recycle in Carmarthenshire. All our blue bags are taken to the facility, which is run by CWM Environmental , and the contents sorted so that the plastic, paper, cans and cardboard can be processed and turned into something new. The youngsters also visited the landfill site at Nantycaws as part of a project with Menter Cwm Gwendraeth and funded by Oxfam called ‘Connect’. MCG youth worker Rebecca Storch said: “We learnt that we buy things that we don't really need and that a lot of those things are designed to be thrown away, like water bottles, coffee cups, plastic cutlery, and plastic wrapping. “The young people saw that everything they buy makes a difference to the earth in a positive or negative way. They rea...

A Gwendraeth Valley school is raising awareness on the amount of good food that is needlessly thrown in the bin. Ysgol Y Castell in Kidwelly has been carrying out a project on food waste as part of its work under the Eco Schools programme. Figures show that in Wales we throw away a staggering 410,000 tonnes of food and drink each year. Not only is it bad for the environment but it is bad for the pocket too. In a normal week, a family of four throws away around £12 worth of perfectly good food that could have been eaten. With support from Carmarthenshire County Council and as part of the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, staff and pupils at Ysgol Y Castell have been looking at how they can reduce their food waste both in school and at home. Children school were shocked to hear how much food is bought and then wasted. They decided to write letters to send home to parents with tips on what they could do to reduce their food waste including the importance of carefully planning shopping a...