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

Carmarthenshire residents are being advised to be on their guard following a spate of high pressure sales calls from companies demanding up-front payment for boilers and home energy improvements. The council’s Trading Standards team is investigating a number of reports from people who claim they have been pressurised by cold callers in to paying money for goods or services they don’t actually need. Their advice is to be wary of sales people who ‘cold call’, to take time to think over any offers, and do some research before agreeing to sign up to a contract. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “Be wary of giving your bank or card details to anyone who has called you up or knocked on your door out of the blue offering you goods or services. “There are many reputable firms out there that do provide services to help you reduce your home energy costs, but some unscrupulous firms are exploiting people and pressuring them in to signing contracts and paying l...

Carmarthenshire County Council has secured £2million to provide home energy improvements in parts of south Llanelli. The funding will allow the council’s housing department to run a pilot scheme in the Glanymor area. Approximately £1.5million has been provided by British Gas, and a further £500,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Arbed initiative to run the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP). The programme, created by the Government, requires gas and electricity suppliers to deliver energy saving measures to domestic consumers in specific low income areas. Approximately 600 private and public sector properties in the Glanymor area will be potentially be targeted, with energy efficiency measures including external wall insulation, cavity and loft insulation and up-to-date energy efficient central heating systems. It is hoped that the pilot will lead to further schemes and funding for other areas of the county that qualify. Head of housing , Robin Staines, said: “We have bee...