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

The frequently-heard cry on the West Shore at Llanfairfechan, North Wales, is, ‘Anyone for croquet?’ And it’s an invitation being delivered with some extra volume now that the Llanfairfechan and North Wales Croquet Club has officially opened its new clubhouse. “We want to make sure as many people as possible know that there is an opportunity to take part in croquet in North Wales,” club chairman Jack Pattenden said during a grand opening attended by civic dignitaries and officials from the sport’s UK governing body. The new clubhouse in Llanfairfechan has sprung up next to the manicured lawns at West Shore thanks to a grant of £93,187 from CFAP – the Welsh Assembly Government’s Community Facilities and Activities Programme. Mr Pattenden said: “Our members played their part in fund-raising and we raised cash through other sources, but the bulk of the sum came from the Welsh Assembly Government. “And we are very proud of the fact that they have recognised what is, after all, a fledgling ...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s healthy eating and environment mascots Dylan and Eco Eli are due to perform at a local government seminar. The pair will help to show how the authority delivers excellence in front line services, as part of the Association for Public Service Excellence’s annual seminar at Cardiff City Hall in September. The conference, which will be hosted by Olympian Colin Jackson, will explore how local government can move forward, ‘from recession to progression’. Carmarthenshire County Council will contribute to the seminar by showcasing the authority’s successful Healthy Eating Roadshows, which have been widely praised as an innovative way of promoting healthy lifestyles to children in primary schools. Elin Cullen, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Head of Business and Specialist Services, said: “It will be great to show other authority’s the innovative ways that we take key healthy eating messages to school children across the county. “The roadshows have proved huge...

Eating healthy school meals has certainly paid off for one Carmarthen teenager, who has picked up a Nintendo Wii for his efforts. Queen Elizabeth High year eight pupil Matthew Swan clocked up the most points for the healthy food he had bought in the school canteen during the last six months of the 2008-09 term. The competition was organised by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of its efforts to promote healthy eating. It was sponsored by two of the authority’s suppliers, Brakes and Welsh Bros. QE High was chosen for the competition as it operates a cashless system which issues positive points each time a healthy food option is purchased, and negative points when less healthy food is bought. Marketing officer Helen Bailey said: “At the end of every month I would collect the names of the top ten healthiest eating pupils, and we placed posters around the school letting pupils know who was in the running. “It was interesting to see the names change from month to month.” Even school as...

Rural businesses in Carmarthenshire could benefit from a new £1.2million grant fund being launched by Carmarthenshire County Council. The Rural Conversion Grant will enable eligible new or existing businesses to convert redundant buildings for business use. This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and is supported by Carmarthenshire County Council. Applicants demonstrating a need for support can apply for up to 50 per cent of the eligible project cost. Applications that will be considered must provide tangible benefits to the local economy in terms of quantity and quality of direct jobs created or safeguarded as a result of the grant. Physical Regeneration Project Officer Mike Bull said: “The scheme is now welcoming applications and our team will be able to provide full support during the application process to guide people through in...

Green-fingered Towy Valley locals are being given the chance to learn about managing habitats, hedgerows and woodlands under a unique partnership scheme. Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd, a Carmarthenshire County Coucil-led project which is aimed at conserving the landscape, environment and the heritage of the Towy Valley, has teamed up with Coed Cyrmu to run a free woodland management training course. The course will provide local people with a chance to learn about thinning, coppicing, tree planting and woodland diversity. The event is being held on Thursday, September 24, near Broad Oak. The day will include two farm visits to look at a range of broadleaved woodlands. The Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd team has also joined up with Coleg Sir Gar to run a number of reduced cost training courses at the Gelli Aur campus during autumn 2009 and summer 2010. Courses include hedgelaying; hedgerow planting and management; strained wire fencing; watercourse management; grassland management and pond management. Ann...

Award-winning West Wales brewer Evan-Evans has won a top prize for one of its cask ales at the world-renowned Great British Beer Festival in London. The Llandeilo-based company was awarded a third prize for its flagship brand Cwrw in the Best Bitter category. Simon Buckley, Chief Executive of Evan-Evans, said: “We are extremely proud to be voted one of the top brewers in the United Kingdom at this prestigious beer festival. “To be voted one of the top three brewers of Best Bitter in the UK, out of a total of 670 brewers, is a great achievement for the brewing team in Llandeilo. “This is the category which is most important in the industry as it represents what our everyday customer drinks. “No other brewer in Wales won a prize, and we now feel confident that we are certainly one of the best, if not The Best cask ale brewery in the Principality. “We offer more choice of beer than any other brewer, brands that are well brewed and with the heritage of being brewed by Wales’s oldest brewin...

Another Carmarthen town centre building has been restored to its former glory. No.54 King Street, a prominent four-storey building has been brought back to splendour under the Town Scheme Partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and historic monuments body Cadw. The partnership, which has enjoyed much success since its formation in 2003, targets run-down buildings in the town’s conservation area to enhance their appearance and bring them back in to proper use. Extensive repairs have been carried out at No 54 under the scheme, including the reinstatement of its ground floor window, and the ‘reduced shaft with corbel and capital’ beneath the prominent bay window. Work also included repairs to the roof, hacking off of unsightly fish-scale render which was applied in the early 70s, and the re-rendering of walls in a lime mortar. The colour scheme was specially chosen by the owner to blend in with the surrounding Conservation Area. The cost of repairs was in the region of £100,000...