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

Off to Kosovo this weekend on an aid mission with Val Newton. So am likely to be off-line for a few days.

An Ammanford businessman was delighted to welcome Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, to his growing business park today (Friday, October 23). Alun Richards is in the middle of constructing a new road into the Tycroes Business Park at Llety. But construction was put on hold today for the special royal visitor. The Prince visited the park to see the work of Abaca, who make organic beds and bedding at one of the units at the Llety site. “It was a huge honour for the business park to receive a visit from Prince Charles,” said Mr Richards. “I am delighted the prince was able to spend time viewing the great work carried out by Abaca. “It was plain that the prince is very interested in such an environmentally-friendly business. “The prince asked me how I started to diversify from being a farming business. This business park was, or course, originally a farm and the prince was interested in how the project had developed over the years. “The prince, as I expected, was also very interested in the ...

Our James is 18 today.So a very happy birthday from Mum, Dad, Kathryn, Nana and Tess the dog!

Consultants and county council representatives will attend an exhibition early next month to discuss plans to develop the northern quarter of Llandeilo. A Draft Planning and Development Brief concerning the development of the northern quarter has been available for public consultation since August. The Carmarthenshire County Council brief has been produced in accordance with the site’s residential allocation within the Carmarthenshire Unitary Development Plan (UDP). The ambitious framework, prepared in conjunction with local firm The Davies Richards Design Partnership, follows a series of consultation meetings involving the local town council, the county council, and other interest groups. The draft brief envisages a range of up to 215 new homes catering for a wide variety of needs, ranging from executive housing to those of an affordable nature, and which will satisfy the future housing needs of the town. Emphasis within the draft brief is placed on creating a high quality development...

The New Zealand Maoris have been recognised as ‘honorary Celts’ in the run-up to the big Wales v All Blacks autumn international. Members of the Gorsedd bardic circle of the National Eisteddfod of Wales made a special presentation to representatives of the Maori nation at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Thursday (October 22) Renowned Welsh sculptor David Petersen created a special stainless steel Horn of Plenty to mark the occasion. The horn was inscribed – ‘A gift to the Maori nation’. It was presented to a member of the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club, Esther Jessop, the 2009 Air NZ New Zealander of the Year. The Gorsedd was represented by poet T James Jones, a winner of the chair and crown, and musician Alun Guy. The presentation was part of the build-up to the massive CeltFest at the Cardiff International Arena on November 7. CeltFest will feature a line-up including Max Boyce, Rhydian Roberts and rugby star Shane Williams. CeltFest will be showing the Wales v New Zealand game on a gia...

Carmarthenshire's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) have new opening times. It means all five sites will operate the same hours. The main aim is to make it as easy as possible for residents to recycle and dispose of their waste. The changes reflect the seasonal variations in the usage of the sites, staying open later during the summer months. It also increases the opening times at weekends for three of the sites. The HWRCs are located at: • Trostre, Llanelli • Nantycaws, Carmarthgen • Wernddu, Ammanford • Whitland • Llangadog. During the winter (from October 1 to March 31) the centres will be open from 9am to 5pm seven days a week. During the summer (April 1 to September 30) the centres will be open from 9am to 7pm seven days a week. All sites are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Llangadog is also closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones said: “We felt it was important that all of the recycling cen...

The Carmarthenshire green bin/blue bag recycling scheme is being rolled out to another 10,000 homes in November. Householders will be issued with a green bin (and kitchen caddie) for their food waste and blue bags for recycling paper, cardboard, cans and plastic. The green bins will be collected weekly, with blue bags and black bags collected on alternate weeks. Residents in Llanelli, Burry Port and the Gwendraeth Valley are included in the rollout which starts on the week beginning November 23. This will bring the total number of households in Carmarthenshire to benefit from kerbside recycling up to 75,000. Launched in February 2007, the green bin/blue bag scheme has been a big success, as figures show. Last year the county recycled/composted 34 per cent of its waste – a seven per cent increase on the previous year – which means Carmarthenshire is well on its way to achieving its 40 per cent target by 2010. The county has also reduced the amount of waste it sends to landfill. The Wels...

Schoolchildren from across Carmarthenshire have recycled 5,890 old Yellow Pages to help plant new trees. Some 39 schools across the county have taken part in the Yellow Woods Challenge. The eco-friendly pupils were asked to collect the old directories which were then picked up on behalf of the county council by CWM Environmental to be recycled. Not only could the schools win cash prizes for the number of Yellow Pages they recycled, but for every pound Yellow Pages awards, they will give a matching pound to the Woodland Trust for its Tree for All campaign. First place went to Llanddarog, second place to Llanedi and third place to Gorslas. A highly commended and bonus prize went to Ysgol Gwynfryn. All four winning schools were presented with framed certificates and cheques by Carmarthenshire County Council chairman Councillor Tyssul Evans at a special reception at County Hall along with the executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones and local members. Councillor Ev...

Volunteers removed 88 car tyres that had been fly-tipped in ancient woodland near Llangennech. Troserch Woodland Society carried out a clean-up of the woods which has become a dumping ground for all sorts of rubbish. It was supported by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Tidy Towns team along with Keep Wales Tidy. The tyres were safely removed and then taken to be recycled. Lincoln Grove from Troserch Woodland Society said: “A big thank you to Tidy Towns and everyone from Troserch Woodland Society who turned out on a damp Saturday morning to help dispose of all the dumped tyres. “It is a shame some people think beautiful places like Troserch woods are disposal sites for their waste. It is, however, reassuring to know that there is no shortage of people who are prepared to give up their leisure time to clear up after them.” Tidy Towns is a Welsh Assembly Government Funded initiative which aims to improve the quality of the local environment through community action. For further informatio...

It’ll be fun and games in Llansadwrn soon, thanks to a grant award worth almost £20,000 from Carmarthenshire County Council. The community is now on course to have a bright, modern play area that will encourage young people to have fun and keep fit. Llansadwrn Community Council is leading the scheme and has put £10,500 of match funding towards it. Now, local councillors are celebrating their successful application to the County Collaboration Fund which has seen them land a £19,049 cash grant, approved by regeneration executive board member Cllr Clive Scourfield. The County Collaboration Fund supports voluntary community groups, registered charities, and town, rural and community councils, on projects to improve community facilities, physical environments, parks and play areas. Funds are being made available through a partnership approach with a selection of other significant funding providers within the county. Community council chair Cllr Meirion Davies said: “We are absolutely deligh...

"To paraphrase a great wartime leader, never in the field of financial endeavour has so much money been owed by so few to so many" - Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, calling for an overhaul of the banking structure. Nice one, Mervyn.

An Indian man cut off his genitals in an attempt to join the country's eunuchs and increase his begging income. The man had been pleading for money on the Hindu festival of Diwali before going home and mutilating himself in Rajasthan state. The 22-year-old had been befriended by eunuchs and used to go begging with them at events like childbirths, marriages and festivals. Ouch!

Residents of Carmarthenshire are being warned to beware of conmen after their gold. As the price of gold reaches an all time high, Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Service is warning people interested in selling their jewellery to shop around amidst mounting reports of scams across the country. Selling gold jewellery to make ends meet in this recession is becoming increasingly popular but sellers are urged to beware of conmen keen to cash in on the trend. Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “There is a wide disparity in how much shops or dealers will pay for gold. Unfortunately there isn’t much trading standards officers can do if people are getting a bad deal, provided the trader is not actually misleading the seller about the gold’s worth. “We can only urge people to shop around to make sure they are getting a fair price for their gold.” Advice to people thinking of selling their gold includes: Never deal with people who visit your home asking if you have any jewellery to ...

It's curtains up on November 5 on a new era for one of Carmarthen’s treasured community assets. The Lyric Theatre has stood on King Street since 1854 when it began life as The Public Rooms. It was then the home of Carmarthen Literary and Scientific Institute, the town’s museum as well as providing the town with a venue for various musical concerts, readings and productions including the very first performances of Carmarthen Amateur Operatic Society. The Lyric first opened its doors to early cinema audiences with the introduction of Bioscope picture shows in 1906 and by 1918 under ambitious new proprietor Thomas Barger. The assembly rooms were revamped into a high class cinema and concert hall. Changing hands in 1930, The Lyric began a series of refurbishments over the following years setting in helping to create the present theatre with upgraded sound, electrical equipment and an extraction system, together with the sumptuous art deco-style décor which has been rescued and preserve...

The community of Penygroes has banded together to campaign for the rejuvenation of the village park. The much-loved facility has become jaded and now on the back of minor improvements made this year a hard work group formed to rescue the park has landed a funding package of £100,000. It means that the main green space in the village used by all ages for nearly a century will have new play equipment to serve present and future generations. Impetus behind the Park’s rejuvenation bid is the Penygroes Park Steering Group made up from a kaleidoscope of other groups and clubs in the village. County executive board member for leisure services Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “It is tremendous to see the hiraeth with everyone coming together to improve this treasure for the community that is the park. “It truly is a community initiative with local youth involved in the designing and development of the project supported by Menter Cwm Grendraeth.” The ambition proposals have been made possible thanks...

The Burry Estuary is proving to be in it healthiest state for many years with record varieties and quantities of molluscs being found on Cefn Sidan. The cockle and vast variety of mollusc fest has been attracting record numbers of birds ranging from Ospreys to Sanderling. Pembrey Country Park ranger David Hughes who checks the eight-mile long beach out twice daily said in France and other parts of Europe restaurants would charge a fortune for the variety of seafood platters that could be collected after every tide at Cefn Sidan. The edible shells range from four kinds of Razor Shells to Common Whelk, Spiny Cockle to Common European Oyster - which is not found living on Pembrey Sands but whose shells are washed up from rocky or stony grounds off shore. Other delights found are the Common Otter, eggshell or Brittle Razor. Pod Razors, banded wedges, Rayed Troughs, Tellins and Striped Venus shells. Many of the birds feasting on the molluscs have their particular favourites. Birdwatchers in...

It's been confirmed that a small number of pupils from Pontyberem Primary School sent home with flu like symptoms last week have swine flu. The head teacher, after taking the appropriate medical advise, contacted parents and asked them to collect their children from school and keep them home until well. Some have returned to school which remains open and continues to run normally. If the school is not affected with any significant number of cases with pupils or teachers involved the school will continue to operate normally. Parents are advised that details of the schools opening will be broadcast on Carmarthenshire Radio and the Carmarthenshire County Council website www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/swineflu This will give any members of the Pontyberem community the advice they require in the event of them contracting flu like symptoms. Anyone with additional concerns should contact the national Public health Service (NPHS) Angela Jones, Acting Consultant in Health Protection for the Nat...

A football captain is refusing to hang up his boots despite playing with the same team for more than half a century. Grandfather-of-four Roger Craddock, who celebrated his 70th birthday last week, first played for Reigatians AFC in September 1957. Now the captain of the club's sixth team, Mr Craddock, of Redhill, Surrey, who plays two or three games each season, marked his birthday by scoring a penalty against fellow Surrey side the Old Suttonians last weekend. What a legend!

"Do you really want to be associated with a gang of overweight, badly dressed men as they taunt another gang of overweight, badly dressed men?" - Ronni Ancona taunts football-mad fellow impressionist Alistair McGowan.

Fly-tippers littering Llanelli's Millennium Coastal Park make me mad. Today, there was this - the 'kitchen sink' on the path near Pond Twym. Whatever next? If they went to the trouble of hauling it down there, why didn't they go to the trouble of visiting the civic refuse site in Trostre? Unbelievable!

Transport tycoon Clayton Jones is giving his full support to help drive Wales’s CeltFest brand forward. Following CeltFest’s hugely successful debut at the Cardiff International Arena in March (the day of the thrilling Ireland v Wales game), Pontypridd-based Mr Jones is to become CeltFest’s chairman and is investing in the company as an equity partner. Mr Jones said:“I had to become involved when I heard that this project is about taking Welsh products to places like Dublin, Rome and Paris. “It is great news that at last a Welsh company is doing what the Irish have done for years – making a serious business out of your own culture. This is all about promoting Wales in the world and I am delighted to be associated with the company’s Buy Welsh policy.” Mr Jones, a staunch patriot and one of Wales’s most successful entrepreneurs, recently sold his transport company for £10m to French conglomerate Veolia. CeltFest chief executive Dwyer McClorey said: “Clayton and I have developed a busines...

The wardens of sheltered housing schemes in the Llanelli area have been on a sponsored walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. The wardens for nine schemes took part in the fundraising event along the Millennium Coastal Path. They were Dylan Evans of Hafan, Pat Jones of Llys y Drindod, Cindy Thomas of Llys Glanymor, Colin Phillips of Llys Newydd, Marilyn Beebe of Hafan y Morfa, Andrea Goodall of Tirynys, Beth Worton of Clos Llanfihangel, Gill Davies of Ty Plas Isaf and Shirley Mathews of Tan y Bryn. Hafan warden Dylan Evans said: “It was a five mile walk and we raised £680. The money will go to the Alzheimer’s Society based in Prince Philip Hospital and will all be spent in Carmarthenshire.

Welsh language programming will feature prominently in the future of the £1.6million refurbished Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. Part of the opening programme of Welsh content has had to be changed in recent months because of slippage in the planned opening date of October 22. It had been planned to show the annual Welsh Language production by Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi Coleg Prifysgol y Drindod, a Welsh version of the Wizard of Oz. This was to have been followed by a half-term week of family film leading into performances by Caledon and Salome. With the theatre opening date now delayed, the Carmarthenshire County Council theatre team has been forced to construct a new programme for the first weekend at quite short notice. County executive board member for leisure services Clive Scourfield said: “Our theatre programming unit have faced great difficulties in putting an opening programme together to reflect the strong cultural identity of Carmarthenshire, balanced with the pressures of ext...

The 27 bungalows at Parc Gwyn, Trevaughan, Carmarthen, have had their back boilers replaced with combi boilers and have been rewired as part of the improvements carried out under the ambitious Carmarthenshire Homes Standard programme. Many of the residents wrote in to Carmarthenshire Council and others were quick to praise the work done. Len and Brenda Collins were among the tenants to write in. They said: “The work carried out to our property was excellent, the initial planning and the work was completed to schedule. The workmen were very efficient and polite and we could not fault them at all. The kitchen and bathroom are excellent.” Mrs Peggy Williams, who is 85, said the work was faultless from the initial planning through to completion. “Everything was completed on schedule and the property now looks greatly improved, very much up-to-date and to my liking. “It’s wonderful. They worked very hard and were a nice group.” Eighty six-year-old Vernon Phillips said: “I’m very happy with ...

Dyfed-Powys Police Force is in the vanguard of an appeal to make Halloween and Bonfire Night safe nights. This time of year is one of the busiest for the police and the fire service with parties, fireworks, bonfires and trick-or-treating in the streets. As a result, a number of activities are taking place in the lead-up to celebrations in a bid to cut ghoulish behaviour and help young and old stay safe as part of an all Wales multi-agency initiative called Operation Be a Nice Guy. Shops and supermarkets throughout the county are being asked not to sell eggs and flour to young people in the lead-up to October 31. Posters have also been produced for householders to display in their windows to say whether they welcome trick or treaters. The posters will be available from police stations throughout Carmarthenshire and will be distributed to vulnerable groups such as the elderly by Neighbourhood Policing Teams. Police will be stepping up patrols during the two-week period and confiscating a...

"Never dissect a corpse when you have got a hangover" - Bond actress Rosamund Pike on her experiences when researching a film. Sound advice!

An adventurous cat regularly catches a train to watch fish. Percy has become the most famous pet in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, after it was revealed that he often leaves his home in Green Howards Drive and travels to the Sea Life Centre by rail. The six-year-old animal spends the day watching the fish and penguins before hopping back on to the miniature North Bay Railway train when it is time to go home.

Carmarthen trainer Alison Thorpe now has a strike rate of nearly 29 per cent after Orchard King won the handicap hurdle at Plumpton this afternoon.

The New Zealand Maoris are being recognised as ‘honorary Celts’ in the run-up to the big Wales v All Blacks autumn international. Members of the Gorsedd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales will be making a presentation to a representative of the Maori nation at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Thursday (October 22) Renowned Welsh sculptor David Petersen has created a special stainless steel Horn of Plenty to mark the occasion. The horn is inscribed – ‘A gift to the Maori nation’. It will be presented to a member of the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club. The presentation is part of the build-up to the massive CeltFest at the Cardiff International Arena on November 7. CeltFest will feature a line-up including Max Boyce, Rhydian Roberts and rugby star Shane Williams. CeltFest will be showing the Wales v New Zealand game on a giant screen. Tickets cost £25. To book, call 029 2022 4488 or visit www.celtfest.com Press release issued by Robert Lloyd on behalf of CeltFest.

The organisers of one of Cardiff’s biggest social events have come up with a novel way of solving the city’s Six Nations bed shortages. Transport tycoon Clayton Jones is in negotiations to dock a cruise liner at the city’s waterfront and use it as an extra hotel for rugby fans. The ship, which will arrive from the United States of America, will dock at Cardiff around the time of the final 2010 Six Nations Wales game against Italy on March 20. That will coincide with the 2010 CeltFest, when up to 4,500 fans are expected to watch the match on a giant screen at Cardiff International Arena. The next CeltFest is at the Cardiff International Arena on November 7 and will feature a line-up including Max Boyce, Rhydian Roberts and rugby star Shane Williams. More CeltFests are also booked for every Welsh home game in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Sports fans have long voiced concerns about the lack of beds in Cardiff on international rugby match weekends and the prospect of massive price hikes during the...

Carmarthenshire County Council has prosecuted Foelgastell man William Keri Evans for failing to comply with an Enforcement Notice. The Notice was served under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of the unauthorised change of use of the land at Glyncoed, Foelgastell, from residential to a mixed use of residential and plant/tool hire business. He pleaded guilty at Ammanford Magistrates Court last week. The court was told that the notice was served on October 30, 2007, requiring an end to the use of the land as a plant/tool hire business and the removal of all storage containers associated with the use from the land. An appeal to the Planning Inspectorate was lodged against the Enforcement Notice which was later withdrawn by Evans. However the Enforcement Notice had not been complied with, as the storage containers remained on the land, thereby affecting the amenity of the residential area and in contravention of the requirements of the Notice. Evans received a 10-month con...

Trimsaran's Glyn Abbey Golf Club, in the countdown to next year’s first ever Ryder Cup competition in Wales, has won the prestigious title of Best Welsh Golf Club of the Year 2009. The award was presented by Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan at a glittering gala event attended by over 600 guests at Celtic Manor to celebrate the club’s hosting the 2010 Ryder Cup. Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin, along with celebrities Bryn Terfel, Chris Evans and Gareth Jenkins were among those who congratulated Glyn Abbey on receiving the Golf Union of Wales award. Glyn Abbey’s proprietor and managing director, Martin Lane, who attended the ceremony with this year’s Captain Andrew Shufflebotham, said: “We are thrilled to have got the award, particularly for it to have gone to a small club like ours.” Carmarthenshire County Council leader, Meryl Gravell, said:“ What a time for Trimsaran’s own Glyn Abbey Club to win this award when Wales is the focus of the Golfing wor...

A Llanelli mother has been prosecuted for allowing her 14-year-old daughter to persistently truant. Carmarthenshire County Council brought the prosecution against the woman who pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Tuesday to an offence under the 1996 Education Act. The court was told that education welfare officers had been working with the family for more than a year to support the mother in getting her daughter to school. Her attendance had not improved and the council had to take court proceedings. The woman was fined £65, and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £15 and prosecution costs of £60. The local authority’s senior education welfare officer Avril Jones said: “We prefer to work with families to get children to attend school regularly and we only prosecute as a last resort. We had tried everything before bringing this prosecution.”

Young people in Llanelli have had a go at becoming firefighters for the day. Members of The Prince’s Trust got kitted out, used a hose and went up and down ladders at Llanelli Fire Station as part of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s ‘Firefighter for a Day’ initiative. As well as learning all about the work of a firefighter, the youngsters were also given vital fire safety and road safety advice. Members of Team 131 were treated to a guided tour of the station, looking at the equipment on the engine and other appliances. They then put on fire kit, taking part in hose running and ladders, and shown how to fight a fire. Other activities included searching techniques where the youngsters were given blanked off goggles to wear while looking for a dummy. The youngsters were also given a chip pan fire demonstration while getting fire safety tips. Prince’s Trust team leader Layla Lucas said: “The young people thoroughly enjoyed the day at Llanelli Fire Station. It was a unique insi...

Pembrokeshire author Margaret Redfern is one of a growing band of talented writers who owe a debt of gratitude to the MA creative writing course at Trinity University College, Carmarthen. Ms Redfern is marking her mark with a new historical novel called Flint, which has been published to rave reviews. The 59-year-old basic skills tutor at Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest, is delighted with the feedback to Flint. “It has been very well received and it is always encouraging to receive good reviews for a work you care about a great deal.” Ms Redfern singled out Nigel Jenkins, a former creative writing tutor at Trinity, for special praise. “He was a great influence and a great help and I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Ms Redfern grew up in Gilberdyke, in the former East Riding of Yorkshire, and Snaith, in the former West Riding. After gaining a degree in English Literature and Linguistics at Lancaster, Margaret qualified as a teacher. Her first teaching post was at Ayas Koleji, Adan...

A man has been fined £75 for fly-posting in Llanelli. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notice for £75 under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 for fly-posting at Parc Trostre. The council regularly receives complaints from members of the public regarding illegal posters in the county. Not only does it make an area look unsightly, but fly-posting is a criminal offence. Enforcement officers are now stepping up patrols and the public are being urged to report anyone they see defacing public or private property. Those caught face an on-the-spot fine of £75, and for more serious offences they face a court appearance and fines of up to £5,000 and/or six months in jail. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones said: “Fly-posting is a problem throughout the county and the council is taking a firm stand against this type of crime. “These posters are an eyesore and you usually find if one poster is put up, it encourages more people to p...

A woman has been fined for failing to clean up after her dog in Llanelli. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notice for £75 following the incident along the Machynys coastal link road. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court where the maximum penalty that can be imposed is £1,000. Enforcement officers regularly carry out patrols across the county. Irresponsible dog owners are being warned to clean up or pay up. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones said: “Dog faeces left anywhere is a serious health risk. The majority of residents take their responsibilities seriously but there is still a small minority who do not listen. “This type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and those caught flouting the law will be prosecuted.” The council is working hard to tackle the problem of dog fouling and is appealing to the public to help identify those responsible. Anyone who sees someone allowing a dog...

No decisions on dog control orders in Carmarthenshire - including the numbers of dogs allowed to be walked by one person or creation of dog free zones - will be taken until the New Year. Residents and dog lovers are being reassured by Carmarthenshire County Council there will be full consultation with all interested parties before any decision is taken. They are being urged to ensure they take part in the proper consultation process and to ignore falsehoods being spread about the kind of controls proposed. Park managers and rangers across the county are being plagued by anxious dog owners and walkers fuelled by “barking mad” misinformation perpetrated by a small number opposed to any controls at all on dogs, or their owners, being made. The Authority is emphasising it not proposing to ban dogs from all beaches and parks or insisting they be kept on leads at all times. The orders are being designed to ensure there are some dog free areas within some parks and beaches and to encourage al...

"Roy is full of information which is of no possible interest to anyone but himself" - Roy Hudd recalls a school report. Think I remember something similar on my report!

Spectacular green neon flashes flaring up the sea along Ireland's east coast is not radioactive waste but a harmless natural phenomenon, marine experts have said. Hardy swimmers taking dips after dark in popular outdoor bathing spots such as the Forty Foot and Killiney Bay in Dublin have been enjoying the aquatic light show in recent weeks. The Marine Institute said the flashes were most likely a bioluminescent plankton called Noctiluca scintillans - sometimes known as Sea Ghost or Fire of Sea - and not radioactive waste from Sellafield as some swimmers had feared. Phew!

Three second-half goals in a 12-minute spell saw Carmarthen Town AFC overturn Port Talbot's first half lead to run out deserved winners at Richmond Park. Martin Rose had opened the scoring for the Steelmen just before the half hour mark following a good run from Daniel Thomas on the left. Despite Town's commitment they needed that final finish up front. With sixteen minutes to go they were finally rewarded for their endevour when Tim Hicks leveled the score, heading home substitute Nathan Cotterrall's cross from the left. Then having put his name on the score sheet for the fourth consecutive game Hicks turned provider. With Mark Pritchard heading the front man's ball on Danny Thomas, returning after illness, applied the final touch at the far post with six minutes remaining. Two minutes later Nick Palmer sealed the points when he lobed Lee Kendall after the keeper had rushed out of his area in a race to the ball with Pritchard. Now five games undefeated the Richmond Par...

Essential road maintenance works are underway in Carmarthenshire. The works are being carried out by DG Harries & Sons Ltd on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council. Disruption will be kept to a minimum as much as possible. The works will be undertaken in the daytime with traffic sensitive streets having restricted working hours to avoid rush hour traffic. The works include: • B4304 Cambrian Rbt to North Dock Roundabout, Llanelli • B4304 North Dock to Delta Lakes Roundabout, Llanelli • B4304 Delta Lakes to Pentre Nicholas Roundabout, Llanelli • B4304 Pentre Nicholas Roundabout to Machynys Roundabout, Llanelli (restricted working hours of 9.30am to 3.30pm) • B4297 Waterloo Road, Capel Hendre (normal working hours) • B4297 Capel Hendre Square • B4310 Tumble village and Cwmmawr, Llanelli (normal working hours) The whole scheme of works is expected to take approximately eight weeks. Senior area manager Mario Cresci said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to the...

Magically, it was third time lucky for World Hockey Day in Carmarthenshire. The first day designated by the International Hockey Federation in May was a washout as was the second one in July. The sunshine in late September at Ammanford leisure Centre enabled hosting club Clwb Hoci Dinefwr A’r Fro to finally get the show on the road. Carmarthenshire Hockey Development Officer Rae Ellis said the theme was "Magic Tricks" because they believe in individual skills development and wanted to stimulate all young players to pick up their sticks and practice “till it's magic.” Fifty children attended from the ages of six through to 15 with players completing a "magic tricks" circuit of 10 stations with players having to execute a "trick" of some sort with the hockey ball and stick The Stations were manned by the senior players from Clwb Hoci Dinefwr A'r Fro. Certificates were awarded to the best "trickster" at each station Helen Morgan, former G...

Business is booming for an Ammanford company, thanks to an investment from the South West Wales Local Investment Fund (LIF). Melin Energy Consultants, which works with local authorities, architects, builders and developers to create more energy efficient buildings, has been granted £4,265.92 from the LIF, which is aimed at helping small and medium sized companies in south west Wales. The grant was used towards the purchase of a specialist computer server and phone system which has helped the company streamline its operations and free up technical staff from labour-intensive administrative work. This has enabled the company to employ an office manager to control the administration and marketing side of the business, which, in turn, has led to an increase in work. And it doesn’t end there – because of the increase in work, the company may look at employing further staff with specialist skills. Director Jamie Best said: “The investment has benefitted us by freeing up technical staff by ab...

Secondary school pupils across Carmarthenshire have been learning about the benefits of learning a new lingo during the European Week of Languages. The West Wales European Centre, part of Carmarthenshire County Council’s regeneration department, has been raising awareness of the variety of languages spoken in Europe and the opportunities being bilingual can lead to. European networking officer Lorena Prist visited schools in Llanelli, Carmarthen, Gwendraeth, Burry Port and Whitland. She explained how it could enhance their career prospects and equip them with all they need for exciting travels across the continent. Year nine pupils were encouraged to take up a foreign language as part of their GCSE studies, and current GCSE pupils learned about opportunities to improve their language skills whilst boosting their CV - including participating in a volunteering project, becoming a language assistant or doing a work experience placement in another EU country. “Both groups are about to make...

Carmarthenshire Council’s Social Justice Scrutiny Committee is to get greater powers to deal with crime and disorder in Carmarthenshire. New legislation comes into force on October 1 2009 which requires all local authorities in Wales to establish a committee to review or scrutinise crime and disorder functions. As a result, the council is proposing to expand the terms of reference of its existing Social Justice Scrutiny Committee. It means that any member of the council will be able to put a local crime and disorder matter on the committee’s agenda to be discussed at a meeting, for example, anti-social behaviour or other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment, or the misuse of drugs or alcohol. The committee will then have the power to make a report or recommendations to the county council or executive board. Under the new legislation Dyfed-Powys Police and Dyfed-Powys Police Authority; as well as Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority and Carmarthenshire Local Healt...

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Service is again advising residents to be on their guard against rogue traders who call uninvited to look for work. This follows a recent spate of incidents where elderly people have been targeted by unscrupulous traders offering services such as roof cleaning, painting and decorating and other repairs. In some cases, large amounts of cash have been requested before work starts and in some incidents the consumer, usually elderly, has been taken to a bank to withdraw money. Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “We have noticed a significant increase in such incidents recently and it may be down to the current economic climate. “We would urge residents not to agree on their doorstep to have work done, especially if the trader is asking for a large deposit. “If your property is in need of maintenance then Trading Standards does maintain a register of general builders and other related trades. We would always recommend taking some time to think a...

A total of 28 bags of litter were filled during a clean-up of Llanelli beach as part of the Tidy Towns project. Volunteers from Llanelli-based Celebration for the Nations took part in the clean-up which also included the removal of tyres, scrap metal and plastic barrels from the coastline. Celebration for the Nations is an international festival of worship co-ordinated by Llanelli-based charities, World Horizons and Nations, alongside Korean movements, Revival Korea and Wild Step. Tidy Towns project officer Kelly Shefford said: “Volunteers filled a total of 28 bags during the beach clean up, some of the rubbish was washed up but there was also a lot of litter that had been dropped by visitors. “I would like to thank the volunteers for all their hard work and hopefully people will think twice before dropping litter in the future.” Tidy Towns is a Welsh Assembly Government Funded initiative, delivered in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy, which aims to imp...