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

Workshops have been held to help break down the barriers between young and older people in Carmarthenshire. More than 80 people aged between 14 and 81 attended intergenerational workshops in Ammanford and Llanelli. The aim was to improve relations between the two groups, as well as alleviate older people’s fear of youngsters and the fear of crime in general and give young people a positive view of the elderly. Older and younger people live, work, learn and play side by side. They may have common interests and concerns, live in the same area, pass each other in the street, shop in the same shops but may never engage with each other. As a result, distrust, misunderstanding, hostility and fear of each other can often develop. The workshops were organised by the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, which includes the council, police, fire service and other partner agencies working together to make the county a safer place. The council’s anti-social behaviour co-ordinator Michelle ...

A major drive in Carmarthenshire to help the planet has been hailed a huge success. A special programme of events and activities has been held to educate people of all ages about climate change. Businesses, schools and residents were targeted as part of the awareness raising initiative. More than 350 pupils from primary and secondary schools took part in energy efficiency and renewable energy workshops. The EU Sustainable Energy Week was aimed at informing people about how they can reduce their carbon footprint. Organisers say it was a platform to highlight energy efficiency and ways of reducing the carbon footprint. An energy roadshow was held with businesses giving information about renewable energy and expert advice on ways to save energy and money. More than 100 people also signed up for a power saving plug. Information stalls were set up in leisure centres with feedback on what is being done to reduce energy use. Workshops were held in schools to educate young people about energy ...

This year's Carmarthen Town AFC presentation evening will be held in our Clubhouse and Community Centre at Richmond Park on Friday evening 6th May 2011, starting at 7:30pm. The price of £7.00 includes a buffet. During the evening, presentations will be made to our 1st team players, U19s and Reserves. There will also be a question and answer session with our manager Tomi Morgan. Please support our players and coaching staff by making an effort to attend.

Residents of Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to take up volunteering in the local community and further afield. To celebrate Europe Day and the EU Year of Volunteering, the West Wales European Centre has teamed up with the 50+ Forum to organise an Open Day Event on Monday May 9 from 10 am until 2 pm in St Peter’s Hall, Carmarthen. The open day event will celebrate volunteering home and away, with stalls from voluntary organisations as well as information about EU grants to help young people and senior volunteers take part in volunteering projects in other EU countries. There will also be performances to celebrate the diversity of EU countries and cultures and information about support available for voluntary organisations and groups. A prize draw will be organised on the day with a fantastic prize to win. Everyone is invited to attend to find out more about the valuable work of voluntary organisations in the area, and how to get involved. For more information, please contact Loren...

A Carmarthen woman has been fined £150 for benefit fraud. Shirley Marie Lewis pleaded guilty at Ammanford Magistrates Court to an offence of failing to declare a change in circumstances under to Section 112 Social Security Administration Act 1992. The court was told that 43-year-old Lewis was claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit with her partner at a private tenancy at Ffynnon Waun, Carmarthen, on the basis that she was working as a catering assistant. An investigation was undertaken after a data matching exercise identified that Mrs Lewis was working part-time for OCS as a cleaner at the Welsh Assembly offices in Carmarthen. It was established that she had been working for OCS since July 29, 2009, and also that she had been in receipt of Tax Credits. As a result of the investigation an overpayment of £4,354.71 was recorded, being £3,291.35 Housing Benefit and £1,063.36 Council Tax Benefit. She was fined £150 and ordered to pay a contribution of £250 towards prosecution costs. Lewi...

A group of young volunteers is hard at work improving the environment of the Pantyffynnon area of Ammanford. Communities First Pantyffynnon are working in collaboration with the Prince’s Trust and Keep Wales Tidy to run a volunteer scheme which is aimed at assisting young people to develop essential skills. The project is being run this week and next week. Emma Martin-Jewell of Communities First Pantyffynnon said: “It is an environmental enhancement scheme to reduce the over grown weeds and bushes to help people walk safely to and from the local school, and to preserve the fencing at the playing fields in Parcyrhun Estate.”

Menter Cwm Gwendraeth’s month-long festival Gŵyl y Gwendraeth will soon be underway. Menter Cwm Gwendraeth has drawn up a new programme for Gŵyl y Gwendraeth 2011 which is held throughout the valley over the course of May and features events that are aimed at bringing local community groups of all ages together to celebrate the modern and traditional culture of Wales. Gŵyl y Gwendraeth attracts about 5,000 people. Residents of the Gwendraeth Valley were asked to put forward their ideas for how they would like to see the festival develop. The events include the showing of a film on orchids at Neuadd Llangyndeyrn on Tuesday May 3, a memorial walk by Kidwelly Castle on Saturday May 7, a treasure hunt from Pontyates on Sunday May 11, and Mynyddgarreg Eisteddfod in Neuadd Mynyddgarreg on Friday May 13. Other events include a lecture by Dr Mererid Hopwood in Neuadd, Bethesda, Tumble on Wednesday May 13, a film on Patagonia, choral concerts, village quiz, WI Olympics, Welsh folk music night, ...

Carmarthenshire County Council has agreed three requests for road closures for Royal Wedding street parties. They are for Llandovery Market Square, for a street party for all children in the village of Llanybydder in the car park adjacent to the Rugby Club, and for the closure of Penyfon Street, New Dock, Llanelli. The council has had about eight requests for closures of cul-de-sacs but these do not require permission although access must be maintained for emergency vehicles. The deadline has now passed for submitting applications. The local authority has granted nine Temporary Event Notices for the wedding. The Government has brought into force an Order relaxing licensing hours to celebrate the Royal Wedding. The Order will allow licensed premises in England and Wales to stay open between 11pm on Friday April 29 and 1am on Saturday April 30, and between 11pm on Saturday April 30 and 1am on Sunday May 1 for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises; regulated entert...

The finishing touches have been put to Carmarthen’s refurbished Lyric Theatre – with a floor mosaic celebrating the history and traditions of the town. Mosaicist Tessa Hunkin, who has recently had her mosaic of St David installed and blessed by The Pope at Westminster Cathedral, was commissioned to create a mosaic for the entrance porch to the theatre in King Street. She returned to Carmarthen last week to supervise the installation of the mosaic whose artwork celebrates the role of arts in Carmarthen by referencing the Black Book of Carmarthen, the Oak Tree, Coracles and castle and blending these medieval references into the art deco design of the theatre. Carmarthenshire County Council arts development manager Phil Alder said: “This is the last act in the £1.6m refurbishment project which dates from 2007 with the actual work started in 2009. The mosaic is to celebrate the completion of the project. “Oriel Myrddin managed the tender for the mosaic, which went out nationally, and we re...

A new scheme to train people in Heritage Building Skills has been officially launched at an Open Day in Llandeilo. Carmarthenshire County Council has been awarded a £662,400 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to provide local people with opportunities to acquire traditional heritage building skills. Training will be particularly targeted to attract younger people and women and will include lime plastering, stone masonry, slate and tile roofing, carpentry and joinery. The scheme will cover Carmarthenshire; Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. The Heritage Bursary Open Day was a great success with potential trainees travelling from far and wide to find out about the scheme. During the day visitors were able to learn more about the skills needed to restore and maintain old buildings effectively. These skills are currently in great demand but short supply. Visitors were given the chance to try their hand at plastering with lime under the guidance of Nigel Gervis from Ty Mawr Lime. Nigel also explained t...

Pantyffynnon residents are now able to access a state-of-the-art ICT suite right on their doorstep and gain the qualifications needed for work with learndirect. The courses are delivered online, which make it the most flexible way of learning today. Pantyffynnon Communities First was one of the first centres of excellence for ICT in the Western Valleys. The Get IT on project is funded by the Western Valleys initiative, with the aim of developing community hubs, with the latest technology. Communities First development worker Emma Martin-Jewell said: “We are extremely fortunate that now we are able to deliver training courses, workshops, interactive learning, and digital conferencing all in one place, right here in Pantyffynnon.” One learner, Marjorie Grimwade, was one of the first to sign up to the learndirect course. Never having touched a computer in her life, she was one of many people who shudder at the thought of breaking the equipment or doing something wrong. Now, Marjorie has ...

It's the last match of the season in the Welsh Premier League campaign for Carmarthen Town AFC - Aberystwyth away, on Saturday. The supporters' bus will leave the club promptly at 10:30am, stopping in the Ffostrasol Arms for an hour on the way up and will leave Aberystwyth at around 7:15pm and return straight to Carmarthen, arriving around 9pm. Breakfast will be available in the Club from 9am. There are still seats available and advance booking is not required. Adult £10 Child £5. Call - Peter Price (07825 014062) Paul Ashley-Jones (07775 820864)

Carmarthen trainer Alison Thorpe has three going at Hereford today - Can't Remember 15:00; Going Nowhere Fast 16:00; Ellerslie Tom 16:30.

Llandeilo schoolchildren have planted trees to improve the environment of the town. Following Penlan Park’s success in gaining the prestigious Green Flag award two years in a row, further improvements have recently taken place. Penlan Park has significant mature tree planting - comprising various deciduous species throughout the site. A significant stand of large beech trees on neighbouring private land also add to the impressive features of the park however these required some work to remove some dead/decaying limbs. The family of the late Phillip Clayton have carried out this work and have also kindly given their permission to allow local school children to replant 12 large beech trees to replace the older trees. This was carried out recently with children representing Tregib Comprehensive, Llandeilo CP School and Ysgol Teilo Sant. Carmarthenshire County Council assistant grounds maintenance manager Gerwyn Thomas said: “The trees were donated by the council’s Parks Section in an effo...

Carmarthenshire planners have granted permission for security fencing at Coedcae School in Llanelli. The county planning committee approved an application by the local education authority for 2.4m high weld mesh fencing and gateways for the school in Trostre Road.

Members of Carmarthenshire’s 50+ Forum steering group held their monthly meeting at Ysgol y Bedol, Garnant, and were welcomed by staff and pupils. Following a tour of the school – which includes classrooms, space for meetings, a gym and a recreational garden – steering group members sat down to discuss the development of a new healthy ageing action plan for the County. The plan will say what public sector organisations will be doing to encourage people to stay well and looking after themselves. Other hot topics included the developing role of steering group members as ambassadors for the Forum, and the role the group could play in encouraging older people to use modern technology. 50+ strategy and development officer Kevin Pett said: “The meeting was productive and there was healthy discussion on a number of topics. “Older people are the most likely group to be ‘digitally excluded’, meaning they are less likely to use things like mobile phones or the Internet. The steering group recogn...

Eight Carmarthenshire food producers attended the recent International Food Exhibition at ExCel London Docklands. The businesses, who went under the banner of Carmarthenshire Food & Drink on the Wales the True Taste stand, included Café Fair Trade, Calon Wen, Carmarthenshire Cheese Co, Caws Cenarth, Parsons Pickles, Prima Foods, Proper Welsh and Tregroes Waffles. IFE is 2011’s largest gathering of international food and drink suppliers. From big brand suppliers to local & regional producers, over 1100 exhibitors from around the world took the opportunity to showcase thousands of new products to a massive audience of UK and international buyers. Attending the four day event proved extremely beneficial in view of the quality of potential buyers visiting the stand. Producers who attended have between them generated important leads from supermarkets, wholesalers, airlines, independent stores, delis including own brand opportunities and potential export. From initial enquiries busin...

Young people from Felinfoel and Llwynhendy have been learning about why it’s not a good idea to ‘get hammered’. They attended an Alcohol Awareness Training event in Calsonic Social Club. The training, funded by the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, was organised jointly through Felinfoel Communities First and Llwynhendy Communities First. Felinfoel Communities First community development officer Gaynor Price said: “The training was identified by the local Neighbourhood Police who thought it would be of benefit to the youth of both areas. The training titled ‘getting hammered’ focused on alcohol awareness for the young people, including the effects of combining alcohol and drugs. “Pupils from Bryngwyn School, youth and residents of both areas were invited to join the training that discussed and demonstrated through DVDs the harmful effect of alcohol. All that attended enjoyed the course and were shocked by some of the stories that were shown.” Community safety manager Kate T...

Carmarthenshire planners have granted permission for security fencing at Ysgol y Castell in Kidwelly. The county planning committee approved an application by the local education authority for 2.4m high weld mesh fencing and gateways for the school in Priory Street.

A Llandovery woman has been fined by the courts for throwing a cigarette end in the street. Catherine Louise Joseph, aged 45, of Siloh, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 7 Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that she was issued with a fixed penalty notice by the council’s environmental enforcement officers after she was caught dropping a cigarette end in Quay Street, Ammanford. However, she failed to pay it and as a result was prosecuted through the magistrates court. Due to Joseph’s limited income she was fined £65 by magistrates and ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs. It is now hoped this case will act as a warning to others that those caught breaking the law will be prosecuted. Research shows that discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire. An inspection by Keep Wales Tidy found that 83 per cent of th...

Pupils at Llanelli’s Bryngwyn School had a chance to try belly dancing and African drumming at a Multicultural Event. The event, which was funded by the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership through the Community Cohesion Fund, was a joint initiative between Felinfoel Communities First and Llwynhendy Communities First. The Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services Multicultural Network helped organise the day which included multicultural workshops such as Indian Dancing, Belly Dancing and African Drumming/Dancing. More than 250 pupils joined in the workshops throughout the day and commented that ‘the day was great’ and ‘can we do more things like this again in the future’. Felinfoel Communities First Community Development Officer Gaynor Price said: “The event was deemed a success by both teachers at the school and staff at Communities First.” Community safety manager Kate Thomas said: “The partnership was delighted to support such a worthwhile event which brought differe...

Carmarthenshire planners have granted permission for security fencing at Pontyberem CP School. The county planning committee approved an application by the local education authority for 2.4m high weld mesh fencing and gateways for the school in Heol y Felin, Pontyberem.

A Burry Port woman has been fined by the courts after throwing a cigarette end out of her car. Beverley Margaret Jones, aged 48, of Pencoed Road, Burry Port, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 87 Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Jones was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 by the council’s environmental enforcement officers on Sunday, December 5 last year near McDonalds in Parc Trostre, Llanelli. However, she failed to pay it. Jones was fined £85 by magistrates and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £194.86. The council now hopes the case will act as a warning to others that anyone caught throwing litter will be prosecuted. Research shows that discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire with 83 per cent of litter found on the county’s streets smoking-related. Director of Technical Services Richar...

Thank you very much, folks. Thanks to you, dear readers and visitors, this blog is continuing to pick up more hits. It's now hit the 29,000 page views mark. That's 2,000 more views since April 1. Keep the hits coming, folks! Much appreciated. Many thanks. See earlier post - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/27000-visits-chalked-up.html Meanwhile, the blog has chalked up its first visitor from Malawi. The full country by country list (figures from January 6, 2010) is as follows - United Kingdom (GB) 8,860; United States (US) 1,124; India (IN) 82; Canada (CA) 66; Germany (DE) 54; Australia (AU) 53; Europe (EU) 50; Ireland (IE) 46; France (FR) 39; Japan (JP) 38; Taiwan (TW) 36; Belgium (BE) 32; Qatar (QA) 29; Netherlands (NL) 27; Italy (IT) 26; Spain (ES) 20; Philippines (PH) 20; New Zealand (NZ) 18; Malaysia (MY) 18; Pakistan (PK) 17; Russian Federation (RU) 16; United Arab Emirates (AE) 14; Sweden (SE) 12; Greece (GR) 10; Austria (AT) 10; Denmark (DK) 10; Singapore (SG) 10;...

Planning permission has been granted for a solar farm at Ffos Las Racecourse in Trimsaran. Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee discussed an application by developer Martyn Llewellyn for 20,000 solar panels set in rows of 18 panels split over three areas. The scheme will involve community benefits. The application site is part of the former Ffos Las open cast colliery between Trimsaran and Carway. An officers’ report to the committee said that it would take therefore two and a half years to ‘pay back’ the electricity used to produce the panels. Therefore given the 25 year lifespan of the proposal, the site would have significant benefits in terms of energy generation from renewable sources. Community contributions are proposed to take the form of a one off contribution to assist the formation of an energy trust in Carmarthenshire. Also it has been agreed to provide a scheme of solar PV for a community building so that it can generate power for the community facility and ...

Dyffryn Taf Welsh Baccalaureate students have taken part in an interactive workshop when they took on the role of Members of the European Parliament. The students at the school in Whitland had to defend their opinions on crucial issues such as fighting climate change, protecting consumer’s rights, and ensuring food safety and quality in the Carmarthenshire County Council event. The workshop was organised by Lorena Prist, based in the West Wales European Centre, who is responsible for the Europe Direct EU information service in Carmarthenshire. The aim was to raise the students’ awareness of the EU’s role in a range of issues and how young people can voice their opinions and influence decisions taken at EU level. EU networking Officer Lorena said: “It is important for our young people to know that their opinion is important and that they should have a say in issues that affect them. By pretending to be in a multinational parliament, students learnt about the complexity of international ...

Llanelli has played its part in a Guinness world record attempt on the number of real cloth nappies changed at the same time! Six mums and their babies from across Carmarthenshire took part in the nappy changing challenge, hosted by Carmarthenshire County Council, at the St Elli Shopping Centre on Easter Saturday. It was one of a number being held simultaneously across the globe. Now the wait is on to find out if the world record was set as the results will not be known for a few weeks yet. As well as the world record attempt, there was fun and games for all the family with face-painting, balloon modelling, magic show and arts and craft workshop from reusable materials. There were also lots of stalls and information and advice and Radio Carmarthenshire/Scarlet FM were there to broadcast the world record attempt as it happened. Council waste minimisation/recycling officer Karen Fulham said: “The aim of the event was to raise awareness of the benefits of using real nappies instead of dis...

A Llanelli man has been fined by the courts for fly-tipping and ordered to pay the council compensation for the cost of cleaning it up. Adrian Walter James Rees, aged 52, of Brynhyfryd, Llangennech, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 2 Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that an investigation had been carried out by the council’s environmental enforcement officers after building materials had been dumped in Penprys Road, Dafen. Rees was fined £145 by magistrates and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs plus £150 in compensation to the council for the costs associated with cleaning it up. It is now hoped this case will act as a warning to others that anyone caught fly-tipping will be prosecuted. More serious offences could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and fines of up to £50,000 and/or up to five years in prison. Director of Technical Ser...

A Carmarthen woman has been fined £350 and ordered to pay £100 court costs for throwing a cigarette end in the street. Marion Rees, aged 53, of Lammas Street, Carmarthen, was convicted in absence to an offence contrary to Section 87 Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Rees had failed to pay a fixed penalty notice of £75 which had been issued by council environmental enforcement officers in Hall Street on November 25 last year. Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “Many people do not think of cigarette ends as litter, but they are. They make an area look unsightly and they are difficult and very expensive to clean up - the ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement which makes them almost impossible to remove by normal cleaning. “Hopefully this fine will help to raise awareness of this type of litter. We do not want to fine people but we will not hesita...

Day Four of Man Flu! Think I am now addicted to Asda brand of Mentholated Bronchial Balsam!

Talwrn Y Beirdd (Radio Cymru's Poet's Cockpit) being recorded at the Carmarthen AFC clubhouse in Richmond Park, Carmarthen, at 7pm tonight.

I am grateful to Phil Grice for the following junior football news - Johnstown United were declared Carmarthenshire Division 3 champions with still one match to play following a scintillation 8-3 win over Pembrey at United's Llangain pitch. This was an easy stroll for Johnstown with Steff Phillips and Nicky Thomas each netting two, and Rhodri Morgan Jason King, Adam Thomas, and Shariff Ahmed claiming one apiece. United's forwards were rampant in slicing through the Pembrey defence, with striker Jason King laying off ball after ball, and constantly one-twoing with Steff Phillips often leaving Pembrey stranded. The first goal came after two minutes, and at half-time it was 4-1. By then however, Pembrey had twigged the United tactics, and their offside trap caught out United time after time – otherwise Johnstown might well have had a dozen. Manager Reg Upton and Club Chair Wyn Evans can be justly proud of their young team - made up of former schoolboys from QE High and Bro Myrddin...

The hilltop town of Shaftesbury will be alive to the sound of music on Saturday (April 30) when Cor Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) pay a welcome return visit. This will be the famous Welsh choir’s eighth appearance in Shaftesbury. Concert organiser Susan Ballett explained: “They first came at the invitation of St James Church (down over the hill in the small parish of St James), in the late 1980s and have managed to fit in return visits every three or four years ever since to the delight of everyone who hears them “The concerts are always held in the Shaftesbury School, which is the only venue locally large enough to hold the number of music lovers who are always anxious to enjoy their very special sound. “Under the baton of D Eifion Thomas, the choir never fails to raise the benchmark even higher.” It is something of a tradition that the choir’s visit sees the introduction of guest artistes - usually local students on the threshold of a musical career. This year there will be ...

My media consultant website has been updated with some of the latest press releases - http://ning.it/g7hPoi

This week's special offers at Jenkins Bakery shops (inc 4 Hot X Buns £1.50) - http://ning.it/dZZV8w Jenkins Bakery website updated with Royal Wedding cake news - http://ning.it/e35nrV

The West Wales Junior Cup Final between Cimla and Tenby will be held on Thursday evening, 28th April 2011, at Richmond Park, Carmarthen (KO 7:00pm). Stewards will be needed for this match, please arrive at the ground by 6:30pm.