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

The latest gardening column from the South Wales Evening Post by Aberglasney head gardener Joseph Atkin -  This mild winter weather is fantastic news both inside and outside at Aberglasney Gardens in the Tywi Valley. The bulbs and other spring flowering plants are really getting going with Crocus early Daffodils and Snowdrops stealing the show. The plants in the Ninfarium are also doing really well as the indoor garden is partially heated. What this means is most of the plants growing in there are just the wrong side of hardy. In fact, many will be fine in a very sheltered position. One of the things I have learnt this winter is many plants such as Rex Begonia and Streptocarpus are much more cold tolerant than I realised. Another group of plants that are much more cold tolerant than often realised is the Orchids. One of the important things to remember is the two different types - Epiphytic grow on trees and rocks and Terrestrial grow in soil. Many terrestrial orchids are very...

Peacocks new owner Philip Day plans to reopen 50 stores - Wales News - News - WalesOnline The new owner of value fashion retailer Peacocks, Philip Day, hopes to reopen up to 50 stores, while he is in the process of re-employ 60 staff made redundant by administrators at its Cardiff HQ. In an exclusive interview with the Western Mail yesterday, the chairman the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group (EWM) , said that in five years time he hopes the business will have a bigger presence on the UK high street than it had before it was forced in administration last month with crippling debts.

Bronze age hoard found in West Wales farm declared treasure - Wales News - News - WalesOnline A Bronze Age hoard thought to have been buried more than 3,000 years ago as an offering to the gods was yesterday declared treasure after being found on a Carmarthenshire farm. The collection of 13 bronze artefacts, including part of a bronze bracelet, fragments of a large bronze spearhead and a complete bronze socketed axe, will go on public display after the declaration by the coroner for Carmarthenshire.

Urgent calls made to freeze duty on beer - Wales News - News - WalesOnline Urgent calls have been made to freeze beer duty in next month’s budget after figures showed Wales’ pub and brewing industry shrunk by 10% in the past year.

Cause of death of man 'will never be known' | This is South Wales The true true cause of the death of a young Llanelli man may never be known. An inquest into the death of Lee Andrew Thomas has returned an open verdict. Mr Thomas, who lived on Firth Road, was just 27 when he died on the morning of August 4 last year. But at his inquest yesterday in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire coroner Mark Layton told his family there were two possible causes of his death and no way of knowing which one resulted in it.

Scott scores role in ad | This is South Wales A Llanelli actor has taken over the small screen as the star of a new Playstation 3 advert. Scott Arthur, 22, of Maes Ty Gwyn in Llangennech, features in the advert for popular football game FIFA 12.

Story of our nation unveiled in epic series | This is South Wales A major new television series covering 30,000 years of Welsh history is starting close to home — on Gower. The series — The Story of Wales — uses dramatic reconstructions, computer generated graphics, and location filming, to tell the story of the country and its people through the centuries.

Libyan militia hold TV newsman from Carmarthenshire | This is South Wales A journalist from Carmarthenshire has been seized by militiamen in Libya. His family have spoken of their shock and are appealing to the British Government to help.

The latest gardening column from Aberglasney head gardener Joseph Atkin is in the South Wales Evening Post tonight. Lovely piece in the Evening Post tonight about Llanelli Rotary Club dedicating their annual charity ball to the memory of Ernie Lawson.

Big match fever kicking in early today - Wales v England at Twickers. Come on, Wales!

Town’s two MPs clash - but only over rugby (From Swindon Advertiser) Swindon’s two MPs are locking horns – but it won’t be over government policy. Instead, it is this weekend’s crunch rugby match that will be the topic of debate. South Swindon MP Robert Buckland and North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson are from either sides of the Anglo-Welsh border and today they will be going head-to-head over the game at Twickenham. The Tory MPs have said that there has been a lot of banter flying around the office this week ahead of the match, with both men confident they will have the bragging rights in the office on Monday morning. Robert Buckland, was born in Llanelli, Wales, which is where he watched his rugby growing up, is confident that Wales can come up trumps.

The teams from Llanelli's St John Lloyd school emerged victorious from the Llanelli-Swansea area final of the Rotary Youth Speaks public speaking competition. The Llanelli school beat off strong competition from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe in Swansea to win both the junior and senior events in the competition staged at Llanelli Town Hall. The St John Lloyd junior team debated 'Once a cheat, always a cheat', with Chairman Sophie Ayres and Vote of Thanks Proposer Charlotte Rees also winning individual awards. The best individual junior Speaker award went to Branwen Cleaver, of Bryn Tawe, who took as her subject, 'Fatima Whitbread, unsung sporting hero'. In the senior category, there was a clean sweep for St John Lloyd, with Yasmin Rai judged the best Chairman, Lloyd Haines winning the Speaker prize and Connor Charles picking up the Vote of Thanks Proposer prize. The team debated 'Sport is a unifier'. The teams from St John Lloyd won their way through t...

Petitions Committee open-mic meeting in Carmarthen The National Assembly for Wales’s Petitions Committee will hold a formal meeting at Trinity College, Carmarthen on Tuesday, 28 February. The Committee, chaired by William Powell AM, will consider new petitions and updates on current petitions before holding an open-mic session for people wanting to contribute evidence on the subject of noise nuisance from wind farms in the Carmarthenshire area. The ‘control of noise nuisance from wind farms’ petition states: “We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to pass a statute controlling the noise nuisance from wind turbines during anti-social hours. We ask for the implementation of respite periods during which time turbines would be switched off.” The National Assembly for Wales bus will also be on hand to gather further evidence from anyone who wishes to express a view on the subject.

BBC News - British journalists working for Iranian TV arrested in Libya Two British journalists working for Iranian-owned Press TV have been arrested in Libya. Reporter Nicholas Davies and cameraman Gareth Montgomery-Johnson were detained by members of the Misrata Brigade on Tuesday and are being held in Tripoli. Mr Montgomery-Johnson's sister Melanie Gribble says she has no idea why her brother, from Carmarthen, was arrested and she is concerned for his welfare. The Foreign Office confirmed that two British nationals have been detained.

Residents in Carmarthen flats are now recycling their rubbish. People living in Woods Row and Cambrian Court have been given a doorstep collection of blue bags and food bins for the first time. The council has already rolled out the scheme to homes across the county and is now introducing a recycling service to flats and sheltered housing complexes. These types of properties have to be looked at individually by the waste section as they all have different accessibility and space/storage issues which need to be addressed before a recycling service can be provided. Residents and tenants have welcomed the new scheme as it makes it so much easier for them to recycle their rubbish. Council Waste Minimisation/Recycling Officer Karen Fulham went along to a tenants and residents meeting to advise them on the scheme and answer any questions they had. She said: “The residents are really pleased that they can now recycle at home. It can be difficult to service flats with recycling as we o...

Carmarthenshire County Council is in the running for a national procurement award. The authority’s procurement unit and Property Services division teamed up for a joint entry to the Government Opportunities (GO) Excellence in Public Procurement Awards 2012. The finalists were announced this week, and Carmarthenshire has been shortlisted in the Innovation of the Year Award category. Carmarthenshire’s entry was based on its Contractor Framework agreement, which facilitates £160million of construction investment in the county, including renovation of housing stock and the build and refurbishment of schools, leisure centres and theatres. Established in 2007, the Framework provides the ‘umbrella’ under which many partnership projects pull together in order to provide investment and opportunity for local people and businesses. It brings together almost 20 contractors, and several supply trade organisations, and involves key stakeholders, such as Coleg Sir Gar and the Carmarthenshire Con...

More than 40 per cent of council tenants who’ve had their homes upgraded find it easier to meet the cost of living in their home compared to 10 per cent in 2009. The results form part of a Health Impact Survey , an innovative study being undertaken by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Cardiff and Swansea universities, to find out how home improvements link to better health and wellbeing. The authority is currently mid-way through its £203million Carmarthenshire Homes Standard programme to update each of its 9,200 council homes, with improvements including new kitchens and bathrooms, cavity wall and loft insulation, double glazed windows and doors, and new energy efficient gas boilers. The 2011 survey provided reassuring results across several different areas – with thermal satisfaction coming out as one of the areas showing most improvement. More than 2,000 tenants were interviewed. When asked about general housing quality and satisfaction, 85 per cent of tenan...

Work is underway to renovate a Whitland property destroyed by fire in 2009. The building in St John’s Street, known as Grosvenor House, was sold at auction by Carmarthenshire County Council after renovation of the building was deemed too costly. The sale went through on February 15 and the new owners have wasted no time in starting work on the site, although they are yet to reveal what they intend to use the building for. Before the fire, it had been used as living accommodation, with a mix of bedsits and flats, often used to provide housing for people faced with homelessness. Previously, the council’s housing scrutiny committee heard that the cost of restoring the building could hit £1.7 million. Cllr Hugh Evans, Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “I am pleased that the sale of Grosvenor House has now gone through, and that the council has been able to recoup some costs from the transfer of this asset. “Unfortunately the cost of renovating it was beyond the reach of th...

Crackdown on hazardous substances sites | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Dyfed-Powys police force is making a crackdown on sites storing hazardous substances. The police say, 'In order to achieve this, we are asking for the public’s help in identifying sites where a large amount of hazardous waste and substances are being stored. There are many types of hazardous substances and waste and some of the more obvious are chemicals, plastics, tyres and wood. These substances could be stored inside or outside a building – and we need to know about any you come across or have any concerns about. Smaller scale fly tipping is obviously a concern in relation to looking after our environment and making it a better place, and if you have any information about this sort of incident then please contact your local authority. Our main concern as a multi-agency group is to seek out any large sites, such as the one in Fforestfach, Swansea, which would cause major problems and have significan...

Hats off to the team at Asda Llanelli. £1.7m of stock in the bin after Weds night fire. New ceiling, restock and open for business today.

Llanelli construction firm fined over worker’s injury | Safety News A Llanelli construction firm has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries when he was hit by a concrete beam. The employee, from Carmarthen, was working with a colleague for W A Bowler Ltd on the installation of a beam and block floor at Hillside Care Home in the Uplands area of Swansea on 10 March 2010.

Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) are geared-up for one of their busiest weeks of the year. On St David’s Day, Thursday, March 1, the choristers will be heading up the M4 for their very own ‘big match’ near Twickenham. The choir will be performing at Duke Street Baptist Church, Richmond, in aid of the Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond’s chosen charity, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Leanne Corneille, Mayor’s support officer in Richmond, said there was a huge amount of interest in the concert. “Tickets have been selling like hot-cakes,” she said. “Having the choir perform here in Richmond on St David’s Day makes the event extra special and we will have plenty of ‘London Welsh’ exiles in the audience.” Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director D Eifion Thomas said the choristers were looking forward to the London trip. “Like the Wales rugby team getting revved-up for a big match at Twickenham, the choristers revel in the occasion of taking to the stage for a special event on S...

BBC News - Post-traumatic stress disorder: Ex-forces review call by Welsh Conservatives A review of improvements in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among ex-service personnel is being urged by Welsh Conservatives. During a debate in the assembly, Tory AM Darren Millar highlighted the case of L/Sgt Dan Collins, 29, from Pembrokeshire, who was found hanged. Mr Millar called for progress after a cross-party report identified problems. The Welsh government said Wales was the only UK country with a dedicated service.

BBC News - Six Bonmarche stores across Wales have been earmarked for closure A decline in customer spend and rising costs, in the current economic climate, is blamed for closure plans at six Bonmarche stores across Wales. Stores in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Brynmawr, Carmarthen, Newtown and Llanelli are on the list. Twenty other Bonmarche stores across Wales will remain open. Last month the fashion chain, which was part of the Peacocks Group, was bought by a private equity group Sun European Partners.

Asda update | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police investigating the fire at the Asda supermarket in Llanelli which happened on Wednesday 22nd February have bailed the 18-year-old local man arrested on suspicion of arson pending further inquiries. Investigations into the incident are ongoing and police appeal for anyone with information that could help the inquiries to get in touch. Officers can be contacted at Llanelli Police Station by calling 101.

Just back from the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind studio - recorded interview with John Wynne Hopkins, Llanelli Community Heritage group.

Latest junior results from the Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey featured in the South Wales Evening Post sports pages tonight. Smashing story in the Western Mail today about the Ashburnham Golf Club featuring in the latest Top 10 in National Club Golfer magazine.

Tributes for character steeped in town history | This is South Wales Tributes have been paid to one of the last of the old Laugharne characters. Former Merchant Navy sea captain Douglas Williams of Broadway died last weekend, less than a week after his 90th birthday. The funeral is due to take place at 1pm this Friday at the township's St Martin's Church.

BBC News - Wales farmland prices among UK highest and above average Welsh farmland is among the UK's most expensive, and has doubled in value in five years, according to a survey. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said the average price per acre increased by £400 to £6,900 in the last six months of 2011. It is higher than the UK average of £6,514 while only the West Midlands and north west England are more expensive.

Police to quiz teen held over Llanelli supermarket blaze | This is South Wales Police in Llanelli were last night continuing to question an 18-year-old local youth arrested in connection with a blaze which led to the evacuation of 85 people from the town's Asda store. An investigation is under way into the blaze at the store in the heart of the town.

Scarlets survive early scare to keep play-off hopes alive | This is South Wales They may have been hit by two early sucker punches, but the Scarlets hauled themselves off the canvas to breathe new life into their RaboDirect Pro12 challenge at Parc y Scarlets last night. Those top four play-offs hopes had appeared almost buried for another season when Treviso surged into a 14-0 lead after just seven minutes, but to their credit, the Scarlets composed themselves and ran in two tries in either half to register five much-needed points.

Thirteen Sentenced for Drug Offences | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police who spent four months conducting an undercover operation targeting heroin dealers in Newtown and Welshpool are seeing the fruit of that labour today after the 13 who were arrested and charged were sentenced. All had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs or supplying Class A drugs.

A special event has been held to recognise high quality building work in Carmarthenshire. Twelve building projects have been recognised at Carmarthenshire’s 2011 Local Authority Building Control Excellence Awards ceremony at the Machynys Peninsula Golf Club in Llanelli. The winners were introduced by LABC President Mike Sanson.   County director of regeneration Dave Gilbert said: “It was not too many years ago people used to say buildings and homes to the standard we are achieving in the county now could never happen in Carmarthenshire. “But the quality guidelines laid down by our building control officers are being respected and adhered to by contractors and developers and landmark building of outstanding design and quality are appearing all over the county.” Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “It is brilliant to see contractors within the county doing such a wonderful job and being recognised with the best of the best. “I am so ...

A Llanelli man has been fined £345 and ordered to pay £156 court costs for illegally carrying scrap metal. Stacey Williams Janes, aged 26, of Brynawelon, pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court to offences contrary to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and the Environmental Protection Act 1995. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Janes was stopped by police in a Ford Transit lorry near junction 48 on the M4 on Friday, July 29 as part of a multi-agency operation targeting scrap metal dealers in Carmarthenshire. The vehicle was carrying a number of items of scrap metals. Enquiries made by the council’s environmental enforcement officers with Environment Agency Wales revealed that Janes was not a registered waste carrier. The court also heard that Janes had been stopped by police just two weeks prior to this incident, again carrying various scrap metal. On this occasion he failed ...

A new RDP Sir Gâr project has been launched with the aim of supporting future entrepreneurs and small businesses in Rural Carmarthenshire. Dewis Menter offers free advice and guidance to individuals who want to start their own business as well as supporting existing businesses to identify and implement opportunities for growth and development. Along with one to one support from Business Development Officers Lesley Lewis and Barry Hale, the project has a team of mentors from the various business sectors who will be on hand to share their vast knowledge, experience and specialist advice with young businesses. Dewis Menter will also hold a number of business events and workshops throughout Rural Carmarthenshire which will help future entrepreneurs and existing businesses learn about a variety of business topics as well as providing excellent opportunities to network with other business people. Dewis Menter are also working in partnership with the South Wales Chamber of Commerce ...

'Women Shaping the Future of Wales' is the title of an ITWales event to celebrate International Women's Day 2012. The annual event provides an insight into the diverse range of business and career opportunities for women in the 21st Century and offers a platform for sharing experiences, knowledge and best practice for women working with science and technology. VENUE: Village Hotel, SA1, Swansea, SA1 8QY DATE: Wednesday 7th March, 2012 TIME: 18:15 - 23:00, Hosted by broadcaster Mai Davies. Guest speakers include:  • Clare Riley, Group Manager, Education Relations, Microsoft Ltd • Wendy Sadler, Director, Science made Simple • Lesley Williams, Editor, TheBay Magazine In addition, former Director of ITWales, Beti Williams, who was recently awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List, will introduce the evening. The event is organised by ITWales’ major projects Technocamps (£6m) and Software Alliance Wales (£13m) a...

There will be a St David's Day theme to a special dining evening at The Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey on Friday, March 2. Ashburnham chef Martin Bartley has conjured up a varied menu. For starters, there's a choice between pan fried cockles with Welsh smoked bacon on fried bread and leek and potato soup with a crusty roll and butter. Main course choices are - braised lamb shank on mustard mash; chicken breast stuffed with per glas wrapped in Welsh smoked bacon; baked salmon poached in leek and white wine sauce; vegetarian quiche. Side dishes are - cauliflower and broccoli, carrots and peas, baby roast potatoes. Desserts - Merlin's magical trio of chocolate; baked Penderyn whisky and white chocolate tart with Hefyn Mel. You can reserve a table by booking and paying at the clubhouse bar. Cost: £12 per person.

The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, is offering training sessions for people wishing to stand as independent candidates in this year’s local government elections in Wales. Kay Jenkins, Head of the Electoral Commission’s Wales Office said: “It’s important that those considering standing as a candidate in the upcoming local elections in Wales are fully aware of the rules and regulations in place. “We look forward to working with the respective local authorities and with prospective candidates to ensure that this information is communicated effectively making the process of standing for election as straightforward as possible.” There are two training sessions, taking place on: Monday 5 March in in Llanelli Wednesday 7 March in Aberystwyth. The sessions will focus on all aspects associated with standing for election including nominations, campaigning, the count and election spending and will include detailed presentations from Commission staff as well as f...

Dozens of events are taking place at Llanelli Library to celebrate its grand reopening week following its £3.8million refurbishment. The programme starts with the reopening of the building on Monday, March 5 and runs until Friday, March 9. Every day, visitors can enter the library quiz with a chance to win an e-reader, take a tour of the building, meet the staff, see Superbook, or enjoy tea, coffee and bara brith. On March 5, there will be visits by Fireman Sam character Naughty Norman, poetry and prose from the Phoenix Theatre Group, artist Nina Morgan will host a display from Ysgol Dewi Sant pupils, Phil Cullen will talk about the map and plan collection, Pentip School Choir will entertain, there will be a chance to talk to local historians, author Catrin Collier will visit, and a ballroom and latin dance demonstration will take place. For children, there will be an under fives storytime, along with a knights and princesses story and craft session. On March 6, Pentip schoolchildren ...

More than 30 young golfers took part in a half-term junior competition at Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey. There were a number of excellent individual performances, including a stunning stableford score of 57 points from young Kynan Jones, who made his debut off the yellow tees. Kynan is also a striker for Burry Port Under-12s football team.​ Shona Nelson won the equivalent girls' category. Kynan and Shona are pictured above. Results - Black tee, girls: 1st Shona Nelson (40 shots); 2nd Becca Morgan/Aimee Owen (46); 3rd Layla Francis (47); 4th Katie Birt (48). Black tee, boys: 1st Morgan Davies (29 shots); 2nd Elliot Brice (32); 3rd Ethan Birt (37). Red tees: 1st Owain Williams 47pts; 2nd Ryan Owens 46pts; 3rd Griff Sayer 34pts; 4th Ellis Thomas 32pts. Yellow tees (non-Congu): 1st Kynan Jones 57pts; 2nd Kris Jones 44pts; 3rd James Forey 43pts; 4th Morgan Hand 37pts; 5th Rhydian Bowen 32pts; 6th Kayne Protheroe 30pts; 7th Joe Francis 29pts. Yellow tees (Congu): 1st Rhys Morgan 42pts;...

Police warn elderly of scams | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys As part of its commitment to help reduce crimes in the elderly and vulnerable community, Dyfed-Powys Police is warning people to be aware of a variety of sophisticated scams. The incidents range from telephone scams where fraudsters claim to be calling from organisations, which can repair, or remove any unwanted and corrupted files on their computer – or say they are from the TAX office or Ministry of Justice and offering opportunities of cash rebates.

Police arrest 18 year old following fire at Asda in Llanelli | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police in Llanelli have arrested an 18-year-old local youth in connection with a fire which started in the Asda store Llanelli at 8.15pm on Wednesday 22nd February 2012. He is currently in police custody and due to be questioned. Inquiries into the incident are continuing and anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Llanelli police on 101. See earlier post today below.

Police combat rural Scrap Metal Thefts | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Dyfed-Powys Police is reminding the farming and rural community in Pembrokeshire to ensure security at their premises is sufficient to help combat scrap metal and machinery thefts. The appeal follows a number of recent incidents across the county area.

Police combat commercial burglaries | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Dyfed-Powys Police is reminding the business community in Ceredigion to ensure security at their premises is sufficient to help combat commercial burglaries. The appeal follows a number of recent burglaries across the Aberystwyth area – in Garages in Penrhyncoch and Bow Street – where diagnostic computers, tools and cash were taken to the value of £25,000.

Off-Road Show highlights community engagement | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys As part of its commitment to community engagement and safeguarding the environment, Dyfed-Powys Police is organising a multi-agency Off-Road initiative. Held on 5 April at the Forestry commission Visitor Centre at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, the event will be attended by a variety of partner organisations such as; Ceredigion County Council, Forestry Commission Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and Off-Road Organisation Treadlightly, which promotes responsible off-roading.

Nice to catch up with my pals at Clay Shaw Butler, chartered accountants and business consultants in Carmarthen, this morning.

BBC News - Asda in Llanelli evacuates 85 people after 'substantial fire' About 85 people have been evacuated from a supermarket after a blaze described by firefighters as substantial. Some 60 customers and 25 staff were told to leave the Asda store in Llanelli at 20:15 GMT on Wednesday. The fire started in a food aisle in the centre of the supermarket. Chris Margetts of Mid and West Wales Fire Service said he could not say if it was started deliberately and an investigation will be launched.

BBC News - Curb extravagant tribunal costs, Welsh councils warned by ombudsman The "extravagant" legal costs of defending councillors accused of breaching codes of conduct must end, Welsh local authorities have been told. Wales' public service ombudsman says councils must put a £10,000 cap on backing individual members. One council faces a potential bill of a six-figure sum in a single case, BBC Wales can reveal.

wind-up threat to luxury homes builders | This is South Wales The construction company which built a multi-million pound luxury housing development in Llanelli is going into liquidation – with six people being made redundant. Carms Construction Ltd — formerly known as Machynys Homes Construction — has instructed liquidators Harris Lipman LLP to help place the company into liquidation.

Another person has been fined for failing to clean up after their dog at Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park near Tumble. The 53-year-old woman was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 by the council’s environmental enforcement officers. She is the third person to be fined for dog fouling at the park in a matter of weeks. The officers were on patrol at the council-run attraction following complaints of owners not clearing up after their pets. Failure to pay the fixed penalty could result in prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum fine of up to £1,000. Dog fouling is one of the main causes of complaint from residents to Carmarthenshire County Council. The council is working hard to tackle the problem of dog fouling and enforcement officers regularly carry out patrols across the county. It is hoped these fines will act as warning to others. Cllr Jim Jones, chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee, said: “Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park is used for recreation and leisure by fami...

  There are now 639 fewer tyres that could potentially end up fly-tipped in Llanelli. A tyre amnesty was held in the Tesco car park in Parc Trostre for residents to take along unwanted tyres free of charge. It was organised by Tidy Towns to encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly and help combat fly-tipping. Tyre amnesties were also held in Carmarthen, Newcastle Emlyn, Cross Hands, Whitland and Ammanford and in total 3,447 tyres were handed over. Tyre companies attach a charge to any tyres that are disposed of at their business so illegally dumped tyres is a big problem not just in Carmarthenshire but across the UK. Fly-tipping is not only a blight on the landscape, but costs local authorities millions of pounds a year to clean up and causes harm to wildlife and the environment. Tidy Towns project officer Simon Troake said: “Around 450,000 tonnes of used tyres are produced in the UK every year that have to be reused or disposed of somehow and it is estimated t...

On your bike! | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Some people will do anything for charity, but an officer from Dyfed-Powys Police is set to go the extra mile – 400 miles in fact! On St David’s Day, PC Mel Gaul and colleagues from the Suffolk Constabulary have arranged an event for partners and colleagues to meet at Aberystwyth Police station and enjoy a fundraising opportunity and network over a coffee and a cake! Funds raised will go towards supporting the 2012 ‘Bobby-on-a-Bike’ coast-to-coast cycle ride, in aid of local RNLI stations, which is taking place on 27 May 2012.

An evening with Maureen Madill, the BBC golf commentator, is being planned at the Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey later this year. The event will form part of the Ladies Centenary Dinner at 'The Ash' on Friday, October 12 (7 for 7.30pm). There will be canapes on arrival, following by a four course dinner, coffee and mints. Tickets are available from - Olwen Davies (Lady President) - email, olwenglocaled@btinternet.com Iris Jacobs (Lady Captain) 01554 834475 Helen Davies 07974 690602 Wyn Parsons 01554 770090 Cath Jones 07968 692248 Dress code: Black Tie Tickets, £35. In addition to be a broadcaster, Maureen Madill, 54,  is a professional golfer coach and broadcaster. Madill was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.  She won the British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship in 1979 and the British Ladies Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1980. She represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup in 1980 and coached the team between 1998 and...

A quiz night is being held at The Ashburnham Golf Club on Friday, March 9. Teams of four. Tickets £6.50 per person to include ham and chips. Food served at 7pm, quiz to follow. Prize for winning team. Proceeds to the Ashburnham Centenary Fund.

Off to The Ashburnham Championship Links Golf Course in Pembrey for a business pow-wow.

Council's food bill tops £20,000 | This is South Wales Llanelli Town Council has spent four times more on refreshments than its rural counterpart. Figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show Llanelli Town Council spent a total of £20,250.87 on food and drink during the past three years — compared with Llanelli Rural Council, which spent £5,367.36. The town council spent the cash holding functions for councillors and the public, and shelled out £1,674.05 on tea and coffee alone. The authority also spent £400 on holding a retirement dinner for former clerk Lynn Davies.

Saving made on school work costs | This is South Wales A new Llanelli school was redeveloped for £405,000 less than expected, a report to Carmarthenshire Council's executive board showed. The £4.1 million extension to Halfway School opened last April. An update on the authority's capital spending programme for this year noted: "Total costs came in under budget."

Top names from the fashion and creative industries will combine their talents to bring a stunning evening of entertainment in aid of charity to Swansea on Saturday March 10. The sparkling event, which is hosted at The City Temple, Dyfatty Street, at 7pm, will see the auditorium transformed into a catwalk as models showcase the latest collections from Next, Warehouse, Tom’s and high end independent boutiques Samantha K, Rhapsody, Nanette’s plus others. Event organiser Emma Anyadike says, “For the price of a £5 ticket you will be treated to a show of sumptuous clothes, speak directly to fashion advisors who will be able to give you tips on dressing your best, order the clothes you have seen as well as accessories such as jewellery, scarves, bags and ethically sourced gifts.” Swansea radio presenter Kev Johns, above, will host the event which will include a live music set from the recording artist Mal Pope, below. All money from the ticket sales will go to support the work o...

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column is in the Carmarthen Journal today. Splendid review (plus pics) in the Carmarthen Journal of the Cor Meibion Llaneli concert at the Gravells Subaru showroom in Kidwelly. Nice piece in the Carmarthen Journal about brewer Simon Buckley's views on the move of the Welsh Game Fair from Gelli Aur to Carmarthen. Nice story in the Llanelli Star about sustainable building experts Melin Consultants and their new base in Dafen, Llanelli. Lovely picture in the Llanelli Star about Cor Meibion Llanelli members raising cash for the St Paul's Family Centre in Llanelli. Splendid picture in the Llanelli Star of Llanelli Rotary Club members collecting a bumper £900 for Thanks for Life at a bucket day at Tesco. Spotlight on the half term junior golf tournament held at The Ashburnham golf club in Pembrey in the Llanelli Star today.

Young people warned of the dangers of crime and substance misuse | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys A play and a series of workshops aimed at educating young people to the dangers of criminality drugs and alcohol misuse will be held in secondary schools throughout Pembrokeshire at the end of February. Now in its 10th year, the ‘Crime of Your Life’ (COYL) event is a multi-agency initiative that involves a play and interactive workshops that highlight the consequences of crime and substance misuse on individuals and communities. The event, which runs from Monday February 27th to Tuesday March 6, is organised by Dyfed Powys Police, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service (MAWWF), Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, the Youth Offending Team (YOT), Safer Underage Drinking and Drugs Service (SUDDS), and Victim Support.

Deadly rat bug outbreak fears | This is South Wales An epidemic of a rare bacterial infection — affecting both animals and humans — could be about to sweep the town, a Llanelli vet has warned. One dog has already died from the disease leptospirosis — which is usually spread by rats — and a warning has been put out that others could be affected.

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column from the Carmarthen Journal  newspaper - Popular Carmarthen comedy entertainer Phil Doyle will be staging a fund-raising evening at the Carmarthen Town AFC clubhouse and community centre on Saturday, May 26. The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are £12 per person, including buffet. Phil has appeared on many TV shows including New Comedians and Talking Telephone Numbers. Phil has won the Jersey Variety Club Award for Best Comedian for three years running. Phil will be supported by the talented young vocalist Natasha Doyle. To book: Telephone, Allan, 07976 973693, or Jeff, 07813 697774. ------------------------------------- The Carmarthen Town AFC 2012 Sportsman’s Dinner will be held at the The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel on Friday 18th May. BBC TV pundit Steve Claridge will be the guest speaker. Steve is one of a very select few players who have amassed 1000 career appearances. He scored more than 250 goals during ...

Off to perform MC duties at the area final of the Rotary Youth Speaks public speaking competition at Llanelli Town Hall.

Carmarthen’s leading theatre arts school is expanding to cope with demand. Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen is launching a new afternoon school following the success of the morning classes. “Demand for places at Stagecoach is huge and there is a waiting list to get places,” said Stagecoach Carmarthen principal Liane Davies. “We put the accent firmly on quality teaching here at Stagecoach and we limit class numbers to 15 pupils per class. “That philosophy of making sure that the quality of teaching is at the highest level does, of course, mean that we cannot always accommodate everyone. “But we are going our best to expand our services and that is why we are going to launch afternoon classes at Stagecoach Carmarthen at the start of the new term in April. “The classes will be for the six to 18-year-olds age group and will run from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. We already have morning classes between 10am and 1pm. “Hopefully, this will open the door for some pupils who have other interests. For e...

BBC Radio Wales producer Dinah Jones has dropped me a line to tell me about the new 'Histories of Wales' series which has just started on Radio Wales. She said - I thought this series I’ve just made for the BBC and the OU (Open University) might interest you, particularly the final programme. Each programme will be available for a week after the original broadcast on the BBCs iplayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0193yqc The times change for the first TX (transmission) occasionally and I’ve drawn attention to this with ****. Here are the times for each programme:  Histories of Wales Six historians show how a theme they feel passionate about has shaped Wales. Histories of Wales - Programme 1, Moving in Moving out First TX: Sunday, February 19, BBC Radio Wales, 1.30pm Repeat: Tuesday, February 21, BBC Radio Wales, 5.30am This week Dr Bill Jones looks at how Wales has been shaped by migration, the movement of people – people moving in and people moving out. Histo...

More than 19,000 bowls of hearty Welsh Cawl will be served up in Carmarthenshire schools on St David’s Day. The traditional broth, packed full of vitamin-rich vegetables, will be enjoyed by primary school children as part of their traditional celebrations. The meal will be followed by Teisen Lap – a moist shallow cake laden with sultanas - and fruit juice. The meal is one of many themed menus put on throughout the school year by Carmarthenshire’s Catering Service. The service, part of Carmarthenshire county Council, ensures that children have access to nutritionally-balanced meals, with food that is sustainably sourced. Catering Service manager, Sandra Weigel, said: “It is always a pleasure to see the children enjoying a traditional Welsh dish as part of their St David’s day celebrations. “Cawl is always a favourite, and scores high on our nutritional scoring system, which ensures every meal served throughout the year is healthy and well-balanced.”

Young people in Llanelli have shown what ‘Youth Action’ really stands for with the clean-up of Penymorfa Park. The graffiti park in Penymorfa, completed as part of the splash and play initiative, was vandalised with white paint. Communities First has worked alongside the SMART project to organise a clean up by young people who then had the opportunity to paint their own graffiti on one side of the park’s graffiti wall. Communities First Development Worker Kelly Wood said: “This is about encouraging young people to speak up about the issues that they face and taking action to tackle those issues. It is also about ownership, these young people’s work will be present for the whole community to appreciate.” “It is hoped as a result of the project that the awareness of the effects of vandalism will be raised.”

Tool theft under invstigation | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Welshpool Police are investigating the theft of a quantity of tools stolen from a shed in Mill Place in Welshpool.

Powys NPT box clever with funding | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Thanks to some sterling partnership work between Brecon Police (special mention to PC 828 Sara Meredith) and Wales and West Housing Association (WWHA) , Brecon Amateur Boxing Club recently received a cheque for £495 to purchase new equipment.

Update on Meeting with the Thai Authorities | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Senior Detectives from Dyfed Powys Police flew out to Bangkok on the weekend to meet with officers from the Department of Special Investigation in Thailand. They wanted to ensure that the Authorities were still committed to finding the offender who murdered Kirsty Jones in Chiang Mai in August 2000. Speaking after the meeting, Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilkins said, “We have had a very positive meeting with the Director General and Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) today. We have been able to secure their continued commitment to search for and bring to justice the person who murdered Kirsty Jones.

The Ashburnham Championship Links golf course in Pembrey has just been given a Top 10 ranking in a new guide to Britain’s best value courses. National Club Golfer published its guide to the 100 most affordable courses in Britain. And The Ashburnham was one of the highest ranked courses in Wales, finishing in sixth position. “We’ve always known that ‘The Ash’ is great value for money and this guide just reinforces that fact,” said Ashburnham club manager Huw Morgan. The guide focuses on the Top 100 courses with a green fee under £50. Mr Morgan said: “The Ashburnham is already universally recognised as an excellent course, playable all the year around. “But it is also great to get the recognition for being able to deliver value-for-money for golfers.” Last year, The Ash was featured in the National Club Golfer guide to Britain’s best courses under £80. “We were ranked No32 in that guide,” said Mr Morgan. The guide described The Ashburnham as follows – ‘This is a links wher...

Carmarthen’s leading theatre arts school has picked St David’s Day (Thursday, March 1) to announce a boost for the Welsh language. Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen will soon launch new bilingual classes for ‘early years’ pupils at the school. “We’ve had lots of requests for Welsh in our early years classes,” said Stagecoach Carmarthen principal Liane Davies. “We already have the resources as I am a fluent Welsh speaker, along with two of my early stages staff, so it was just a question of testing the opinion of our students and their mums and dads. “Everyone seems very keen on the idea, so, from the start of the April term, one of the early years classes for four to six-year-olds will be a bilingual class. “I am a passionate supporter of the Welsh language and think that everyone deserves the best possible start in life by being bilingual. “I think Stagecoach as a national organisation will be considering whether it wants to roll out the idea across Wales eventually. “For now, t...