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

A major award has been won by Rheilffordd Cwm Gwendraeth Valley Railway, a heritage and community line being developed on a unique disused rail corridor starting in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. The £75,000 award will enable the establishment of a Velorail (cycle-rail) operation in the first phase, bringing a family tourist attraction to the area. The Velorail project will introduce to the UK a form of activity popular in France, using ‘carriages’ propelled by two ‘cycles’, with seating for another two-three people. Velorails are great fun for everyone and suitable for all ages and abilities. The operation will ‘kick-start’ the development of the entire Rheilffordd Cwm Gwendraeth Valley Railway, which runs between Kidwelly and Cwm Mawr near Pontyberem. The railway was originally built on the tow path of probably the world’s first industrial canal – the first canal in Wales - providing a unique rail corridor with rail, cycle track and long tracts of waterway along the sam...

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. ICYMI is the latest bit of internet slang to appear on my computer screen. It’s an acronym or abbreviation, depending on your view, for In Case You Missed It. So, just to show that we are up to speed with the latest jargon, here’s some ICYMI from the recent Government financial news - Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) The Chancellor announced in the Autumn Statement that new rates of SDLT on purchases of additional residential properties would apply from 1 April 2016. Similar legislation was introduced in the Scottish Parliament for LBTT which applies to property transactions in Scotland. The LBTT legislation has now been enacted. The new rates will be three percentage points above the current SDLT and LBTT rates. The higher rates will potentially apply if, ...

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post. Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. www.philevans.co.uk ------------------------------------------ THE SOUND OF SILENCE? IF ONLY . . . Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse. Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, And she shall have music wherever she goes. I can relate to the lady in the nursery rhyme, even though I’ve no clinking, tinkling silver objects attached to my brogues. And the closest I ever got to owning a horse was a Christmas present from my Uncle Doris (don’t ask!) which I realised he’d mislabelled when I unwrapped it to find it was a “My Little Pony” annual (the previous year’s, bought in a remainders bookshop) meant for my cousin Philomena. Being 15 at the time, I was so disappointed. I was expecting my usual “Care Bears” annual. I relate to the lady on the white horse because I hear music ever...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal - Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir sail off to the Emerald Isle and a short summer tour of County Mayo tomorrow – but they already have their sights set on their annual concert in September. The ‘annual’ is always a landmark event in the choral calendar in Llanelli and Côr Meibion Llanelli will be in concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, at 7pm on Saturday, September 24. Their special guests will be Penrhyn Male Choir (Penrhyn Male Choir) from North Wales. The two choirs are ‘old friends’. Côr Meibion Llanelli performed with Côr Penrhyn at one of the first events to be staged at the new Bryn Terfel Theatre at The Pontio arts centre in Bangor earlier this year. Côr Penrhyn are paying back the favour by journeying south for the Côr Meibion Llanelli concert. “We have a great relationship with the boys of Côr Penrhyn,” said Llanelli choir secretary Fred...

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