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

Photos from Furnace Ponds - Trebeddrod Reservoir - Llanelli. See link to album below. https://goo.gl/photos/cNyg2kd8wC42jrU26

Members of the public are being encouraged to apply for a position on Carmarthenshire County Council’s Standards Committee. The council is looking to appoint a new independent member of the committee, which has general responsibility for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by members of the county council and community and town councils, and for assisting them to observe their code of conduct. The committee comprises three county councillors, one community member and five independent members. The post receives an allowance of £99-198 per meeting, depending on duration, plus certain expenses. Members will serve for up to six years. The term independent simply means independent of the council, and does not denote membership of any political party, although Welsh Government rules restrict the ability of current and former officers or members of the council and similar public sector bodies to fill the role. Additionally the council cannot consider applications from anyone...

The wraps have come off two new high-potential strategic business and employment sites in Carmarthenshire. Welsh Government Leader of the House Jane Hutt AM was amongst the first to see phase one of the Cross Hands East strategic employment site – 22 acres of prime development space set out over nine plots with potential for major employment. The development site is being marketed to the private sector, particularly those in the field of advanced manufacturing, financial/professional, creative agri-technology and environmental services, with opportunities to build high quality commercial premises right next to the A48/M4 road network. The £14.5million strategic employment site was funded by Carmarthenshire County Council, Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund. The council is contributing a further £1million to encourage development at the Cross Hands East site in the form of property development grants. Jane Hutt met with Carmarthenshire County Council’s economic de...

A scheme aimed at tackling the ‘serious decline’ in the take up of modern foreign languages by school pupils in Wales has substantially increased the number of project schools it will be working with into its second year, from 28 to 44. Initially a pilot, the major intervention is aimed at increasing the take up and attainment of modern languages at secondary schools across the country. It is funded by the Welsh Government as part of its five-year Global Futures strategy aimed at supporting modern languages in schools in Wales. Under the scheme, modern foreign language (MFL) undergraduates at Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth universities are recruited and trained as student mentors and are partnered with pupils in local schools. Each undergraduate undergoes a rigorous assessment process and training with specialists in student mentoring. They are partnered with committed schools in the areas surrounding their university in close collaboration with regional educational consort...

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. In Money Matters last week, we started to put the spotlight on changes to pension schemes. Many of you have written to us explaining that you don’t understand the phrase ‘pensions auto enrolment’. So, this column will attempt to explain what is going on. The Government is placing greater responsibility and sometimes higher costs on employers. Employers are/will be required to provide access to pension provision for their employees. What is a qualifying automatic enrolment pension scheme? Employers are able to comply with their new obligations by using an existing qualifying pension scheme, setting up a new scheme or using the government low cost scheme - the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). It is important that the pension scheme chosen will deliver good outcomes for the employee's r...

Residents across Carmarthenshire are being urged to turn up and take part in a series of litter picks. Individuals and organised groups who roll up their sleeves and get involved will be rewarded for their efforts. In a joint initiative between the Carmarthenshire Council’s recycling section and housing department, with support from Keep Wales Tidy, the aim is to improve the quality of the local environment through community action. In return volunteers will earn Time Credits, which they can save and spend on a host of local and national leisure or educational activities. Some 35 bags of rubbish including large amounts of dog mess, builders bags and an old armchair were collected in a recent Penyfan Park clean up. Events: Fri, 10am - 12pm on 14/10/2016 at Ponthenri Community Hall, Sat, 10am -12pm on 05/11/2016 at St Paul’s Family Centre Fri, 10am – 12pm on 18/11/2016 at Trallwm Community Hall Fri, 10am – 12pm on 02/12/2016 at Swiss Valley Community Hall Llangennech Clean Up week (17...

Latest news from the team at Brecon Jazz Club supplied by Lynne Gornall - Hello everyone SPECIAL GUESTS ! Tuesday 11 October 8pm Brecon Jazz Club (8pm start / £8 club members) @ The MUSE Arts Centre Here is the news.... as well as having two of the 'Amigos' (guitar, bass) and a special visitor Jean Guyomarc'h (guitar) from France, we will also have a very special guest. International musician/composer Huw Warren will be joining us for the evening, on accordion, to give that very special 'club' atmosphere. Not to be missed. Full lineup below. Many of you have already booked tickets, we are delighted to welcome you on the door, but please consider pre-booking at http://breconjazz.club/wp/tickets FOOD / SUPPER £8 at Ty Helyg from 6.30 pm please book places and say if you are veggie or gluten free (etc). MENU: >beef bolognaise dish with jacket potato, salad and bread. With veggie mince for veggies - please advise. Orange juice. Followed by Eves Pudding and custard ...

A pioneering non-toxic printing process invented by a member of staff at Aberystwyth University’s School of Art and now used worldwide will be showcased in a special exhibition in autumn 2016. Senior technician and tutor Andrew Baldwin began making etchings in the mid 1980s. Fascinated by the process he worked extensively within the medium but over time he found the process was having a detrimental effect on his health - a common problem for printmakers using traditional, toxic etching materials. Keen to find a solution, he began to explore alternative, less harmful materials and eventually this paid off as he produced his own non-toxic etching ground, BIG (Baldwin’s Ink Ground). “Not to be confused with its more commonly understood cousin of industrial printing, fine art printmaking is steeped in tradition, and therein lies the problem,” explained Andrew. “Safer alternatives over the years have lost out to tradition, due to several important factors, including the quality of the et...

Latest news from the Introbiz business network team -  New Sponsors Announced! We are delighted to welcome our brand new sponsors of the Introbiz Expo - Sinclair Mercedes, Cardiff Airport, Uprise Print, Konica Minolta and Madame Wax! Wales Biggest Networking Breakfast at the Introbiz Expo: Opening bright and early at 7am, this is the best way to kick start the Expo as it’s a chance to network with the keynote speakers, sponsors and exhibitors before the Expo is officially opened. Tickets cost just £15.00! Book here now. Breakfast is provided by Spiros Caterers so you can enjoy a delicious breakfast with tea and coffee. Last year, we had a great turnout! We welcome over 350 guests for breakfast and we’re hoping to attract even more this time around! We are delighted to announce that Enterprise Car Club are sponsoring the networking breakfast and global top entreprenur Sharon Lechter is opening the expo. Introbiz Expo Magazine LAST CHANCE TO BOOK YOUR ADVERT FOR THE INTROBIZ EX...

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 ------------------------------------------ A word about our billing! The dream of every performer starting out in show business is to see their name up in lights. The reality is, apart from the West End, not many theatres use this expensive method of advertising today. Having your name in red neon outside a theatre meant that no one (apart from a disgruntled electrician) could interfere with it, unlike posters which can be defaced - and also cause rifts between performers. Older readers will remember Jimmy Jewell and Hylda “She Knows You Know” Baker who starred in 45 episodes of the TV sitcom “Nearest and Dearest”. Despite the fact they loathed each other, their series was very successful and a stage version was produced in Blackpool, where one morning, Jimmy Jewell arrived at the theatre to find Hylda up a...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in West Wales) from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star - Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir have a busy schedule between now and Christmas. One of their feature events will be at Llansteffan Memorial Hall on Saturday, October 29 (7pm). It is a concert in aid of the charity Lao Kids. The community of Llansteffan work hard to support the charity, which works to bring help to Laos, one of the poorest countries in the world. Lao-Kids has worked with a number of orphanage schools in the Luang Prabang Province of Laos to improve the health and education of children. Côr Meibion Llanelli secretary Fred Elias said: “It is a worthy charity which doesn’t always get the publicity it deserves. “As a choir, we like to do our bit to support charities at home and abroad, so we are delighted to be able to support the Llansteffan community in their fund-raising efforts.” The concert is being billed as Côr Meibion Llanelli and Frie...

Works to upgrade the Trebeddrod Reservoir in Furnace, Llanelli, and create a concrete spillway at Furnace Pond are almost complete. The major flood defence scheme has been carried out by the council and was required under the Reservoirs Act 2010. It includes a new, larger capacity spillway and river training works to control the top water in the reservoir during extreme weather conditions and to ensure it continues to operate safely during the most severe storms reducing the flood risk to the village of Furnace. The pond had to be closed for more than a year whilst the works were carried out due to the scale of the project. It was re-opened to the public at the start of the summer, although works were still ongoing. The scheme is now almost complete, with a new footbridge being installed within the next two weeks. The council’s grounds maintenance team will then be able to access the site to tidy up the whole area. This will include grass cutting and strimming, weed spraying and litt...

The first of two special support workers starts work this week as part of a major ground-breaking project aimed at ending abuse against older people. Based in Aberystwyth Law School’s Centre for the Study of Ageing, Abuse and Neglect, , the Dewis Choice project hopes to uncover the often hidden problem of domestic violence against the over 60s. It will also focus on finding solutions, including the promotion of restorative practice which fosters reconciliation between the victim and the abuser. Latest figures suggest more than 39,000 people over 60 suffer domestic abuse in Wales but such cases often go unreported, according to Sarah Wydall who’s one of three Joint Principal Investigators on the Dewis Choice project. “We know that we have an increasingly ageing population but the truth is that older people aren’t newsworthy and don’t get as much attention as the younger generation. They are often invisible to society and as a result, they don’t always get the support they need,” said ...

People who need support to help them live independently are to benefit from a change in the way services will be provided in the county. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Supporting People programme has been reviewed and rearranged, bringing together 17 different commissioned providers – each of which specialise in their own area of support – into one locality-based service, meaning better access to services for people regardless of their needs or location. From October 1, more people are able to access support, and because of more effective commissioning with locality-based arrangements, the costs of running the service will reduce. The Supporting People programme commissions support for anyone who has issues that affect their ability to live independently or keep a roof over their head, and which they are unable to overcome without support. The support programme put in place aims to empower and enable them to develop skills and confidence to live independently and maximise their pot...

More World War One remains have been identified at Pembrey Country Park. Volunteers, working alongside Dyfed Archaeological Trust and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, came across structures relating to the manufacture of powerful propellant, Cordite, used in the First World War whilst carrying out research and survey work. High explosives and propellants were made at the Munitions Factory which was established by Nobels Explosives Company in 1914. Its founder Alfred Nobel established the Nobel peace prize and is still awarded today. A free leaflet highlighting the fascinating history of the country park is now available at the visitor centre, along with a series of six portable exhibition pop-ups. The council’s executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “This is another exciting discovery in a long line of fascinating finds at the park. The tranquil site has not always been so peaceful and the new leaflets will help people explore the park for themselve...

Multi-millionaire wealth-coach Kevin Green is counting riches of a different kind today (Weds, October 5). He’s coping with a ‘gold rush’ of dating opportunities after his appearance on the Channel 5 show How The Other Half Lives. The show explores the lifestyles of the super rich. And the conversation between Kevin and hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford quickly turned to his ‘eligible bachelor’ status. “Things have gone totally bonkers this morning,” Green said from his family home in Burry Port, West Wales. “The email has exploded and my social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook are in overdrive with direct messages. “By 8am this morning, I’d received more than 150 offers of dates. “I don’t know when I’m going to get time to read them all as they are still coming in. “I’ve only had time to skim read a few – some are quirky, some are written in language that you know belongs to a gold-digger, some appear genuine.” Kevin’s single status was highlighted on the show after...

Additional works are being carried out at Llandeilo’s Municipal Offices to accommodate a new reception area and the library. The alterations, more complex than originally anticipated, are expected to be completed by early December. During this time the building will be closed to the public for the necessary works to take place. The library will be moving from its existing premises across the car park; a new reception area will be created and a new self-service payment kiosk will also be installed. Customers will be able to use the kiosk to pay their council tax, rent, business rates and invoices etc. It will accept payment by cash, debit / credit card and cheque. Unfortunately, there will be no public access to the building while the works are being carried out. Customers that need to make payments during this time have a number of options available to them including making payments online at ilocal.carmarthenshire.gov.wales or by phone either by using the automated 24-hour pay...

Photos from Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust Curry Night. Check out the album link below. https://goo.gl/photos/4gACYi3HmVU7T75p8

Latest special offers from the Jenkins Bakery - WEEK COMMENCING October 3, 2016 3 Medium Corned Beef Pasties, £1.75 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties, £2.10 2 Minced Beef and Onion Pies, £2.40 2 Egg Custard Tarts, £1.40 Sandwich of the Week, Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry, £2.35 Rustic Baguette of the Week, Chicken Tikka, £2.50 Filled Softie of the Week, Ham Salad, £2.35 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/