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

Funding of almost half a million pounds has been secured for road safety projects in Llanelli and the Amman / Gwendraeth area. The council has received a total of £445,500 from the Welsh Government’s Road Safety Capital Grant which supports road casualty reduction schemes across Wales. It includes £225,000 for a route treatment scheme in Llanelli on the B4297 between the Halfway lights and Talyclun in Llangennech and a grant of £220,500 for a similar scheme on the B4297 between Tycroes and Gorslas. Both schemes will provide reduced speed limits, enhanced warning signs, driver feedback signs, traffic calming, traffic islands, junction visibility improvements, improved crossing points and upgraded red light cameras. Head of Highways and Transport Steve Pilliner said: “I am delighted that the council has secured this funding so that both these schemes can be carried out this financial year. “These schemes will significantly improve safety for both road users and pedestrians along these ...

There’s fun for all the family this Saturday when all roads lead to Parc Yr Aman for the sixth annual Cwmamman Carnival. A traditional carnival parade and Mardi Gras style procession will kick-start the festivities at midday, bringing everyone in to the park where there will be fun and games galore in the main arena, including the presentation of the carnival King and Queen and parade prizes, live music from brass and samba bands and local acts, circus performances, and sporting skills. There'll also be a children's funfair and bouncy castles, as well as food and drinks stalls. The event has been organised by the Cwmamman Fayre Committee, Cwmamman Community Council and Carmarthenshire County Council, and is expected to attract hundreds of families from the Amman Valley and beyond. Jo Stephens of Cwmamman Fayre Committee said: “Quite a few people, including myself, were disappointed at the prospect of not having a carnival this year so a new committee was formed at short notic...

For more than 100 years one family has been selling cockles and laverbread to people in the Amman Valley. Liz Williams of Gower Coast Seafoods can be found at Ammanford Outdoor Market every Friday - as she has done for around 20 years and her husband's family before her. The business was started by Liz's mother-in-law Miriam Williams from Penclawdd who started selling cockles, with her mother, in Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, in 1912 when she was just eight-years-old. "She used to get there by train," said Liz. "Her uncles went to live in Pantyffynnon because they had work in the coal mines, and that is why she ended up going there to sell." As Miriam got older she sold further afield - to Brynamman, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and even as far as Trap - travelling by bus. "Miriam would get on the bus with her baskets of cockles and bags of shell cockles. She would ask the conductor to stop the bus at certain places and he would then place a basket of cockles and a ...

An Amman Valley woman has been ordered to pay more than £600 by magistrates after rubbish was found dumped on the picturesque Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Pamela Ann Jones, aged 52, of Cowell Road in Garnant, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court. The court heard that Jones had paid two unknown males to clear waste from her brother’s property, which was then found dumped on the Black Mountain. She was interviewed by council environmental enforcement officers and conceded that she did not carry out any checks on the two unknown males to establish if they were licensed waste carriers, as required by law. Jones was fined £100 by magistrates and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We all have a responsibility to make sure that waste from our homes is disposed...

An Amman Valley woman has been fined £75 for dropping a cigarette end. Council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the Heol Gelynen area of Upper Brynamman at the time of the offence. She told the officers that she knew it was wrong to drop litter . She was issued with a fixed penalty notice. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said the council had a zero tolerance approach to littering. In particular, smoking-related litter can be found on around 80% of Carmarthenshire streets. Cllr Jones said: “Cigarette ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed by normal cleaning methods. “Hopefully this latest fine will help to raise awareness of the problem and deter people from dropping this type of litter.” Enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county.

An Amman Valley woman has been fined £220 for dropping a cigarette end on the ground at Llanelli bus station. Helen Rebecca Stephens, aged 21, of Cwmamman Road, Garnant, failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and was convicted in absence to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. She was also ordered to pay £225.11 prosecution costs and a £22 victim surcharge. The court heard that on April 25 earlier this year council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol at Llanelli bus station when saw a woman who was sitting on a bench drop her cigarette end on to the ground. The officers waited five minutes but no attempt was made to pick it up. She was issued with a fixed penalty notice but failed to pay it, despite a reminder letter being sent. Discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire and are found on around 80 per cent of county streets.

An Amman Valley woman has been fined £200 by magistrates after she was caught dropping a cigarette end on the ground. Michaela Jackson Griffiths, aged 39, of Heol Felen, Garnant, was also ordered to pay £200 prosecution costs and a £25 victim surcharge. Griffiths failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court and the offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 was proved in her absence. The court heard that on March 5 earlier this year she was caught by council environmental enforcement officers dropping a cigarette end in Lloyd Street, Ammanford. Griffiths was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 for the litter offence but she failed to pay it. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We are determined to clean up the county and will take action against anyone who is caught dropping any type of litter. “Cigarette ends in particular are a nuisance as not only do they look terrible but they are difficult and ...

Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) is hosting the second Sgwrs Iach – Let’s Talk Health for Amman Gwendraeth at Aelwyd yr Urdd, Brynamman on Tuesday 9 June. Those interested in their health service, who want to find out more about local developments and services or who want to share their views and experiences with their local NHS provider are invited to attend between 10am and 12pm. The first Sgwrs Iach – Let’s Talk Health event in Amman Gwendraeth was held in Llandybie in February with around 50 people in attendance. Hot topics raised covered waiting times; transport and parking at Glangwili; access to GPs and finances and resources, plus many more. Representatives from the Executive Board and Carmarthenshire County Management Team will be available to speak to at Aelwyd yr Urdd. Chair of Hywel Dda UHB, Bernardine Rees, said: "Our first round of Sgwrs Iach – Let’s Talk Health events proved a great start to having more meaningful engagement with the public, patients and our ...

Hywel Dda University Health Board and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board are pleased to announce a permanent General Medical Services (GMS) contract has been awarded to the Amman Tawe Partnership, securing GP services for patients formerly served by the Amman Valley Medical Practice. This will mean no change for patients or the services that they access in the areas of Garnant, Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Brynamman, Cwmlynfell and Ystralyfera, as the Amman Tawe Partnership has been the temporary contract holder for this population since July 2014 and has been providing services across both Health Board areas. Patients will be able to access their services from whichever site is most convenient. The Amman Tawe partnership will, formally from Monday 1 June, be responsible for providing general medical services to approximately 12,000 people; accountable to ABMU Health Board for approximately 8,000 Neath Port Talbot residents and to Hywel Dda UHB for approximately 4,000 Carmarthenshire...

Hywel Dda University Health Board will seek expressions of interest for the future and long-term delivery of general medical services (GP, and other primary care services such as practice nurse clinics) in the upper Amman Valley area. The University Health Board has listened very carefully to feedback from patients and patient representatives, including Hywel Dda Community Health Council and elected representatives, about the future of these services. Feedback was gathered from a number of well-attended public drop-in events held in August 2014 in Garnant, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Brynamman, as well as through surveys and traditional letters. A panel made up of representatives from the Hywel Dda University Health Board and Abertawe Bro Morganwg University Health Board, including a senior clinician, a community nurse, an independent board member; NHS Shared Services; Hywel Dda CHC; and written evidence from the Local Medical Committee; met recently to discuss options. It follows the end of ...

An Amman Valley woman has been prosecuted for failing to take down an unauthorised stable block. Linda Martin Thomas appeared before Carmarthen Magistrates where she pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The court was told that she was initially served with a Planning Contravention Notice for identified breaches of planning control by putting up a stable block on land near Penywaun, Grenig Road, Glannamman. She submitted a retrospective planning application which was subsequently refused and as a result was served with a Planning Enforcement Notice on August 31, 2012, that required her to remove the unauthorised stable block, material that formed the hard standing where it was sited, and required her to return the land to its former state. Thomas, of Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, appealed against the enforcement notice but the Welsh Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal and upheld the notice requirements. The Inspector d...

People registered at the former Amman Valley Practice are being invited to attend drop-in sessions and play a part in the consultation over the future of general medical services in the area. Hywel Dda University Health Board is holding three sessions on Thursday 21 August: 10am–12noon Community Centre, Ysgol Y Bedol 2pm–4pm Brynamman Community Hall 6pm-8pm Gwaun Cae Gurwen Community Hall The UHB hopes to gain feedback from registered patients and the general community about their health needs as part of the process to commission a permanent contract for provision in the area. Local people are also welcome to attend the sessions to learn more about the current situation. The former GP partnership dissolved earlier in the summer and it became necessary for the UHB to commission a temporary contract to protect delivery of the service. The temporary contract was awarded to a newly formed partnership of three local GPs – Dr Duncan Williams and Dr Andy Watkin, both with more than 20 years o...

A temporary contract to ensure people in the Amman Valley continue to receive general medical services has been awarded by the Hywel Dda University Health Board. The ‘like for like’ temporary service from the existing premises in Garnant, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Brynaman will ensure continuity for patients registered with the practice. Hywel Dda University Health Board awarded the temporary contract to a newly formed partnership of three local GPs – Dr Duncan Williams and Dr Andy Watkin, both with more than 20 years of service in the Amman Valley, and Dr Alan Stevenson, with similar length of service in a neighbouring practice. Their bid demonstrated that they can meet the health needs of the local community and have robust plans to develop new services in the longer term. The process was supported by the Community Health Council (CHC) and Local Medical Committee (LMC). Dr Watkin said: “We are delighted to be awarded this temporary contract and would like to thank all the patients for ...

The secret nightlife of an Amman Valley school was revealed recently as part of a conservation project. Officers from Carmarthenshire County Council’s conservation section visited Saron School which has a nature area within its grounds, and a very keen nature group. Officers set a moth trap overnight, and by the next morning 60 species of moth were identified numbering about 200 individual moths in the trap. The bright light of the moth trap bulb attracts them from the surrounding habitats. They then fall in the trap and nestle amongst egg boxes placed in there. Pupils were shown the moths, handled some, and found out more about them and why they are an important part of the natural environment. Most moth species are only active at night and come in a range of sizes, shapes and colours. Many have camouflage to help them hide from predators, others are brightly coloured like the tiger moths and hawk-moths. Biodiversity officer Isabel Macho said: “Moth numbers are falling and some moth...

Hywel Dda University Health Board is reassuring local people in the upper Amman Valley that they will continue to receive local access to GP services, despite any changes in providers. The UHB added that speculation about ‘super surgeries’ and doctor patient ratios were unhelpful as no decisions have been made and any contract would only be awarded on the basis of appropriate clinical staffing levels being demonstrated. Proposals would also need to maintain or improve on current levels of access for patients. ABMU (Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University) health board has gone through an open tender process for provision of general medical services in the Cwmlynfell and Ystralyfera area. Independently of this, HDUHB is seeking bids for temporary provision for general medical services to serve patients from Amman Valley Practice in the areas of Garnant, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Brynaman. This follows a breakdown of the partnership between GPs in that practice. Assistant Director of Primary C...

Welsh Government funding of £30,000 has been secured to look at future use of the site of a demolished Amman Valley eyesore. Carmarthenshire County Council has secured the money from the Welsh Government under its Western Valleys Regeneration Initiative to look at possible future uses for the land on Cwmamman Road, Garnant, in front of Arcade Terrace. The County Council bought the row of derelict houses in spring 2012 and immediately arranged for contractors TRJ to carry out demolition and leave a level site for sale to a developer when the property market improves. Investigations into traffic/transportation, site accessibility and an assessment of housing needs will be undertaken with designs also to be produced. It is hoped this initial study will be concluded in April 2014. The information from the investigations will be used to provide clear direction for the site’s future use. This project is being advanced as part of the council’s wider regeneration aspirations for Ammanford and ...

An Amman Valley farmer has been given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay more than £12,000 costs for neglecting her sheep and causing them suffering. Carmarthen Magistrates Court was told that a Carmarthenshire County Council animal welfare officer first visited Valerie Bowen’s property, Blaengrenig Farm in Grenig Road, Glanamman, back in November 2010. Some welfare issues were found and advice and guidance was provided. Mrs Bowen complied with the advice so the matter was dealt with in that way. During the same period in 2011, after responding to a complaint, some of the sheep were found to be infected with sheep scab. Notices under the sheep scab order were served and again the notices and advice was acted upon. Then in early 2012 further complaint were received and the conditions were found to be totally unacceptable and enforcement action was undertaken from that point after Mrs Bowen failed to act upon comprehensive advice given. Sheep carcasses were found in fields, r...

A four-mile historic themed “hunting the boar” walk, linking Ammanford and Garnant, is being launched. Cwmaman Town Council is inviting all comers to the launch and walk all or part of the trail on Friday and Saturday October 26-27. The Friday launch event consists of a walk from Ammanford to Garnant along the Riverside Walk and cycleway followed by an opening ceremony and a buffet at Ysgol y Bedol which is located at Folland Road, Garnant. For those persons not interested in the walk, it is possible to come directly to the opening ceremony at the school at 12.30pm. The event begins on Friday October 26th at Ysgol y Bedol, Folland Road Glanamman at 9.30 am with parking arranged in the Bowls Car Park situated directly opposite the school. Walkers will be transported by a bus to the start of the trail in Ammanford or for those not wishing to walk the whole path; it will be possible to be dropped off half way along the route. The route is a tarmac path for approximately four-miles and wi...

Amman’s KAOS to perform in China (From South Wales Guardian) East meets West when members of an Amman Valley youth circus group perform in front of thousands of people in China. The performance will be part of a celebration of a future twinning between Carmarthen and Xiangyang. A crew of ten people (stage crew and performers) from Organised KAOS – a social enterprise based in Gwaun Cae Gurwen – have been invited to perform in the Xiangyang Zhuge Liang Culture Tourism Festival on Wednesday, September 26.

Boss 'confident' crisis-hit centre to remain open | This is South Wales The boss of a struggling Amman Valley community centre said she is "100 per cent confident" it will stay open. The Black Mountain Centre, in Upper Brynaman, was plunged into crisis after the facility failed to secure a vital lottery grant. But Sian Tucker, who runs the centre and is now in urgent talks with Carmarthenshire Council and Welsh ministers, said there is no chance it will close.