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

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...

Sarah Wydall from the Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University is one of three female scholars to receive one of the first Audrey Jones Memorial Awards for Feminist Scholarship. The new annual research awards are presented in memory of a Welsh woman who campaigned for women’s rights across the world. Sarah Wydall, who works at the University’s Centre for the Study of Ageing, Abuse and Neglect, was presented with the award for her work on ‘Choice’, a Big Lottery project focusing on justice and elder abuse. The three and a half-year long project which runs until 2018 is working in partnership with national charities such as Age Cymru, Hafan Cymru and Welsh Women’s Aid. The Audrey Jones Memorial Awards for Feminist Scholarship were presented by Welsh Government Finance Minister Jane Hutt at the annual Wales Assembly of Women conference held at Cardiff University. On being presented with the award Sarah said: “I am delighted to have been awarded this Memorial Prize. ...

Finance and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt has visited Carmarthenshire to celebrate the success of the Bwcabus rural transport scheme. The pilot project, run in partnership by Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion county councils, is a demand-responsive public transport system providing rural communities with access to employment, training, health and other essential services. Bwcabus was established six years ago as a pilot scheme, with the aim of providing an effective solution for public transport in rural parts of Wales. The pilot was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Welsh Government, worth a total investment of £2.7m, and having achieved its aims, the Minister was invited to celebrate its success. Finance Minister said: “Vital EU funds for Wales have helped us to make transformative public transport investments, making it easier for people to commute to access work and training opportunities. “I am delighted that the innovative Bwcabus scheme has had a...

Finance Minister Jane Hutt has visited Carmarthenshire to meet construction apprentices who have benefitted from Welsh Government and local authority investment. She was joined by council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge and Chief Executive Mark James for the visit to Y Ffwrnes – a £14.6million theatre and arts development currently under construction as part of a major regeneration scheme in Llanelli. During the visit, the Minister had the chance to meet male and female apprentices who have progressed through a range of schemes created by Constructing Carmarthenshire Together – a partnership of Carmarthenshire County Council, Coleg Sir Gar and Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd. The local authority has facilitated a £160million construction investment since 2007, under which the partnership has developed a number of projects tailored to develop opportunities for people regardless of their ability or background. They range from community taster sessions to advanced degree-le...