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

The first meeting of Llanelli’s new litter taskforce has been held with the aim of working together to make the town a cleaner and safer place to live. It was organised as a joint venture between Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans and Llanelli AM Lee Waters. Held at Llanelli Town Hall, it was chaired by the council’s Director of Environment and attendees included representatives from Llanelli town and rural councils, Keep Wales Tidy, Fly-tipping Action Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police, the Pobl housing group, as well as officers from the council’s housing, cleansing, public protection and environmental enforcement sections. The main focus of the meeting was to understand why Llanelli had a disproportionate problem with litter and fly-tipping compared to the rest of the county, and what could be done to improve the situation. Issues discussed included dog-fouling, changing patterns of behaviour, community education, roadside littering...

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...

Two people have been fined £75 for dropping cigarette ends. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices to the two men in Llandovery. They were on patrol in the area ta the time of the offences. Failure to pay the fixed penalty notices 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. Smoking-related litter - predominantly made up of cigarette ends – can be found on around 80% of Carmarthenshire streets. Not only are cigarette ends difficult to clean up but they can affect the environment and wildlife by contaminating water supplies with toxic chemicals. Cllr Jones added: “Cigarette ends fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed by normal cleaning methods. “Hopefully these fines will help to raise awareness of the problem and deter people from dropping this type of litter. “Our e...

A woman has been fined £75 for throwing litter from a moving car. Council environmental enforcement officers were driving along the A485 in Carmarthen near Glangwili Hospital when they saw her throw tissue paper out of a car window. The woman was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in court where the maximum fine is £2,500. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Car litter is a major problem throughout the UK with cigarette ends, crisp packets, drinks cans and fast food littering our verges. “Anyone caught will be fined; but we need your help to keep Carmarthenshire clean by reporting anyone you see dropping litter from a vehicle. Our environmental enforcement officers can then make inquiries to identify the offender.” Note the registration number along with the car make, model and colour if possible as well as the date and time of the offence and then go to i-Local.

Six people have been fined for dropping cigarette ends in Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices for £75 for the littering offences. Failure to pay could lead to court prosecution and a maximum fine of up to £2,500. The fines were issued to a female in the Co-op car park in Cross Hands; a male in McDonald’s car park in Parc Trostre, Llanelli; two males in the service station car park in Pont Abraham; and two males in Llanybydder. The enforcement officers carry out patrols across the county seven days a week and anyone caught dropping litter can be fined. Approximately 80% of litter in Carmarthenshire is smoking-related. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire and not only do they look unpleasant but they are also very difficult and costly to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks i...

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 ...

Three people have been fined £75 for dropping cigarette ends. Council environmental enforcement officers issued the fixed penalty notices for dropping litter whilst on patrol in the Upper Brynamman and Llandeilo areas. Two women were caught by officers in the Black Mountain Centre car park in Upper Brynamman and a third woman was caught in Rhosmaen Street in Llandeilo. Failure to pay the fixed penalty notices 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. “Our enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across the county and we will not hesitate to fine anyone we see dropping litter,” he said. “Cigarette ends are one of the most common types of litter found on our streets. They are also one of the most difficult and expensive to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks in the pavement and cannot be removed by normal cleaning...

A man has been fined by the council for dropping litter after being reported by members of the public. He was seen pulling out of the Myrtle Hill junction and towards the Pensarn roundabout inn Carmarthen throwing fast food packaging out of the car window. The witnesses made a note of the car registration number and passed the information on to the environmental enforcement team. Enforcement officers were able to identify the offender and he has been issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 as a result. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a fine of up to £2,500. The council is actively encouraging residents to help catch offenders. Offences can be reported via i-Local on the council’s website, by email or by telephone. Director of Environment Christina Harrhy said: “Throwing litter from a vehicle is a criminal offence and we are urging people to report offenders so that we can take action. “It is important that residents give us as much information...

Two people have been fined for throwing litter out of their car windows in Llanelli. Council environmental enforcement officers have issued fixed penalty notices for £75 for the litter offences. The first incident happened along Corporation Avenue when a male was seen throwing a chocolate wrapper out of his car window. In the second incident, the officers saw a male throw a drinks cup out of the window in the B&Q car park in Parc Trostre. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court where the maximum fine is £2,500. The council hopes these fines will act as a warning to others that if they are caught dropping litter they too will be fined. Environmental enforcement officers regularly patrol the county. Director of Environment Christina Harrhy said: “Dropping litter is against the law, whether it is discarding rubbish from a vehicle, throwing cigarette ends or spitting out chewing gum. “If there are no bins nearby, then take your rubbish home with you to dispo...

CCTV cameras worn by council environmental enforcement officers have helped to catch a litter lout who gave them false details. Enforcement officers issued a fixed penalty notice for £75 to a man who dropped a beer can in Station Road in Llanelli. However, when they got back to the office to process the penalty notice they discovered he had given them a false name and address. Luckily, they had video footage of the culprit and through inquiries were able to find out his true identity. He will now be prosecuted in the magistrates court for two offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 – one for dropping litter and the other for providing false details to an authorised officer The maximum fine that can be imposed for littering is £2,500. Director of Environment Christina Harrhy said: “Anyone caught dropping litter will be fined; and if people think they can get away with it by providing false details, then they are wrong. We will catch up with them and we will prosecute them...

Enforcement officers in Carmarthenshire are warning smokers to stub out their cigarettes wisely in a New Year blitz on smoking litter. Local businesses are also being urged to take action to stop smoking-related litter. The Environmental Protection Act (1990) gives powers to local authorities to take action against individuals and businesses who create litter, and to get areas cleaned up. Smokers who flout the law can be issued with an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice of £75, and if they fail to pay, they face a court appearance and a fine of up to £1,000. Executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We have received a number of complaints about smoking-related litter in the town centres. “We are determined to improve the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire for both residents and visitors and if that means fining people, then so be it. “It costs tax payers £2million a year to provide the service to clean the county’s streets, which is...

A campaign has been launched to clean up some of Carmarthenshire's sticky streets and pavements. Not only is chewing gum litter an eyesore but it can stick to people’s clothes and shoes and it is difficult and costly to clean up. Carmarthenshire council, supported by Tidy Towns, is taking part in a campaign to tackle chewing gum litter and to encourage people to put their gum in the bin or get fined £75. As part of the campaign, officers have cleaned sections of problem areas in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford which will now be monitored throughout November. The areas which have been cleaned will be monitored to see if there’s any improvement. Officers will also be issuing shop keepers with gum wraps to hand out and they will also be handed to people on the streets they see chewing in an effort to encourage people to be aware not to throw their gum on the floor and to place it in the wrap until it can be placed in a bin. Executive board member for environmental and public ...

A total of 992 bags of rubbish, 15 tyres and 76 miscellaneous items such as pushchairs, carpets and scooters that have been dumped across Carmarthenshire have been removed by Tidy Towns in the past six months. Since April, Tidy Towns project worker Brian Mogford has worked with 648 volunteers, 29 community groups, 6 schools, 3 disengaged groups and 4 businesses. He has travelled a total of 3594 miles and helped to clean up 38 wards across the county. Activities carried out included river and beach clean-ups, habitat management, cycle track clean-ups, community skip days, litter-picks and overgrowth clearance projects. Executive Board Member for Cllr Councillor Colin Evans said: “It is important that people take pride in where they live and Tidy Towns helps communities to achieve this by assisting volunteers to undertake a range of environmental improvement projects. “I am amazed by the amount of work that has been carried out in just six months and would like to congratulate all thos...

With the weather warming up and Carmarthenshire’s parks and playgrounds bursting in to life, people are being urged to get rid of their rubbish safely. Carmarthenshire County Council’s grounds maintenance team is asking people to do their bit to maintain safe and attractive areas for people to enjoy by using the public litter bins or taking their rubbish home with them. There is particular concern about broken glass, which has been found littering several playing fields across the county in recent weeks. They are also asking people to be vigilant and report any littering or fly-tipping in the hope of catching the culprits, as well as maintaining safe areas to play. Assistant grounds maintenance manager Nicky French said: “Our staff carry out regular checks at all parks and playgrounds, but we do rely on people to be careful about any litter they generate – either placing it in the bins or taking it home to be disposed of or recycled. “We also appreciate it when people report dangerou...

Six people have been fined for dropping litter in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Cross Hands over the weekend. Council environmental enforcement officers were out on patrol across the county on Saturday and Sunday. A total of six fixed penalty notices for £75 were issued for dropping litter including cigarette ends and fast food packaging. However, shoppers in Carmarthen town centre have been praised for being responsible citizens and putting their rubbish in the bin. Officers spent two hours patrolling the very busy town centre on Saturday morning and no one was seen dropping litter, in fact, the streets were very clean. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “I am delighted to hear that although it was extremely busy in Carmarthen town on Saturday morning, not one person was caught dropping litter. “We don’t want to fine people, we just want clean streets. We are trying to raise awareness of the consequences of dropping litter and fining people ...

Four people have been fined for dropping litter in the Ammanford area. A man was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75 after he was seen leaving two glass bottles on the grass verge on the Riverside Walk near Tesco. A second man was caught dropping a plastic drinks bottle on a footpath at Margaret Street. Council environmental enforcement officers also fined two men for dropping crisp packets on Glanamman Road in Glanamman. The officers were on patrol in the area at the time of the offences. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500. The council has a zero tolerance towards anyone caught dropping litter. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Keeping Carmarthenshire clean is something we take very seriously and anyone caught will be fined. “Ideally, we do not want people to drop litter in the first place. It costs the council over £2 million a year to clean our streets; but if people didn’t drop the...

Another two people have been fined by Carmarthenshire council environmental enforcement officers for dropping cigarette ends. The first offence was in Carmarthen Street in Llandeilo and the second in Ammanford’s Tesco car park. Both women were issued with fixed penalty notices for £75 for dropping litter. Failure to pay could result in prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum fine of up to £2,500. The council has a zero tolerance policy on litter and figures show that around 83% of all litter found on county streets is smoking-related. Cigarette ends make an area look untidy; they are also very difficult and costly to clean up as they fall into grates and cracks in the pavement making them almost impossible to remove by normal cleaning methods. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Dropping litter is against the law. Many people do not think of cigarette ends as litter, but they are no different from throwing away any other sor...

A Swansea man has been fined by Carmarthen magistrates after he was caught dropping a cigarette end in Llanelli town centre. Andrew Pardoe, aged 38, of Heaseland Place, Swansea, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The court heard that on June 7 last year he was seen by council environmental enforcement officers dropping his cigarette on to the ground outside Crown Buildings in Town Hall Square. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for the offence, but he never paid it and has been prosecuted in court as a result. He was fined £100 by magistrates and ordered to pay £222.32 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Figures show that around 83% of all litter found on the county’s streets is smoking-related. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Dropping litter is against the law and dropping a cigarette end is no different from throwing away any other sort of litter. “...

Dropping a cigarette has cost a Llanelli man more than £300. Simon Dennis, aged 30, of Brynawelon, was convicted in absence to an offence under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by Carmarthen magistrates. The court heard that he was seen by council environmental enforcement officers dropping a cigarette onto the ground whilst walking along Church Street on June 7 last year. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75, but it was never paid. Dennis was fined £100 by magistrates and ordered to pay £222.32 prosecution costs plus a £20 victim surcharge. Executive Board Member for environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “I hope that this will act as a warning to others that anyone caught dropping litter, whether it is a cigarette end or any other type of litter, will be prosecuted. “Keeping Carmarthenshire clean and safe is a top priority for the council and we will not hesitate to take action against those who break the law in this way.” Enforcement...

A Carmarthen man has been fined £100 by magistrates after dropping a cigarette end outside the Red Cross shop in Lammas Street. Richard Jones, aged 31, of Parc Y Ffordd in Johnstown, was also ordered to pay £116.80 prosecution costs plus a £20 victim surcharge. He was convicted in absence to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Carmarthen Magistrates Court. The court heard that council environmental enforcement officers were on routine patrol in Carmarthen town centre on August 3 this year when they saw the defendant smoking a cigarette outside the Red Cross shop in Lammas Street. He finished the cigarette and then dropped the butt onto the ground. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice by the officers; however he failed to pay it, despite a reminder letter being sent. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Dropping litter is against the law and dropping a cigarette end is no different from throwi...