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

Llandeilo streets will achieve a chocolate box cover serenity when its new bypass is built. That’s the view of Leader of Carmarthenshire Council Cllr Kevin Madge who said the bypass the authority continued to press for would remove the heavyweight of traffic choking the town and its pollution trail. He said: “The bypass will open up great new potential for the much loved town of Llandeilo. The County Council continues to engage in talks with the Minister to secure early delivery of important highways infrastructure across the County. “I have had regular meetings with Ministers. The authority’s officers in recent discussions have been reassured that the Welsh Government recognises the case for both the Llandeilo bypass and for improvements around Ammanford.” County executive board member for engineering and transport services Cllr Colin Evans said: “Discussions continue with the Welsh European Funding Office and the Trunk Road Agency to secure delivery of the road improvements. “...

Steps are being taken to speed up the delivery of the Llandeilo by-pass. Carmarthenshire Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said he had called a meeting with the Welsh Government to focus on delivering an early solution to the traffic and air-quality issues currently being experienced in Llandeilo. Welsh Government representatives had agreed - once their contractor was engaged - that the process would involve early review of design work to mitigate air pollution. It was thought this could be achieved by introducing new parking provision, better enforcement of current parking restrictions and management methods for traffic using the A483. Cllr Madge said: “The by-pass and associated problems have been a concern in the community. “We will set up and chair a group of local interested parties to help focus energies on delivering the scheme.” Cllr Madge said – along with Executive Board Member for transport Cllr Colin Evans, and local member Cllr Edward Thomas - that he welcomed the positive ...

A start could soon be made on four major transport projects in Carmarthenshire. The Welsh Government has published its revised National Transport Plan which could allow a start to be made on the schemes. The Llandeilo By-Pass is referred to under a 2011-12 heading as a scheme to begin early contractor engagement with construction possibly beginning after 2014. County Executive board member for transport service Cllr Phillip Hughes said : “This is really welcome news. Director of Technical Services Richard Workmen and I have recently met with Assembly officials and provided them with updated information on education and other developments in the locality that would benefit from the proposals. “It is important the community in and around Llandeilo supports the initiative because there are other contenders vying for the available cash. It would be a tragedy if it was lost because of procrastination.” A477 St Clears to Red Roses This is listed as a scheme to start in 2012-13. Councillor...

Carmarthenshire councillors will again write to Transport Minister Carl Sargeant asking that he meets with them over the need for a bypass for Llandeilo. A report on the increasing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Llandeilo town went before the Environment Scrutiny Committee. Following a detailed assessment carried out by the council at the beginning of 2010, it has now been necessary to designate an Air Quality Management Area within the town. The committee was told that the next step was to set up a Steering Group of all relevant stakeholders and develop an Action Plan with the aim of reducing nitrogen dioxide levels within the Air Quality Management Area and improving air quality in Llandeilo. However, councillors agreed that a bypass for the town was now a matter of urgency as it is the only possible solution to the problem. They will now write to the Transport Minister Carl Sargeant again asking that he meets with the council to discuss when Llandeilo will get its long-awaited ...

Carmarthenshire's Executive Board is writing to Llandeilo Town Council asking for members to agree a preferred route for a proposed bypass which could help reduce air pollution in the area. The Local Authority is currently undertaking a detailed assessment of air quality in Llandeilo as well as a major public consultation with the aim of assessing and managing air quality in the area. Recent exercises have revealed increasing levels of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Llandeilo, to the extent where the Air Quality Objective set by the Westminster and European governments has been breached. As part of the assessment and consultation, the proposal for a bypass has been raised as a possible solution. Now, the county council has asked members of the town council to discuss their preferred location for a proposed bypass at their next meeting, which will allow them to lobby the Welsh Government on the matter. Leader, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “We have written to Llandeilo Town Cou...

Councillors concerned about the air quality in Llandeilo have agreed to write to the Welsh Assembly Government expressing their concern over the delay in building a bypass for the town. The council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee received a report on the increasing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Llandeilo town over the last few years, to the extent that the air quality objective for NO2 has been breached. Head of public protection Philip Davies told members that as a result of this a detailed assessment had been carried out. It showed that seven locations along Rhosmaen Street were likely to exceed the annual mean objective level of 40μg/m3. He said it would now be necessary to designate an Air Quality Management Area, (AQMA) within the town and this would include a full public consultation, followed by more detailed work and an action plan. He said: “The high levels of NO2 in Llandeilo is caused by large traffic flows combined with low speed of traffic. It is also a narrow stre...