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

A man has been ordered to pay more than £500 by magistrates for a fly-tipping offence in Llandysul. Nicholas Aron Lloyd, aged 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Carmarthen Magistrates Court heard that in September last year the council’s environmental enforcement unit received a complaint that household waste had been dumped at the entrance to the Welsh Water Sewage Disposal Works in Llandysul. Officers attended the incident and found a quantity of household waste including a TV. They traced it to a nearby rented property. They contacted the landlord who explained that household waste had been left in the garden by a previous tenant. However, the landlord had contacted the tenant to remove the waste so that her deposit could be returned. The officers visited the tenant at her new address and showed her a picture of the waste. She confirmed it was her waste left in the garden of her previous prop...

Carmarthenshire Council environmental enforcement officers are investigating a serious fly-tipping incident in the Llandysul area. Numerous paint tins and a gas canister were dumped in a stream near Brwyn Duon Farm, Bancyffordd. The incident is very serious as it had the potential to cause pollution to the water in the area. Officers are appealing to the public for any information which may help them to catch those responsible. Amongst the items found at the scene was a paint tin with the name ‘Phil Evans’ on it. A white Transit type van with Phil Evans Electricians on the side was also seen near the scene of the incident. Anyone with any information on an electrician named Phil Evans, possibly from the Llandysul area, is asked to get in touch so that he can help with the investigation. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council is committed to tackling fly-tipping and is working hard to improve the quality of the environment ...

A Llandysul woman has been fined after being caught throwing a cigarette end in Carmarthen town centre. Louise Edith Davies, aged 37, of The Beeches in Llandysul, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in Merlin’s Walk in Carmarthen town centre when they saw a woman throw a cigarette end onto the pavement. The officers approached the woman and explained what they had seen and that it was an offence to throw litter. She was issued with a with a fixed penalty notice of £75, however she failed to pay it and as a result was prosecuted through the magistrates court. Due to her limited means, Davies was fined £80 by magistrates and ordered to pay £50 towards prosecution costs. The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others that those caught brea...

The new 'Why I Love Organic' campaign (see earlier posts) will feature a number of Welsh firms. One of them will be the Nant Gwyn Faen Organic Farm, specialists in local and organic food in Llandysul. Nant Gwyn Faen, certified by the Soil Association, is run in accordance with organic standards. A spokesman said :"We keep poultry and pigs. Welsh black cattle, and sheep graze our pastures during the summer. As well as running our bed and breakfast, an organic farm shop, and making bespoke furniture, we also grow our own vegetables. "Our farm is located centrally between Carmarthen, Aberystwyth and Cardigan and provides an ideal base from which to explore the local area. Close to Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn, Aberaeron, Lampeter and the beautiful Cardigan Bay Coast famous for dolphins, seals, puffins and spectacular scenery. Its cliff top walks and coastal paths provide excellent walking holidays. Sea kayak or canoe in the rivers, fish the Teifi River or go sea fish...

The Pwerdy Powerhouse Community and Arts Centre in Pontweli is now fully operational and available for courses, workshops, room hire. The Centre has a fully equipped computer suite which offers facilities for eight thin client computers and an Apple iMac as well as space to accommodate a further eight personal laptop users. The Centre is WiFi throughout and has a computer available for hot-desking should anyone wish to surf the internet and does not have access to a computer. There are currently art classes, yoga classes, drumming classes, singing classes and computer classes being held at the centre. The committee of the Powerhouse secured funding in 2007 after years of hard work to refurbish the building. The Powerhouse aims to be a community hub for agencies to meet clients within the Teifi valley. Consultation has proved that the closure of the local Job Centre and various other agencies in nearby towns has resulted in a lack of meeting places within the rural area. Moreover, meeti...

A Llandysul man has been prosecuted for failing to fill in the appropriate documentation for the waste he was carrying. William Edward John Williams, aged 46, of Penfoel, Rhydlewis, Llandysul, pleaded guilty by post to an offence under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Williams was stopped by police and council environmental enforcement officers in Cefneithin Road in Gorslas in June this year as part of a joint operation targeting scrap metal dealers in Carmarthenshire. Williams was driving a 4x4 and was towing a trailer carrying a large amount of scrap metal. When asked if he was a licensed waste carrier, he said that he was but he did not have his licence with him. Subsequent inquiries revealed that Williams was registered with the Environment Agency as having a waste carriers licence, however, Williams admitted to officers that he did not have the req...

Outdoor activities in Carmarthenshire have been given a big boost thanks to a major tourism grant. Llandysul Paddlers have been awarded £11,563 from Carmarthenshire County Council’s Community Sustainable Tourism grant. The money was used for additional equipment which has enabled them to increase their programme of activities. Community Regeneration Manager John Wilson said “This is a good example of how we can utilise our current grant resources by investment into Community Regeneration type projects that provide a great service to meet the needs of the county whilst as an organisation we strive towards achieving a fully sustainable future.” The Paddlers now offer kayaking, open canoeing, paddle surfing, white water rafting, rock climbing, abseiling, gorge walking, mountain biking and coasteering. The grant allowed them to buy additional equipment which included new wet suits, 12 mountain bikes, all the safety equipment needed and racking for storage and transportation. Marketing and ...

Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion councils have teamed up for a ‘Food for Thought’ event in the Teifi Valley. It is being held at the Pwerdy Powerhouse, Community and Arts Centre, Pontweli, on Tuesday, October 19, from 11am to 2pm. Officers will be on hand to give residents information on food recycling collections in their area as well as give advice on how they can reduce their food waste. Local chef Hazel Thomas will also be giving cooking demonstrations with recipes for using up leftovers. Figures show that in the UK we throw away 8.3 million tonnes of food and drink every year. Not only is it harmful to the environment but it is means we are wasting a total of £12 billion on food and drink every year – that’s £480 per household per year or £50 a month. Council waste minimisation/recycling officer Karen McNeil said: “It is important we reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill - even if householders do not have that much food waste - as it generates methane, a powerful greenho...

Members of Llandysul Angling Association staged their annual club competition at the spectacular Talyllyn lake in the Snowdonia National Park. A club spokesman said: “The competition is normally held on Llysyfran Reservoir in Pembrokeshire, so Talyllyn offered a fresh challenge. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and it really tested the skills of the fishermen. The whole experience was exceptional, from the hearty welcome at the Ty’n y Cornel Hotel to the wonderful breakfast and being prepared for fishing by the very cooperative staff.” More fishing pictures from Ty'n y Cornel - http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/robertapvincent/Tynycornel02#