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

Random photos of a Llanelli stroll February 15 and 16 . . .

Wednesday walk, taking in Llanelli Beach and North Dock and the cycle path running to Furnace, Llanelli. Llanelli Beach Llanelli Beach Llanelli Beach North Dock Railway lines on the cycle path Railway lines on the cycle path North Dock North Dock

More than 16 million viewers * tuned in to see ITV’s hit series Saturday Night Takeaway’s sofa challenge at Llanelli Beach. The Discovery Centre was one of four locations featured on the popular Ant and Dec show where viewers had to guess the area, get to the destination with a suitcase and passport, and register for a seat on the cream sofa to be in with a chance of winning a holiday. Stormy weather conditions helped the show’s producers and Millennium Coastal Park staff to keep things under wraps until the show was aired at 6pm. Minutes after Llanelli Beach was flashed on the TV screen hundreds of onlookers and people with suitcases and passports flooded North Dock. Cars came to a standstill as contestants battled their way through the crowds. The council’s coast and parks manager, Rory Dickinson said: “What a platform this was for the Llanelli Beach and the Millennium Coastal Park. To be recognised on a popular primetime television show that attracts over 16 million viewers is pri...

A Carmarthenshire photographer affected by a stroke is urging people to put their best foot forward for a charity walk at Llanelli Beach. Stroke victim Andrew Davies hopes as many people as possible sign up to Step Out For Stroke 2016 which takes place on Sunday, June 26 at North Dock’s Millennium Coastal Park. The 47-year-old, was struck down by the third biggest killer out of the blue in 2013. Two years on the dad of one who still uses walking sticks to get about said: “It’s had a devastating effect on me and my family as I was the breadwinner and could no longer do the job I loved. I also loved to take part in running marathons and would regularly train on the coastal path but I can no longer do this either. Believe me, this disease can strike anyone at anytime and I urge as many people as possible to sign up and raise as much money as possible for The Stroke Association who are supporting me through my recovery journey.” The aim of the one mile walking event is to raise funds an...

Coastal erosion defence works totalling £250,000 have been carried out at Llanelli beach. The works have re-established approximately 240-metres of the coastal defences along the southern most section of the shoreline between the large south breakwater and the smaller south bastion structure that forms one side of the entrance to the Lliedi River at Llanelli. The aim of the scheme is to prevent further erosion and significant change to this sensitive piece of land which gives protection to the Llanelli coastline beyond. The works are necessary to prevent the loss of the hinterland and the salt marsh in the short to medium term. In the long term however, protecting this section plays a significant role in the protection and prevention of erosion of the entire coastline including the B4304 south Llanelli distributor road and the Seaside area of the town’s coastline. Director of Environment Ruth Mullen said: “The works have been undertaken as a part of the council’s annual coastal erosi...

'Llanelli-on-sea' looking good in the sunshine today. Panorama of the beach at Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park. Mr Swan at Sandy Water Park.

Llanelli Beach and the Millennium Coastal Park was showcased across Wales as it hit primetime television. ITV Wales featured the beauty spot on the 6pm news after doggy dessert went on sale at Llanelli’s North Dock ice cream kiosk. Dogs went crazy for it and the kiosk sold out within six hours of opening after it went viral on social media site Facebook. Rich in essential vitamins and lickable straight from the tub, Frozzys is the perfect treat for your furry pooch. Ice cream kiosk owner, Mark Edwards: “Dogs couldn’t get enough of it and the pots were gone in no time. We sold all our stock after just six hours and had to get one of the sales drivers to drive to Cardiff to get extra supplies ready for the weekend.” The frozen, low calorie and lactose free yoghurt is available in four different flavours and is a healthy and refreshing treat after walks or training. It’s kind on the digestive system, is a great tasting teething aid and suitable for all dogs and puppies. The council’s ex...

A rusting pontoon weighing several tonnes has washed up on Llanelli beach. It broke free from heavy retaining anchor chains just 100 yards offshore in February. The pontoon was made by Spencer Davies Engineering and owned and installed by the former Llanelli Harbour Trust which ceased to exist when the Trusts lands were sold to the former Llanelli Borough Council in the early 1990s. The pontoon has been removed from the eastern end of Llanelli beach because of the danger of it being taken out to sea on imminent high tides where it could become a danger to boating in the estuary or shipping in the Atlantic. The metal pontoon was installed by the Trust 40 years ago and replaced others that had been constructed in wood when the Harbour Trust was formed circa 1890 and Llanelli harbour was handling up to 2,000 vast tonnage ships annually. Its purpose was to offer refuge to people stranded on high the sandbanks opposite Llanelli beach cut off from the land by the channel caused by the M...

Cracking day down at Llanelli beach today. The entertainment? A Hercules transporter plane testing short take offs and short landings at Cefn Sidan beach!

Down Llanelli beach yesterday - Member of Llanelli's 'travelling community': "Oi, mate, you see a white horse anywhere?" Me (a lover of horses, but not the roaming variety): "Er, yes, just seen one near Sandy Bridge." Didn't hang around to see if Mr Traveller got the joke when he reached the White Horse Inn!

A total of 28 bags of litter were filled during a clean-up of Llanelli beach as part of the Tidy Towns project. Volunteers from Llanelli-based Celebration for the Nations took part in the clean-up which also included the removal of tyres, scrap metal and plastic barrels from the coastline. Celebration for the Nations is an international festival of worship co-ordinated by Llanelli-based charities, World Horizons and Nations, alongside Korean movements, Revival Korea and Wild Step. Tidy Towns project officer Kelly Shefford said: “Volunteers filled a total of 28 bags during the beach clean up, some of the rubbish was washed up but there was also a lot of litter that had been dropped by visitors. “I would like to thank the volunteers for all their hard work and hopefully people will think twice before dropping litter in the future.” Tidy Towns is a Welsh Assembly Government Funded initiative, delivered in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy, which aims to imp...

Dennis, the donkey with a Gavin Henson gelled mane, is bidding to become the first donkey to win the Britain’s Best Beach Donkey competition twice. Not only is Dennis a huge hit and favourite with children on Llanelli beach within Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, but he travels the country given rides to children in deprived areas and guests at posh peoples’ parties. He was recently booked to give rides at Top Gear, Richard Hammond’s son’s private party. Executive board member of Carmarthenshire County Council who manage the park is Cllr Clive Scourfield, who said: “Dennis is a huge hit on Llanelli beach and has become quite a celebrity nationwide. He is becoming quite an embassadonkey for the county.” The Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary holds its Britain’s Best Beach Donkey competition every year to recognise and reward high standards of donkey care and welfare. The society introduced the competition in 2004 to highlight the use of beach donkeys and remind coast visitors of the age-old ple...