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

A Llangennech man has been prosecuted for arranging the removal of household waste that was then fly tipped. Ethan George pleaded guilty last Friday at Llanelli Magistrates Court an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 - transferring controlled waste to a person without carrying out relevant checks. The court heard that on Wednesday March 9 last year, as a result of information received Carmarthenshire County Council environmental enforcement officers visited Llethri Road and Trosserch Woods in Llanelli where they saw a pile of black and blue refuse bags. At Llethri Road they saw nine blue and black bags and a kitchen chair. A search through the bags revealed evidence relating to a woman living in Llangennech. On arriving at Trosserch Woods they had to walk about 25-30m into the woods where they saw nine blue and black bags. A search through the bags revealed further correspondence relating to the same person. The following day the officers asked the woman how her was...

Work has started on the second phase of a walking and cycling route which will improve links between communities and to key leisure and employment sites in Llanelli. Phase one of the scheme – which saw a shared use path created along the A4138 between Dafen and Llangennech – has already been completed. Now work is underway on the second phase along the B4303 Llethri Road. The scheme will encourage sustainable travel and improve road safety in the area, linking communities for easy access to schools and shops, and employment sites including those at Llanelli Gate Business Park and the Dafen Industrial Estate, as well as Gestamp and Calsonic Kansei, who are large employers in the town. It also forms part of the longer term plan to create a wider walking and cycling network in and around Llanelli, achieving the council’s requirements under the Active Travel Act and supporting Carmarthenshire’s aspiration to become a premier walking and cycling destination in Wales. Construction work sta...

Four Lift Programme clients were recently given the exciting opportunity to work on a forestry project in Troserch Woods in Llangennech. As part of a two week pilot project, organised in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, the Lift Programme and Tidy Towns, the group was given various woodland conservation task to complete which would enhance and preserve the forest for local community members to enjoy. This included clearing a Christmas tree plantation of weeds, rebuilding part of a riverside path, adding drainage sumps and constructing wooden benches. Clients were supervised by project officers from Keep Wales Tidy and Tidy Towns and were provided with transport and protective equipment by the Lift Programme. Alan, one of the volunteers, said: “I’ve really enjoyed my placement and have learnt a lot of new skills. It has boosted my confidence and given me something constructive to do with my time.” Daniel Snaith, Project Officer for Keep Wales Tidy, said: “It has been a pleasure worki...

A Llanelli man has been ordered to pay over £350 after pleading guilty to throwing asbestos sheets into a river. Witnesses reported seeing the passenger of a 4x4 throwing asbestos sheets into the River Morlais from a lay-by alongside the stone bridge near Blaenhiraeth Farm in Llangennech on November 7, 2013. A note was taken of the registration number and enquiries revealed that Matthew Davies who lives at a property at Dwyfor, Llanelli, was the passenger of the vehicle. Davies, aged 26, entered a guilty plea to an offence contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 – depositing asbestos into the River Morlais. He was fined £250 and ordered to pay contribution towards prosecution costs of £100 and £20 victim surcharge at Carmarthen Magistrates Court. Residents are being reminded that asbestos from their property can be taken to recycling centres in the county. Executive board member for Environmental and Public Protection, Cllr Jim Jones added: “There is no excuse...

One of the Age Cymru Sir Gar befriending links groups is in the running for an 'Epic Award' (Voluntary Arts Wales). The public can help the Llanelli group win the award by voting for them online. The group shortlisted for the award is the popular Llangennech Knit, Craft and Chat Group craft group which offers isolated over-50s friendship and a chance to develop skills. To vote for thegroup, click on this link, http://blog.epicawards.co.uk/category/epic-awards-2014/shortlisted-2014/ You may need to register (if you haven’t already) and scroll down to look for the Llangennech group then click on the little green icon to vote. Help this wonderful group of over 50s win this award. The nomination on the Epic Awards website reads - Popular craft group which offers isolated over-50s friendship and a chance to develop skills. Established in 2012, Llangennech Knit, Craft and Chat Group was set up as part of a taster week in which basic knitting and card making skills were demonstrate...

Former miner and history teacher Rhys Lewis, who died at the age of 108 in July 2012, has bequeathed £10,000 to the library of his former university. Mr Lewis graduated from Aberystwyth University in 1931 having studied History and Economic History, and gained his teacher’s certificate, also at Aberystwyth, the following year. The bequest will be used to add to the already extensive collection of books in the University’s history section, and will be acknowledged by a bookplate in each acquired volume. It is a gesture that will benefit students in as direct a fashion as academics thanks to a pioneering initiative to allow students to order books relevant to their courses, bolstering and complementing the purchases made by tutors. Mr Lewis’ bequest was presented to the University by his son, John, who is also an Aberystwyth graduate (BA Economics and Geography 1963), and his partner Ms Brenda Dobney. Speaking at a reception in the University’s Hugh Owen Library, John Lewis said; “Aber...

Around 100 jobs are set to be created over the next three years near Llanelli after a deal announced this morning. Hydro Industries, which specialises in the design, manufacture and operation of electro-based water treatment products, has formed a joint venture with TandT, one of the worlds' largest and most successful salvage companies.

Carmarthenshire dad's death shocks village | This is South Wales Tributes have been paid to a popular Llangennech pub landlord who died suddenly. The village has been left shocked and in mourning for Mathew Lewis, of The Old Bridge Inn, who is believed to have suffered a blocked artery while out cycling, on Sunday.

Members of Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board have visited two hi-tech businesses in the Llanelli area to learn more about their work. The councillors were shown some of the processes used by Hydro Industries, at the Stradey Park Business Centre in Llangennech. Managing director Phil Morgan said: “We outlined the work we do in terms of the environment and waste water treatment processes. “We moved to Llangennech last June from Swansea Enterprise Park which has allowed us to increase in size.”  The executive board members also visited Chromogenex in Dafen, which is at the forefront of laser and light technology for aesthetic applications such as hair removal, skin rejuvenation, acne and vascular lesions. Council leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “It was a very exciting day. We were very impressed with the innovative work that Hydro Industries is doing and saw how electrolysis can be used to clean water. The company has been involved with Tata Steel, Gatwick Air...

A prestigious international company has selected Llangennech as its business logistics hub bringing new employment to the area. Cassidian, a division of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) will be using the R & A Properties business park as its new UK storage, logistics and marshalling hub. R & A Properties took over the former MoD depot last year, following a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council to buy the 37-acre site with the intention of selling it to them, and they plan to invest £1.5million developing it into a business centre. Nigel Lovering, R&A Properties Partner, said: "We at R&A are delighted to be working with Cassidian to support their UK wide secure storage and warehouse operational needs. They are a very important anchor company in Wales and the fact that they have selected our site at Carmarthen speaks volumes for our world class operation in Llangennech. “The support of Carmarthenshire County Council and Welsh Government ...

One of the largest roof-mounted solar power schemes in the UK has been installed at a Llanelli business park. A total of 1,648 solar modules atop the former MoD (Ministry of Defence) storage depot in Llangennech are generating enough energy to supply 200 homes, whilst displacing around 200 tonne of CO2 emissions. The building is owned by R&A Properties, a logistics and technology company specialising in secure business storage, which took the site over from Carmarthenshire County Council in 2009. The firm partnered with Scottish and Southern Energy Solutions (SSE), owners of SWALEC, to deliver the 387kWp system. Fitted within three weeks of its commission, it is the latest in a range of significant investments that R&A Properties has made at the site to attract both Blue Chip and SME clients. The development has drawn the attention of many – including World Cup-winning New Zealand rugby Coach Graham Henry who is visiting Wales in advance of the Barbarians game next week. He was...

Volunteers have helped to create a new footpath in woods near Llangennech. The project at Troserch Community Woodland was a partnership between Tidy Towns, the Prince’s Trust Cymru, Troserch Woods Society and Keep Wales Tidy and the aim was to improve access and to help develop the circular walk that runs around the woods. Previously walkers had to get up a steep bank which, in wet weather, became slippery, resulting in a number of trails being created, and leading to erosion and the trampling of vegetation and bugs. But thanks to the hard work of volunteers, a new footpath has been constructed which means walkers can descend or ascend the bank safely and without being a threat to the natural environment. Keep Wales Tidy’s Carmarthenshire Officer Dan Snaith said, “Once again, the Prince’s Trust volunteers have demonstrated a great commitment to their course by contributing to a community project for the benefit of others. “The project was completed in the allocated time, and the finish...

A Llanelli man has been fined after his waste was found fly-tipped. Hilton Joe Morgan, aged 47, of Parc Morlais, Llangennech, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 34 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that on Sunday, June 20 last year the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty at Swiss Valley in Llanelli where they saw a large amount of waste that had been tipped in a gateway to a field. The waste included a child's bike, household furniture, wood, rubble, carpet, underlay, bags of broken tiles, dismantled kitchen units, worktop, television, bathroom suite and cardboard packaging. The officers found evidence among the waste relating to an address in Felinfoel. When the officers attended the property they saw tiles, empty pots of tile adhesive and grout, and the same cardboard packaging they had seen fly-tipped in Swiss Valley in t...

A Llangennech woman has landed her dream job thanks to the support from Genesis Sir Gâr Project 2. There are high hopes for mother of three Karen Deacon as she kicks off her new business, Maud’s Baby Show. The Genesis Project Sir Gâr 2 helped Karen find child care which enabled her to actively attend courses and meetings to set up her own business. In addition to childcare support, Genesis gave Karen personal support, guidance and signposting. Karen said: “The support from Genesis was phenomenal; by having childcare support I was able to develop my business plans and undertake necessary research. “I knew that my children were well looked after so I was able to concentrate fully on my goal. “When you’re a parent it can be very difficult at times to get child care to concentrate on what you want to do, but thanks to Genesis I have been able to build my own business and make a difference for my family.” Karen recently held a successful baby show at Carmarthen Showground where parents from...