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

Dog owners in the Llangunnor area of Carmarthen are being warned to clean up after their pets - or pay up. The council’s environmental enforcement officers are stepping up patrols, particularly in the park, following complaints of dog fouling from the community council. Anyone caught can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 or prosecuted through the magistrates’ courts where the maximum fine is £1,000. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Although the majority of residents take their responsibilities seriously, there is still a small minority who do not listen. “Dog mess can lead to the spread of diseases such as toxocariasis, which in extreme cases can cause blindness in children. “This type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and those caught breaking the law will be prosecuted.” Owners are being encouraged to always keep a supply of bags near their dog's lead so they don't forget when they go out for a walk...

The community of Llangunnor pulled out all the stops to lay on a host of activities to celebrate Older Persons Week. The action-packed week included a presentation by a local historian, arts and crafts, exercises for people aged 50+ and a coffee morning. It was supported by various agencies who provided information on resources available to older people locally, and concluded with an afternoon of traditional entertainment with musical recitals, a raffle and auction. The events were pulled together by tenant Lis Duffy, Taf Myrddin tenant network executive member, as part of the Timebanking scheme that encourages volunteering in the community. If you would like to receive more information on volunteering in your community, contact Pat Evans on 01554 899288.

Six colleagues from the Pobl Bach Nurseries in Llangunnor and Johnstown in Carmarthen jumped out of a plane to raise money for charity. The group, jumped from a plane at 12,000 feet, did the jump in aid of cancer charities as manager Annie Morgans lost her husband Gary to chronic myeloid leukaemia in November 1999 when he was just 29. She was joined by Kay Richards, Emma Cooper, Amy Richmond, Annie Morgans and Claire Holt and raised £1,870.17. They have donated £600 to Cancer Research Wales and £1,270.17 to the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Glangwili Hospital. Annie, from Llansawel, said “Cancer is something that unfortunately touches everyone’s lives and we felt that it would be good to support such worthwhile local causes helping to fight cancer. “Gary was cared for by staff at the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Glangwili Hospital and it is nice to give something back for the fantastic care that he received. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us in raising this fantastic sum ...

Residents in Llangunnor and Pontyberem have cleaned out their sheds and cupboards. Old TVs, carpets, electrical and bits of unwanted furniture were just some of the items taken along to a waste and tyre amnesty by householders. A total of 442 tyres were also collected at both the events held at Y Talar in Llangunnor and Pontyberem Park. The aim of the amnesties, organised by the council’s waste and recycling section and Tidy Towns, was to encourage people to recycle and to help reduce fly-tipping. Pictured at the Y Talar amnesty is local resident Joan Willson with council staff Geraint David, Dorian Lee and Vicky Guntrip. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “These amnesties are very popular with local residents as it gives them the chance to dispose of any unwanted waste they have in the house; and it can be particularly difficult to get rid of larger items if they have no transport. We want to try and help householders as much as we can and encourage...

Residents of Yr Aelwyd Sheltered Housing Complex in Llangunnor will be sharing a vintage tea party with children from the local primary school and volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteers Programme (RSVP) on Thursday 4th October at 10am. The party guests will share stories about childhood and learn about one another’s favourite foods and games – as well as enjoying old fashioned cakes and getting involved in reminiscence and digital storytelling. The event has been organised to launch RSVP’s Welcome Friends Project. Welcome Friends will signpost older people to interests and activities in their area; in addition, where needed, volunteers will support isolated people to go out to their new activities, building confidence first through home visits (transport for short trips to activities may be possible). RSVP will also set up social activities such as reminiscence or craft groups. Project Co-ordinator for Carmarthenshire, Anne May, says “We want older people to get invol...

Plaid Cymru's 'Magnificent Seven' posed for a photocall outside Carmarthen's Shire Hall today. The seven took the Carmarthen seats and the Llangunnor seat on Carmarthenshire County Council. They are pictured posing for Carmarthen Journal photographer Carolyn Evans. To be fair to the potential future Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Peter Hughes Griffiths on the left, you can't be critical of his choice of footwear; he was helping out at the Carmarthen Mayor's Fun Run races this morning!

Carmarthenshire County Council transport officers are looking at imposing a new speed restriction on the B 4300 Capel Dewi Road to include the entrance to Tywi Park, and the extent of a 40mph speed restriction on Llangunnor Road to include Login Road Junction and the new access to Police HQ. Llangunnor Community Council will be updated on the proposals at their next meeting.

An eco-friendly Carmarthen community is behind a huge tree planting operation, as part of an ambitious drive to offset its carbon footprint. Two thousand trees have been planted in Llangunnor under new moves to help the environment and safeguard it for future generations. The Community Council is behind the scheme which it hopes will help it achieve the status of a zero carbon authority. The project has been widely praised by county sustainability chiefs who are working to educate residents about how they can reduce carbon emissions and help the planet. Research in Llangunnor showed that 2,000 trees needed to be planted to absorb the carbon emissions caused by the street lights the authority is responsible for. The council secured funding under the Tidy Towns scheme, and residents and Coed Cymru got to work planting eight different species in four locations in the community. Trees including wild cherry, silver birch, rowan, oak, field apple and crab apple can now be seen taking root ...

A series of new No Cold Calling Zones have been set up in the Llangunnor area. Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standards Service and Dyfed Powys Police have set up No Cold Calling Zones at Awel Tywi, Bryn Tywi, Golwg Tywi, Llys Morfa, Pen y Morfa and Elder Grove at the request of Llangunnor Community Council. The move brings the number of zones established across Carmarthenshire to 26. It is a criminal offence for uninvited traders to call at the houses within the designated zones. No Cold Calling Zones started in Carmarthenshire in 2006 and have proved to be a success. They are set up in areas where elderly or vulnerable people live, or where there has been evidence of doorstep crime and problems with cold callers. The aim of the zones is to protect Carmarthenshire consumers from bogus officials/workers, overbearing sales people and other scams. The first zone was launched at Maes Elfryn Housing Complex, Llandeilo, in September 2006. Areas covered by Carmarthenshire’s No Cold C...

Details of plans for 66 new houses in Llangunnor have been approved by Carmarthenshire Councillors. The county planning committee approved a reserved matters application for residential development on land at Brynheulog Farm, Roman Road. The planning permission is subject to a Section 106 agreement that 22 per cent of the properties will be affordable housing, that a commuted sum of £68,000 is provided for the maintenance of the on-site public open space coupled with improvements to the existing recreation facilities within Llangunnor, along with a commuted sum of £32,000 for off-site highway improvement works. The development will consist of a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses, all of which will be either detached, semi-detached or terraced properties. There will be a range of nine different house types throughout the development, the terraced and semi-detached properties forming the affordable houses within the development.