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

A Welsh medium primary school in Llanelli has become the first in the county to win a new language charter award. Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel in Llwynhendy has been given a Codi Caerau Sir Gâr Bronze Award for the progress the school and its pupils have made in promoting the use of incidental Welsh. The Language Charter aims to help bring about an increase in the social use of Welsh by children by inspiring them to use the language in all aspects of their lives. The Charter asks for all members of the school community – the school council, pupils, the workforce, parents, governors and the wider community – to contribute. Each school sets its own challenging but achievable vision. The award has been presented at a celebration at the school with a performance of the musical drama ‘Y Welsh Not’ by the school’s drama club ‘Bobl Bach Brynsierfel’ in partnership with CISP Multimedia. Scarlets commercial manager Garan Evans, poet Mererid Hopwood and two harpists from Ysgol y Strade will be am...

Carmarthenshire’s dog wardens are teaming up with the Dogs Trust to offer free microchipping, health and training advice. The event is being held at Trallwm Hall, Llwynhendy, on Thursday November 10. Anyone can go along with their dogs between 11.30am and 3.30pm where the Dogs Trust and the Carmarthenshire County Council dog wardens will be able to scan and check chips and microchip dogs. No appointments are needed but dogs must be fully vaccinated. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting this event and working alongside the Dogs Trust to offer free microchipping and advice to dog owners. “All dogs should now be microchipped by law – this assists our dog warden service in helping reunite dog owners with lost pets as quickly as possible.” All event details can be found at www.chipmydog.org.uk Link Carmarthenshire County Council - stray and lost dogs

From staying healthy and finding work to saving money or keeping in touch, there are lots of ways that being online can make both the things you love and life’s little jobs quicker, easier and cheaper. If you’ve never touched a computer or a tablet before, or you just need some tips to make the most of being online, Communities First can help. Digital 'drop in' events are being held in Ammanford, Llanelli and Llwynhendy Libraries for ‘Get Online Week’ when there will be free information and support to make the most of the internet, computers and tablets. The session at Ammanford Library will take place this Monday (October 12) from 1.30 to 3.30pm. The Llanelli session is this Thursday from 10am to 1pm, and the Llwynhendy session this Friday from 1-3pm.

Works to create safe walking and cycling routes in the community of Llwynhendy will mean temporary closure of Parc Gitto for two days in March. Parc Gitto will be closed from its junction with Hendre Road for a distance of 350 metres in a northerly direction. The closure is necessary for Carmarthenshire County Council to carry out Safe Routes in the Community Work from 8am on Monday, March 2, to 6pm on Tuesday, March 3. The alternative route for north bound traffic will be to travel in a north-easterly direction along Hendre Road to its junction with Llwynhendy Road. At the junction, turn left and continue in a north-westerly direction to return to a point north of the closure. Vice versa for south bound traffic. Executive board member for engineering and transport services, Cllr Colin Evans, said: “Our transport teams have excelled in attracting grant support for so many safe routes schemes throughout the country in recent years. “This minor disruption inconvenience to motorists wi...

Carmarthenshire school children are having fun doing their homework thanks to a new venture. Homework clubs piloted at Carmarthenshire County Council Libraries in partnership with Communities First are providing a safe and welcoming environment in which young people can complete their homework. Homework clubs are intended to attract young people who need extra help with their work, access to free computers and the internet, or just a place where they can have undisturbed, peaceful study. Staff are on hand to offer advice, but do not provide subject tuition. Jessica Price, 10, said: "I enjoyed homework club, because I got my homework done and it was fun". Carmarthenshire Libraries and Communities First are hoping to extend the homework club throughout the year and to other library locations. Communities First Family Learning Worker, Emma Wood, said: “We feel the homework club was successful because children mentioned that they found it more interesting completing their wo...

The kind-hearted choristers of Cor Meibion Llanelli have presented a cheque for £100 to the St Paul's Family Centre in Llanelli. The money came from the choir's Christmas charity fund and was presented to Debbie James, family centre manager at the St Paul's Family Centre. She said the centre users were very grateful and had made a special 'thank-you' card for choir members. Pictured, left to right, are choir musical director Eifion Thomas, choir chairman Mel Harries, Debbie James and choir member Graham Williams. Choir members will be performing at the new Brynteg School in Llwynhendy at 10.30am on Thursday.

Older residents in two areas of the county are being invited to an event which could help reduce their risk of falling. The Camu ‘Mlaen (Step Forward) events are being held in the Llwynhendy and Ammanford communities. Over 500 people, aged over 75, are being invited to attend through their local surgeries – Adfer Medical Group in Llwynhendy, and Brynteg and Margaret Street practices in Ammanford. Those who attend will have the opportunity of meeting with health and social care representatives and will get advice about the various support services in place to help reduce their risk of falling. They will get advice about simple measures they can undertake, such as arranging to have grab-rails installed at their home, or arranging for a foot care session. They will also be able to take advantage of a range of health and wellbeing services, and can speak to representatives from various organisations on issues such as benefit entitlement and living independently. Camu ‘Mlaen events are orga...

Pupils and staff in Llwynhendy received an early Christmas present – a £6.6million state of the art new school. The official opening of Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel took place with a special ‘festive themed’ ceremony and the unveiling of a plaque by Carmarthenshire County Council Chair Cllr Ivor Jackson. The Welsh primary school, which has a capacity for 210 pupils and a nursery for 30 children, was built through the council’s Modernising Education Provision (MEP) programme. The hi-tech, eco-friendly building opened its doors a few weeks ago after being completed ahead of schedule by contractors Kier Western. An architectural design team from the council’s Property Services worked with the contractors to develop an inspiring learning environment. Its most iconic feature is the split level corridor which brings light into the building and creates space for pupils to display their artwork. Work included a compete remodelling of the former school campus and the demolition of the old school w...

Tenants living in parts of a Llwynhendy council estate are being asked to vacate their homes for a few days to allow contractors to prepare their home for internal refurbishment. Almost 70 households living in council properties in Browen, Ynyslas, Pant Y Celyn and Morawel are being supported to find suitable temporary accommodation for around three days whilst the work is carried out. They are also being offered a compensation package for their inconvenience. Standard surveys undertaken in preparation for Carmarthenshire Homes Standard internal works have identified asbestos paper insulation around flue pipes, and some mixed with other materials in a small amount of rubble. Information has been provided to tenants which reassures them that asbestos is safe, providing it is not disturbed. With work being planned at their properties, it has been decided to remove the material to make the area safe for contractors, and to prevent the disturbance of any material as a result of their activ...

A woman has been fined £100 and ordered to pay court costs of £75 after dropping a cigarette end at Llanelli bus station. Irene Elizabeth Lewis, aged 32, Bro Wen, Llwynhendy, was convicted in her absence of an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. She was caught by the council’s environmental enforcement officers who were on patrol in the bus station area back in November. Lewis was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75. However, she failed to pay it within the specified time and was prosecuted through the courts as a result. Research shows that discarded cigarette ends make up the largest proportion of litter in Carmarthenshire. An inspection by Keep Wales Tidy revealed that 83 per cent of litter found on the county’s streets was smoking-related. Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “There is no excuse for littering our streets. “Many peo...

Young people from Felinfoel and Llwynhendy have been learning about why it’s not a good idea to ‘get hammered’. They attended an Alcohol Awareness Training event in Calsonic Social Club. The training, funded by the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, was organised jointly through Felinfoel Communities First and Llwynhendy Communities First. Felinfoel Communities First community development officer Gaynor Price said: “The training was identified by the local Neighbourhood Police who thought it would be of benefit to the youth of both areas. The training titled ‘getting hammered’ focused on alcohol awareness for the young people, including the effects of combining alcohol and drugs. “Pupils from Bryngwyn School, youth and residents of both areas were invited to join the training that discussed and demonstrated through DVDs the harmful effect of alcohol. All that attended enjoyed the course and were shocked by some of the stories that were shown.” Community safety manager Kate T...

There's a big secret being kept under wraps in a small corner of Llwynhendy. A new scheme to benefit the community’s younger children is in the planning - but it is all being kept hush-hush so the children can have a big half-term surprise. The secret scheme involves a popular day-time TV show and a celebrity, and all will be revealed on Friday, February 25. Karen Powell, who runs Llwynhendy Integrated Children’s Centre, is behind the surprise, which is being co-ordinated with the support of Carmarthenshire County Council. “We can’t wait to do the big reveal to local children and parents next week,” said Karen. “There’s been lots of whispering, and a couple of undercover visits, and some of the older children at Brynteg School are also in on the secret, but we hope it will be a lovely surprise for the community’s younger children. “There will be TV crews and our celebrity visitor here on the day, but we are not giving anything more away.” Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge, the council’s execu...

Pupils at Ysgol Bryn Teg in Llwynhendy, Llanelli, have been taught not to have more money than sense. And other schools are being urged to give their pupils the chance to learn the same lesson. A new financial literacy initiative, Synnwyr Arian, Money Sense, was taken to the school by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service. The programme consists of a series of six one-hour lessons aimed at years five and six pupils who are sequentially taken through the "concept of money". Pupils are initially taught about the actual source of money, focussing upon different forms of employment, and payslips etc. Further sessions focus upon budgeting, the different methods of borrowing money, and the associated risks, finally finishing with information on consumers’ rights when purchasing faulty goods or services and how to get ‘value for money’. Fair Trading Officer Heidi Neil said: “The third lesson introduces pupils to concepts including income, outgoings, debt, and ba...

Pensioner William Dix is one of the older people in Carmarthenshire being helped to stay independent for longer by moving into sheltered housing. Mr Dix, of Llanelli, who is 76, recently moved into sheltered housing at Llwyn yr Ynys, Llwynhendy, from a three-bedroom council house. He said: “I was living on my own and am very pleased with my new home. I’m still living in the same community and am able to keep in contact with family and friends. “I had difficulty climbing stairs and steps and had a large garden that needed looking after. It will be far easier for me to manage here.” The council offers a range and options to support older people safely and securely in their own homes enabling then to enjoy life with dignity and respect. It is however recognised that staying in the family home is not always possible. In instances where age or illness make it impossible to remain in a larger home the council and a couple of Housing Association partners offer alternative housing within Shelt...

Llwynhendy Children’s Centre leads the way in developing young people’s self-esteem and body image. The Centre’s ‘Girly Group’ has learnt that feeling good and looking good can have a huge impact on young girls’ confidence and have shown that it’s possible for everyone to look their best. The ‘Girly Group’ was established to organise a nine-week ‘Revamp and Revive’ programme. The Programme was established by image consultant and child development officer, Hayley Wheeler. The series of workshops are aimed to develop an understanding of self-esteem and inner self worth. The Girls have enjoyed a hair styling session at ‘Funky Divas’ of Llangennech and a fashion session at New Look, Trostre Park. Other workshops throughout the programme have included relationships, substance misuse teenage pregnancy debates. “Girly Group” Member, Kelsey said:“This has been a great programme. We’ve had so much fun and we all feel a lot more confident. “We’ve been open with each other and we’ve encouraged o...