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

Children across Carmarthenshire will start their summer holidays with a splash! Carmarthenshire County Council’s grounds maintenance team are preparing to fill the paddling pools at Crown Park and Parc Howard in Llanelli, which Llanelli Town Council has agreed to fund. The paddling pools will open from Saturday, July 18, and will be open with an attendant from 10am to 6pm seven days a week during the school summer holidays. As well as the paddling pools, splash pads managed by community volunteers at Havelock Park and Penyfan Park in Llanelli are already in operation, as is the popular splash pad at Ammanford Park, which is managed by Ammanford Town Council . The splash pads work on an automatic timer system from 10am to 7pm seven days a week. Llanelli Town Council Leader Carl Lucas said: “I am delighted that the town council has reaffirmed its decision to support local facilities, particularly when this involves provision of recreational services for children in our community that w...

Bumper £700 prize on offer at annual Arthur Cambrey Memorial bowls tournament | Llanelli Star A bumper prize fund of £700 will be on offer at the annual Arthur Cambrey Memorial four-wood pairs bowls tournament at Parc Howard, Llanelli later this month. The tournament, sponsored by Golden Charter, will be held on Sunday, August 24 and Monday, August 25, starting at 9.30am on the Sunday.

Carmarthenshire Council leisure chiefs have reinforced their commitment to keeping Llanelli’s Parc Howard open. They have also vowed to continue seeking grants to secure its future and are asking for the public’s support in this. The move follows concern that the popular facility is at risk after a multi-million-pound grant bid was turned down. Carmarthenshire County Council put the bid together to help secure the park’s future through major investment and development of new facilities. However, the Heritage Lottery fund did not approve it, a decision described as a ‘devastating blow’ to the park. It costs around £106,000 a year to maintain the park and mansion house, a sum which the authority has to reduce given the severe financial pressure it is under. The council needs to save over £30million over the next three years, and cuts are being made across the board. However, officers were keen to stress that the commitment for the future of the park was as strong as ever. Head of Leisu...

The Heritage Lottery Fund has turned down a bid for £5million to secure Llanelli's Parc Howard mansion and grounds for the future. Carmarthenshire County Council has expressed disappointment that the bid was unsuccessful. Officers are now arranging a feedback meeting with HLF to clarify reasoning for the rejection. The bid, submitted in August, was delayed for six months to allow for more consultation as there was not 100 per cent support for the bid, and this was jeopardising the park’s future. Executive Board Member for Regeneration, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “This is hugely disappointing news. It just underlines how important it is that we are all united in our campaign to secure Parc Howard’s future with an economic plan that stands scrutiny. “If we cannot change the way the park operates we could be forced to close it. “With the authority’s diminishing resources and the fact that Parc Howard, along with all council leisure services, is a not statutory responsibility, we...

Llanelli sculptor Adriano Candelori is staging a special exhibition of his work at Llanelli's Parc Howard Museum and Art Gallery this summer. Entitled 'Adriano Candelori, Sculptor, a retrospective', the show starts on Saturday, June 29 and runs until September 28. Adriano Candelori, originally from Terni, Umbria, in Italy, came to Wales after World War Two, during which, like many young men of his time, his education and career prospects had been interrupted by the German occupation of his town. While in Wales, visiting family in Llanelli, Adriano secured an employment contract with the Steel Company of Wales for which he initially worked as a 'Behinder' in the Old Castle Tinplate Works. After the term of his contract, he remained in the town, married a local girl and has lived and worked in Llanelli for more than 50 years, participating fully in the life of the community and working in education. His wife, Shirley Jenkins is the daughter of Hector and Nelli...

Carmarthenshire County Council has invested £212,000 in the last two years to renovate Parc Howard’s Grade II listed mansion house. At the end of 2010 a full programme of works were undertaken including disability access improvements. £129,000 was spent installing ramps to the café area, first floor raised levels and the platform lift at the main entrance. Internal doors were mechanised and new fire exits were also created to improve safety at the building. A further £83,000 was invested in Spring 2011 to install new lead on the mansion’s roof, and all windows were renovated and redecorated with a 10-year paint system and extra security locks. Work also included the rebuilding of the portico to the main entrance, as well as external and internal redecoration. The works were carried out by TAD Builders Ltd on the council’s behalf. Phil Lumley, Head of Property Services at Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “This has been a significant investment to improve the mansion house for the b...

The Parc Howard Association and the Friends of Llanelli Museum will be marking the 'centenary day' of the park with a reception and an auction at the Mansion House at 7pm on Friday, September 21. Tickets, to include a glass of wine, are available from Barbara Willis, of 7 Tyrfran Avenue, Llanelli, SA15 3LW, telephone 01554 758644,email bmwillis7@aol.com The proceeds of the evening will go towards the Parc Howard Association's programme of repair and development work at the park. Weblink -  www.parchoward.org.uk

The Welsh Women’s Bowling Association invited the Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council to the Under 25s International and British Isles Championships in Llanelli. Chair Cllr Siân Thomas was invited to bowl the first bowl at the event at Parc Howard. The competition featured representatives from Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland. It was the first time for the event to be held in Llanelli.

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council has attended a lecture on Welsh artist Christopher Williams of Llandybie. Cllr Siân Thomas said the lecture in Parc Howard, Llanelli, was interesting because Christopher Williams was such a good artist but nobody knows of him. She said: “In my opinion we should put more emphasis on our indigenous art and be proud of it. As Welsh people we put a great emphasis aural art, music,song and poetry, but not enough on the visual arts.” The lecture was given by Coleg Gŵyr, Gorseinon history lecturer Dylan Rees. Christopher Williams (1873-1934) rebelled against his father’s plans for him to become a doctor after a visit to the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool in 1892 which he left determined to become an artist. In 1911, he received a commission from King George V to work on a commemorative painting of the Investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. Among his portraits were those of Rt. Hon. David Lloyd George, Sir John Williams,...

An appeal is being made for photographs that show the bandstand at Llanelli’s Parc Howard in all its former glory. The bandstand is being restored as part of the park’s centenary celebrations, but help is needed to ascertain the original design of the railings so that work can be carried out sympathetically. Kidwelly-based building firm Dyfrig Dalziel Ltd, working on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council, is appealing for people to come forward if they have photographs which clearly show the design of the balustrades, steps and gate. Mathew Dalziel said: “We are delighted to be carrying out this work as we understand the great importance it holds within the history of this wonderful park. “It is especially pleasing that we are carrying out this work in the park’s centenary year when people will be celebrating 100 years since the mansion house and gardens were gifted to the people of Llanelli. “Of course, we want to make sure that we carry out a careful and sympathetic restoration of...

Just seven days are left to see an exhibition of People of Llanelli, Past and Present, at Parc Howard. The exhibition features the winners of a competition organised by Links, a small Llanelli charity which helps people recovering from mental health issues regain self confidence and self esteem. Winning paintings, poems and ceramics based on people from Llanelli are on show in the museum. Links art tutor and project worker Dorothy Morris, who secured funding for the project, said: “This is an excellent exhibition which was done in collaboration with the community and I would urge people to visit before it ends.” The exhibition at Parc Howard is free and runs until next Wednesday, June1.

County engineers are working with police and a new science to beat lead thieves attacking a Llanelli attraction. Parc Howard mansion house has been the subject of 12 roof lead thefts over five years and resultant weather damage has threatened the fabric and museum contents of the much loved building. As part of a £185,000 makeover new lead is being especially treated in a new scientific process which means it can be detected at a scrap yard if illegally removed and sold on. Carmarthenshire council have decided against installing Tetra cameras as the lead detection is seen as a better option. A total of £130,000 has been spent on the mansion improving access to the mansion house and museum including an external ramp and a lift internally. An additional £55,000 is being invested in new windows and the lead. The mansion and grounds continue to be an important visitor attraction in Llanelli. It is well used by local residents. Last year there were 14,392 visitors there showing Parc Howard ...