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...

Responses to consultation on proposed charges for Carmarthenshire County Council sporting facilities are still being welcomed. People are urged to make their views known as part of the wide ranging exercise, and responses will continue to be accepted until August 25. This can be done online at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk via Twitter or Facebook , by post or phone . There are also a number of information exchange days being held across the county throughout August. The drop-in sessions will run from 3pm-7pm on each day, people can either fill in a form and/or speak to staff. There will be officers present to provide support and guidance around options such as asset transfer, grant funding, grounds maintenance and any other issues. The extensive consultation follows a decision made by the council earlier this year to freeze proposed increases until March 2015. The council maintains 59 sporting facilities, but there are approximately 70 other sporting clubs in the county – mainly in ...

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...

With the weather warming up and Carmarthenshire’s parks and playgrounds bursting in to life, people are being urged to get rid of their rubbish safely. Carmarthenshire County Council’s grounds maintenance team is asking people to do their bit to maintain safe and attractive areas for people to enjoy by using the public litter bins or taking their rubbish home with them. There is particular concern about broken glass, which has been found littering several playing fields across the county in recent weeks. They are also asking people to be vigilant and report any littering or fly-tipping in the hope of catching the culprits, as well as maintaining safe areas to play. Assistant grounds maintenance manager Nicky French said: “Our staff carry out regular checks at all parks and playgrounds, but we do rely on people to be careful about any litter they generate – either placing it in the bins or taking it home to be disposed of or recycled. “We also appreciate it when people report dangerou...

Many playgrounds, parks and changing rooms may have to be given up by Carmarthenshire County Council. They will be offered to town and community councils and sporting organisations to help the authority achieve £26 million savings. County Leader Meryl Gravell said: “We have to make tough decisions in critical times and prioritise. “It is going to come down to choice of making decisions on protecting children’s services and adult centres or spending on leisure services. “We also have to make sure there is a level playing field. Some communities already look after their own facilities receiving no subsidy from the Authority yet the current cost of the service to others is more than £600,000. “Where communities are in charge and provide for themselves there is zero vandalism. The attitude seems to be the county will always pick up the tab for repairs. That has to stop.” There are more than 200 playgrounds across the county and the authority manages 120 of them. A task and finish group rep...