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

BBC News - Pembrokeshire council to show meetings on internet Pembrokeshire council is to broadcast its meetings on the internet, claiming to be only the second authority in Wales to do so. The move will cost about £15,000 a year and would be phased to show full council meetings initially. Cabinet and planning meetings are among others which could follow if it proves successful. The council's corporate governance committee approved the plan on Monday.

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are playing their part in the development of a new school at Letterston in Pembrokeshire. The £4 million project is creating a new school for nearly 200 pupils, aged three to 11, on a site next to the existing Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston. Haverfordwest-based builders W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd are in charge of construction and the new school is expected to be completed this summer. The finished school will amalgamate two local schools, housing pupils from Ysgol Ger y Llan and Mathry School following an education reshuffle. The school will also provide community facilities. “As the architects in charge of the design work, we are thrilled to be involved with the project,” said the managing director of the Lewis Partnership, Philip Lewis. “We have been involved with other school projects for the local education authority, Pembrokeshire County Council, in the past and we were delighted to provide the winning desi...

Pembrokeshire County Council's successful food waste scheme will be expanded next week to serve a further 6,000 households. It means over half the County's residents will benefit from a service that helps reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill. The new areas include; Pembroke Dock, Neyland, Roch, Camrose, Simpson Cross, Penally, Manorbier, Jameston, Lydstep, and Kilgetty. All the properties covered by the roll-out will receive a kitchen caddy to collect unwanted food and scraps in the home. They will also receive a larger food bin to be placed out with their weekly recycling collection, along with a supply of compostable bags. Not only are the bins more hygienic than using black sacks, they prevent attacks from animals, especially if they are put out overnight. Some Milford Haven residents say they are enjoying a lie-in on the morning of their refuse collection as they are no longer woken up by squawking seagulls foraging for food! Cllr Ken Rowlands, Cabinet ...

Work to improve the junction at East End Square, Pembroke, is due to start on Monday, 10th May. Work at the busy junction - which serves the A4075 Holyland Road, Main Street, Station Road and Well Hill - involves the realignment of the carriageway as well as provision of a shared use path and demolition of the St Michaels Church Hall extensions. The main contractor will be Evan Pritchard Contractors Limited with Atkins as consulting engineer, supervising the work which is being carried out on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council. The scheme has been programmed to minimise the use of traffic management with temporary traffic signals to be used only when required. This arrangement will protect the workforce and control the flow of traffic while limiting disruption to road users. The Council's Head of Highways and Construction, Darren Thomas, said: "This project is one of several improvement schemes planned along the road between the A477 Fingerpost junction to the refinery an...

A team leader at Pembrokeshire County Council's contact centre is back on the ground after jumping out of a plane at the weekend! Roger Jenkins did his first ever skydive from the skies above Swansea airport. The 58 year-old from Haverfordwest took the plunge for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal. "It was absolutely thrilling although also probably the scariest thing I have ever done," he said. Attached to an instructor, Roger jumped out of the plane at 13,000 ft and then free falled for just under a minute -- for 7,000 ft - before the parachute was deployed. "There's a moment when you're sitting on the edge of the plane looking down and you can't believe that you are going to do what you're going to do" he said. "The first bit was an incredibly frightening 50 second journey of madness, which was frightening and yet exhilarating at the same time. "Then when the chute opens it's the most wonderful thing in the world. Everything goes still...

WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Salaries for senior council staff in Wales ‘out of control’ Pembrokeshire’s Bryn Parry-Jones, on £172,500. Carmarthenshire’s Mark James on £169,005. Enough said!

Pembrokeshire's top young swimmers took part in a special skills camp. Thirteen of the best swimmers from five County clubs pooled their talent at Pembroke Leisure Centre pool. The training camp was the final session in a series of three winter skills camps organised by Pembrokeshire Leisure - Pembrokeshire County Council's leisure arm. Previous winter camps were held in Milford Haven in October and Crymych in January. The nine to 12 year-olds were put through their paces by Paul Dowey, Pembrokeshire Leisure's swimming development coach "I am very pleased with the progress that these young swimmers have made since September," said Paul Dowey. "It is a testament to the hard work of the volunteers in all our development clubs". The skills camps are designed for those youngsters who already swim competitively with their local clubs. Youngsters are selected from five member clubs of Pembrokeshire County swimming - Haverfordwest Seals, Milford Haven Tigers, P...

A new booklet to help children care for their pets has been launched in Pembrokeshire. Pet Care - a guide for young children - was officially introduced at Ysgol Glan Cleddau in Haverfordwest on Friday, by TV celebrity Anna Ryder Richardson of Manor House Wildlife Park. The guide, which has been published by Pembrokeshire County Council, provides advice for the young on how to look after common pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and mice. It was written by teenager Emma Westley, following a work experience project visiting schools in the County to talk to children about their pets. The 19 year-old animal lover, who hopes to study veterinary science, said it was important youngsters learnt how to look after their pets. "So often parents buy their children pets but end up as the ones responsible for their care," she said. "Children need to learn how to accept responsibility too and how to care for their pets properly." The bilingual booklet, which is free, e...

Haverfordwest Kayak Club has received a welcome boost, thanks to a £2,500 Well-being Activity Grant from Pembrokeshire Council. The grant has enabled the club to buy equipment for adult beginners including buoyancy aids and two kayaks, and other equipment to help with setting up a junior section. It has also helped with the cost of training seven members to become Level One coaches. "This grant has been a fantastic bonus to the club, enabling us to offer a wider range of activities and improving the quality of coaching," said Philip Williams, Chairman. "Having a junior section has injected a whole new group of enthusiastic young members into the club and they are already progressing well thanks to the council's support and the fantastic facilities and staff at the new leisure centre." The grant was awarded by the Welsh Assembly Government to support well-being activities in the Health Challenge Pembrokeshire strategy. * Haverfordwest Kayak Club will be running...

Pupils at Portfield School in Haverfordwest have given top marks to a new crossing island installed in Snowdrop Lane. The crossing island and dropped kerbs either side provided by Pembrokeshire County Council has enabled pupils to cross with more ease and safety. The County Council has also introduced several dropped kerbs between Portfield School and local facilities, which help pupils to navigate their way around. Pupils Rebecca Havard and Ryan Jordan said the road improvements had made getting around easier. "The pupils often visit local shops as part of their studies and the crossing island and dropped kerbs are really helpful," added Alison Swain, teacher and school council co-ordinator. The suggestions were put forward after a 16-year-old member of the School Council visited a local Student Voice Conference. He subsequently encouraged other members to suggest improvements to their local community. The School Council members put together a questionnaire and circulated it...

A pilot scheme aimed at introducing children to sport and activity in a fun way has proved so popular that another course will start on February 27th. The Sportstart scheme for five to seven-year-olds will take place on Saturday mornings at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre. "Sportstart introduces an often overlooked age group to sport and activity," said Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, Sports, Leisure and Tourism. "It aims to help develop movement skills such as agility, balance and co-ordination, including correct running, jumping, twisting, catching, throwing, kicking and striking." Parents whose children attended the pilot scheme said they really enjoyed the course. Comments included ‘Staff were friendly and managed the children well', ‘A very good introduction to sports activities for youngsters', and ‘The staff were excellent'. The project, which is run by qualified teachers and learning support assistants, also helps childre...

The former Milford Haven Library has been given a new lease of life. The building, which once played a key role in the cultural life of the town, is now offering residents a service of a different kind. The Hamilton Terrace building is the new base of Futureworks - the specialist providers of skills and employment services. Part of Pembrokeshire County Council's learning and development services, Futureworks is launching a range of exciting new opportunities for unemployed and economically inactive people; supporting them in their journey back into work. The new services will create jobs in the County by offering employers help in recruiting the right people, provide incentives to create new job opportunities and support new employees once they are in work. Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services said he was delighted the Council was able to provide a new lease of life for the much loved building. "I hope it will benefit the people of Milford Haven in th...

A road closure is currently in place in the centre of Tenby. The closure affects Church Street and is part of the Tudor Square enhancement programme. The Pembrokeshire County Council scheme involves the construction - using high quality materials - of a new layout of the carriageway and footway within the Square. It has been necessary to close Church Street until next Friday (26th February) to carry out Welsh Water diversion works. It will also be closed from Tuesday, 2nd March to Tuesday, 16th March, to start on the enhancement works themselves. The road closures are necessary because the road in the region of the junction between Church Street and Tudor Square is too narrow to excavate half the carriageway and still maintain singleway traffic. Vehicles are being diverted clockwise via St. George's Street, Upper Frog Street, White Lion Street, High Street and Tudor Square. Vehicles are also being diverted anti-clockwise via Tudor Square, High Street, White Lion Street, South Parad...

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, Lesley Griffiths, has praised an innovative vocational scheme for 14 to 16 year olds, based in Haverfordwest. Twenty-three students from Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward schools are undertaking a Work Based Learning Pathway (WBLP) in Sports Management, Leadership and Coaching. The two-year programme allows them to combine their normal school lessons with a blend of vocational qualifications and work experience at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre. Students are assessed and mentored in their Sports Leaders Award and NVQ in Sport and Recreation by Wayne Hoyland, WBLP Scheme Co-ordinator. The Deputy Minister was welcomed to the centre on Thursday (January 28th) by Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and the Welsh Language. She enjoyed presentations from students Chelsea Kendall, Heather Lewis, and Robin Ellis on their work placements and assignments, as well as a demons...

A project which enables people of all abilities to get on their bike is holding another taster day this month. Bike Ability Wales provides everyone with the opportunity of riding a bike by offering a variety of specially designed machines. First set up in Swansea some years ago the scheme’s organisers now hope to expand into Pembrokeshire. A first taster day was held in December at the Withybush County Showground in Haverfordwest and was so successful that another day will now be held on Tuesday 16th. Organised by Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Greenways and funded by Health Challenge Pembrokeshire, the sessions offer people the chance to try out handcycles, trikes, quadcycles, tandems and wheelchair bikes. Two sessions will be held on February 16th in Brithdir Hall at the County Showground from 11am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm. The sessions will be informal and give participants the chance to talk to the project officers from Swansea, as well as try out the bikes on off...

Young football fans can take to the pitch in Pembrokeshire this winter. Sport Pembrokeshire - Pembrokeshire County Council's sports development arm - is hosting a series of fun football sessions in Haverfordwest. The Saturday morning sessions aim to encourage youngsters of whatever ability to take to the pitch and start kicking! Open to boys and girls between five and 11, the sessions will be run by qualified coaches and held on the astro turf pitch at Sir Thomas Picton Sports Centre. Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, said the sessions were part of Sport Pembrokeshire's Fun Football Scheme, which aimed to encourage youngsters to play and enjoy football - particularly those who don't already play for a team. "Winning youngsters over to sport and club-based activity encourages healthy exercise and good habits from an early age," he said. The Fun Football scheme is sponsored by Chevron with additional funding from the Sports Council for Wale...

The plight of the honey bee has been highlighted by Pembrokeshire County Council. Honey bee populations in Britain have declined at an alarming rate over the past decade with a 39% decline in Welsh bee colonies in 2009. This week the Council's Environment and Overview scrutiny committee heard presentations about the situation from two leading bee experts. John Verran, Regional Bee Inspector for Wales and John Dudman, Secretary of the Pembrokeshire Beekeepers Association told members about the drastic decline in honey bee colonies, the causes and what authorities and bee keepers were trying to do about it. The meeting was attended by many local members of the Women's Institute, which has made the plight of the honey bee one of its national causes. Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Peter Stock said he was very concerned to hear about the decline. "This is a very important issue and something which I believe as a Council we should take up," he said. "The Enviro...

Pembrokeshire County Council has started a programme of road resurfacing and footway improvement work in Saundersfoot. The resurfacing work is part of the Council's capital carriageway strengthening programme. In addition, more than £500,000 is being spent on providing safe walking and cycling routes in the village as a result of a successful bid for Safe Routes in Communities funding from the National Assembly. The schemes focus on new and improved footways, safe crossings, shelters, cycle racks and traffic calming measures in the village. Unfortunately the work will entail some disruption to roads in the area and around Saundersfoot Primary School. Pupils have been given letters to take home to parents outlining the work due to be carried out. This week (4th-8th January) resurfacing work will take place on Cambrian Terrace and Milford Street. The work will be relatively light but may cause delays in getting to school. From 11th January onwards major works will start on Church Te...

Motorists will again be able to cross the Cleddau Bridge free of charge on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The tolls will close at 10 pm on Thursday 24th December and re-open at 6 am on Sunday 27th. They will also close at 10 pm on New Years' Eve and re-open at 6 am on Saturday 2nd Jan 2010.

More than 50 carers and their supporters attended a Carers Rights Day in Haverfordwest. Organised by Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) and other voluntary groups, the event highlighted the benefits and services available to Carers in the County. The event also saw the launch of a new Carers Pack, which has been developed by the County Council and voluntary organisations. Speeches and workshops throughout the day focused on ways in which Carers can look after their health as well as learn about their pensions and benefits entitlements. In the afternoon they were able to relax with taster sessions of complementary therapies. There are estimated to be over 14,000 Carers in Pembrokeshire who provide support to their chronically ill, disabled or frail partners, relatives and friends. The care they provide is unpaid and estimated to save the UK £87billion every year.