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

A Pontyates woman has been prosecuted for claiming Housing Benefit as a lone parent after failing to declare her partner had returned to live with her. Grace Keel pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court last Friday to an offence under section112 of the Social Security & Administration Act. The court was told that Grace Webster, as she then was, claimed Housing Benefit from Heol y Meinciau, Pontyates from January 2012, also claiming Income Support and stating that she was a lone parent after separating from her partner, Darren Keel. In November 2013 an allegation was received that Mr Keel had returned to live at the claim address and that he and Miss Webster were living together as husband and wife. Carmarthenshire County Council undertook a joint investigation with the Department for Work & Pensions. Evidence was obtained in support of the suspicion and Miss Webster was interviewed under caution. The court heard that Grace Webster and Darren Keel were found to have bee...

Residents and tenants at a Pontyates housing estate have been clearing out their junk as part of the council’s Pride In Your Patch campaign. A skip amnesty was held at Maesglas last week, organised by the housing department, and supported by Keep Wales Tidy and Tidy Towns . Locals were encouraged to have a good clear out, and that they did – within an hour the skip was full! Housing community engagement officer Pat Evans said: “Pride In Your Patch is all about encouraging tenants to take ownership and pride in their gardens and community areas. There are a number of elements to the project, including construction training opportunities, but this is one of the simplest – just having a good clear out and tidy up to make the community look and feel a lot nicer. “We had great feedback from tenants, and many of them are planning more events together in the future, such as litter picks with families.” Pride In Your Patch is one of several schemes that run as part of the council’s Carmart...

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, Councillor Sian Thomas, is pictured with crew members at Pontyates Fire Station, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Housing Minister Huw Lewis has officially opened the new headquarters of the Gwendraeth Tenant Network at Pontyates. Mr Lewis was welcomed to the HQ by a choir from the nearby Ysgol Gwynfryn, before unveiling a plaque and declaring the facility open. The Gwendraeth Tenant Network has been running for many years, but - in conjunction with Carmarthenshire County Council’s Housing Services Division – tenants saw an opportunity to develop a redundant day club building into a resource centre. The council agreed to lease the building to the tenants and they now operate the centre as a community hub for all Carmarthenshire Council housing tenants. The Minister said: “It gives me great pleasure to open the Gwendraeth Tenant Network’s new headquarters. Housing is about so much more than putting a roof over people’s heads, it’s about creating vibrant communities and offering people new opportunities I am delighted that just such a community exists here in Pontyates. “The fact that this comm...

A new local produce market is set to start this Saturday (June 16) at Pontyates Village Hall. Working with food producers within the area, the aim is to provide local food for local people. It is hoped that the market will become a food hub which will serve the rural communities on the lower Gwendraeth on a long term basis. The initiative is being piloted for the next six months with the market being held every third Saturday of the month between 10am and 2pm. Zero Carbon Future officer Paul Thomas said: “We are working with local food producers to provide fresh seasonal produce and locally produced meat, fish, cheese and other food stuffs. “By buying locally families can reduce their food miles to a minimum and also help to keep money with the community.” For further information please contact Mr Paul Thomas, Menter Cwm Gwendraeth’s Zero Carbon Future Officer on 01269 871600. Zero Carbon Future is part of the RDP Sir Gar Innovative Hubs Scheme. The project is funded through the Rur...

Carmarthenshire 50+ Forum and Age Cymru Sir Gâr are joining forces to establish a new luncheon club in the Gwendraeth Valley. Gwendraeth Luncheon Club for the Over 50’s will meet at the Square & Compass, Pontyates, weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm–2:30pm. The first luncheon club meeting will take place on Tuesday June 12. The luncheon club is being jointly organised by 50+ Forum Steering Group member Charlie Bull and Age Cymru Sir Gâr’s West Wales Befriending Links Project Coordinator Peter Morgan. The menu, from £5.50, includes a carvery, fish dinner with parsley sauce, faggots & peas, Chicken Supreme, vegetarian and more, along with pudding such as jam roly-poly, rice pudding or trifle. Charlie Bull said: “We badly need something of this in Pontyates. It is a village of 3-4,000 people including Meinciau and Cynheidre and there is just nothing for older people at all. “We are looking forward to the launch of the Gwendraeth Luncheon Club. Come and join us for lunch a ...

Residents in Pontyates are being urged to have a good clear out and recycle any rubbish they have lying around the home. A waste amnesty is being held on Saturday (November 12) in the main car park (next to the petrol station) between 8am and 10.30am. Householders can take advantage of this one-off chance to dispose of any large items of rubbish for free. Most household waste can be taken along including bulky waste items such as furniture and electrical goods. However, asbestos, tyres, paint, garden chemicals, batteries, gas bottles, construction waste and trade waste will not be accepted. As much as possible will be recycled. The event has been organised by Carmarthenshire County Council and the aim is to encourage residents to dispose of waste that may otherwise be fly-tipped as well as encourage them to recycle and/or reuse as much of their rubbish as possible. Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “I hope residents take advantage of this opportunity t...

Council tenants living in the Gwendraeth Valley are being invited to a tenants network meeting. Carmarthenshire County Council’s housing division is hosting the meeting tonight on Wednesday, March 16, and is inviting all tenants and members of local tenants and residents associations to come along. Housing officers will be present to discuss any matters tenants wish to raise. Tenants will hear a presentation about environmental crime, discussing issues such as fly-tipping, and will be given advice about reporting crimes and keeping their communities safe and tidy. The meeting will be held at the Pontyates Welfare Hall from 6pm.

A heritage open day is being held in Pontyates on Saturday, April 24. The Pontyates and District Local History group is holding the event at the Welfare hall from 11am until 4pm. Visitors will get another chance to see the group's photographic exhibition. People are being urged to call in for a cup of tea and a chat and to bring stories, memories, old photos or documents to help the group record the history of the community.