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

Agreement has been reached over management of the slipway at Carmarthen Quayside. Carmarthen Boat Club will take over the facility and plans are already in hand for improvements which will help access to the River Towy. It follows a meeting convened by Carmarthenshire County Council between several groups with an interest in the slipway. They included Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen: Carmarthen Water Sports Club; Cameron Comey Memorial Trust; Gwendraeth Valley Paddlers; Carmarthen Boat Club; Carmarthen River Festival and Carmarthen Town Council. Over recent years, there have been disputes over which organisations could use the slipway, which has led to delays in making improvements to the important access to the river. It was agreed by all present at the meeting that the County Council would grant a formal lease of the slipway to Carmarthen Boat Club, which would manage the facility for the benefit of all river users. County Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole, who asked for the meetin...

Pals’ bid to save Carmarthen teenager from drowning | This is South Wales An inquest has heard how two friends heroically tried to save their pal from drowning in the River Towy. Carmarthen teenager Kieran Bennett-Leefe died after he slipped and fell into the river near Capel Dewi in July.

Towy Boat Club has been able to expand its fleet thanks to support from Carmarthenshire County Council and Sport Wales. The county council gave a £25,000 tourism grant and Sport Wales gave a grant of £13,750, which together with money put in by the club was used to buy new Celtic Longboats. Local businesses White Water Consultancy and Nolan UPVC have provided sponsorship towards running costs. The cheque was handed over to the club in a ceremony at its Llansteffan base last Saturday. Towy Boat Club is a non profit making voluntary organisation. It has been a Royal Yachting Association Recognised Teaching Establishment since 1991 and is one of two centres in Wales to teach disabled people to sail. The club is an RYA accredited teaching centre, historically in years of training development the club has had strong links with local primary and secondary school provision, including further and higher education provision. Club treasurer and Principal RYA Instructor Bob Allen said: “We are ve...

BBC News - Red squirrels conservation plan for Wales The upper reaches of the Tywi (Towy) Valley are included in this.

WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Three men in night-time river rescue

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has officially launched a £2.4million project, aimed at conserving and celebrating the Tywi Valley. Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd (Tywi a River Through Time) is a partnership funded heritage project, led by Carmarthenshire County Council, which will create a legacy for future generations by safeguarding the valley’s rich and unique landscape, biodiversity and history. The project has received £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £557,378 from the Rural Development Plan, and support from the Countryside Council for Wales, Menter Bro Dinefwr and National Trust. It has already made great strides in the area by engaging with local people through a series of events planned under the four different elements of the project – volunteering, landscape and biodiversity, learning and interpretation and sustainable building. The project was launched at the Canolfan Tywi Centre, the centrepiece of the project, which is housed in two converted barns at Dinefwr Farm, o...

Towy Valley residents are in for a day packed full of fun, as the Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd project team thrown open the doors of its new centre. An Open Day is being held in celebration of the opening at Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo, between 11am and 3pm on Saturday, October 10. Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd (Tywi a River Through Time) is a £2.4million project, led by Carmarthenshire County Council, which is aimed at conserving the area’s landscape, biodiversity and history; and creating a legacy for future generations. The Tywi Centre for Traditional and Sustainable Building, is based in a renovated building at Dinefwr Farm, and will offer a comprehensive range of traditional and sustainable building information services. It will also offer a range of subsidised courses for builders, building professionals and homeowners, in a bid to help locals conserve the area’s historic homes and buildings. A range of activities have been planned for the open day on October 10. They include cultural activities such...

Maritime and Coastgard Agency News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 06 September 2009 - At just before 1.00 pm today, a 999 call from the Towy Boat Club reported three kayakers struggling in the fast-flowing river Towy having capsized and become parted from their double sit-on kayaks in wind over tide conditions. It later transpired that the three people in the water were from a party of kayakers who had earlier set off from Carmarthen, with the intention of following the river downstream almost to its estuary. Only as the incident progressed did it become clear that eleven people in total had set off at staggered times, with the least experienced going first. On their journey down-stream two of the double kayaks lost paddles and sustained broken rudders. Subsequent information indicated that paddlers were coming ashore on both east and west river banks, some still onboard their kayaks, others were in the water. In response to the difficulties presented in establishin...

Access has been improved at the River Tywi allowing anglers to continue with some of the best sea trout fishing in Wales. Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd, a Carmarthenshire County Council-led project aimed at conserving the landscape, environment and heritage of the Towy Valley, has teamed up with Environment Agency Wales and Llangadog Angling Association Ltd for the improvements. The idea for the path was initiated by the angling club whose members wanted to upgrade the angler’s path which was in a state of disrepair. Carmarthenshire County Council, as landowners of the area, authorised the path to become a public right of way and to be extended to form a circular walk. Much of the work was carried out by volunteers from Llanwrda Youth Club and the United Nations. Environment Agency Wales employed a local contractor, and the county council lent the services of its countryside rangers for the project. Local farmers have also helped the project succeed by allowing the public right of way to cut ac...