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

A Welsh Government Minister has visited Carmarthen to meet tenants using a time banking scheme. Deputy Minister for Farming and Food Rebecca Evans AM met residents of the Taf Myrddin Tenant Network . Time Credits in the Taf Myrddin area was originally funded through the Innovative Communities  Project, part of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. In partnership, the TMTN and Carmarthenshire County Council Housing Services enlisted the services of Spice, who possess a wide knowledge and experience in setting up effective time banking schemes to pilot the scheme in Rural Carmarthenshire. Tenants who take part in the scheme by volunteering are thanked with credits to access a wide menu of events, training and leisure services. On arrival, the Deputy Minister was welcomed by Cllr Tegwen Devichand, Deputy Leader (Housing), and Cllr Jim Jones, executive board member for environment and pub...

The village of Bronwydd now has a play area – thanks to a £38,000 investment supported by Carmarthenshire County Council. The play area alongside Bronwydd Hall is already proving popular with local youngsters. Bronwydd Playing Field Committee applied for grant aid under the Rural Community Inclusion element of the Rural Development Plan and its proposals were supported because Bronwydd did not have a play area and the nearest were in the outlying villages of Llanpumpsaint and Peniel several miles away. The scheme was awarded £20,000 from the RDP, £15,000 from CWM Environmental and £3,000 through the Welsh Church Fund. The site is leased from the council by the Bronwydd Hall Committee and is run by the Bronwydd Playing Fields Committee. The play equipment was installed by Playdale. Local member Cllr Irfon Jones said: “This is a brand new site, before this there were no play facilities in the village but now we have swings, climbing frames and other equipment. It’s for children up to a...

Dewis Menter offers free advice and guidance to individuals who want to start their own business. It also supports existing businesses to identify and implement opportunities for growth and development. Along with one- to-one support from Business Development Officers Lesley Lewis and Barry Hale, the project has a team of mentors from the various business sectors and holds events and workshops throughout rural Carmarthenshire. The Dewis Menter team can be contacted on 01267 242429 or  dewismenter@carmarthenshire.gov.uk *This project has been funded by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded through the Welsh Government and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

A new Training and Mediation centre has been built at a Carmarthenshire farm to serve the agricultural community. Two derelict barns at Henllan Farm, Pumsaint, have been transformed by Agri Advisor solicitors into office accommodation, conferencing and mediation facilities, with an RDP Sir Gâr Redundant Rural Buildings Grant. The total project costs were around £250,000 and the Agri Advisors received a grant of £123,133.25 towards the eligible costs through the Redundant Rural Buildings Grant scheme. These facilities will also be available for hire by other organisations and individuals. The architect is Martin Watts and the main contractors are Randell and Janes. Agri Advisor Solicitors is a legal practice set up by Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones in October 2011 offering specialist legal advice to farmers and landowners, covering regulation, tenancies, land disputes, adverse possession, judicial review, CAP, nuisance and pollution issues and environmental matters. They also have a med...