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

Work is now underway on a new office development located near Carmarthen’s popular retail hub  St Catherine’s Walk . Local development company, Hacer Developments Ltd, is breathing new life into the former Nolan Windows site in Carmarthen town centre with support from the South West Wales Property Development Fund (PDF). The South West Wales Property Development Fund has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. Hacer Developments Ltd, a local firm owned by husband and wife Carwyn and Sarah Davies, is constructing a 5000 sq ft three storey office building on Merlin Street, Carmarthen. The development is receiving £400,000 of funding from the PDF and when complete will have the potential to accommodate 17 jobs. The development will be completed in March 2015. The completed development will be occupied by Bro Myrddin Housing Association , who are relocating from their current base in Johnstown. Bro Myrddin Chief Executive Hilary Jone...

The West Wales European Centre (WWEC) has hosted a pop-up shop at St Catherine’s Walk in Carmarthen to promote its work. The pop-up shop was used to showcase externally-funded projects and provide advice on external funding for new projects. Part of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Economic Development service, WWEC help to monitor, develop and attract external and European funding for the area. In Carmarthenshire, a total of £114m is being invested as a direct result of the Convergence programme with a further £23m from the Rural Development plan. The current Convergence programme has put emphasis on collaboration and as a result the authority has worked closely with neighbouring authorities in Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot in delivering joint initiatives. Collectively, this collaboration has helped secure some £156m into the West Wales economy. A busy programme of activities was organised throughout the week alongside information stalls ranging from business support,...

The replica of Dylan Thomas’s iconic writing shed is to visit St Catherine’s Walk in Carmarthen this weekend. It will make its first appearance in the shopping centre as part of the World Poetry Day  celebrations on Saturday. The Young People’s Poet Laureate for Wales – Martin Daws will be creating bespoke poems for everyone from the Shed in readiness for Mother’s Day. The poetry takeaway will be there throughout the day. People can have a chat with Martin at the Shed, then go shopping and collect their own unique poem from him later. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Principal Arts Officer Eleri Retallick said: “Our poetry takeaway offers the opportunity for a bespoke gift written from your thoughts by Martin. “The Shed itself has a full programme of visits planned as part of the DT100 festival, the replica shed has already attracted a lot of interest and will help promote Carmathenshire, and in particular, Laugharne, as the home of Dylan Thomas and the place which inspired so...

Budding entrepreneurs have been trying out their business ideas at a youth market in Carmarthen. Pupils from the area’s primary and secondary schools sold their wares at the Young People’s Business Market in St Catherine’s Walk. The event was organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s business development teams, in partnership with Careers Wales. It is part of their efforts to encourage young people to venture in to the business world and to explore ways of gaining support and employment opportunities locally. The aim is to create a pool of skilled and talented young people who don’t feel the need to move away from Carmarthenshire to get the expertise needed to support their business growth. This, in turn, would create a strong and prosperous economy for Carmarthenshire’s future. The council’s business development officer Angharad Harding said: “The Young People’s Business Market is a great opportunity for people to see youngsters from Carmarthenshire selling their goods or services...

Toddlers from Carmarthenshire will be strutting their stuff on the catwalk to show off the latest real nappy designs. A ‘Bumps and Babes’ Fashion Show is being held in Debenhams in St Catherine’s Walk, Carmarthen, on Wednesday, October 10 at 11am. Local real nappy stockists Bum Deal and Nappy Go Lucky are organising the show with Debenhams, and with support from Carmarthenshire County Council’s waste section. The aim is to encourage mums and dads to ditch the disposables and realise the benefits of using cotton nappies. As well as the latest real nappy styles, Debenhams will also be showing their baby and maternity autumn/winter collections. Bump and baby photographer Jason Banbury will be at the event and a percentage of any takings will be donated to the NSPCC, one of Debenhams’ chosen charities. The council’s real nappy advisor Caroline Davies will also be on hand to offer information and advice and the chance for parents to sign up for a free real nappy trial pack. Ella P...

Carmarthen's 'Shop Mobility' scheme is growing in popularity, but more volunteers are needed to run it. The venture launched in May at the St Catherine's Walk retail development. Town councillor June Williams — who has been involved in the scheme's development — said: "People are coming every day to the 'Shop Mobility' centre. "We are extending the opening times until 6pm on Fridays in December, when shops will be open later for shoppers." The service operates from Unit 14 in St Catherine’s Walk. Carmarthenshire County Council has supported the scheme and contributed towards the cost. Transport executive board member Cllr Philip Hughes said: “Shopmobility is an excellent scheme which will provide a very valuable service for shoppers with limited mobility. “The county council is pleased to have been able to support this.” The 'Shop Mobility' service provides access to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Councillor Williams added: "W...

Many thanks to all those kind shoppers in Carmarthen this morning who supported the programme sales for next week's fete and football festival.

Off to Carmarthen (St Catherine's Walk Centre) to sell programmes for next week's Carmarthen Town AFC Fete and Football Festival.

A 21-year-old Carmarthenshire woman has just secured her dream job in fashion and retail, thanks to the support of COASTAL - a project which supports people to overcome barriers to employment and training. Jess Fletcher, of St Clears, was enrolled on to the COASTAL programme in March 2010 in order to receive support in finding suitable employment. Since suffering a road accident in 2008, Jess has had to undergo a long and extensive programme of rehabilitation. The COASTAL team has supported her through work experience and workplace assessments to identify her physical and behavioural tolerances for work – and now Jess can be seen proudly serving customers as a sales advisor in Debenhams, St Catherine’s Walk – a dream that at one time seemed out of reach. Jess is enjoying her job, and says she is grateful for the support she has received from COASTAL’s Occupational Therapist Gina Strong and her colleagues on the Career Pathway team. She said: “I’m really enjoying the work. Gina has help...

A new shopmobility scheme is opening in Carmarthen later this month. The service will operate from Unit 14 in St Catherine’s Walk from June onwards, with a launch planned for the end of May. There will be two open days later this month – on Monday, March 21, and Thursday, March 24, from 10am to 4pm on both days. Organisers are now looking to recruit two part time project workers to staff the unit but will staff with volunteers for the first two open days. Carmarthenshire County Council has supported the scheme and contributed towards the cost. Transport executive board member Cllr Philip Hughes said: “Shopmobility is an excellent scheme which will provide a very valuable service for shoppers with limited mobility. “The county council is pleased to have been able to support this and look forward to it opening.”

Carmarthen’s new St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre will be the major sponsor for the 30th annual Mayor’s Fun Run. The centre signed up to back the race series this week. Mike Pugh, the manager of the St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre, said he was delighted to team up with the organisers of the Carmarthen Mayor’s Fun Run and races. “It is always our aim here at the St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre to play as active a role as possible in the community and commercial life of Carmarthen,” said Mr Pugh. “The Mayor’s fun run races have a great reputation and our cash injection as major sponsors should ensure that the 30th annual races are very memorable.” The race date is being moved next year from the traditional Easter weekend to the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday, May 2. Mr Pugh added: “It is in the interests of all traders and businesses in the town, not just St Catherine’s Walk, that we see as many people as possible visit Carmarthen on race day. “We want people to ap...

Carmarthen's newest shopping centre has smashed all expectations and forged its way to the top of the UK shopping league. Shops and restaurants at the £70 million St Catherine’s Walk are among the best performing in the country. Latest figures show that Debenhams restaurant was the second busiest in the UK for a day in August – beaten only by the company’s flagship store in Oxford Street. Apollo Cinema was the second busiest in Wales on July 12 and on May 31 Frankie and Benny’s was the third busiest UK branch. On June 7 Costa Coffee was the most successful branch in the whole of Wales and the South West. The centre has attracted over 150,000 visitors every week since it opened, hitting 180,000 on a number of occasions. Shops have celebrated record takings and demand for restaurant places have seen customers queuing for up to an hour. Delighted regeneration chiefs say the news is proof of Carmarthen’s position as a premier shopping and leisure destination. Carmarthenshire County Cou...

St Catherine’s Walk in Carmarthen is playing a pioneering role in the way it is supporting the Welsh language. The county Council, Welsh Language Board and Menter Gorllewin Sir Gar have worked closely with the centre’s management to promote the use of Welsh. St Catherine’s Walk manager Mike Pugh said: “We have been credited with Investing in Welsh by the Welsh Language Board and we are the only shopping centre in South West Wales to have that. My colleagues and I have been assessed and are either starting to learn Welsh or improving our Welsh. I have started Welsh lessons myself. “All our promotional work, leaflets, store signs and internal signs are bilingual; Frankie & Benny’s menu cards are bilingual, as are the signs in the car park. If any communication is received in Welsh we reply in Welsh.” He said that the decision to support the language as much as possible was taken right at the start. “It was right from the set-up of the centre in March that we decided to support the We...

A campign has been launched to clean up Carmarthenshire’s sticky streets. Chewing gum litter is not only an eyesore but it can stick to people’s clothes and shoes and it is difficult and costly to clean up. In fact, it costs the council more than £30,000 a year to remove chewing gum from the streets of Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford – money that could be better spent on other essential services. Assembly Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson launched the council’s ‘Bin your gum’ campaign in Carmarthen. The launch took place at the Apollo cinema in St Catherine’s Walk and then there were lots of activities in Guildhall Square with singing and dancing from the Gregory Brothers and Eco Eli, the council’s eco-friendly elephant; a special appearance from Scarlets star Ken Owens, face painting and fun and games. Pupils from Amman Valley Comprehensive School were also giving out free gum-wraps. Ms Davidson said: “Chewing gum litter has a negative impact on...