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

Four Lift Programme clients were recently given the exciting opportunity to work on a forestry project in Troserch Woods in Llangennech. As part of a two week pilot project, organised in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, the Lift Programme and Tidy Towns, the group was given various woodland conservation task to complete which would enhance and preserve the forest for local community members to enjoy. This included clearing a Christmas tree plantation of weeds, rebuilding part of a riverside path, adding drainage sumps and constructing wooden benches. Clients were supervised by project officers from Keep Wales Tidy and Tidy Towns and were provided with transport and protective equipment by the Lift Programme. Alan, one of the volunteers, said: “I’ve really enjoyed my placement and have learnt a lot of new skills. It has boosted my confidence and given me something constructive to do with my time.” Daniel Snaith, Project Officer for Keep Wales Tidy, said: “It has been a pleasure worki...

Residents in Newcastle Emlyn are being urged to have a spring clean and take advantage of a waste and tyre amnesty being held in the town. The council in partnership with Tidy Towns is holding the event in the main car park on Wednesday, March 4 between 8am and 1pm. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, garden waste and tyres (maximum 10 tyres per household/no tractor or lorry tyres.) However, paint, garden chemicals, car batteries, gas bottles, asbestos, construction and trade waste will not be accepted. Residents that dispose of any waste items will also get a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “I hope residents take advantage of this one-off opportunity to get rid of their household waste. As much as possible is recycled, helping to increase the c...

A campaign has been launched to clean up some of Carmarthenshire's sticky streets and pavements. Not only is chewing gum litter an eyesore but it can stick to people’s clothes and shoes and it is difficult and costly to clean up. Carmarthenshire council, supported by Tidy Towns, is taking part in a campaign to tackle chewing gum litter and to encourage people to put their gum in the bin or get fined £75. As part of the campaign, officers have cleaned sections of problem areas in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford which will now be monitored throughout November. The areas which have been cleaned will be monitored to see if there’s any improvement. Officers will also be issuing shop keepers with gum wraps to hand out and they will also be handed to people on the streets they see chewing in an effort to encourage people to be aware not to throw their gum on the floor and to place it in the wrap until it can be placed in a bin. Executive board member for environmental and public ...

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...

A total of 992 bags of rubbish, 15 tyres and 76 miscellaneous items such as pushchairs, carpets and scooters that have been dumped across Carmarthenshire have been removed by Tidy Towns in the past six months. Since April, Tidy Towns project worker Brian Mogford has worked with 648 volunteers, 29 community groups, 6 schools, 3 disengaged groups and 4 businesses. He has travelled a total of 3594 miles and helped to clean up 38 wards across the county. Activities carried out included river and beach clean-ups, habitat management, cycle track clean-ups, community skip days, litter-picks and overgrowth clearance projects. Executive Board Member for Cllr Councillor Colin Evans said: “It is important that people take pride in where they live and Tidy Towns helps communities to achieve this by assisting volunteers to undertake a range of environmental improvement projects. “I am amazed by the amount of work that has been carried out in just six months and would like to congratulate all thos...

A massive clean-up is being held at Cefn Sidan Beach in Pembrey following the New Year storms. Up to 90mph winds together with the recent high tides caused lots of debris and litter to get washed up on the Blue Flag beach. Pembrey Country Park rangers have now teamed up with Tidy Towns and Keep Wales Tidy to organise the clean-up on Thursday, March 20 and are appealing for volunteers to come along and help. It is being held between 10am and 12noon, but volunteers are being urged to meet in car park 2 at 9.30am. Tools and equipment will be made available; volunteers should wear appropriate clothing and footwear and if possible bring gloves. Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Leisure Councillor Meryl Gravell said: “The recent storms have caused a lot of rubbish to wash up on the beach, from larger items such as fishing nets, plastic drums, tree branches and parts of old boats as well as general litter. “We are very grateful to Keep Wales Tidy and Tidy Towns for organising the ...

Residents in Llandybie are being urged to have a good clear out and take advantage of a waste and tyre amnesty being held in the village. The council’s waste and recycling section has teamed up with housing services and Tidy Towns for the amnesty which is being held on Wednesday, February 26 between 9am and 1pm at Caecoed. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, garden waste and tyres (maximum 10 tyres per household / no tractor or lorry tyres). However, paint, garden chemicals, car batteries, gas bottles, asbestos, construction and trade waste will not be accepted. Residents that dispose of any waste items will also get a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “We want to encourage people to recycle as much as possible and also reduce for fly-tipping in t...

Residents in Llangunnor and Pontyberem have cleaned out their sheds and cupboards. Old TVs, carpets, electrical and bits of unwanted furniture were just some of the items taken along to a waste and tyre amnesty by householders. A total of 442 tyres were also collected at both the events held at Y Talar in Llangunnor and Pontyberem Park. The aim of the amnesties, organised by the council’s waste and recycling section and Tidy Towns, was to encourage people to recycle and to help reduce fly-tipping. Pictured at the Y Talar amnesty is local resident Joan Willson with council staff Geraint David, Dorian Lee and Vicky Guntrip. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “These amnesties are very popular with local residents as it gives them the chance to dispose of any unwanted waste they have in the house; and it can be particularly difficult to get rid of larger items if they have no transport. We want to try and help householders as much as we can and encourage...

A waste and tyre amnesty in being held in Llanybydder. Residents are being urged to have a good clear out and take advantage of this one-off chance to to get rid of their household rubbish. The amnesty, organised by the council’s waste and recycling section and Tidy Towns, is taking place on Wednesday, February 19 between 8am and 1pm at Llanybydder car park. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, garden waste and tyres (maximum 10 tyres per household / no tractor or lorry tyres). However, paint, garden chemicals, car batteries, gas bottles, asbestos, construction and trade waste will not be accepted. Residents that dispose of any waste items will also get a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “The aim of the amnesty is to encourage people to recycle mo...

Residents in Pontyberem are being urged to have a good clear out and take advantage of a waste and tyre amnesty being held in the village. The amnesty, organised by the council’s waste and recycling section and Tidy Towns, is taking place today, Wednesday, February 5, between 8am and 1pm at Pontyberem park. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, garden waste and tyres (maximum 10 tyres per household / no tractor or lorry tyres). However, paint, garden chemicals, car batteries, gas bottles, asbestos, construction and trade waste will not be accepted. Residents that dispose of any waste items will also get a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “The aim of the amnesty is to encourage people to recycle more and reduce fly-tipping. If people don’t hav...

A waste and tyre amnesty is being held for residents living in the Tregunnor area of Carmarthen. The council’s waste and recycling section has teamed up with housing services and Tidy Towns for the amnesty which is being held on Wednesday, January 29 between 9am and 1pm at Y Talar. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, garden waste and tyres (maximum 10 tyres per household / no tractor or lorry tyres). However, paint, garden chemicals, car batteries, gas bottles, asbestos, construction and trade waste will not be accepted. Residents that dispose of any waste items will also get a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “We hope the amnesty will help to reduce fly-tipping in the area and encourage people to recycle more.” Executive Board Member for Hou...

A team of volunteers have helped to clean up Dafen Pond for the benefit of the community. Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Kevin Madge was one of many volunteers to get his hands dirty along with Deputy Leader and local member for Dafen Cllr Tegwen Devichand. More than a dozen bags of rubbish were removed along with two car wheels and several other large miscellaneous items that had been fly-tipped there. The clean-up was organised by Tidy Towns and Keep Wales Tidy with Cllr Devichand who brought along a number of volunteers to help out. The footpath leading to the disabled hard-standing by the pond has also been cleared and the Japanese Knotweed will be sprayed as soon as possible. A new litter bin has also been installed. Cllr Devichand said: “The pond was full of rubbish. Not only was it an eyesore but it was also very dangerous for the wildlife. Dafen Pond is a popular recreational area used by families and it is not fair that it is being spoilt in this way. Hopefully now that...

A total of 1105 bags of rubbish, 121 tyres and 180 miscellaneous items such as pushchairs, carpets and scooters that have been dumped across Carmarthenshire have been removed by Tidy Towns in the past six months. Since April, Tidy Towns project worker Brian Mogford has worked with 385 volunteers, 23 community groups, six schools, 15 disengaged groups and four businesses. He has travelled a total of 4,076 miles and helped to clean up 35 wards across the county. Activities carried out included river and beach clean-ups, habitat management, cycle track clean-ups, community skip days, litter-picks and overgrowth clearance projects. Brian has also targeted Japanese Knotweed hotspots across the Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford areas with a total area of 12,600m2 sprayed. Previous spraying has been very effective, with only a few pockets of new growth appearing in treated areas. Executive Board Member for Regeneration Councillor Meryl Gravell said: “It is important that people take pr...

Bugs and feathered friends have been found new homes in Trimsaran thanks to Trimsaran Primary School pupils. Children in Years 4 and 5 have been busy making and as well as planting native trees to encourage more wildlife to their area. The woodland, on the site of the former Trimsaran Iron Works, was turned into a community amenity area in 1993 but had since become overgrown with attracting fly-tipping. Now considerable works have been undertaken to improve the area for the whole community managed by the council's Countryside Access and Recreation Unit. They are funded by Tidy Towns, a Welsh Assembly Government-funded initiative delivered in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy to encourage and support communities to improve the quality of their local environment. Recognising the value of the scheme Trimsaran Primary School, Trimsaran Community Council and Carmarthenshire County Council themed a 'Wild & Safe' project for the site. Ma...

  There are now 639 fewer tyres that could potentially end up fly-tipped in Llanelli. A tyre amnesty was held in the Tesco car park in Parc Trostre for residents to take along unwanted tyres free of charge. It was organised by Tidy Towns to encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly and help combat fly-tipping. Tyre amnesties were also held in Carmarthen, Newcastle Emlyn, Cross Hands, Whitland and Ammanford and in total 3,447 tyres were handed over. Tyre companies attach a charge to any tyres that are disposed of at their business so illegally dumped tyres is a big problem not just in Carmarthenshire but across the UK. Fly-tipping is not only a blight on the landscape, but costs local authorities millions of pounds a year to clean up and causes harm to wildlife and the environment. Tidy Towns project officer Simon Troake said: “Around 450,000 tonnes of used tyres are produced in the UK every year that have to be reused or disposed of somehow and it is estimated t...

The platforms of a former railway station in north Carmarthenshire have been uncovered after years of being hidden from view by a dense blanket of brambles and weeds. Clearing and renovation work has been ongoing at Bro’r Orsaf, Llanfihangel ar Arth, over the last few months as part of a community effort to celebrate the history of the area. The local history club was successful in applying for two grants to help with the scheme – a Tidy Towns grant provided by the Welsh Government, and an Environmental Works Project grant provided by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of its £203million Carmarthenshire Homes Standard project. Before work began, the area was overgrown and strewn with hundreds of bags of litter. A local contractor was brought on board to clear the area, peeling back the overgrowth and exposing historic features that tell the story of times gone by. As well as bringing the platform area back to life, the grants have also enabled new fencing and drainage works to be ...

  Environmental campaigners  Keep Wales Tidy  are calling on volunteers to help out with a clean-up of Llansteffan beach in a bid to restore it to its former glory. The date of the event is on Friday 24th of February at 10.00am, and volunteers are asked to gather next to the recycling bins in the beach car park where they will receive a short informal briefing. All tools and equipment (excluding clothing) will be provided. The event, in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council will be co-ordinated under the banner of the Tidy Towns project; a Welsh Government funded initiative aimed at restoring pride in the aesthetic appearance of villages, towns and the countryside of Wales. Keep Wales Tidy’s Project Officer for Carmarthenshire; Daniel Snaith said, “Unfortunately the beach does suffer from littering, some of which is brought in with the tide, hence the appeal to people living in the surrounding communities to spare a few hours to give the areas a good...

Residents are being urged to take along any old tyres they may have to a number of collection points in Carmarthenshire throughout February. A tyre amnesty is being held, organised by Tidy Towns, to encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly and help combat fly-tipping. Residents can get rid of up to 10 unwanted tyres free of charge at collection points in - Newcastle Emlyn, Whitland, Carmarthen, Cross Hands, Ammanford and Llanelli. Tyre companies attach a charge to any tyres that are disposed of at their business so illegally dumped tyres are a big problem not just in Carmarthenshire but across the UK. Fly-tipping which is not only a blight on the landscape, but costs local authorities millions of pounds every year to clean up and causes harm to wildlife and the environment. This is the third tyre amnesty organised by Tidy Towns, a Welsh Government-funded initiative delivered in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy. Tidy Towns project of...

A total of 1,034 bags of rubbish have been collected in Tidy Towns projects across Carmarthenshire in just the past six months. Since April, the team has worked with 367 volunteers, 24 community groups and five schools and the Tidy Towns cleansing operatives have travelled some 4,170 miles. An additional £100,000 funding has also been secured towards various community projects. Activities carried out include river clean-ups, beach clean-ups, habitat management, cycle track clean-ups, community skip days, litter-picks and overgrowth clearance projects. Tidy Towns is a Welsh Government-funded initiative delivered in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy. The aim is to encourage and support communities to improve the quality of their local environment. Executive Board Member for Regeneration Councillor Clive Scourfield said: “It is important that people take pride in where they live and Tidy Towns helps communities to achieve this by assisting volunteers to u...

Volunteers have helped to create a new footpath in woods near Llangennech. The project at Troserch Community Woodland was a partnership between Tidy Towns, the Prince’s Trust Cymru, Troserch Woods Society and Keep Wales Tidy and the aim was to improve access and to help develop the circular walk that runs around the woods. Previously walkers had to get up a steep bank which, in wet weather, became slippery, resulting in a number of trails being created, and leading to erosion and the trampling of vegetation and bugs. But thanks to the hard work of volunteers, a new footpath has been constructed which means walkers can descend or ascend the bank safely and without being a threat to the natural environment. Keep Wales Tidy’s Carmarthenshire Officer Dan Snaith said, “Once again, the Prince’s Trust volunteers have demonstrated a great commitment to their course by contributing to a community project for the benefit of others. “The project was completed in the allocated time, and the finish...