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

The Welsh Assembly Government today debated the support that the Government in Cardiff gives to local, festivals and events that drive tourism and support the rural economy. William Powell, Lib Dem AM for Mid Wales, questioned the level of support that was available for a rural festival. Mr Powell made reference to the Llandeilo Jazz Festival (Jazz@Llandeilo), which is now in its third year and going from strength to strength. Mr Powell paid tribute to the local people and businesses - notably the Evan-Evans Brewery- who worked tirelessly to stage the festival. The AM then called for more to be done to put 'best-practice' guidelines in place for summer festivals. He said that the Government should ensure that such cultural events – especially those primarily funded and run by private individuals and communities – were able to access the advice and support they needed, so that best practice could be shared across Wales. Simon Buckley, the organiser of Jazz@Llandeilo a...

Llandeilo-based award-winning brewer Evan-Evans is starting the search for 10 new apprentices to join the brewing company’s pub estate. And one of them will be the first ‘brewing apprentice’ in the Welsh brewing industry. The company has teamed up with Mid Wales company Cambrian Training to provide the comprehensive training scheme that will develop the new talent for the Evan-Evans brewery group. The scheme, launched this week, will develop the opportunity for one new apprentice in each of the company’s public houses to work through the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) Level 2 and 3 certificates in Licensed Hospitality Skills. In addition to training a team of front-of-house apprentices, the company has also committed to driving opportunities for apprentices in food production and cooking. Evan-Evans Group Chief Executive Simon Buckley said: “The search is on for 10 really good people to join our apprenticeship training scheme. “We are an international award-winning company wit...

Petitions Committee open-mic meeting in Carmarthen The National Assembly for Wales’s Petitions Committee will hold a formal meeting at Trinity College, Carmarthen on Tuesday, 28 February. The Committee, chaired by William Powell AM, will consider new petitions and updates on current petitions before holding an open-mic session for people wanting to contribute evidence on the subject of noise nuisance from wind farms in the Carmarthenshire area. The ‘control of noise nuisance from wind farms’ petition states: “We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to pass a statute controlling the noise nuisance from wind turbines during anti-social hours. We ask for the implementation of respite periods during which time turbines would be switched off.” The National Assembly for Wales bus will also be on hand to gather further evidence from anyone who wishes to express a view on the subject.