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

An Italian who has lived in Wales for 15 years and is now an undergraduate at Aberystwyth University is organising a rally of fellow students and staff as part of a worldwide day of action in support of migrants and refugees. Irene Cuogo says she has seen a rise in racist and xenophobic behaviour in many parts of the United Kingdom since the Brexit vote in June 2016. She wants to show that Aberystwyth University, the town and Ceredigion are welcoming, inclusive and global in their outlook. As part of an international campaign called One Day Without Us , Irene is calling on fellow students, staff and members of the local community to gather on the piazza outside the Arts Centre at 1pm lunchtime on Monday 20 February. “Ceredigion is a very important and dear county for the ethos it holds in regards to us immigrants, migrants and refugees, and how its people demonstrate their support and appreciation towards our group on a daily basis since Brexit,” said Irene. “More specifically, the v...

The annual national campaign to encourage people in eligible groups across Wales to have a flu vaccination and protect themselves from the illness is being launched today (Monday October 10 2016). ‘Beat Flu’ aims to encourage the people who need it most to get protection each year against flu, a potentially dangerous disease. This includes everyone aged 65 and over, people with certain chronic long term health conditions and pregnant women. Carers, volunteers providing planned emergency first aid and Community First Responders, are also entitled to the vaccine, which is delivered as a small injection in the arm. Frontline health and social care workers should have the vaccine as part of their occupational health care, to protect themselves and those they care for. The vaccine programme will be extended this year for children and those between the ages of two and seven will be eligible. The vaccine for children is a simple nasal spray with children aged 2 and 3 receiving it at th...

Smokers in Carmarthenshire are being urged to stub-out cigarette related litter in a new campaign. Council officers are working with pub landlords and restaurants across the county to encourage people to bin their butts. During the launch of the campaign, held at the The Stag in Five Roads, Llanelli, a sample of pocket ashtrays were given to the landlord and landlady in a bid to help reduce cigarette related litter at the premises. Enforcement officers will be visiting other hotspot areas across the county and handing out posters to premises which have problems with cigarette littering to remind smokers that if they’re caught littering they could get fined £75 or a maximum of £2,500 if prosecuted through the magistrates court. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection, Cllr Jim Jones, said: “Many people do not think of cigarette ends as litter, but it is. Dropping a cigarette end is no different from throwing away any other sort of litter. It makes the area look ...

Staff from Bronglais Hospital have helped raise the importance of ‘loving your liver’  The Love Your Liver campaign is a national awareness initiative by the British Liver Trust and highlights how just staying off alcohol for two to three days at a time, avoiding fatty foods and taking regular exercise are great ways to look after your liver. Nurse Trevor Bond and colleagues arranged an information board in the hospital canteen with your various leaflets, which included a laptop playing the Love Your Liver DVD, and also held a liver quiz to win a box of fruit – well done guys!! For more information go to www.loveyourliver.org.uk/

A new drive has being launched in Carmarthenshire to tackle fast food litter. The council, in partnership with McDonald’s, has launched a  campaign to clean up the county. Figures show that fast food litter such as chip wrappers, crisp packets, drinks cartons and half eaten food can be found on 20% of county streets. The council is encouraging people to dispose of their rubbish more responsibly and has teamed up with McDonald’s to raise awareness of the problem. Officers visited McDonald’s restaurants in Carmarthen and Cross Hands to put up posters and talk to customers. On average 40 tonnes of litter is removed every week in Carmarthenshire and it costs the council over £2.2 million per year. Not only does litter take years to break down, but it spoils the appearance of an area and attracts rats. People are also being reminded that anyone caught throwing litter can get an on-the-spot fine of £75; or if taken to court, a fine up to £2,500. Since council environmental enforceme...

Carmarthenshire pubs are being given a chance to let visitors know the welcome that awaits them. The county council is preparing to launch a Pub of the Week campaign to give the best pubs in Carmarthenshire the chance to set out their stall. The council’s tourism section came up with the campaign after looking at how to best to channel Carmarthenshire’s diverse range of pubs into helping to get visitors to Carmarthenshire and into making sure visitors get the experience they desire when they are here. From the week of June 11, the county council is funding a new promotion with Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM to identify pubs from across the whole of Carmarthenshire that can become Carmarthenshire Pub of the Week. This will give them free on-air promotion, inclusion in the pubs / food drink feature on www.discovercarmarthenshire.com and other leaflets and tourism promotions as well as communication to the county council’s 9,500 employees. The council’s marketing and tourism manager...