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

A programme of activities is taking place across Carmarthenshire during Road Safety Week. The aim of the week – which is being held between November 21 and 27 - is to raise awareness of road safety issues, and in particular, what we can all do to make our roads safer and reduce the number of accidents. The council’s road safety team has organised various events from free child car seat checks, to walk to school initiatives, young driver education and older driver refresher courses. The child car seat checks will be held at Parc Y Scarlets on Tuesday, November 22 between 3pm and 6pm. No appointment is needed, officers will check that the seat is suitable for the vehicle and is fitted securely as well as being appropriate for the child. The event is being held in partnership with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed-Powys Police and Parc Y Scarlets and everyone who has a car seat check will be entered into a prize draw to win a family ticket to a forthcoming Scarlets game....

Residents of Pembrokeshire are being urged to find out how to love their liver during the Love Your Liver campaign, this January. To spread awareness and educate people about liver health, professionals will be visiting a series of locations across the Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) area, in the coming weeks. Nicola Reeve, Blood-borne Virus Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hywel Dda University Health Board explained: “You may not hear much about it but your liver is your largest organ and is amazing as it has over 500 different roles in the body! “If you do think about your liver you may think about alcohol – a major risk factor which can affect the health of your liver. Breaking down poisons and toxins such as alcohol is just one of your liver’s jobs. “Two other major risk factors which can affect the health of your liver are hepatitis and obesity. Across Wales the number of people with Hepatitis C has increased; every day people are newly infected with entirely preventable viral h...

Residents of Carmarthenshire are being urged to find out how to love their liver during the Love Your Liver campaign, this January. To spread awareness and educate people about liver health, professionals will be visiting a series of locations across the Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) area, in the coming weeks. Nicola Reeve, Blood-borne Virus Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hywel Dda University Health Board explained: “You may not hear much about it but your liver is your largest organ and is amazing as it has over 500 different roles in the body! “If you do think about your liver you may think about alcohol – a major risk factor which can affect the health of your liver. Breaking down poisons and toxins such as alcohol is just one of your liver’s jobs. “Two other major risk factors which can affect the health of your liver are hepatitis and obesity. Across Wales the number of people with Hepatitis C has increased; every day people are newly infected with entirely preventable v...

When the country goes to the polls for the General Election on Thursday, the results could be one of the closest in recent years and with 18 to 24 year olds making up nearly 14 per cent of the electorate the youth vote could be the deciding factor. With this in mind Carmarthenshire County Council has been out to Coleg Sir Gâr campuses around the county, from Pibwrlwyd and Jobs Well campuses in Carmarthen; Ammanford; Gelli Aur in Golden Grove and the Graig in Llanelli, engaging with young voters. Students had their photos taken with a pledge that they will be using their vote on May 7 in front of a green screen in order that they then were superimposed in front of the Houses of Parliament. When talking to students throughout the campaign it was clear that although some students were indecisive and unsure who to vote for or whose policies were relevant to them, the election was certainly a topic of conversation around the campuses. Liah Evans aged 19 from Llanelli, studying at Coleg Si...

People can have their say on council budget proposals at events taking place across Carmarthenshire. Roadshows will be held in Newcastle Emlyn, Llanelli, Ammanford and St Clears as part of the consultation process. People can go along and speak to officers and councillors about the proposals being put forward as the council tries to balance its books, whilst facing cuts of around £44million over the next three years. With such a significant reduction in its budget the council is having to look at all options for reducing spend and it is likely that this will affect dozens of services and jobs. Senior officers have already identified millions of pounds in operational savings, now councillors have to make decisions that could affect the delivery of front line services to find the rest of the money needed. The process started with a members’ seminar, and all of the Council’s scrutiny committees will discuss the budget at their meetings over the coming months. Full consultation with th...

Carmarthenshire leisure centres are going green to help the planet. Special roadshows are being staged across the county to mark Wales Sustainability Week. Eco interactive games and an innovative eco driving simulator will be available as part of a week-long programme of activities. Organisers say the initiative has been planned to showcase what customers can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Advice will be given to educate people about ways of reducing energy and helping the environment. The Welsh Assembly Government initiative, which runs from May 21-27 is supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, which is spearheading a sustainability drive in the area. Carmarthen, Llanelli, Amman Valley, St Clears and Newcastle Emlyn Leisure Centres are taking part, along with Llandovery Pool and Carmarthen Bowls Centre. Eco interactive games will include a home display which shows how heat loss from a building can be prevented through insulation and double glazing. A water polo game will ill...

Off-Road Show highlights community engagement | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys As part of its commitment to community engagement and safeguarding the environment, Dyfed-Powys Police is organising a multi-agency Off-Road initiative. Held on 5 April at the Forestry commission Visitor Centre at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, the event will be attended by a variety of partner organisations such as; Ceredigion County Council, Forestry Commission Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and Off-Road Organisation Treadlightly, which promotes responsible off-roading.

A roadshow which aims to make people more aware of the help available to them in times of financial strain is continuing its journey across Carmarthenshire. Representatives from several organisations which make up Advice Support Carmarthenshire have been hitting the road to offer information on a range of issues such as reducing fuel bills, volunteering, benefit entitlements, housing and much more. The roadshow has already visited Newcastle Emlyn and St Clears. Next week it will stop at Brynamman Community Centre and Pontyberem Hall car park on Tuesday, October 11, and at Llandovery town car park on Thursday, October 13. Information and question and answer sessions are also being broadcast on Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM. Amongst those signed up as part of the ASC network are Age Cymru, CAVS, Mencap, Job Force Wales, the Department of Work and Pensions and Citizens Advice Bureau. ASC co-ordinator, Lyn Bright, said: “We have had an encouraging start to the roadshows, but as ever...

Carmarthenshire's community safety team is hitting the road this Christmas to spread some festive crime prevention advice. A number of roadshows are being held across the county and residents are being urged to go along and meet their local Neighbourhood Policing Team as well as pick up essential safety advice and crime prevention tips. The roadshows are being held on/at: • Tuesday, December 14 – Co-op, Llandovery • Tuesday, December 14 – Co-op. Llandeilo • Wednesday. December 15 - Co-op, Cross Hands • Thursday, December 15 – CKs, Pontyberem Community Safety Inspector Tony Ward said: “Carmarthenshire is one of the safest places to live in the UK and we want to keep it that way. We want to remind the public that by following some simple steps we can all reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime this Christmas.” The Community Safety Partnership is made up of representatives from the county council, police, fire service and other agencies and aims to make the county a safer ...