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

Schoolchildren in the town will be the raising the roof at Llanelli Market in the run up to Christmas. Primary pupils will be showing off and entertaining the crowds with carol singing and Christmas themed songs throughout December. Brynsierfel, Yr Hendy, Bigyn, Halfway, Ysgol Y Castell, Stebonheath and Old Road are among the school choirs taking part outside The Teapot Café. Parents are being urged to come and support their schools and spread the Christmas cheer. County Markets Manager, Amanda Davies said: “We are all very excited here and look forward to welcoming the children. Market traders are already getting into the festive spirit and have started decking out their stalls with Christmas bling. The council’s executive board member for resources, Cllr David Jenkins said: “What a treat for those visiting Llanelli Market this year. There’s always something special about a children’s choir singing and we hope that as many people as possible will come out to show their support.” Dat...

Shoppers and traders at Carmarthen market have donated £400 to the Special Care Baby Unit in Glangwili hospital. Each year the market’s traders committee picks a local charity to support throughout the year. The money donated is made up from the percentage of the takings received to the committee from the market’s photobooth and children’s ride as well as donations made by shoppers to the wishing well in the foyer. Chairman of the traders committee, Doug Ashton, said: “Just by using the photobooth in the market or by making a donation in our wishing well, shoppers are helping local charities, such as the SCBU unit in Glangwili. We would like to thank all those who supported and helped us pass on this money to a good cause. We shall be continuing to raise money for another local good cause this year.” The money raised will go towards purchasing a sofa bed for the newly re-decorated parent’s sitting room in the unit. Julie Young, Neonatal Unit Manager at the Special Care Baby Unit in G...

Three new businesses have started trading in Carmarthen Market. Rone’s Jewellery Repair Specialists can be found behind the Clock Tower and Big Rasta Nation and Cowin Lush Cakes have opened up inside the market hall. This brings the total to 6 new traders opening in the market in recent months. Rone’s Jewellery Repair Specialists offer services including ring sizing, ring repairs, chain repairs, supply of precious gemstones, remodelling of current jewellery, bespoke design service and cleaning and rhodium services. The independent family business is run by Caroline and Jonathan Rone. Caroline said: “Jonathan previously worked in Burgess Jewellers in Carmarthen for 30-years. Things are going really well here in the market at the moment.” Big Rasta Nation sells Caribbean crafts, mens, ladies and childrenswear, jewellery and over-18 goods. Trader Emerson Ray has been trading in the outdoor market on Wednesdays and Saturdays for a year. He is currently trading in the both the indoor an...

Leading councillors in Carmarthenshire are encouraging businesses in Ammanford town centre to take advantage of a £50,000 cash boost. The funding is coming from the Welsh Government as part of the Support Your High Street  campaign, which aims to encourage more people to shop in their local town centre. Recently, the successful Twrch Trwyth festival was held in Ammanford as part of the campaign. The funding has now been awarded to a number of towns across Wales, and will pay for things such as town centre events, branding, promotions, website, signage, footfall counters and digital media training for retailers. Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “We would urge all shops and businesses in Ammanford town centre to take advantage of the opportunities this funding will provide. “Our executive board members and our officers have worked closely with the Welsh Government on initiatives such as this which support our town centres. “We very much welcome this fund...

Ammanford traders are giving the Gwyl y Twrch Trwyth Festival a colourful welcome to the town centre. The Festival and the Support your Local High Street Initiative is providing a shop window for what traders have to offer and they have decorated their shop windows to promote the festival, too. The displays follow a boar theme linked to the produce sold at each shop. Among the businesses that have decorated their shop windows is the ismooth cafe in College Street where one of the two boars in the window is good enough to eat! Erika Beynon of ismooth said: “We decided to make a boar out of cake which we have cooked and decorated and put in our window. We also have the original papier mache boar made for the launching of Twrch Trwyth. “Traders have really got behind Twrch Trwyth which is nice to see. There has been a lot of decorating. It is helping the Third Sector as well as private traders and has brought us together. For traders these are exciting times!” Angela Phillips ...

Llanelli traders can promote their businesses nationally as part of the High Street campaign. A Wales-wide PR drive is on to encourage more people to shop in their local town centre. One of the way businesses can join in is via social media, spreading their news on Twitter using the hashtag #supporthighstreets and including the Welsh Government @WG_HouseRegen to help spread the word across Wales. There is also a Facebook page – Support Your High Street Wales – which businesses can share their posts on. They can also upload photographs onto the page which will be promoted across the country. Carmarthenshire’s tourism and marketing manager Huw Parsons said: “Local shops and businesses can take this opportunity to join a national campaign and promote their goods and services across Wales. “Llanelli town centre has a lot to offer visitors and shoppers and we would encourage traders to take advantage of this chance to not only encourage more business for themselves, but also more visitors...

The traders in Llandeilo are warming up for a busy jazz festival weekend (July 6-8). The festival is hosting a series of street music events around the town, making sure shops and cafes feel the beat of the music. The organisers have insisted that the festival is for the benefit of the town’s traders. No outside food purveyors are being allowed to take part. Paul Knox owner of the Olive Branch Deli said: “This is a great new event for the town, where we are all going to benefit from the crowd that will come for the music. We, along with the other food providers and cafés in the town, are going to provide a great food offering for the event. “I hope that this will develop into an annual event and in time become as prestigious as Brecon. “I am sure that all the traders are looking forward to what will be a busy and, hopefully, a memorable event. “This is yet another event that will put Llandeilo on the map.”