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

Burry Port’s eco-friendly community primary school is up for another top award! Officially the first educational building in Wales to pass the stringent Passivhaus standard owing to its super energy efficiency features, the school has already won three national architectural awards. Now, Welsh sustainability organisation Cynnal Cymru has shortlisted it for a Sustain Wales Award, in the ‘sustainable school’ category, which will be decided by a public vote. The £3.8 million school, which opened in September 2015 was built as part of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme, with part funding from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools initiative. It is home to children aged three to 11, and also incorporates a Flying Start nursery which includes a sensory garden space for the outdoor environment which will be the first of its kind in Wales. Built by council framework contractor WRW Ltd and designed by Architype UK, the school is made of a modular timber fra...

The Dylan Thomas Writing Shed in Laugharne has reached the final of the 2016 Shed of the Year competition. The number of entries in the competition, run Readersheds, has been whittled down from 285 to just 32. The Writing Shed is entered in the Historic category. Home of the Great British shed, the Readersheds website celebrates every conceivable style, shape and size of the shed. From the traditional to the unconventional and everything in between, Readersheds has them all. To vote for the Writing Shed please go to: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/?type=Historic

With just a few short months left before two elections people in Carmarthenshire are being urged to ensure they are registered to vote. On May 5, electors will have the chance to vote for their constituency Welsh Assembly Member and Regional Members who will represent them at the Welsh Government. There will also be an election to choose the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Dyfed Powys area. Welsh Assembly Members will remain in government for five years, and the PCC for four years. Carmarthenshire County Council’s electoral services division works to support elections and referendums. People need to ensure they are registered before they are able to vote, it can be done online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Electors can vote in person at a polling station, by post or by proxy, more information about voting methods can be found at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk . Returning Office Mark James said: “This is a vote about the future of Wales, and people have the opportunity to decide who wil...

People in Carmarthenshire are being reminded that they need to be registered to be able to vote in the forthcoming General Election. It will be held on Thursday, May 7, and there are a number of different ways people can vote. Which elections residents can vote in depends on their nationality. If they are a British or Commonwealth citizen living in the UK, they can vote in all elections in Carmarthenshire. If they are a European Union citizen, they can vote in Local and European Parliamentary elections, but not General Parliamentary elections. People who have moved recently or are not registered to vote, need to complete an application form either online or apply to the elections office by no later than Monday, April 20. Those who require a postal vote for this election, must complete and send an application to the Acting Returning Officer by no later than 5pm on Tuesday, April 21. For those who choose to vote by post, a postal vote pack will be sent to them around 10 days before th...

Registering to vote is now simpler than ever under a new online system which has been launched today by Minister of State for Cities and the Constitution Greg Clark. From today, people will be able to register to vote online in just three minutes by simply providing a name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number. The online registration service has been extensively tested with real users over many months and today’s live service is compatible with all platforms, including smartphones and tablets, meaning maximum convenience when registering. Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Greg Clark said: “This service will bring voter registration into the 21st century and make it easier, simpler and faster for people to register to vote. “Putting public services online is saving taxpayers money and giving people access to services when and where they need them.” The launch of the new online tool is part of a wider move to Individual Electoral Registration (IER), where...

One of the Age Cymru Sir Gar befriending links groups is in the running for an 'Epic Award' (Voluntary Arts Wales). The public can help the Llanelli group win the award by voting for them online. The group shortlisted for the award is the popular Llangennech Knit, Craft and Chat Group craft group which offers isolated over-50s friendship and a chance to develop skills. To vote for thegroup, click on this link, http://blog.epicawards.co.uk/category/epic-awards-2014/shortlisted-2014/ You may need to register (if you haven’t already) and scroll down to look for the Llangennech group then click on the little green icon to vote. Help this wonderful group of over 50s win this award. The nomination on the Epic Awards website reads - Popular craft group which offers isolated over-50s friendship and a chance to develop skills. Established in 2012, Llangennech Knit, Craft and Chat Group was set up as part of a taster week in which basic knitting and card making skills were demonstrate...

Carmarthen youth club Dr Mz has got through to the Big Lottery People's Millions vote. This could win them £40K for a Growing Green Teens Project - the project will support young people aged 12-25 to grow and cook, plus the bits in between! Dr Mz is an amazing youth club in the centre of Carmarthen, used by many young people from the surrounding area. It has a very dedicated and committed staff and team of young people. Lines are now open to vote. Call 0871 62 68 168. It costs 11p per call and you can call up to 10 times. Take one minute today (or 10 if you call 10x) and make a difference to young people in Carmarthenshire by making that call. Dr.M’z is a youth drop in centre run by Carmarthen Youth Project for young people aged 11-25. The club provides a comfortable, safe, informative and stimulating place for young people to meet. The History of Dr Mz by youth worker Gayle Harris - Once upon a time in 1994-5 there was nothing for young people to do in Carmarthen unless y...

Vote aims to pitch Llanelli versus Carmarthenshire County Council - Wales News - News - WalesOnline Town councillors in former industrial heavyweight Llanelli want to break away from Carmarthenshire County Council – accusing it of “systematically running down” the historic town. A vote in favour of the move “in principle” was set to take place last night in a move unlikely to find favour with the Welsh Government.

Carmarthenshire residents are being reminded that time is running out to be registered to vote. The county, town and community council elections are taking place on May 3 and everyone needs to be registered to enable them to vote. Registration forms must be completed and returned by April 18, contact electoral services at Carmarthenshire County Council for more information. Details of local polling stations will appear on individual polling cards. People can also apply for a postal vote if their local polling station is inconvenient, or if they are going to be away. Postal application forms must also be completed and returned by April 18. Contact electoral services on 01267 228889 or email electoralservices@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Should Carmarthenshire Council spend money on webcasting council meetings? Check out the Dyfrig Thomas blog - http://dyfrigbigynallanelli.blogspot.com/2012/01/webcasting-council-meeting_15.html

Voter registration forms will soon be dropping through letterboxes across Carmarthenshire. People are urged to return them as soon as possible to make their voices heard in the local elections taking place in May 2012. Electoral Registration Officer Mark James said: “Registering to vote is very simple. All you have to do is update the annual canvass form with the details of everyone in your household who is eligible to vote and return as soon as possible. If there are no changes to the form then you may confirm by free phone or internet. “There was a lot of interest in this year’s National Assembly election and on the referendums held in Wales in March on the Assembly’s further law-making powers, and in May on the Parliamentary voting system. We were pleased with the increase in registration shortly before polling day. However, some people may not realise that they have to register every year. It is important to complete and return the registration form to take part in the upcoming ele...

The details of how voters in Carmarthenshire backed giving the Welsh Assembly greater lawmaking powers. The county voted 42,979 (70.8 per cent) in favour to 17,712 (29.2 per cent) against on a turnout of 44.36 per cent.