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

For the first time in yonks, blue skies (well, blueish) & can see Gower again from attic office window.

Well, at least the palm trees are enjoying the wet weather in Llanelli. This is West End, Llanelli. Could be Spain . . . :)

Council staff have been praised for all their hard work during the stormy weather over the Christmas and New Year period. Street Scene crews and Property Services staff responded to hundreds of calls as torrential rain and high winds battered the county, even working on Christmas Day. Over the two week period from December 23 to January 3 highways crews responded to more than 500 calls to deal with storm water flooding, tidal flooding and wind damage, fallen trees and gritting action due to ice and hail. More than 2,500 sandbags were distributed to residents and businesses across the county to help keep floodwater out. In the Llanelli area, assistance was given to residents in Llangennech affected by flooding from the River Morlais with sandbags provided to those in need. The coastal road between Ferryside and Kidwelly near the Carmarthen Bay Holiday Village also had to be closed due to flooding. In Pendine, temporary measures were taken to provide a defence barrier due to the sev...

Teams of volunteers and council rangers have started a massive coastal clean up operation following the storms. The work could take several months, and there is a warning that more coastal batterings could be endured at the beginning of February and March bringing more misery. Last weekend bridges were torn up at one end of the Millennium Coastal Park at Bynea and hundreds of tonnes of sand shorn off dunes - leaving 25ft high sheer cliffs of sand - at Cefn Sidan, Pembrey. Sea defences of £2million installed in recent years along the Bynea to Burry Port stretch have done a magnificent job to prevent any major intrusion of the sea. The only weakness was found at Burry Port woodlands where the wind drove the high tides of last weekend in behind the walls of rock armour exposing the former Carmarthen Bay Power Station duff beds. A large section was eroded by the sea turning it black, but this is of no concern because the material is inert. Footpaths immediately behind this area are so...

Look what the wind did to the Trafalgar Beacon in Llanelli. The beacon was erected at Llanelli's Millennium Coastal Park as part of the Trafalgar bicentenary celebrations in 2005 to mark the 200th Anniversary of the sea battle and death of Lord Nelson. Park manager Rory Dickinson Mr Dickinson said the 14-inch square post was snapped like matchwood in the vicious 70mph winds causing the cauldron atop the post to crash to the ground. You can read more about the storm damage here - http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Llanelli-businesses-sealed-like-pharaoh-s-tomb/story-20392364-detail/story.html

Carmarthenshire Council press release -  Carmarthenshire residents are being encouraged to sign up to the county council’s social media services for instant updates on any disruptions. More people than ever like or follow Carmarthenshire County Council on Twitter and Facebook, and they are the first to know about weather warnings, gritting programmes, school closures, road hazards and disruptions to opening hours of council buildings or services. Followers also find out about events and have access to a range of handy tips to get them though the festive season. Cllr Pam Palmer, Executive Board Member for Customer Focus and Policy, said: “The instant nature of social media allows us to get information out to the public quicker than ever before. People who like us on Facebook , or follow @CarmsCouncil on Twitter, are the first to know about any disruptions. “The other great thing about social media is that it allows us to have a two-way conversation with residents – we are able to...

Carmarthenshire Council press release -  Dozens of Carmarthenshire County Council workers have worked through the night helping out at flooding incidents across the county. Crews have been on standy 24-hours-a-day and have been deployed at various locations to assist with a number of incidents. Other staff are now being called in from annual leave to help if and when needed as the bad weather is forecast to continue over the weekend. They are being thanked for their efforts by Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge who said: “We really appreciate the work of all these members of staff who have been helping throughout the bad weather over the Christmas and New Year period, across all four corners of Carmarthenshire. “They have been on call 24 hours a day and worked throughout the night last night as the bad weather hit the county. “I know they have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their efforts to support individuals and communities who need it. “They have deployed hundreds of sa...

Two flood warnings have been issued for Carmarthen and Abergwili on Thursday after persistent downpours across Wales. Flood alerts have been issued for much of Wales including Swansea, with the ground saturated and river levels high there remains a continued risk of river and surface water flooding." Click on headline link for full South Wales Evening Post story.

Carmarthenshire council is more than prepared for icy weather. Around £1 million is set aside every year as part of the winter maintenance programme with staff on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week – even during Christmas and New Year. There are around 3,526 kilometres of road in Carmarthenshire and around a third is salted when weather conditions demand it. Once the decision to salt the roads is taken, approximately 1023 kilometres are treated usually within three hours of a bad weather warning. If snow should fall, snow clearing work comes into operation across the county. Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “We do everything we can to keep our roads safe for both motorists and pedestrians during the winter months. “We have 16,500 tonnes of salt in storage ready to grit the roads when temperatures drop, that’s double the amount we had four years ago. We also have 1,100 grit bins across the county to treat local roads and pavements.” Roads are g...

Budding weather forecasters have been busy in the Gwendraeth Valley as part of their drive to tackle environmental issues. Measuring temperature, patterns, wind speed and direction, air pressure and rainfall are all in a day’s work for Ponthenri schoolchildren. The weather station, funded Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership, is the latest in a line of ongoing projects the school has carried out as part of their Eco Schools green flag criteria. Other projects include a bug hotel, a path made out of logs, bird feeders, and a vegetable patch. Eight year old Courtney Hopkins is keen to promote the vegetable patch she helped create. She said: “Growing your own food is much healthier and we are also able to eat what we grow in our cookery sessions. I also enjoy recycling at home.” Carmarthenshire has the highest number of Platinum and Green Flag in schools in Wales under the Eco Schools programme, which is supported Carmarthenshire Community Challenge. Executive board member for T...

View from attic office window: Stradey Woods shrouded in mist. To the left, some signs of blue skies over Cefn Sidan. Jet stream on move? :)

The first ever Llandeilo Jazz festival is set to get off to a soggy start, with rain on Friday night. But the up-beat message from Llandeilo is that the rain is going to come to an end late in the evening and the rest of the weekend is set fair. The event, which is largely pub-based, is mostly undercover, with wet weather provision throughout the weekend. Simon Buckley, event organiser, said: "Its raining now in Llandeilo, but this is Wales. The rain is forecast to end later this evening, and then Saturday, and Sunday are set fair. "So there is absolutely no reason for people to hide away at home; it's jazz time Llandeilo style, and we now need people to get out and enjoy themselves. "We are blessed this year with the same weather as Glastonbury - but without the mud! "It’s going to be a great weekend, with great music, a great party, and most importantly in these difficult times, an opportunity for everyone to have a truly great time, and enjoy free music...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service As experts predict more heavy rain and strong winds will sweep across Wales, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are urging people in affected areas to be vigilant to the danger of flooding. Last weekend, around 150 firefighters battled extreme conditions to help residents throughout Ceredigion and Powys affected by the floods. Carl Sargeant, Minister for Local Government, has praised Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and the emergency and responder services, for their brave and swift coordinated response to the floods.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Public Health Wales issues hot weather advice ahead of torch relay Public Health Wales is reminding people planning to attend torch relay events this weekend to take care in the expected hot weather. With the fine weather set to continue over the weekend and people planning to be outside to watch the Olympic flame pass through Wales, the public are advised to take precautions to avoid being exposed to too much heat. Hot weather can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which is more serious, as well as the risk of sunburn.

It's all 'blue' looking out of the attic window. Odds-on for relocation of the 'office' to the Discovery Centre at the beach later . . .

The award-winning West Wales brewer Evan-Evans is reporting record sales in the lead up to the Easter break. Despite the dramatic change in the weather, it seems that licensees across Wales are hoping for a busy weekend. Evan-Evans Group Chief Executive Simon Buckley said: “Easter has been a busy time for us with record demand for our beers and customers searching for our new Easter Ale. “We have just completed a rebranding exercise, with a total rebrand of our Evan-Evans products. “Over the winter months we have been trialling a host of new beers for the Welsh market, and Easter Ale is the first of the new seasonal beers. “We have six new seasonal beers for our customers to try in 2012. “We now have reputation for brewing some of the best beers in Wales and for having the widest range of seasonal ales from any one brewer in the Principality. “We will be increasing our brand range with a new organic beer range, which will be priced at the same price as traditional beers. “Des...

It's minus three degrees at Aberglasney Gardens this morning. But the sun is shining and the place looks glorious.

The A4069 between Brynamman and Llangadog is closed due to drifting snow. Snow has fallen on high ground in the northern part of Carmarthenshire. The A483 at Sugarloaf is passable and is currently being treated, as is the A482 at Tafarn Jem.

Due to high winds, the attic office is closed to high-sided vehicles this morning!

Proud to announce that summer has arrived in Llanelli - at last. Walked the dog down the Millennium Coastal Path this morning and it was T-shirt weather - Scorchio!