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

Welsh language campaigners have destroyed roadside signs and trespassed on the Evan-Evans brewery site to deface promotional banners promoting this weekend’s Llandeilo Jazz Festival, it is claimed. Jazz at Llandeilo 2013 is a sell-out and the West Wales market town is expecting more than 2,000 visitors for the festival. Jazz Festival promoter Simon Buckley, chief executive of the Evan-Evans brewery, said “No other brewer in Wales has done more to promote Welsh brewing and hospitality than me. “The reason we have not been able to brand the festival in Welsh is one of cost. “Last year, my company spent £15,000 getting Jazz in Llandeilo started for the benefit of the town as a whole. This year, we hoped other companies would step forward and support the festival but they have not, so we have had to scale back the level of promotional support. “This year, the festival is set to raise significant sums for the two primary schools, including Ysgol Teilo Sant in Llandeilo, to help pur...

Safety tests are to be carried out on memorials at Ammanford Cemetery. The works are being undertaken by Carmarthenshire County Council for health and safety reasons. The council has a legislative duty to ensure all memorials in this cemetery are in a safe and stable condition. Testing will begin on the week commencing July 31 on memorials in section Q. Memorials found to be in a dangerous condition will be fitted with a temporary support. Remedial works will then be carried out by local monumental masons and the full cost will be paid for by the council. Families affected will be contacted in writing. Executive board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “I would like to reassure relatives that any headstones which fail the safety test and require remedial work will be restored to the same high standard as they were originally erected and that the works will be undertaken with respect and dignity. Furthermore, the full cost of any re-instatement work will be met by t...

Social entrepreneur Kevin Green was delighted to give the Prince of Wales first hand feedback on how The Prince’s Trust is helping change lives. The multi-millionaire from Burry Port was one of a number of businesspeople who met the prince at the youth charity’s new Cardiff centre. “It was, of course, a great honour to meet the Prince,” said Kevin. “The enthusiasm that he has for The Prince’s Trust really shines through. “In recent months, I have been able to see first hand what good work The Prince’s Trust does in Wales. “As an entrepreneur and businessman, I hope I was able to give the Prince some great feedback on what The Prince’s Trust means to so many people and how it works so hard to help our young people realise their full potential. “The Prince’s Trust is obviously close to the Prince’s heart and he had some excellent questions about the small part I am trying to play in helping the charity as a supporter of The Prince’s Trust.” The prince is the youth charity’s Founder ...

Llandeilo Jazz 2013 is a complete sell out. But there’s still the chance to join in the fun, with plenty of street music lined up for the weekend. “With more than 250 musicians and a wide variety of music, from Trad Jazz through to Gypsy, we are going to have a wonderful time,” said festival organiser Simon Buckley, chief executive of Llandeilo-based Evan-Evans Brewery. “With the promise of three days of excellent weather, it looks as though we are in for a wonderful weekend. Even if you have not got a ticket, there is great line up of street music so come along and join the atmosphere of what will be a great event. “There is something here for everyone, and hopefully we will have raised a sizeable sum for Llandeilo’s primary schools. “The beer is brewed, and I am looking forward to a weekend of great music.” Headline acts for the festival include - Willie Garnett, veteran tenor Saxophonist and Big Band Leader, will play the festival on Sunday July 7th at The Cawdor Hotel accompanied...

Hywel Dda Health Board is exploring the possibilities that the new Cardigan Integrated Care Project could offer - potentially providing opportunities for more specialist dental care, an on-site pharmacy, in-reach, outreach and healthy living services. New partnerships with groups and organisations in other community settings are also being explored. Community and Primary Care Services General Manager Jina Hawkes explained: “We are currently working with planners and partners in primary care and social services on the final stages of a model of care that will meet the needs of the Cardigan and district population. We are also exploring a huge range of potential opportunities that a new building such as this offers – from involving local GPs, pharmacists and dental services to minor injury care and other ‘walk-in’ services. We are also working with other sectors to make this a community building for use by local residents.” Some of the services planned to be provided include: community ...

The Centre of Excellence for UK Farming (CEUKF), an agri-food supply-chains alliance to help UK Farming address production and sustainability challenges, has announced that its partnership now includes five leading UK research institutions and helps run a number of collaborative agri-food R&D projects. Since its launch in 2011 with seed-funding from food retailer Waitrose, the centre now includes: Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS); NIAB TAG; Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute of Northern Ireland (AFBI); Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Harper Adams University. CEUKF delivers briefings and news item for the partners and their projects through its Farming Futures (FF) website, twitter followers and the partners’ wider network. The CEUKF Steering Board of industry and academic leaders is chaired by Lord Curry of Kirkharle who said, “CEUKF is helping to cement relationships through building trust and smoothing lines of commun...

Major strengthening works are being carried out to a Llangadog bridge. The works to the Carreg Sawdde Bridge started on Monday (July 1) and are being carried out by TRJ (Betws) Ltd on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council. The C2146 road will be closed to traffic for the duration of the work; however pedestrian access will be maintained at the site with a temporary footbridge. The duration of the contract is 30 weeks, although there will be a two week shutdown at Christmas, taking the overall scheme to 32 weeks. The road is due to reopen to traffic on February 7, 2014. The project, which is costing more than half a million pounds, will see the replacement of the existing sub-standard bridge deck, which is currently subject to a 7.5 tonne weight limit. The existing abutments and piers will remain, although they will be modified to accommodate the new deck. The strengthening works will result in the existing 7.5 tonne weight limit being removed, benefitting the local rural community...