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

Carmarthenshire County Council has expressed its disappointment that its offer to protect Tai Cantref Housing Association’s tenants and staff as a preferred partner has not been taken forward. Carmarthenshire County Council had put a full proposal to the Tai Cantref board. The offer would have: Guaranteed no compulsory redundancies Protected the brand and ethos of the association with an understanding and experience of the central importance of the Welsh language in this region of Wales Avoided rent rises Maintained and even expanded the Newcastle Emlyn base Created immediate stability from a large and locally based social housing provider Provided complete financial security for lenders and created a solid base for the further expansion of social housing across west Wales. Cllr Linda Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “We are naturally disappointed that, at this stage, the board of Tai Cantref have chosen to seek a partnership ...

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. ‘Always read the small print’ is a very worthy piece of advice. It’s something we are very keen on doing for our clients at Clay Shaw Butler. The devil, as they say, is in the detail. Which is why we continue, in Money Matters this week, to examine some of the detailed issues of the recent Budget and its implications for businesses. Here are a few topics which caught our eye in George Osborne’s Budget report - Making tax digital: From 2018 businesses, self-employed people and landlords who are keeping records digitally and providing regular digital updates to HMRC will be able to adopt pay-as-you-go tax payments. This will enable them to choose payment patterns that suit them and better manage their cash flow. Company distributions: Legislation will be introduced with effect from 6 April 2016 to:...

Budding young engineers from a Carmarthen school have built a miniature version of the Second Severn Crossing. Johnstown Primary School pupils were tasked with building a 35-foot cable-stayed bridge - a model replica of the Second Severn Crossing - from plywood and aluminium. The activity was linked to the £5 million Carmarthen West Link Road which is currently under construction by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, on behalf of the council. The council’s transport and engineering section and Griffiths is engaging with local schools to raise the profile of the construction industry and enthuse potential civil engineers. The ICE Bridge to Schools programme is a hands-on experience for pupils showcasing design and engineering at its simplistic best, in the form of a 35-foot cable-stayed bridge. This activity enhances pupils learning in a range of national curriculum subjects as well as highlighting careers within the construction industry, such as engineering, quantity surveying ...

The latest On Song column - about the choral scene in and around West Wales - from the Llanelli Star - One the busiest of the West Wales amateur theatre companies, Curtain Up Theatre Company, will be performing at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Saturday, April 23. The Curtain Up group has raised more than £40,000 for local charities in recent years. Saturday sees them raising cash for Diabetes UK. The show is titled Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber and will feature the works of the award-winning composer. There’ll be songs from the hit musicals Evita, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and many more. It is being billed as a family show not to be missed! Meanwhile, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will be doing their bit for a popular local cause on Friday, April 22. The choristers will be starring at a special evening to raise funds for the Parc Howard Association, the group working tirelessly to improve the park and house and keep it open for the public. ‘Music for The Parc’ will be stag...

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post. Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. www.philevans.co.uk ................................. A National Disgrace: Have you ever heard an item being read out during a radio news bulletin and it took you a moment for it to sink in properly? It happens quite a lot to me, because I’m usually doing something else at the same time as listening to the news on the radio – like reading the news in my daily paper or on my iPad. I prefer to listen to the TV news rather than watch it, because so many newsreaders have irritating habits that detract from the job they’re employed to do. When reading the news, Huw Edwards can’t look into the camera lens for more than a minute before giving in to a compulsion to cast his eyes downwards and to his left. It’s like he’s being distracted by a TV set under his desk that’s featuring a more interesting and less pompous newsreader than...

Grants of almost half a million pounds have been secured for road safety projects in Llanelli and along the route from Carmarthen to Cenarth. The council has received a total of £441,900 from the Welsh Government’s Road Safety Capital fund. It includes £216,000 for a cycle path, crossing points and traffic calming on the A4214 / B4303 in Llanelli and £225,900 for reduced speed limits and traffic calming measures on the A484 between Carmarthen and Cenarth. The scheme in Llanelli will concentrate on providing improved and safer crossing points, controlled crossing and traffic calming along the route between Murray Street, Upper Robinson Street, Pottery Street, Walters Road, Heol Elli, Heol Trostre and Lower Trostre Road. A shared use cycle path will also be constructed and will connect to an existing path between the Town Hall and the Millennium Coastal Park leading on to the national cycle route. The route treatment schemes on the A484 will consist of reduced speed limits, enhanced w...

It's Real Nappy Week from April 18-24 and mums and dads in Carmarthenshire are being urged to make the change. Modern washable nappies are easy to use; better for the environment and can save you money. They are also fun, fashionable and come in a range of styles designs and colours, from denim, spots, to ruffles. The council’s waste and recycling section has teamed up with local real nappy stockist Nappy Go Lucky to raise awareness on the benefits of using real nappies and will be in Guildhall Square in Carmarthen on Saturday, April 23 between 10am and 3pm. Council waste minimisation/recycling officer Karen Fulham said: “More and more parents are discovering the benefits of real nappies. With today’s modern designs, washing machines and the use of flushable liners, using real nappies couldn’t be easier. “If you haven’t tried them yet, give them a go, you may just be surprised. Come along and see us to find out more.” Using real nappies could save parents hundreds of pounds as th...