Nearly 5,000 bus passes have been posted out for secondary school pupils ready for September.

Anyone who has not yet received their pass is urged to contact the council immediately.

Executive board member responsible for environment, Cllr Hazel Evans, said: “Some families may have changed address during the last year and have forgotten to tell us, which means their travel passes could have been sent to the old address. I would urge anyone who hasn’t received their passes yet to get in touch with us as soon as possible so that officers have time to deal with the requests before school starts again in September.”

Parents who think their child is eligible for free transport but haven’t yet applied, are being urged to submit their applications online at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/schooltransport as soon as possible.

It is now too late to be added to the arrangements for the start of the new term, but if eligible the Council will try to accommodate as soon as possible.

Parents are also urged to ensure that the stopping details shown on the travel passes are correct, as bus and taxi drivers will only be able to pick up and drop off pupils at the locations shown on their travel passes, and the vehicles will only stop at the points show on the timetables, which are available online at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/schooltransport

Around 400 passes for primary school pupils will be posted out in the coming weeks.

Aberystwyth University has announced the appointments of three new independent members of the University’s governing body.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Professor Robin Williams and Samantha Blackie have joined the University’s Council and will take up their posts on 1 August 2018, serving for an initial period of three years.

Chaired by Dr Emyr Roberts, the Council has a majority of independent members who are drawn from the private and public sectors to bring a range of experience and professional expertise to the governance of the University.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond ends his tenure as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen on 31 July 2018 after ten years in the role. He chaired the Welsh Government’s Review of Higher Education and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales, which published its recommendations in 2016. He is currently Chair of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), of Plan International UK, and Edinburgh College of Further Education. He is also a Board Member of UK Research and Innovation and of the UK Statistics Authority.

Professor Robin Williams is former Vice Chancellor of Swansea University. He has been a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales from 2009 to 31 July 2018 and chaired its Research, Innovation and Engagement Committee. Professor Williams is a Fellow of the Royal Society and was awarded a CBE in 2004 for services to higher education. He is a fluent Welsh speaker.

Samantha Blackie is a corporate HR Director having held senior positions with the Royal London Group, the UK’s largest mutual life insurance and pensions company, and Lloyds Banking Group. She is a Trustee of UK charity Meningitis Now.

Welcoming the appointments, Chair of Council Dr Emyr Roberts said: ‘These appointments bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Council. I am delighted to appoint members of this calibre and I look forward to working with them for the benefit of this historic University.”

The Council is the supreme governing body of the University and is responsible for determining the University’s strategic direction as well as the conduct of the University’s financial, administrative and other affairs, in accordance with its objectives.

Photo: Left to Right: Professor Sir Ian Diamond; Professor Robin Williams and Samantha Blackie

Work on a new link road in the county is driving forward.

The Cross Hands Economic Link Road will serve as an important link to the A48 trunk road and Cross Hands Business Park – linking Gorslas and Cross Hands via The Cross Hands Business Park.

Section one, which will run from Gate Road in Gorslas to Norton Road in Penygroes, is due to open in February 2019.

Construction work, which is being undertaken by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, started in January this year.

The road will serve the Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site which is set to become the next major employment zone in the county, with the potential to create up to 1,100 jobs.

It will provide a direct access from the north to the Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site and will relieve congestion at the main A48 Cross Hands Roundabout and improve safety at the ‘six ways’ junction at Gorslas square.

Executive Board Member responsible for environment, Cllr Hazel Evans said: “It’s great to see how well work is progressing on this major new link road for the Gwendraeth Valley.

“The link road is important not only for the new Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site, but also to ease congestion in Gorslas.”

The scheme, which will cost approximately £10.4 million, has received funding of £1.5 million from Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund 2017/18, with further funding allocated from the council’s capital programme.

Discussions with landowners are ongoing and construction work on the second section from Norton Road to Black Lion Road is expected to be start in 2019.

This will connect to the section from the M4 junction to Black Lion Road which was completed in 2015.

Roger Blyth says potential changes to the rugby landscape in Wales are something that excites everybody at the Ospreys Region.

Following much speculation and comment relating to ongoing changes to the way the regional game operates in conjunction with the WRU, the Ospreys chairman insists that activity going on behind the scenes to reshape the business will stand it in good stead for the future.

“It may be summer but it’s a very busy period, crucial for the future of the business” said Blyth.

“As an organisation, we are well aware of the challenges that lie ahead but we also look at it as a real opportunity to reshape our governance structure to ensure we are in the best position to take full advantage of any new agreement between the Union and Regions.

“There are wide ranging discussions currently ongoing across multiple fronts, with a number of different individuals and organisations, identifying ways that we can make our structure more suited to the changing landscape.

“This will lead to us identifying expertise that can assist us with our long-terms aims of putting Ospreys Rugby back at the forefront of the game.

“This excites everybody involved.

“It’s the nature of professional sport that at times of change there is rumour and speculation but we have to embrace this opportunity to ensure we are in the best shape to move forward confidently as a business.

“As we progress some of these projects we will keep supporters updated ahead of what promises to be an exciting season on and off the field.”