Local school children have been the first to try out the new Closed Road Cycling Circuit at Pembrey Country Park.

A small section of the circuit was opened last Friday for a school cycling festival ahead of the full public opening in early August.

Final touches and safety testing is underway on the purpose-built 1.9km circuit, which will provide a safe, traffic-free environment for coaching and training as well as competitive cycling events and public recreation.

It has been designed and built to British cycling standard, with a 6m wide tarmac surface of varying gradients and bends, to attract local, regional and national events, races and training camps.

Some of the world’s top cyclists will also be using the circuit as part of the prestigious Tour of Britain which will start at Pembrey Country Park on Sunday, September 2.

Carmarthenshire County Council has contributed £500,000 capital funding towards the circuit, with support from Welsh Cycling and Sport Wales.

It is another investment the council has made in cycling infrastructure in the county as part of its ambition for Carmarthenshire to become the cycling hub of Wales.

Elsewhere the council has contributed to renovation of Carmarthen velodrome, and is spending millions on active travel routes, including the Towy Valley Path which is currently underway.

Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths, said: “It was fantastic to see local school children using the closed road cycle circuit for the first time. Work has been delayed slightly due to the extreme warm weather we’ve had over the last few weeks so we hope to open the track up to the public in a few weeks’ time.

“This will be the best off road cycling circuit in Wales, if not the UK, which will no doubt attract cyclists from far and wide. There’s already been a huge amount of interest so we are expecting this will be a welcome boost to our tourism and leisure economy as people stay in the area to enjoy everything else Carmarthenshire has to offer, including miles of scenic cycle routes and trails.”

The circuit will be open to the public day to day and free to use, but will also be available for exclusive bookings, which will be managed by Welsh Cycling.

Further details on availability and how to book will be available on www.DiscoverCarmarthenshire.com/cycling over the coming weeks.

Speaking previously…

Bynea Cycling Club secretary Alan Smith said: “The new Pembrey road circuit will be the perfect venue and location for new cyclists to improve their cycling skills in a safe environment. The circuit will be used for training and racing which will be of benefit to experienced cyclists who may just want to ride sportives a little quicker all the way to the international and professional cyclists in south west Wales who will use the circuit to prepare for their competitions. Bynea Cycling Club look forward to supporting this fantastic facility.”

Roger Bowen from locally-based Amigo Cycling Club has also welcomed the facility: “This circuit will provide safe off-road cycling for the starter and experienced cyclist alike. With the links to the coastal path and the other cycle networks around Pembrey, Burry Port, Kidwelly and Llanelli it should greatly benefit the cycling community of Carmarthenshire.”

Pembrey CRCfrom Cyngor Sir Gâr | Carms Councilon Vimeo.

Fly-tipping at a service station in Llanelli has cost one man nearly £1,200.

Rennie Price was ordered to pay the money after he was caught on camera dumping rubbish behind the Shell garage in Dafen.

In a prosecution led by Camarthenshire Council, Llanelli magistrates heard that CCTV had picked up a loaded white Ford Transit tipper driving to the rear of petrol station at just after 9pm in August last year. Three minutes later the Treefellas truck was captured parked in the garage forecourt empty. The 47-year-old was the passenger.

Carmarthenshire Council enforcement officers caught up with the driver two days later and admitted that he and Price committed the crime thinking the location was a tip.

Despite two letters hand delivered to the address provided as Lleidi Crescent, there was no response. Two weeks later officers visited the address and the landlord confirmed it had been empty for a couple of weeks.

Contact was made with Dyfed Powys Police for assistance in tracing the male and Price.  Officers were informed that the vehicle had been stopped and the address provided by the driver was Creswell Road in Swansea. Another letter was sent to this address but no reply was received. Price claimed he no longer lived at this address.

Price was arrested on warrant on July 2 and appeared before Llanelli Magistrates Court. He admitted fly tipping and was fined £745, and told to pay £360 costs and £70 victim surcharge

The other male remains on a warrant.

The council’s executive board member for public protection, Cllr Philip Hughes said: “There is no place for fly tippers in this county. Dumped rubbish is unsightly and has a huge impact on the environment. We are determined to clean up our streets in Carmarthenshire and will continue to use our powers accordingly.”

The team from Llanelli-based Melin Consultants are playing a key role in a special event at The Senedd in Cardiff Bay today (Thursday, July 12).

G4C Wales (Generation for Change) is a driving force in Welsh construction, with a focus on the industry’s young professionals who have an interest in the Welsh built environment.

And today sees a special awards ceremony at the home of the Welsh Parliament.

Chris Amos, business development manager and senior consultant with Melin Consultants, is the co-chair of G4C Wales.

His colleague, Darren Baker, a senior consultant who leads the compliance team at Melin Consultants, also serves on the G4C Wales committee.

“It’s a great honour for Melin Consultants to play such a significant role in the work of the G4C Wales committee,” said Chris.

“Thursday’s awards marks a very special day and I am looking forward to an amazing event, together with my co-chair Libby Jones, of Dawnus.

“We do, of course, appreciate the major role Construction Excellence in Wales play in such an event.

“It will be the first time for me to attend such an event at The Senedd and it’s an occasion when I will be nervous, but very proud.

“Libby and I will be making a joint speech at the end of the proceedings, so we are both very excited to get the opportunity to speak in such a prestigious venue.

“The G4C Wales committee does marvellous work in helping develop and encourage skills and mentoring for the young professionals working in the Welsh built environment industry.

“At Melin Consultants, we are passionate about continued professional development and encouraging the young people who will play a part in the future development of our industry.

“With the help of Darren Baker of Melin Consultants, we really feel we are putting something back into the industry. We are a part of Construction Excellence in Wales and we are delighted that Melin Consultants can play such a role in future developments and improvements to our industry.”

Melin Consultants are providers of sustainable building and construction solutions throughout the UK.

They have offices throughout the UK, but the company’s main base is at the landmark Beacon building in Dafen, Llanelli.

Melin Consultants offer a host of Building Compliance services, from BREEAM Assessments, Energy Strategies, Sustainable Planning Reports to Air tightness and Thermographic surveys.

Contact Information

For more information please contact Chris Amos, Business Development Manager, Melin Consultants:

T: 0845 094 1593

E: chris@melinconsultants.co.uk

Website: www.melinconsultants.co.uk

Photos:

Melin company logo.

Chris Amos

Darren Baker

The Senedd building

Householders in Newcastle Emlyn and the surrounding areas are being urged to have a clear out.

A waste and tyre amnesty is being held at mart carpark site on Saturday, July 14 from 8am-12pm.

Most household waste can be taken along including, unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, as well as black bags.

A maximum of four tyres can also be disposed of; however, tractor or lorry tyres will not be accepted.

Hazardous waste such as paint, fluorescent tubes, batteries, chemicals, gas bottles and asbestos will not be accepted along with glass, trade waste, construction waste and agricultural waste.

Compost bins will also be on sale for £12.

Residents are advised to please to separate their waste and to bring proof of address.

Trailers should not be used to bring waste to the amnesties.

Garden waste accepted.

A Carmarthenshire library is to feature in the World Library and Information Congress in Malaysia next month.

Ammanford Library will be the focus of a case study in the “Universal Design Principles for Public Libraries” session at the international flagship event for the library and information services sector.

The session, which looks at best practices in libraries across the world, will focus on the Stordy Creadigol at Ammanford Library – a state of the art creative store and the first of its kind in Welsh libraries.

The Stordy Creadigol allows library users to experience technologies or activities that they may have not used and gives members access to spaces, tools, technology, and social connections that may not be easily accessible otherwise.

These include 3D printers and 3D modelling; DVD, VHS, camera conversion hardware and software; audio recording and editing booths, midi keyboard, mixers, DJ equipment, microphones; video/Image recording and editing booths; PCs with recording and editing software and a green screen and more.

Working with the report author Mark Freeman from Stockton on Tees Libraries, the Carmarthenshire libraries team have been able to contribute towards a “Welsh Libraries perspective” as part of the paper for the IFLA 2018 conference.

The conference will take place during August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It brings together over 3,500 participants from more than 120 countries and sets the international agenda for the profession, also offering opportunities for networking and professional development to all delegates.

Executive board member responsible for leisure, Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths said: “What better place to showcase the innovative work we have done at Ammanford library, than on the world-wide stage at the World Library and Information Congress in Malaysia. This is an excellent opportunity to feature Ammanford and Carmarthenshire as a whole and is a proud moment as it will be the only Welsh case study to be presented to equivalents all over the world at the conference.”

These police officers and PCSOs will soon become familiar faces to shoppers and businesses in Llanelli as Dyfed-Powys Police has created a dedicated town centre team.

Responding to feedback from members of the public and traders, the force has committed a team of officers to provide a visible presence in the area, providing reassurance and reacting to incidents.

The team will patrol the area, from the Spring Gardens to Eastgate, with PC Aled Davies named as the permanent full-time town centre police officer. He will be supported by PCSO Scott Jones, PCSO Rob Kindred and PCSO Ffion Thomas.

The officers will work closely with partners, traders and licensees to provide the required response to antisocial behaviour and crime in the town centre.

It is a multi-agency approach with officers working alongside members of the Llanelli Business Improvement District (BID), Ymlaen Llanelli, and the Llanelli Town Centre Taskforce led by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Llanelli Inspector Justin Evans said: “It is important that we connect with our communities and ensure the public receives a visible and accessible service.

“The commitment of a dedicated resource to the town centre is not in response to an increase in reported incidents in the area, but is something the public and traders feel is needed, and is a resource we feel can only further enhance our relationship with the people of Llanelli.

“PC Aled Davies has been named as the permanent full-time officer for the area as he has a wealth of experience and a sound knowledge of prolific offenders within the town. He is well-suited and will be able to take a robust approach with offenders, as well as understanding the needs and concerns of local traders. He will become the key point of contact for partner agencies, local businesses and members of the public who frequent the town centre.

“By working in partnership with the local authority, we can tackle any future issues with a multi-agency approach.”

PC Davies added: “The creation of this new team is a positive move, which will encourage a close working relationship between the police and the people who work in and use the town centre.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the community better, and helping to deal with their concerns. The team has only been in place for a week, and we have already had several successes in detecting shoplifting in the area.”

Cllr Emlyn Dole, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council and Chair of the Llanelli Town Centre Taskforce, said: “I would like to thank Dyfed-Powys Police for their proactive approach to policing the town centre.

“We promised, as a Taskforce, that we would work together to improve the town centre and it’s great to see everyone pulling together – the police, the council, traders and shoppers.

“We have just invested more than £4million purchasing and renovating empty shops with more investment on its way, and the work of Ymlaen Llanelli – the BID team – in putting on events and attracting more footfall into town is all making a big difference. This dedicated police presence will provide the extra reassure that people have asked for.”