Carmarthenshire’s ambition to become the ‘cycling hub of Wales’ has stepped up a gear following the approval of a new cycling strategy for the county.

The strategy, approved by executive board this week, sets out the direction to support the council’s aspirations to be a national lead in the provision of cycling infrastructure events and development.

It sets out 11 key objectives for the county that focus around issues of health, education, collaboration, employment and economic activity, under three key themes.

This includes infrastructure, including flagship projects such as the Towy Valley Path, Carmarthen Velodrome redevelopment and the Pembrey Closed Cycle Circuit facility.

Another area of focus is to host and attract major events such as the Tour of Britain, which has recently been announced, with ambitions to attract other major international cycling races such as the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

For everyday travel and cycling, the council will also focus on pathways and initiatives to promote and develop cycling as an everyday activity in Carmarthenshire.

This would support the council’s responsibilities under the Active Travel Act, the Welsh Cycling Strategy and Well-Being of Future Generations Act.

Cllr Emlyn Dole, Leader of the council, said: “We announced three years ago our intention to make Carmarthenshire the cycling hub of Wales. It was great to be at the velodrome in Carmarthen last week to hear the announcement that the Tour of Britain will start here in Carmarthenshire as part of the first stage. The race director was amazed at the resources was have.”

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, added: “We are attracting people into the county – we are leading the way at the moment and are being highly praised for our efforts.”

• Watch the executive board discussion and read the report at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales
• Links to other cycling stories –
• http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/06/06/pembrey-chosen-to-host-tour-of-britain-opening/
• http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/05/26/2018-tour-of-britain-cycle-race-to-begin-in-carmarthenshire/

Age Cymru Sir Gar (the charity for the 50-plus in Carmarthenshire) is looking for support from members of the Nationwide Building Society.

The charity is one of a number of organisations bidding for cash from the Nationwide Community Grants Programme.

(Declaration of interest here as I am a trustee of Age Cymru Sir Gar)

Age Cymru Sir Gar provides flexible, practical volunteer support at home, aiding independent living for people aged over 50.

The charity has an innovative Future Age project.

Carmarthenshire has an aging population, often living in unadapted housing, not claiming the benefits they’re entitled to and with little or no access to transport or their community.

It would like to offer a befriending service which assists day-to-day living in practical ways, linking other support services through the charity’s Information and Advice service, thus extending this to the isolated vulnerable adults.

Each client will automatically be offered a welfare benefits health check to ensure all eligible benefits are claimed including support to complete the forms.

This will enable identification of issues around adaptations and fuel poverty, for example.

You can find out more by visiting the following website link

www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/sirgar/contact-us/

Ann Dymock, chief executive of Age Cymru Sir Gar, said: “Our Future Age project is far-reaching and will benefit a large section of the population. We would be grateful for any support we get from Nationwide members as the public vote for allocating funds from the Nationwide Community Grants Programme is now ‘live’.”

• The voting window is open for all Nationwide Building Society members to vote from now until 20 July.
• Members can vote online at: http://www.nationwide.co.uk/communityfundingvoting
• Only members of Nationwide Building Society can vote, and they can only vote once. You’re a Nationwide member if you have a Nationwide current, mortgage, or savings account.

The Nationwide Community Grants Programme was set up after building society members voted to use one per cent of pre-tax profits towards funding community projects.

Community grants are available up to £50,000.

Social media links –

https://www.facebook.com/NationwideBuildingSociety 

https://twitter.com/AskNationwide 

#NBSCommunityFunding 

A member of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS), Osian Wynn Clarke is the recipient of the St Elli Masonic Lodge 2018 Annual Musical Bursary

Osian was presented with his trophy, certificate and bursary at the Lodge’s Annual Sunday Lunch event at the Stradey Park Hotel.

Osian is an exciting young tenor from Tycroes, a pupil of Ysgol Dyffryn Amman School.

Osian is a member of the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, attending sessions each Saturday.

He hopes to pursue a career in music.

Cerith Owens, the chairman and director of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) said he was grateful to St Elli Masonic Lodge for their continued support for young singers.

Photos:

• Osian with Master of St Elli Masonic Lodge Lawrence C. Murphy and Lodge Secretary Roger W. Robinson
• Osian with Lodge Charity Steward Nigel L. Murphy.

About Osian Clarke:

Osian is 17 and is currently studying Welsh, Music, Drama and English Literature A Levels at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.  He is a member of the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, attending sessions each Saturday.  He is currently working towards his Grade 5 Piano, Grade 6 Music Theory, Grade 6 Classical Voice and also his Diploma in Musical Theatre.

Osian is a fluent Welsh speaker who regularly performs at local events.  One of the highlights of his experiences so far was being chosen to play the part of Coufeyrac in the Welsh Junior production of Les Miserables.  This was held at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and the cast also performed on the West End stage in London as part of the 30th Anniversary celebration of Les Miserables.

Osian is a member of the Mark Jermin Stage School, and has been involved in a number of youth productions with this group.  He joined LARS in September 2017 and has performed at a number of prestigious LARS events over recent months.  After finishing his studies, Osian would like to pursue a career in music.

Link to Loud Applause Rising Stars website –

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Robert Lloyd of the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind interviews Stephen Ricketts of the Llanelli Visually Impaired Bowls Club.

Work on the second phase of the £5million Carmarthen West transport scheme will be underway again this week.

Carmarthenshire County Council has reached agreement on the acquisition of a final key area of land and says the scheme should be complete by the end of the year.

The Council has also been granted a Compulsory Purchase Order over all the land required, to ensure the road can be completed, given the lack of agreement with one or two landowners.

The road will connect the A40 at Travellers Rest with College Road providing direct access to the trunk road network for key employment sites at St David’s Park, Hywel Dda Health Board’s Hafan Derwen and the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Carmarthen campus.

It will also serve the new S4C headquarters Yr Egin, a major project for the Swansea Bay City Region.

Carmarthen West has been identified as a strategic site within the council’s Local Development Plan and is allocated for mixed use development including 1,100 new homes, a primary school, employment space, a small retail centre, open space and affordable housing. The first phase of the scheme was completed in October, with the opening of a new junction at Job’s Well Road, laying of services and the formation of the route of the road. A new arch bridge has also been constructed over the Tawelan Brook.

Negotiations have since been underway between the council and landowners, to allow the second phase to be completed.

The council has now instructed its contractors, Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, to proceed with works.

A planning agreement, which will release £2.4million of funding towards the scheme as part of the planning permission for 250 houses, has also been signed off.

The agreement also provides for affordable housing and play areas.

Cllr Hazel Evans, executive board for environment, said: “This is a huge transport scheme that will improve the road network and complement a number of key development schemes in the pipeline for Carmarthen West. We’re delighted to instruct our contractors to proceed with works.”

Leader of the council, Cllr Emlyn Dole, added: “This development brings a significant economic benefit to the county, not only in terms of the employment and training opportunities it creates in the construction phase, but in opening up new links for business in the long-term.”