Carmarthenshire County Council is continuing to lead the complex operation to clear the site of a landslide in Carmarthenshire and re-open the A484.

A small section of the A484 at Cwmduad, a rural road between Carmarthen and Newcastle Emlyn, has been closed since the landslide occurred during the height of Storm Callum in October.

Specialist investigations have been underway since the landslip to ensure that the embankments above the road can be made stable and this has included drainage and tree works.  The operation also involves the recovery of a lorry which was swept into the river during the storm.

Officers have worked with external agencies, the landowner and insurance companies to secure the re-opening of the road as soon as possible, however they have warned that the complexity of the works, and the legal process between parties, means the operation could be lengthy.

Initial work to create a safe working area for clearance and construction works will commence early next week. The road will remain closed for some weeks yet.

Ruth Mullen, Director of Environment for Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “Whilst our primary focus has always been to ensure the safety of the public, we are mindful of the impact this has on local residents and commuters and therefore we continue to seek the re-opening of the highway as early as possible, although this will only happen once the area is safe.

“This includes removal of debris on the upper slope, drainage and regrading works before any work can commence on the highway below.

“We would like to thank the community and users of the A484 and B4333 for their patience and understanding.”

Until the road is re-opened, traffic will continue to be diverted along the B4333 Carmarthen – Newcastle Emlyn.

Additional bus services remain in place:

• A shuttle service currently runs from Cwmduad to Tycoch to catch the 460 service at 7.25am, 9.35am and 10.55am. Return journeys are at 2.25pm and 4.45pm.
• The 460 service is currently operating on a diversion route

Read More

By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. The Money Matters column appears in the Pembrokeshire Herald, the Carmarthenshire Herald and the Llanelli Herald newspapers.By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants.

Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee has warned HMRC that small businesses ‘could pay a heavy price’ for Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTDfV).

The committee stated that HMRC has ‘failed to adequately support small businesses’ ahead of the introduction of MTDfV.

MTDfV is generally set to come into effect for the from 1 April 2019 for businesses which have a taxable turnover above the current VAT registration threshold of £85,000.

Under MTDfV, businesses must keep some records digitally and submit their VAT returns via an Application Programming Interface (API).

The Committee has urged HMRC and the Government to ‘start listening’ to small businesses MTDfV concerns.

HMRC recently sent businesses within the scope of MTDfV so-called ‘encouragement letters’. These letters were sent to 200,000 businesses which are eligible to join the pilot scheme.

If you want help with the MTDfV scheme, then please contact the team at West Wales accountants Clay Shaw Butler.

The Economic Affairs Committee report found that many businesses will not be ready for the introduction of MTDfV in April 2019. In particular, HMRC has inadequately considered the needs and concerns of smaller businesses.

The Committee noted that a six-month deferral has been given to some organisations in the public sector, but not to small businesses who have the fewest resources to manage their transition.

The Committee therefore recommended waiting at least one year until MTDfV is made mandatory – and transitioning in stages to allow businesses to join when they are ready.

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, said: “HMRC has neglected its responsibility to support small businesses with MTDfV.

“Small businesses will not be ready for this significant change to their practices if it is introduced on 1 April, particularly with Brexit taking place three days earlier. The Government must delay its introduction.

“The Government has failed to listen to the warnings in our previous report. It must slow down its Making Tax Digital programme and listen carefully to the concerns raised by this committee, small businesses and accountants.”

Other report findings include:

• HMRC is alone in its confidence that all one million businesses will be ready for MTDfV in April 2019.
• The costs to businesses of MTDfV will be far more than HMRC’s impact assessment.
• HMRC must publish how its communication and support systems will meet the needs of taxpayers and agents across different levels of digital capability and skills.
• So far, no free software products have been offered by the software industry. The smallest businesses will struggle unless HMRC provides a basic free software option.
• The Government should publish its plan for the long-term development of MTD, including milestones and when key decisions will be made.
• The Government must wait until at least April 2022 before Making Tax Digital is extended to other taxes in order for lessons to be learnt before the programme’s implementation.
• The penalties regime could be fairer and encourage taxpayers to remedy defaults promptly by giving taxpayers a longer grace period before penalties for late payment are applied.
• The Government’s claim that MTD for VAT will increase the amount of tax collected remains unconvincing. 
• Neither Treasury nor HMRC are taking the risks to implementation of Making Tax Digital seriously enough.

Weblink for more information – https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/economic-affairs-finance-bill-sub-committee/news-parliament-2017/making-tax-digital-report/

You can find out more about money matters on the Clay Shaw Butler website (under our news for business section) – http://www.clayshawbutler.com/news/latest-news-for-business

We have a strong and experienced team with great local knowledge all geared-up to helping you get the very best from your finances – whether that is as an individual or as a business.

We stay ahead of the game by putting great store by continual professional development for our staff.

With Investors In People status at Clay Shaw Butler, we care passionately about making sure our staff have all the tools they need to serve you, our customers.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler are on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

Read More

More families than ever before have asked for support from Carmarthenshire County Council’s Christmas Toybox Appeal.

Families who have requested assistance are up 40 per cent on previous years, and despite more toys than ever before being donated to the appeal, co-ordinators are struggling to keep up with demand.

The deadline for donations has now been extended in the hope that more generous people will donate.

In particular, donations are being sought for older girls and boys. Anyone wishing to donate is asked to keep gifts unwrapped to allow for easier sorting.

All families who will receive support have been nominated by a social worker, family health visitor, or their school, and a strict process is in place to ensure help is given to those most in need.

The council’s Toybox Appeal is now in its 8th year, and was set up to prevent families going in to poverty or turning to loan sharks to get through the Christmas period.

The Appeal also helps ensure that no child wakes up on Christmas morning without a visit from Santa.

Cllr Mair Stephens, Deputy Leader of the council, said: “It’s really very sad that we have seen such a huge increase in the number of families who have asked for, or been nominated to receive, support.

“Whilst we are amazed by the number of gifts donated this year, unfortunately we do not have enough to meet the demand and we are appealing to the generosity of local people to help families who are less fortunate.

“We are still collecting donations, and in particular we are asking for gifts suitable for older children. We really are very grateful of all donations.”

To donate a gift, visit any of the below locations, or call Appeal co-ordinator Nia Thomas on 07814716380 to arrange collection

• Customer Service Centre, 3 Spilman Street, Carmarthen
• County Hall, Carmarthen
• Natwest Bank, Carmarthen
• Blas Myrddin at Parc Dewi Sant, Building 2, Carmarthen
• Block 1, Parc Myrddin, Carmarthen
• Cillefwr depot, Carmarthenshire County Council, Johnstown, Carmarthen
• Nant y Ci, Carmarthen
• Llandeilo Community Education Centre
• Tesco Ammanford
• Town Hall, Ammanford
• Pontyberem Hall
• Town Hall, Llanelli
• Hub, Llanelli
• Cathedral Hygiene, Unit 1, Dragon 24, North Dock, Llanelli
• Burns Pet Nutrition, Kidwelly
• Jennings Solicitors, Llanelli
• Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli
• Yr Atom, King Street, Carmarthen
• Llanelli Library
• Ammanford Library
• Carmarthen Library
• Leisure Centres at Llanelli, Carmarthen, Ammanford, Newcastle Emlyn, Llandovery, St. Clears

Read More

Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. This column appears in the South Wales Evening Post, Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

…………………………

A regular reader came up to me last week and asked, “Do you reallygetannoyed about so many things . . . or do you just pretend?”

My response?

“Kindly pass me that towel and get out of my bathroom!”

I had new door locks fitted the next day.

The truth is I doget annoyed by many things.

Like . . .

Christmas songs being played in shops well before Remembrance Sunday.

Christmas songs being played in shops well afterRemembrance Sunday. 

Recently I heard a BBC Radio Wales traffic presenter announce, “There issome issues on the Heads Of The Valleys Road!”

My quickfire response was worthy of Oscar Wilde – “Yeah, and that’s not the only thing there isissues with!” 

You think Craig Revel Horwood is catty? 

He’s an amateurcompared to me! 

I must be one of those over-sensitive people whose hackles are easily raised.

As a matter of fact, my family’s raised hackles since the 18^thCentury, always releasing them into the wild when they’re old enough to fend for themselves.

Now that we’re well into winter, my perennial pet peeve has starting to appear once again – grown men wearing shorts in bitterly cold weather, striding around as if they’re in the Australian outback.

They might think they’re tough as leather, but in fact they’re daft as a brush.

Why? Because, as their bare, pasty legs are attacked by icy winds, hail and snow, they wear woolly hats to keep their headswarm!

Does that make any sensewhatsoever?

I overheard one young man justify his lack of long legwear in December by boasting, “I’ve come straight from football training!”

If he hadn’t been twice my size, I would have asked, “Fine. But why did you leave your trousers in the changing room?”

As for bandy, beer-bellied men over 50 wearing crumpled shorts at any time of year,I’m meeting the Lord Chief Justice soon to discuss having it made a capital offence . . . 

…………………. 

It’s that time of year when every retailer wants our hard-earned cash and we are constantly tempted to part with it as those special offers are all around us.

But do we really need all these bargains, or are we just seduced into becoming serial impulse buyers? 

At home, clutter and waste is all around us in one form or another.

Things we don’t use or need – and, quite often, bought on impulse. 

You know what happens after the big Black Friday sales?

I’ll tell you. 

A lot of people who bought new big screen TVs will take them home, hook them up and then realise they need to do something with their old TVs. 

Same is true with other things they bought.

Whether it be exercise equipment, bikes, toys, furniture, books, even high-end audio gear, they’ll want to get rid of the old to make room for the new. 

A lot of unwanted items will end up at your local charity shop, which makes this a good time of the year to visit those stores – because they’ll be overflowing with goodies. 

Chances are, you’ll find some real bargains there.

It’s win-win!

You pick up bargains, charities make more money

—————-

You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk

Please again include www.philevans.co.uk

Read More

There’s a very special community Christmas concert taking place in Carmarthen this weekend to raise funds for the landmark St Peter’s Church in the town.

The Friends of St Peter’s Church are holding the Community Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 16, at 6pm.

Its main aim is to bring people together as a community to celebrate Christmas – and to raise much-needed funds for St Peter’s Church as it faces an uncertain future.

The talented Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band will be the main performers.

They will be joined by pupils from QE High School, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and St Peter’s Church Choir.

Tickets are £5 per adult, with under 16s free, making it an affordable family concert.

A warm welcome has been extended to community and town councils, local community groups and churches and chapels in the hope all can unite to celebrate a community Christmas.

A warm welcome and a mince pie awaits if you are able to attend!

Meanwhile, it’s a very busy time for the young choristers from the Llanelli-based Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers – and the singing group Angelicus Celtis.

Fresh from performances in Manchester Cathedral and St Catherine’s Church, Gorseinon, they are set to bring their own style of ‘Christmas Sparkle’ to West Wales.

On Saturday, December 15, they will be staging ‘Christmas Fantasia’ at Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre (curtain up at 7pm).

The Christmas Fantasia will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers.

The Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers will be joined by Angelicus Celtis, stars of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra, organist Huw Tregelles Williams OBE, pianist Jane Jewell, percussionist Gareth Hamlin and narrator Jeremy Hywel.

Festive highlights will include magical moments from The Nutcracker, The Hallelujah Chorus, Pie Jesu, O Holy Night, Star of Bethlehem, Ceremony of Carols, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Benedictus, Gabriel’s Message, Carol of the Bells, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, Sleigh Ride and Troika.

Tickets are £20 and are available from 07795 236807.

Doors open 6.15pm.

This weekend also sees a special evening of Christmas music at The Miners’ Theatre in Ammanford.

Seasonal music and light-hearted fun are guaranteed at the December 15 concert in the cosy and intimate surroundings of The Miners’ Theatre.

The evening will be conducted and introduced by Welsh TV and radio personality Alwyn Humphreys. 

The evening is billed as ‘Christmas By Candlelight’ and will feature the Chamber Orchestra of Wales.

Later this month, there’s a special concert coming up to raise funds for Burry Port Lifeboat Station.

The concert will feature acclaimed soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, Gary Griffiths and Osian Wyn Bowen.

It is being held at St Mary’s Church, Burry Port, on Saturday, December 22 (7pm).

Tickets for the Burry Port concert are £15 and are available from Cadno Travel or from the following phone numbers – 07795415411 and 07900893150.

Elin Manahan Thomas is one of the most exceptional sopranos of her generation.

Since releasing her début album ‘Eternal Light’ in 2007, with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, she has performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals, and with leading orchestras and conductors.

Perhaps most famously known for her performances of baroque masterpieces – such as Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine at the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony – Elin is equally at home performing classical and contemporary works.

Elin has performed across Europe at major venues and festivals, including: the Edinburgh, Canterbury, Three Choirs, Llangollen, Mostly Mozart and Lufthansa festivals, St John’s Smith Square, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Casa de Musica in Porto, Zurich Tonhalle, and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

In May 2018 she was honoured to perform at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Baritone Gary Griffiths is a Burry Port boy.

He made his Royal Opera House stage debut in 2017 singing the role of Solanio in Keith Warner’s WNO production of The Merchant of Venice. He also made his Teatro di San Carlo (Naples) debut in concert, singing Arthus in Le Rois Arthus.

Winner of the Welsh Singers Competition in 2012, Gary Griffiths was a finalist representing Wales in the 2013 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where, in 2009, he won the prestigious Gold Medal Competition.

A committed recitalist, appearances include the Oxford Lieder Festival with Joan Rodgers and Sholto Kynoch in a recital of Russian Song, the Cowbridge Music Festival with Joseph Middleton, King’s Place with Iain Burnside, the Ludlow English Song Weekend with Simon Lepper and the Wigmore Hall with Malcolm Martineau.

Tenor Osian Wyn Bowen is also a Burry Port boy.

Currently Osian is an undergraduate student, studying under the tutelage of renowned Tenor, Adrian Thompson at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Osian has already performed in concert with Sir Bryn Terfel, soprano Rebecca Evans and tenors Aled Hall and Rhys Meirion.

Venues include the RWCMD Dora Stoutzker Hall, St. David’s Hall, The Principality Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Llandaff Cathedral, Venue Cymru, The O2 Arena, The Queen’s Theatre, London, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Milford Haven Music Festival.

Television appearances include S4C’s ‘Heno’,‘Les Mis – Y Daith’, Cyngerdd y 10 Tenor, Noson Lawen and BBC’s Songs of Praise.

Recent highlights include performing as part of trio in a live broadcast on BBC1 to mark the Passchendaele Centenary at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. The tribute to Welsh poet Hedd Wyn was performed in the presence of members Royal Family and European Ministers.

Other highlights include playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables as part of the Urdd’s National Theatre company’s 10 Year Anniversary production at the WMC, Cardiff.

In addition to his busy schedule, Osian is a patron of the charity Welsh Hearts and is an active volunteer crew member of Burry Port Lifeboat Station.

During the course of his short singing career, he already has a number of awards to his name – 2017 and 2018 – Minnie Morgan Scholarship Recipient; 2018 – Douglas Rees Young Opera Singer of the Year – Finalist; 2018 – Geraint Morris Memorial Award – Winner.

In other concert news, here are a few of the events coming up in the next few weeks – 

• Llandybie Male Voice Choir and Dinefwr Choir are presenting an evening of Carols and Readings on Friday, December 14 (7pm) at Llandybie Parish Church. Entry is Free, but a collection will be made at the end. By the way, Llandybie Male Voice Choir are in need of a Musical Director. Anyone who can help is asked to email Howard Beynon – howsonk@btinternet.com
• On Saturday December 15 Cor Merched Tybie will be holding their Christmas concert at Llandybie Rugby Club from 7pm.
• Tomorrow, Thursday, December 13, sees The Phil Harmonics perform at The Waun Wyllt Inn in Five Roads.
• Llandyfaelog-based Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi are looking forward to their Christmas events. They include – Thursday 13 December, Towy Castle, 6.30pm. Tuesday 18th December, Red Lion, Llandyfaelog, 7pm. Thursday 20th December, Gwernllwyn Care Home, 6.30pm.
• Crwbin Silver Band Christmas Concert will be at Pontyberem Hall on Friday, December 14 (7pm). The concert will also feature Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth choir and wind band. Tickets are £8 (children £5) and will be available at the door or from band members.
• The West End At Christmas will be at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen on December 18.
• The Kidwelly Festival Ladies Choir will be performing at a Grand Christmas Concert and Vintage Fashion Show at Carmarthen Museum, Abergwili, on December 15 (6pm). Tickets are £10 adults and £5 children.

Finally, a diary date for next year – Early notification of performances of The Passion Of The Christ, to be performed on Good Friday, April 19, and Easter Saturday, April 20.

The acclaimed voices of the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, Angelicus Celtis and friends will present The Passion of The Christ, a blend of varied choral and vocal works, blended with narration and theatre to be held in South Wales over Easter weekend 2019.

This unique performance will present a dramatic retelling of the story of the life and crucifixion of Christ bringing together associated choir and vocal ensembles blending music and poetry from Bach, Barber, Jenkins, Mozart, Webber, Telemann, Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Browning, Emily Dickson, Langston Hughes and Mary Oliver to name but a few.

The passion will include opportunities for solo singers, duet, trios, small group chorale and main choir and different roles associated with the life and crucifixion of Christ.

Auditions for these singing opportunities will be held in in the Llanelli area during the weekend of January 19.

Singing auditions for will be open to the general public, both young and adult voices (soprano, alto tenor, bass) and open to both choristers of the Hywel choir and singers beyond.

If you are interested in learning more about the auditions for The Passion of the Christ, please register your interest by contacting Jeremy Williams at jeremywilliams@me.com

Robert Lloyd works as a media consultant – www.rlloydpr.co.uk

If you have any news about the choral scene in Llanelli, the please contact him on 07777 683637 or email rlloydpr@btinternet.com

Read More

By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. The Money Matters column appears in the Pembrokeshire Herald, the Carmarthenshire Herald and the Llanelli Herald newspapers.By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants.

With just over 50 days until the self assessment tax return deadline of 31 January 2019, the taxman at HMRC is urging taxpayers to complete their tax returns early, in order to avoid the last minute rush.

The deadline for submitting 2017/18 self assessment tax returns online is 31 January 2019.

An automatic penalty of £100 applies if the return is late.

HMRC advise that last year, more than 11 million taxpayers completed a 2016/17 Self Assessment tax return, with 10.7 million completing on time.

There were 4,852,744 taxpayers who filed in January 2018 (44.8% of the total), and 758,707 on 31 January, the deadline day.

HMRC is advising taxpayers not to leave the completion of their 2017/18 Self Assessment tax until the last minute.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

“The deadline for completing Self Assessment tax returns may be more than 50 days away, yet many of us wait until January to start the process.

“Time flies once the festive period is underway, yet the ‘niggle’ to file your tax return remains.’

“We want to help people get their tax returns right – starting the process early and giving yourself time to gather all the information you need will help avoid the last minute, stressful rush to complete it on time. Let’s beat that niggle.”

You can contact the team at Clay Shaw Butler for help with your self assessment tax return.

In other news on the Brexit front, HMRC has issued a Partnership Pack to help businesses carry out contingency planning and to help their customers, members and clients to:

• think about how they will need to adapt their business to comply with new systems, processes and controls
• assess the impact of the increased demand for customs declarations on their business
• consider whether they need to recruit and train additional staff
• stay up-to-date with these changes

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reports that ‘patience is now threadbare’ among UK businesses in regard to the government’s progress in its Brexit negotiations with the EU.

A survey, carried out by the CBI, revealed that 80% of firms believe that Brexit uncertainty is having a ‘negative impact’ on their investment decisions.

The majority of businesses polled stated that they may have to implement ‘damaging’ contingency plans if no further progress is made.

Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of the CBI, said:

“As long as ‘no deal’ remains a possibility, the effect is corrosive for the UK economy, jobs and communities.”

You can access the Brexit Partnership Pack on the following government website link – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/partnership-pack-preparing-for-a-no-deal-eu-exit

You can find out more about money matters on the Clay Shaw Butler website (under our news for business section) – http://www.clayshawbutler.com/news/latest-news-for-business

We have a strong and experienced team with great local knowledge all geared-up to helping you get the very best from your finances – whether that is as an individual or as a business.

We stay ahead of the game by putting great store by continual professional development for our staff.

With Investors In People status at Clay Shaw Butler, we care passionately about making sure our staff have all the tools they need to serve you, our customers.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler are on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

Read More