Featured Articles

If in doubt, keep them out!

Householders are being urged to watch out for doorstep rogue traders offering to carry out gardening work ahead of the summer months. Trading standard officers are advising residents to check with the council’s approved traders scheme before agreeing to pay any cold callers. In many cases, bogus t...

2 days ago

Generous locals raise over £16k for flood-hit families

More than £16,000 has been shared out amongst people affected by last October’s floods, thanks to the generosity of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion communities. A Llandysul and Pontweli Flood Assistance Appeal was launched by volunteers in November to raise funds and collect donations to support tho...

6 days ago

Carmarthen Market named best in Wales

It’s no surprise to regular shoppers that Carmarthen Market is one of the best around, but now it’s official! The market has just been named Best Market in Wales by Slow Food Cymru, an awards scheme that highlights ‘good, clean and fair’ markets, restaurants and independent food producers and trade...

6 days ago

• Carmarthen
• Markets

New funding for businesses to improve key areas of county

A new pot of funding has been opened up to support regeneration, business growth and job creation in key priority areas across Carmarthenshire. The Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) programme is part of a Welsh Government regional scheme to drive economic development in areas deemed most in ne...

6 days ago

• Llanelli,Ammanford and Amman Valley
• Development and investment,Regeneration

Help council raise awareness of EU Settlement Scheme

Carmarthenshire Council is calling on county residents and businesses to help raise awareness of the UK Government’s EU Settlement Scheme. The scheme means EU citizens and their families will have to apply online to secure their rights to live and work in the UK after June 30, 2021. Free applicati...

7 days ago

Bin collections

There have been some operational issues affecting bin collections and we would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience caused. Although the majority of householders are not affected, some householders have had a change of collection day or week. New routes together with some vehicle bre...

9 days ago

• Recycling, bins and litter

Landowner in court for ignoring planning notice

Failure to return paperwork requested by the council’s planning department has cost a Kidwelly man over £1,200. Stephen Griffiths, of Porth y Castell, Kidwelly, was summoned to Llanelli Magistrates Court on Friday, March 29, for failing to return paperwork as part of a Carmarthenshire County Counci...

13 days ago

• Kidwelly,Gwendraeth Valley
• Enforcement,Planning

Huntsman in court over gruesome kennel conditions

A Carmarthen huntsman has admitted a range of animal by product offences including allowing chickens to roam on bloodstained floors, keeping overflowing bins of dead animals and bones, and leaving calves carcasses on the floor in the processing area of a centre he was operating from. William Pinkne...

13 days ago

• Carmarthen
• Enforcement,Trading standards,Environmental health

Illegal taxi driver caught giving golfers lift home

A Carmarthen man was caught providing an illegal taxi service to a group of men returning from a golfing trip to Portugal. Jason Vaughan, of Rydal Mount, Johnstown, was pulled over on the A48 between Pontabraham and Cross Hands in October 2018, as part of a joint operation between Carmarthenshire C...

13 days ago

• Carmarthen
• Enforcement,Licensing & permits

Library users to benefit from new system

Library users in Carmarthenshire could soon access their records from the comfort of their own home. Carmarthenshire County Council has invested in a new library management system which is the latest technology and will also allow staff to contact users by email or text. It will replace the curren...

13 days ago

• Libraries and archives

Upgraded Amman Valley workshops provide 36 jobs

Some 36 jobs have been accommodated following the transformation of Glanamman Workshops. All but two of the 13 industrial units in Phase One have been filled with businesses ranging from fencing and decking, manufacturing of fishing equipment, restoration and repair of furniture, wood-burning and s...

13 days ago

• Ammanford and Amman Valley
• Development and investment,Regeneration,Jobs and training

Fine for barber caught illegally using disabled Blue Badge

A Llanelli barber who thought he was a cut above the law has landed himself in court for illegally using someone else’s disabled Blue Badge. Sean Jones, of Ar y Bryn, Burry Port, was caught using a badge that did not belong to him after a member of the public reported him to a Carmarthenshire Count...

14 days ago

• Llanelli
• Enforcement,Travel, roads and parking

Funding approved for Carmarthenshire housing developments

Proposals for a £6million funding facility to commence the development of two major Carmarthenshire housing developments have been unanimously approved by the council’s Executive Board. The financing requirements - on behalf of wholly council-owned housing company Cartrefi Croeso Cyfyngedig - were...

15 days ago

• Burry Port and Pembrey,Gwendraeth Valley
• Housing

Frontline workers trained to spot signs of serious crime

More than 200 frontline workers have been trained in spotting the signs of County Lines drug dealing, organised crime gangs and extremism. Social workers, probation officers, health visitors, housing officers and staff who work with potentially vulnerable people received crucial training in identif...

15 days ago

• Community safety

Llangadog pupils celebrate new extension in £4.5m project

Children and staff at Ysgol Llangadog are celebrating the completion of a new extension as part of a £4.5million investment at the school. The new building providing new classroom accommodation for 120 pupils, together with the construction of a new 52-space car park, marks the completion of phase...

15 days ago

• Education and schools

Bad Santa and his naughty elf land up in court

A father and son, dressed as Santa and his elf, have ended up on the Christmas naughty list after collecting cash on the streets without a charity permit. Clifford and Luke Evans, have been ordered to pay over £1,500 after admitting collecting the money for mental health charity, MIND, without a st...

15 days ago

• Carmarthen,Ammanford and Amman Valley
• Enforcement

Ysgol Pontyberem investment works completed

Work has been completed on a full refurbishment of Ysgol Pontyberem. The £4 million investment included the total refurbishing and re-modelling of the school including a new roof, floors and walls. Work started in July 2017 by local developers Lloyd and Gravell, who worked alongside the school whi...

17 days ago

• Gwendraeth Valley
• Education and schools

Pay online for new annual parking permits

Annual parking permits for Carmarthenshire’s coast and countryside attractions will be available to purchase online from Monday (April 1, 2019). The permits will allow visitors to park at Carmarthenshire County Council’s pay and display car parks across the Millennium Coastal Park, Pembrey Country...

20 days ago

Grant for new homes in Bryn, Llanelli

Work is well underway at a new affordable housing development in Llanelli, which was awarded a £3.1 million grant. Carmarthenshire County Council successfully applied to the Welsh Government for the grant, which will help cover the costs of a 34-house scheme on land close to the Dylan housing estat...

22 days ago

• Llanelli
• Housing,Development and investment

Bus Services ‐ 2019 Bank Holidays

Arrangements for bus services operating on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council during 2019 Bank Holidays (including Trawscymru services, Bwcabus and Dial‐a‐Ride services, and Carmarthen’s Park & Ride service) will be as follows: Friday, April 19, 2019 (Good Friday): Services operating on...

22 days ago

Grab it, bag it and bin it message to dog owners

Dog owners are being reminded to grab, bag and bin dog poo when visiting Pembrey Country Park. It comes after enforcement officers recently issued a huge £1,225 in Fixed Penalty Notices in just four weeks to people who failed to clean up after their dog across the county. Two were caught red-hande...

24 days ago

• Burry Port and Pembrey
• Recycling, bins and litter,Enforcement

Work on new beach-front bistro gets underway

Work has begun on the transformation of Llanelli’s former North Dock Discovery Centre to an impressive three-storey beach-front restaurant. To be known as St. Elli’s Bay café & bistro, the venture will include a ground floor café and outside plaza eating space, first floor restaurant with panor...

24 days ago

• Llanelli
• Countryside and Coast,Development and investment

Calls for volunteers to tackle loneliness

The RAF Association is looking to recruit volunteers across Carmarthenshire for its befriending service, which pairs volunteers with members of the RAF community who are struggling with feeling lonely or isolated. With 170,000 RAF veterans dealing with issues of isolation, and 85,000 of them coping...

24 days ago

• Armed forces

Work starts on new £4.1million school for Five Roads

Work has started on a new £4.1million building project to replace Ysgol Pum Heol in Five Roads. It is being built on land adjacent to the existing site and will cater for 120 pupils aged between 4 and 11, with an additional 30 nursery places, helping to meet the demand for Welsh language education...

27 days ago

• Llanelli
• Education and schools

Dead calves left rotting on Carmarthen farmer’s land

A Carmarthen farmer has been ordered to pay over £2,000 after three dead calves were found rotting on his land. Wyn Morgan, of Rhyddgoes Fawr, in Newcastle Emlyn, admitted delaying the disposal of the fallen stock despite being reminded by animal health officers on a number of occasions to do so....

29 days ago

• Carmarthen,Newcastle Emlyn
• Enforcement

Reduced rates agreed for Carmarthenshire businesses again

Around 600 businesses are initially set to benefit from the rate relief package following a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board. The Council will be supporting the High Street and Retail Rate Relief Scheme which is being made available to authorities by the Welsh Government...

29 days ago

• Planning,Regeneration

Great news for Ammanford as major road scheme completed

Major works to improve the Wind Street & Tirydail junction in Ammanford have been completed. The £1.8million scheme involved the construction of a new roundabout to replace the traffic lights and will help to ease congestion in the town; and importantly, it will also help with regeneration plan...

30 days ago

• Travel, roads and parking

Time credits can now be used on bulky waste

Council tenants who do voluntary work in their communities can now use their time credits to remove their bulky waste items. Eight time credits can be used against up to three items which normally cost £25. Examples of bulky waste include beds, carpets, fridges, freezer and wardrobes. Carmarthensh...

30 days ago

• Recycling, bins and litter,Social care and health,Leisure & outdoor activities,Children and families

Swansea Bay City Deal - internal review statement

Cllr Rob Stewart, Chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Committee, said: “This review was carried out alongside the UK and Welsh Government’s independent review of the City Deal programme and sought to assure that it will deliver full economic benefits for the region. “The findings and recomm...

31 days ago

• City deal

Bin collection changes from April 1

There will be changes to bin collections for some households in Carmarthenshire from April 1. Around 13,000 homes across the county could be affected by a change in collection day or blue / black bag weeks and approximately 2,000 properties will receive a full recycling service for the first time....

31 days ago

• Recycling, bins and litter

Beacon Bursary competition launched

Are you a student and budding entrepreneur looking for support in setting up your new business? Entries are now being taken for this year’s Beacon Bursary competition. The prize on offer is £5,000 along with a year’s free office space in the Beacon Centre for Enterprise in Dafen, Llanelli. The wi...

34 days ago

• Education and schools,Events

Review recommends immediate approval of City Deal projects

Two major projects forming part of the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal should be immediately approved, an independent review has found. The review – carried out by Actica Consulting for the UK Government and Welsh Government – says project business cases for ‘the Yr Egin’ creative digital cluste...

34 days ago

• City deal

A484 at Cwmduad partially re-opens following landslide

The A484 at Cwmduad has partially re-opened, following extensive work to clear and make the area safe after a landslide. Carmarthenshire County Council’s highways team has been leading a highly complex operation to clear the highway and stabilise the land since October, when the landslide tragicall...

36 days ago

• Carmarthen,Newcastle Emlyn
• Travel, roads and parking

Work begins on major Pendine transformation scheme

Work has started on a major £7million scheme to transform Pendine into a ‘must-see’ visitor destination in Wales. The Pendine Tourism Attractor Project, led by Carmarthenshire County Council, will feature a new state-of-the-art Sands of Speed museum dedicated to Pendine’s historic association with...

36 days ago

• Pendine
• Development and investment,Regeneration,Welsh language and culture,Countryside and Coast,Discover Carmarthenshire

Changes for recycling centres given go ahead

A number of changes at Carmarthenshire’s recycling centres have been given the go ahead in a bid to improve the county’s recycling rate. It includes a ban on commercial waste; residency checks, a permit system for vans, the introduction of black bag sorting; and revised opening hours. The recommen...

37 days ago

• Recycling, bins and litter

Carmarthenshire Council Tax 2019-20

Carmarthenshire County Council has approved a Council Tax increase of 4.89 per cent, or £58.57 a year for the average band D property – that’s roughly an extra £1.13 a week. When combined with the precepts for the Dyfed Powys Police Commissioner and Town and Community Councils, the average band D p...

38 days ago

• Finance

Carmarthen West link road officially opened

A new £6.15million link road connecting Carmarthen town centre with the west has officially opened. The Carmarthen West scheme, led by Carmarthenshire County Council, opened to vehicles on Friday afternoon (March 8, 2019). The road connects the A40 at Travellers Rest with College Road providing di...

41 days ago

• Carmarthen
• Travel, roads and parking,Development and investment

Massive £261million investment in county’s capital programme

See what major projects and ambitious developments are in store for Carmarthenshire over the next five years as the council plans to spend £261million on its capital programme. The massive investment – which has been unanimously agreed by full council - will help boost the local economy and create...

43 days ago

• Finance

Celebration of culture awards winners announced

Winners have been announced for Carmarthenshire’s second celebration of culture awards. Eighteen finalists – three from each category – have been selected from more than 110 entries. In a joint partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council, the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal, the aw...

43 days ago

• Welsh language and culture

Llanelli man dumped his rubbish near his home three times

A Llanelli man who dumped his household rubbish three times in the next street to his home has been punished. Ivan ISTOK, of Ralph Street, in Llanelli, must pay over £400 after he admitted leaving the blue bags which contained food, nappies and glass in Robinson Street. Llanelli magistrates heard...

43 days ago

• Llanelli
• Enforcement,Recycling, bins and litter

Warning over rogue trader reports

Residents in Carmarthenshire are being advised to think twice before agreeing to pay cold callers for gardening and building works. It comes after the council’s Trading Standards team received a report from a farmer in the Gwendraeth Valley who had handed over a large sum of money for substandard w...

44 days ago

• Trading standards

Home safety advice given out to residents

Over 250 homes in Llanelli have been given advice on keeping their homes safe and secure. In a joint operation with Dyfed Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue, Carmarthenshire Council’s housing officers visited properties in Granby Close, Clos Dewi Medi and the Buddulph Estate to spe...

44 days ago

• Llanelli
• Housing

More homes to benefit from free energy measures

Some 250 homes in Llanelli are set to benefit from new or replacement boilers. Carmarthenshire County Council has been awarded an additional 1.5m of funding from the Welsh Government to improve energy efficiency in the Tyisha area of the town. The new heating measures will result in cheaper bills...

44 days ago

• Llanelli
• Housing

Affordable homes to rent or buy available to view online

People on the housing register in Carmarthenshire will soon be able to see what homes are available to rent, online. All vacant homes ready for occupation and low cost homes to buy will be advertised under the council’s new Home Finder scheme. The scheme will replace the current system from March...

44 days ago

• Housing

Have a say in Scrutiny Committee’s work programme

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Scrutiny Committees want people to have a say into what areas of the authority’s services they should look in to next. Scrutiny Committees play in an important role in the democratic process. The majority of council decisions are made by the Executive Board of 10 c...

45 days ago

Welcome booklet for new county residents

A welcome booklet has been created for those who have returned to live or moved to Carmarthenshire. The pack explains about the county and the Welsh language. It also includes information about the benefits of being bilingual as well as listing different Welsh enterprises and organisations in the...

45 days ago

• Welsh language and culture

New order will improve planning process for developers

A new planning order to boost Llanelli Town Centre has been introduced. The Local Development Order (LDO) will see a more streamlined planning process, making it easier for developers to take over empty shops or buildings. The LDO will also help attract investment to the area, and to support exist...

51 days ago

• Llanelli
• Development and investment,Regeneration,Planning

New safety initiative launched for licenced premises

Representitives from more than 20 pubs and clubs in Carmarthen have attended a new licensing safeguarding awareness initiative. The event was organised by the licensing section of Carmarthenshire County Council as part of their increased commitment to promote safeguarding throughout a number of tra...

51 days ago

• Community safety,Police and Crime

Dog fouling fine for owner ‘distracted’ on phone

A Llanelli man who was so distracted on a phone call that he didn’t notice his dog fouling will pay more than £370 after failing to immediately clear up the mess. Lee Evans, of Dillwyn Street, Llanelli, was prosecuted by Carmarthenshire County Council after two enforcement officers saw him walking...

51 days ago

• Llanelli
• Recycling, bins and litter,Enforcement

Allo, allo, allo! Llanelli Hwb welcomes its new addition

A police community support officer has become a familiar face at the council’s customer service centre in Llanelli town centre. PCSO Scott Jones has teamed up with staff from the Hwb to provide advice and support to the centre’s customers. Thousands of people use the Hwb, which handles council iss...

51 days ago

• Llanelli
• Customer Services