Pontyberem

Lockdown has been a seminal moment for new Ceredigion fishmongers Jane and Richard Roche, who have adapted their fledgling enterprise for a new world.

A career-change seven years ago saw the couple open The Fishermen’s Rest café on the quayside in Cardigan, with the premises serving as their home as well as their business.

Last year saw another change, when driven by a desire to source more locally-caught fish they took the plunge and trained as fishmongers – buying direct from local fishermen and merchants.

They opened Catch of the Day with plans for Easter this year as the start of their first full season. But it was not to be, as not one, but both of their enterprises were put into lockdown.

“Our café closed on March 21 and the fish merchants where we got most of our supplies closed a few days later,” said Jane.

But they have used the time to adapt their business.

A van that had been purchased at the beginning of the year – with a view to future expansion – now is the mode of delivery direct to the public – who also buy their fish boxes from the quayside.

As Richard has to shield, opening the café and fishmongers will have to wait; but in the meantime, he and Jane have been participating in a raft of online courses and seafood sector meetings.

Keith Evans

43 Brandyway, Pontyberem. 01269 871955 keithevans806@btinternet.com

Road speeding worries grow In response to growing concerns over speeding traffic along Furnace Terrace local councillor Richard Selwood has conducted speed checks there during May and June. In his report to community councillors he outlined his voluntary efforts by using speed eqipment each weekday between 6am and 8am before setting off to his work. On one occasion he recorded a car travelling at over 50mph beween parked cars along the unpaved residential road. He furnished daily figures showing a large number of drivers averaging 40 to 45 mph. He had been lobbying the county highways department to hold speed trials covering the stretch of road for many more hours per day. The problem has been highlighted for some three decades with no action taken to calm speeding. Councillor Selwood has supplied his findings to the highway management team and to county councillor Bowen for action to be taken before anyone is injured or worse. The council congratulated Councillor Selwood for his determined efforts. Railway safety investment Network Rail, owners of the the Gwendraeth rail line from Kidwelly to Cwmmawr, intend to make further investments for public safety along the track in Pontyberem. Having spent thousands of pounds assessing the condition of trees and felling them from the Memorial Hall to the Heol Y Parc bridge, they intented to perform similar works from CKs supermarket to the crossing gates at the Furnace Terrace and Station Road junction.

Black Lives Matter Pontyberem’s county councillor Liam Bowen recently lead the inituative on Black Lives Matter to identify monuments, street names and other cultural symbols that have connections with the former slave trade. Councillor Bowen pressed for decisive action to educate the public and eliminate unsuitable historical epitaphs. A council committee, following the unanimous adoption of Councillor Bowen’s amended motion, has been set up to seek out such offending items and to recommend any action they think needed in Carmarthenshire.

Payphone withdrawal consultation BT, which operates the payphone in Coalbrook Road, by Pontyberem Memorial Hall, has identified it as not used enough and seeks to remove it. This public consultation lasts until September 27. If anyone wishes to comment in favour of the payphone being kept they can email bt.authorisation.team@bt.com

School governor changes In July the community council recorded its thanks to Councillor Peter Lewis for his many years of service on the Ysgol Pontyberem board of governors. The chair of governors, Councillor Deris Williams, commended him for his endeavours to aid management of the primary school. The council resolved to appoint Councillor Neil Maliphant, New Road, a Maes Y Gwendraeth teacher, as the community council’s governor.

Pharmacy Pontyberem’s pharmacy is open Monday to Wednesday and on Friday from 9am to noon, then 2pm until 6pm; on a Thursday 9am to noon, then from 2pm to 5.30pm. A queueing zone operates to restrict the shop to serving one customer at a time.

Pontyberem defibrillator There is a defibrillator for 999 emergency use at the front of the Memorial Hall. Instructions on its use and an intercom for medical direction are within the coded secure unit. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Trimsaran

Alma Davies

72 Heol Llanelli, Trimsaran. 01554 810706

Trimsaran Leisure Centre We are pleased to announce that we will be re-opening Cafe Beca on August 3 for a limited service (reduced indoor seating) and takeaway meals. We will be following Welsh Government guidelines and strict social distancing rules. The guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of our staff and all our customers. Our limited opening hours are as follows: Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm – cash and contactless payments accepted. Track and trace system will be in operation. Thanks in advance for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming old and new friends. Please contact the team on 01554 810155.

Sardis Ni fydd oedfaon i aelodau yn cael eu cynnal yng Nghapel Sardis oherwydd y feirws. Byddwch yn ddiogel. Ty Golau It is with regret that Ty Golau Mynyddygarreg and Llanelli has had to cancel all sessions for the near future due to the spread of the coronavirus. We will be naturally watching the news very closely and will inform our service users and carers of any changes in procedures. For more information contact Jan Lewis on 01554 890896 or 07807 343245 or email info@tygolau.org.uk

Tumble

Lesley Williams

lesleywms@tiscali.co.uk

Butterfly garden A small garden has been built in the public cemetery by volunteers and the community council with materials supplied by Keep Wales Tidy. It is part of a scheme to encourage people to build ‘places for nature’ and the aim of this small garden is to attract and sustain butterflies. It will enhance the cemetery too.

Meddygfa’r Tymbl Surgery now has clinicians available for online consultation. https://tumbleand crosswales.webgp.com/ The practice is still asking people to contact the surgery by telephone only but the doctors and staff are there, ready to help you. You will be able to consult a doctor, or other health professional, over the phone or in person. Prescription requests can be placed in the letterbox of Meddygfa’r Tymbl or the box in Cross Hands Surgery. The medication will be available at the pharmacy you choose, either in Tumble or Cross Hands. Please allow 72 hours for the prescription to be ready.

Upper Gwendraeth Valley Food Bank This food bank is available for anyone who has been affected economically by the Covid-19 pandemic. If you are unemployed as a result of the pandemic, have been placed on furlough, lost income because of reduced hours or are self-employed and waiting for ‘benefits’, this could help you out. It is for people living in the north of the Gwendraeth Valley from Gorslas to Ponthenri and is based in Tumble. Food parcels are distributed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Please contact Sue James, Llannon Community Council’s development officer, 07832 187600. Sue can tell you more about this or other local food banks/ food share. Neuadd y Tymbl Ar gau. NB: Meals on Wheels still available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call Mandy on 07806 340188. Cymunedau Mynydd Mawr Communities is the Facebook page of Llannon Community Council. You will find information there that may be of use to you in these difficult times. ‘Pinned’ to top of the page, for example, is a list of shops, pubs, cafés, offering delivery. Carmarthenshire Citizens Advice Citizens Advice may be able to help you with problems and currently has 21 advisers working from home and who are available to deal with telephone queries from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday and 9am to 2pm on Friday. Debt, 01267 231275; welfare benefits, 01267 231742; Universal Credit, 07957 668187; energy efficiency, 07565 562282; general, 01269 592267, 01267 234488, 01554 759626. Cyngor Cymuned Llannon Mae Cyngor Cymuned Llannon yn gweithio i ymateb i anghenion lleol er mwyn gwella safon byw ym mhentrefi Cross Hands, Cwmmawr, Llannon a’r Tymbl. Mae gwybodaeth ar wefan y cyngor neu dudalen FB Cymunedau Mynydd Mawr Communities neu cysylltwch â’r clerc: 07971 026 493 clerk@ccllannon.org.uk. Fel arfer, mae’r cyfarfodydd ar agor i’r cyhoedd ond cynhelir cyfarfodydd ar Zoom ar hyn o bryd.