A new white goods reuse project has been launched in Carmarthenshire.
Unwanted electrical appliances such as cookers, fridge-freezers and washing machines are repaired, cleaned and then sold under the ‘Gwyn i Wyrdd’ project.
Anyone living in Carmarthenshire with unwanted appliances can contact the team and they will pick them up for free.
As well as promoting repair, reuse and recycling, the scheme provides opportunities for training for people who have struggled to gain employment because of mental health, substance misuse, chronic health condition, or because of a learning or physical disability as part of the COASTAL project.
The electrical appliances are taken to the workshop in Cross Hands where they are repaired and tested by qualified EEESafe registered domestic appliance technicians.
STEPs participants are involved in the preparation, cleaning and safe dismantling of the equipment but are not involved in the electrical repair.
Executive Board Member for Social Care Cllr Jane Tremlett said: “This is an excellent project which provides affordable and safely repaired white goods to local communities and at the same time offers training opportunities and the chance for people to learn new skills.”
The COASTAL Project is part funded by the European Social Fund, as part of the 2007-2013 West Wales & The Valley Convergence Programme. 
Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “It is important that we try and reduce the amount of electrical waste in Carmarthenshire and repair and reuse as much as possible.”
www.gwyniwyrdd.co.uk 

www.facebook.com/gwyniwyrdd

Carmarthenshire County Council

The Play King, the childrens adventure play centre based in Dafen Industrial estate, have announced that preparations are underway to unveil Llanelli's first permanent indoor ice rink.

The ice rink, (for which there will be a separate charge to the main admission fee), is planned to be opened before Christmas, on November 27th. The synthetic 'Ice Magic' will be about 12 meters by 8 meters and will hold about 48 people at a time, of all ages. It will be sited on a balcony area which is being extended.

Recently, the hall at Llangennech Community Centre was transformed to offer a 9 x 8 metre synthetic ice rink during the half term holiday. It proved a very successful event and was enjoyed by all ages.

A news story, which was first reported in the Llanelli Star this week, about a psychic medium who allegedly hid a man in the attic during a ghost hunt at the Halfway Hotel, has become news across the country. The hidden man is said to have responded to the psychic's request for a spirit to knock twice if present. After sceptical members of the group, which included members of the Halfway Hotel's staff, challenged this occurence in the hotel's former stables, a man came down from the attic and was promptly ejected by hotel staff. The psychic is said to have consequently fled the scene.

The story has been presented by national newspapers today such as The Sun, The Star, the Telegraph and the Daily Mail and has also got mentioned on the ITV This Morning show.

The £12 a ticket event, which took place last Friday at the Halfway Hotel — a venue well-known for its ghost tours — was hosted by psychic medium Chris Date, who denies any collusion with the hidden man. Halfway Hotel owner Paul Francis said that in the seven to eight years the Halfway Hotel has been hosting ghost hunts he had never experienced anything like that before and added that since Friday, other paranormal groups have phoned in and booked events at the Halfway offering free entry to any unsatisfied customers from Friday night.

 Young businessman Owen Walters has moved into the incubation space at The Beacon Centre for Enterprise in Dafen.
Web and graphic designer Owen is the joint winner of the Beacon Bursary Competition along with film maker James Button. The competition enabled them to gain 12 months free office space at the Beacon.

Eighteen-year-old Owen has just completed his A levels at Coleg Sir Gar and chose not to follow the traditional route into university but with the support of the Beacon Bursary decided to set up his own business.

He has a proven talent in website development and has a distinct advantage over many competitors as he has both coding and creative skills. His talent was recognised in the recent LHP West Wales Business Awards when he won the category for Young Entrepreneur in IT.

Owen provides a web and graphic design service to both local and global businesses, with recent commissions by global online clients within Australia and the USA.

Owen, who lives in Pemberton, said: “I started the business in the summer holidays between my first and second year at Coleg Sir Gar, working from my bedroom with a computer, desk and basic equipment.

“Business mentors, Dai Nicholas and Amanda Russell helped me to develop a business plan and I won the Beacon Bursary. Having office space at the Beacon gives a much more professional image for my business.”

Wendy Walters, Head of Economic Development, Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “The vision for The Beacon is to act as a leading light in nurturing and training both young enterprise skills and to develop entrepreneur business talent to enter the private sector across South West Wales.

“We wish Owen all the best with his new business venture.”

Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “I’m delighted that the Beacon Bursary is giving two talented young entrepreneurs a chance to further develop their businesses.

“I’m sure Owen will find the Beacon an ideal place to work out and that he will benefit from the access to support and advice in developing his business. I wish him well for the future. We need young entrepreneurs such as Owen to help take Carmarthenshire’s economy forward.”

James Button Films – www.jamesbuttonfilms.com
Owen Walters – www.owen-walters.com

About the Beacon- through its partnerships with academia; businesses and associates makes it an ideal location to start up a young enterprise. The environment is busy, dynamic and inspiring and offers networking opportunities with a range of vibrant businesses. The vision, as well as developing business incubation schemes, to develop home grown local talent within South West Wales and develop new products and services for the region and to provide leading business Ambassadors to support and mentor fledgling businesses. 
• If you think you have a good business idea?
• Have wanted to start your own business?
• Think you have got what it takes to start up and succeed? 
Then contact us for further information on 01554 748807 or email Anna at AMSadler@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Copyright: Carmarthenshire County Council

A Llanelli fitness centre has been fined by the courts for a fly-posting offence.
Robert Davies Health & Fitness Centre which is based on the Dafen Industrial Estate has been fined £105 and ordered to pay £194.15 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge by Carmarthen magistrates.
Michael John Davies pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to an offence contrary to Section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The court heard that on November 28 last year council environmental enforcement officers saw a large banner attached to the railings at the crossroads at the Halfway traffic lights. The banner was approximately 14ft x4ft and advertised Robert Davies Health & Fitness Centre.
Mr Davies, the owner, had previously been issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 for a similar offence just a few months earlier in May 2012.
The company was prosecuted in court as a result.
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Fly-posting is displaying adverts and other promotional materials without permission, for example, on buildings, lampposts, railings and litter bins, mainly by business that want free advertising.
“Not only do they make an area look untidy but if not removed the posters slowly rot, becoming even more unsightly and causing litter. They also have the potential to distract motorists causing road traffic collisions.”
For further information on the council’s fly-posting policy visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk or contact Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567. Leaflets are also available in the council’s customer service centres.

Source: www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Newport based engineering company Rowecord, which went into administration in April with the loss of more than 400 jobs, owes creditors £23.7m, including £67,822 to Dafen based Dyfed Steels.  Assets of £9.3m, including plant and machinery have been identified. A spokesman for joint administrators Grant Thornton said it was too early to say how much in the pound creditors could expect to receive.

Read More: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/business/business-news/rowecord-engineering-owes-creditors-237m-4825042