This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Samantha Lewis will tackle the gruelling 32-mile St Illtyd’s Ultra Marathon in your area By NOTICEBOARD · 2 May 2025 MOVED BY TALK: Samantha Lewis will be running to rasie funds for Papyrus a charity that supports young people facing mental health issues A local mum is preparing to push herself to the limit to help save young lives Samantha Lewis from Burry Port will participate in the St Illtyd’s Ultra Marathon on Sunday to raise vital funds for the national charity Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide who has been training for months for the gruelling 32-mile run She said: “I am supporting this amazing charity because the challenges facing children and young people with regards to mental health are huge “I was fortunate enough to attend when my son's school arranged for Papyrus to attend and speak to parents highlighting exactly what the charity does and providing statistics on just how much this vital support is needed “Hearing that children as young as eight years old are contemplating ‘not being here anymore’ is truly heartbreaking.” Papyrus says suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK The charity runs a confidential HOPELINE247 service which helps young people who are having thoughts of suicide and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be struggling The charity also offers suicide prevention training and works with local groups across the UK to help make their communities suicide-safe “Without this charity who knows what would happen and where children and young people could turn to “I’m really looking forward to raising money increasing awareness of suicide prevention and helping to save young lives,” added Samantha To support Samantha go to her Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/samantha-lewis-1737229619417 confidential suicide prevention help and advice contact HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 41 41 text 88247 or emailpat@papyrus-uk.org LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email The RNLI is looking for volunteers in a variety of roles at Burry Port Change of existing Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence Mr John Burns trading as Burns Pet Nutrition of 99 Ferry Road Community engagement plays a vital role in driving social change By actively involving community members in decision-making processes and empowering… ABERYSTWYTH RFC lost their Admiral National League 1 West match on the road at Burry Port RFC in a closely contested match, 24 – 23, writes Graham Harris. In a game where Aber played well in spells, they were the architects of their own defeat by conceding too many penalties and with basic errors in open play. On a bitterly cold, overcast day on the South Wales coast, with heavy conditions underfoot, Aber started the game well in the loose and with sound kicking for territory. Burry Port infringed from an Aber ruck 30 metres out and Steffan Jac Jones converted the penalty kick into points. Aber’s scrum was functioning well, and from a defensive scrum 5 metres from their own try line the ball was cleared from a scrum penalty. The resulting lineout on halfway was mauled well by Aber and quick ball saw Ben Jones breaking the hosts’ defensive line, releasing winger Dafydd Llyr Hywel to score an unconverted try in the corner from 30 metres out. Burry Port soon countered, an Aber clearance kick was quickly returned by the home side backs, and poor Aber covering tackles allowed winger Osian Thomas to score a try converted by Lee Evans. Aber were losing lineouts and being pinned back territorially by conceding penalties, but their scrum was performing well in the spongy ground conditions. An Aber yellow card allowed the hosts to capitalise on their penalty and numbers advantage to score a try from a rolling maul, hooker Iwan Evans scoring with a conversion by Lee Evans. Aber were still having problems with clean lineout possession in the second half and Burry Port started to exert pressure in scrums. Aber won a lineout on Burry Port’s 10 metre line, and following good quick ball from rucks, Iestyn Thomas carried well and released winger Ben Jones to score a try from 30 metres out converted by Steffan Jac Jones. Aber defended well and pushed play into the hosts’ half, allowing Steffan Jac Jones to convert a penalty into points. Burry Port responded with points from a penalty in front of the posts. The hosts pushed Aber back with good kicking from penalties awarded for the visitor’s infringements. A lineout 10 metres from Aber’s try line saw Burry Port winger Osian Thomas score a try converted by Evans. Aber now exerted considerable pressure to get back into the game, with the hosts conceding numerous penalties, a yellow card was inevitable. Aber were now tapping any penalties awarded, speeding up the game and pushing deep into their hosts’ territory. Quick ball from several Aber rucks allowed Steffan Jac Jones to cross for an unconverted try. Aber continued to tap penalties and were finishing the stronger side. Burry Port were relieved to kick the ball out on full time close to their own try line with a narrow lead intact. An exciting game, but frustrating for Aber who had enough opportunities to pull away and win the match. Despite disappointment, this young Aber side can have a positive take on an outstanding season so far. Next Saturday is the top of the table clash at Cae Plascrug – Aberystwyth RFC v Tenby RFC. Comments Tel: 01970 615000[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 It’s a long way from Burry Port in Carmarthenshire to the Caribbean where the finals of the International Teen Universe pageant competition were recently held has just returned from the top event in the Dominican Republic where she was representing Great Britain against more than 30 different countries Currently holding the title of Pre-Teen Universe Great Britain Enfys is no stranger to the pageant scene as she won the title of Little Miss Teen Great Britain in 2022 The pupil at Burry Port’s Ysgol Glan y Mor explained to Jon Gower how she first got involved in the colourful world of pageants My mum saw an advertisement and applied for me when I was 12 She thought it would be good for my confidence and improving my self-esteem I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would go on and win my very first pageant when I competed in Blackpool that year Could you tell me about your history in pageants since then at 12 I competed in the Miss Teen Great Britain pageant system in the ‘Little Miss Teen Great Britain’ division I competed against girls across GB both on stage and in an interview and went on to win the title I am relatively new to the industry and just less than 2 years later I was lucky enough to be crowned ‘Pre-Teen Universe Great Britain’ in October 2024 Teen Universe is an international pageant system (the biggest in the world for teens) so being crowned Pre-Teen Universe Great Britain meant that I would go on to represent GB on the international stage for the very first time It’s not just about appearance… learning how to walk and stage presence etc It’s allowed you to travel a great deal most recently to the Dominican Republic… I have just come back from the Dominican Republic after competing internationally against girls from across the world from countries such as Canada Most of the girls spoke Spanish so communication was difficult but my Spanish skills have definitely improved as a result some of whom I will go and visit in the future if I can You wore an extraordinary costume which doesn’t look as if you can fit it in a suitcase Could you share the inspiration for that and how it was made One of the rounds was ‘national costume’ so I decided to design my own idea to portray a Celtic warrior queen with a dragon to add in a bit of my Welsh heritage The costume was made by a lady called Krisina from Lichfield who is known for her costume design She used the image I sent her and came up with a design concept which was better than I could have imagined The dragon itself was very big and the wings even moved so it was quite delicate We had to somehow pack it into a suitcase on its own to transport it across the other side of the world Good job we paid for extra luggage as we had to take so many dresses I have had some previous experience of being on stage when I was part of the SA15 stage school performing shows when I was younger but competing in pageants is very different Being on stage does make me slightly anxious but it’s my happy place and I absolutely love it I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks are quite common for me but when I am on stage and competing in pageants this is not a problem I manage to overcome these issues in pageant land There was a time when I was younger when I lacked self-confidence and had low self-esteem my anxiety was overwhelming me and wouldn’t want to leave the house but pageantry has helped me to grow as a person and made me more confident It has allowed me to meet like-minded girls across the UK and now the world the vast majority of the girls I meet are friendly and kind The pageant community is all about girls empowering each other and celebrating one another’s success we are always happy for the girl who won as each and every one on the stage deserves the crown and works hard for it I have my title until October and when I hand over I will most probably compete in another pageant as I would very much like to go internationally again I am studying for my GCSEs at the moment so school is important too I would love to continue with my modelling and really enjoy being on television so who knows what may be next for me My social media following has grown with over 380,000 views on my account over the last 30 days I came home with the Pre-Teen Universe Social Media Award whilst out in the Dominican Republic Pageants aren’t that well known in Wales but I gather they’re huge elsewhere… Yes in some of the countries across the world they are huge and some of the girls I competed against had their own teams behind them with thousands of followers There are now quite a few girls in Wales who have taken up pageantry and there is a nice community of girls and women supporting each other I am thankful for the people who supported me during my international journey and hope maybe I will inspire others to compete in the future Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course 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As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot There are a few reasons this might happen: please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page We're getting everything ready for you and you'll be on your way in just a few moments Popular car parks could soon have parking charges which councillors are against By Ian Lewis · 18 March 2025 Plans to introduce charges at a number of car parks in neighbouring communities have been criticised by community leaders Carmarthenshire Council wants to implement charges at car parks in Eva Terrace Ferryside; Kidwelly's Glanyrafon and Station Road; as well as Burry Port's Seaview Terrace and railway station carpark the four county councillors representing these areas say making people pay to park will hit the communities and businesses Parking has historically been free at these car parks but Carmarthenshire Council has previously said there would be a lead in time of 12 months before charges are implemented Earlier this month the local authority confirmed current car parking charges across the county will not rise above inflation for 2025/26 an online petition launched by Kidwelly and St Ishmael county councillor Lewis Eldred Davies aims to urge the council to scrap the plans to introduce new parking charges at the car parks between Ferryside Within days it has already gathered more than 1,400 signatures meaning it has already passed the 300 threshold needed to spark a county debate on the issue Cllr Davies said how much parking would cost drivers at each of the car parks is yet to be determined by the council would be similar to the charges already in place at St Clears and Newcastle Emlyn - which is up to £1.70 all day £1.20 up to four hours and 90p for an hour Backing the petition is fellow ward county councillor Crish Davies and Burry Port county councillors John James and Shelly Godfrey-Coles All four councillors argue that parking charges will have serious and far-reaching consequences for residents They claim moving from free to paid parking will discourage tourism and visitors and harm the local economy Cllr Lewis Eldred Davies and Cllr Crish Davies said: "Bringing in car parking charges in Ferryside and Kidwelly would be a mistake These communities rely on free parking to support tourism "Charging for parking will put people off visiting these fees will severely impact our residents particularly the elderly and those with disabilities the costs of installing and running the system might cancel out any financial benefit taking money away from more important services The council’s own consultation showed people are against this plan—so why push ahead We urge the council to listen to the people and prioritize the well-being of our communities.” While in Burry Port concerns are also high over the plans Loveleen Browes who runs Eyecare and Eyewear Opticians in the town's Station Road said: "We are dealing with issues of mobility and sight impairment One of the valuable assets of Burry Port and to the success of local businesses has always been the free parking "We are reliant on our residents being able to park for free Burry Port has always had a strong community spirit and the local shops not only serve the purposes of the residents but are also a vital role in looking out for residents welfare Without free parking we jeopardise the foundations of our community and isolate our most vulnerable." Cllr John James and Cllr Shelly Godfrey-Coles added: "Should this proposal go ahead it will be the death knell for retail and hospitality businesses in Burry Port something the town could well not recover from "Trostre and Pemberton retail parks in Llanelli offer a wide range of attractions for shoppers such as longer opening hours and a diverse range of product The attractions of a retail park for shoppers are obvious; longer opening hours places to take a coffee break or have a meal as well as the free parking something individual traders cannot compete with." The online petition can be found here Carmarthenshire Council was asked to comment A Post Office branch will be based within the town's CK Foodstores By Ian Lewis · 6 September 2024 A Post Office service returns to Burry Port from Monday Post Office has confirmed the new branch will be within the CK Foodstores, in Gwscwm Road, restoring services after the previous postmaster resigned, which led to the closure of the former branch in Station Road in May The Post Office said: "We are keen to restore services to this community as soon as possible so we have decided to go ahead with our plans." Burry Port Post Office opens at the town's CK Foodstores at 1pm on Monday Initially there will be short-term opening hours on Monday These hours will be in place between September 9 and 23 the new opening hours will be Monday to Friday while on Saturdays it will open between 8.30am and 12.30pm Post Office said that this will provide 46 hours and 30 minutes of service a week for the convenience of customers said in a joint statement: "This announcement is most welcome as it has been difficult for residents to access the Post Office services The closure of the Burry Port Post Office in Station Road left a big void in that part of the town and the loss of its services has been greatly missed Our thanks go out to CKs for offering part of their store here in Burry Port to cater for these services there’ll be a short-term arrangement regarding restricted business hours with the aim to have longer established hours." They added: "A Dial-a-Ride bus service is available to and from the CKs area from the centre of Burry Port Due to the potential increase in traffic we will work together and support our county council colleagues in achieving more pedestrian friendly highway measures for that area." the public can give feedback on access into the premises This access consultation closes on October 1, and customers can share their views during online at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 343642 Enfys Chapman will be heading to the Dominican Republic in April By Ian Lewis · 21 January 2025 A Burry Port girl has scooped a place in the finals of the International Teen Universe pageant competition in the Caribbean will be at the top event in the Dominican Republic in April and will be representing Great Britain against more than 30 different countries Currently holding the title of Pre Teen Universe Great Britain and is looking forward to putting both Wales and Great Britain on the map at the upcoming competition She is a pupil at Burry Port's Glan y Mor school and is passionate about supporting local charities that are close to her heart In the run up to the final she has undertaken volunteering hosted charity events and has been practicing her on stage walking as well as her interview skills She is also a model in her spare time and has appeared on television shows such as S4C's Heno and Prynhawn Da She has also been a student with Llanelli's SA15 Stage School and appeared at the National Eisteddfod of Wales Over the years the Teen Universe pageant has grown and has become an eagerly anticipated event worldwide Enfys' mother Clare added: "I’m so proud of Enfys and what she’s accomplished She’s honoured to wear the crown and represent Great Britain in the world’s largest teen pageant I will be supporting her all the way and cannot wait to travel out with her for this once in a lifetime opportunity where she will meet like minded girls from across the world and showcase her talents both on and off the stage Enfys' journey during the competition can be followed on Instagram at @preteenuniversegreatbritain A Welsh council has revealed details of their £176 million-pound capital budget to be used over the next five years – assuming the proposals are agreed at a meeting next month Multi-million-pound investments in Burry Port Harbour a school in Llanelli and a care home in the Gwendraeth Valley have been revealed in Carmarthenshire Council’s latest capital spending plans The five-year plans include £8 million towards ongoing extension work at Ysgol Bryngwyn Nearly £20 million has been projected for a new council residential care and nursing home in Cwmgwili with a third of the sum allocated in 2025-26 and two-thirds the following year Meanwhile a £16.7 million investment in cleaner refuse vehicles Budget papers also show a £62 million investment in new and upgraded schools Council leader Darren Price told a cabinet meeting on January 13 that this would include investment into special needs education in the Llanelli area The review took place after the council decided not to go ahead with the planned replacement of Ysgol Heol Goffa “Schools are absolutely pivotal to us as a cabinet,” said Councillor Price The budget report said the long-awaited Towy Valley cycle path between Llandeilo and Carmarthen was due to open “in the spring/summer of 2025” and that work to agree an £18 million project to boost Llanelli town centre was continuing with the UK Government It added that options to improve Ammanford town centre were also being examined while £725,000 would be invested in council-owned farms in 2025-26 The £176 million over five years would be funded mainly by the council (£102 million) with most of the remainder from external sources A small portion – £2.2 million – is unfunded at present Rising construction costs are an issue for all local authorities said this meant the council’s capital ambitions were not “as ambitious or wide-ranging as we would like” The report also revealed that some projects being funded this financial year were behind schedule has released his highly anticipated new single which has made its way straight to Radio Wales’ coveted ‘Welsh A List’ Brook hails from the small town of Burry Port in Carmarthenshire and grew obsessed with songwriting throughout the 2020 pandemic idolising the likes of Ed Sheeran and Gerry Cinnamon for both their catchy songs and one man band performances Drawing inspiration from his personal experiences his music combines down to earth lyrics with pop folk and indie influences – and his latest accolade with Radio Wales has cemented his position as one of Wales’ most promising young artists Brook has been honing his craft for years now performing at local venues and captivating audiences with his solo performances consisting of vocals Brook told Nation.Cymru: “When You Fall was written about the early stages of love and the feeling of being totally infatuated with one another “The song is inspired by the likes of Inhaler and Nieve Ella who are on the rise in the indie scene “Recorded once again with Tim Hamill at Sonic One Studios Tim and I communicate my vision almost telepathically and the chemistry in the studio was great again.” Brook’s first taste of success is a memory he will always treasure He told us: “Hearing my first track on BBC Radio Wales was mind-blowing!” “I was just sitting there with a cuppa surrounded by my family and my dog in my lap it felt incredibly special and is something I’ll remember forever.” With studies to balance alongside his passion for creating music he shared: “It was challenging at the start of the academic year to balance my solo career and my studies it gets better with time (no pun intended!) I’m in a much better place with it now and aiming to keep this balance until I graduate Brook is a university student at UWTSD in his final year studying music technology and a diehard Catfish and The Bottlemen fan – learning their hit songs “Cocoon” and “7” as a start to his music journey He shared: “During the pandemic I’d find myself watching their live sets and interviews and fell in love with both their performance standards and work ethic “I also find myself in the cinema frequently being a fan of both blockbuster and indie media for quite some time.” Brook has been on the circuit for nearly 3 years covering most of Wales in small pubs and clubs as a cover artist He told us: “Only recently have I found the confidence to slowly reveal my art to the world the general feedback has been overwhelmingly positive making me more enthusiastic for future projects.” Brook has been working on new material at home and plans to get back in the studio around Christmas He told Nation.Cymru: “I want to stay consistent with my releases and I’m even considering a physical release in 2025 “I’m actively working on the 2025 calendar As an independent artist without a full team but I’m optimistic about what’s ahead next year and beyond.” Follow Brook on Instagram Find out more about Brook and stream When You Fall here Credit: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue ServiceFire chiefs have issued a warning after a tumble dryer fire "completely destroyed" a kitchen Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has issued advice after crews from Llanelli Port Talbot and Kidwelly Fire Stations had to deal with the property fire caused by a tumble dryer in Burry Port The fire service said on social media: "As you’ll see from these images the property’s kitchen was completely destroyed by fire." It is warning people to never leave appliances unattended not to turn them on before leaving the house or going to bed It's also urging people not to overload a tumble dryer or put items in which have been used to soak up flammable liquids like cooking oil saying: "If you can smell burning or have clothes that feel hotter at the end of the cycle have your appliance checked by a professional" It comes after a spate of tumble dryer fires across north Wales with the latest causing "severe damage" to a house in Mynythno with two of the residents requiring precautionary checks in hospital Fire crews had been called to extinguish another tumble dryer fire in Caernarfon just hours earlier They followed four other blazes in Broughton North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is now reviewing the fires to see if there is any correlation in models or other similarities head of fire safety for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "A fire can be devastating for all involved - causing damage and disruption and in the worst cases "We’re appealing to residents to follow some simple steps we should all be taking when using our tumble dryers to help everyone stay safe "Most importantly of all – make sure you have a working smoke alarm and test it regularly – we recommend once a week "You should also ensure you have an escape plan for you and your family should a fire occur – and once you're out of the house No trend had been identified as yet with make/models - the most important thing is for all residents to follow our safety advice when using all tumble dryers "We're undertaking an internal review of all incidents to better understand if there is any correlation." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Up and coming Welsh singer songwriter, Brook Fox, has released his highly anticipated new single, ‘Countryside’ today – the follow up to his hugely successful debut single tells the story of a love that couldn’t survive the pressures of city life—where concrete jungles overshadowed the simplicity and peace of the countryside The song is an attempt to capture the emotional struggle between nature and urban living with lyrics painting the beauty of the rural areas of Wales the track blends elements of folk pop and country to take the Welsh songwriter to a new sonic landscape He told us: “Hearing my own track on BBC Radio Wales was mind-blowing!” Find out more about Brook and stream Countryside here The club is eager to welcome new youngsters ahead of the new season in September By Ian Lewis · 22 August 2024 Burry Port RFC Minis and Junior section celebrated its registration day for new players The event saw children from all age groups An extra layer of excitement was brought by the club's ladies team showcasing their skills and passion for the sport with live music provided by three acts - 3s Company Organisers at the club want to thank West Wales and New Academy for providing additional children's entertainment The day was a wonderful opportunity for the club to welcome back current players and introduce new players to the Burry Port RFC community the club is eagerly looking forward to what promises to be an exciting year ahead Anyone wanting to become part of the rugby family at the club can contact contact Emmy on 07936328853 or Victoria 07521 907199 Promising Welsh pop artist, Brook Fox, has released his latest single ‘Time’ today but celebrating might have to wait a few hours as he juggles his music career with full time studies Brook Fox is a singer-songwriter hailing from the small town of Burry Port in Carmarthenshire With a fast-growing legion of fans on social media Brook quickly grew obsessed with songwriting throughout the 2020 pandemic His new single “Time” revolves around the fleeting nature of time as “time doesn’t wait for anyone” Sonically making it a stand out anthem for your “late long drives.” Brook told Nation.Cymru: “The lyrics for “Time” were very emotionally charged the lyrics pretty much fell out of the sky after falling in love which is where I usually find my best lyrics originating from “The verses are very reminiscent of times I spent in love addressing that love head on being madly infatuated.” He has been on the circuit for nearly 3 years The Welsh language is also very important to Brook He told us: “I often find myself performing a rendition I like to call “the welsh medley” consisting of Sospan Fach he plans to play the track and other unreleased material at future gigs including festivals over the course of 2025 He shared: “I’m ambitious yet confident I can land supporting slots and a headline show locally in the coming months.” Stream Time The short-term future of the toilet block next to the railway station has been agreed but further talks are needed By Ian Lewis · 23 May 2024 Above: The toilet block next to the railway station had been shut for five months due to vandalism before reopening recently (Image: The Convenience Campaign) The short-term future of a Burry Port toilet block next to the railway station which had been shut since December due to vandalism At a packed monthly meeting of Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council councillors agreed to keep the town centre toilets open for now and work alongside the community and Carmarthenshire Council to find a way forward for the future in order to keep the toilets in service Carmarthenshire Council owns the toilet block but the town council has an agreement to open and clean the toilets - while any major repairs or upkeep work falls to the county council The town council confirmed further talks will be held over the next three months with the county council over the toilets and how best to move forward with running the block collectively known as The Convenience Campaign had been calling for them to be reopened as soon as possible to meet the needs of people A placard-led effort was held in the town last month to highlight the need for those toilets to unlocked and for more public toilets in the town generally Cllr John James who attended the meeting to show his support said: “We’ve been fighting toilet closures and the lack of public toilets in Burry Port for several years and while its grudgingly accepted that the provision of toilets is not a statutory one but the lack of public toilets is a health burden that falls on already disadvantaged groups it’s a poor reflection of our town to those who visit Burry Port." He added: "What was heartening at the meeting was not just the high attendance but also the enthusiasm shown and the attitude of not simply demanding the toilets be kept open in Burry Port but the many practical suggestions as to how this can be achieved “It was agreed that with co-operation between the county and town councils and local volunteers that the toilets could be kept open for now and it demonstrates what can be realised when we pull together as a community.” Spokesperson for The Convenience Campaign Liz Hurley said “There is a growing awareness nationally that communities must not be left without the ability to meet this universal and most basic of needs All of us due to age or health conditions may find ourselves unable to leave home without the certainty of knowing there will be access to toilets Many elderly people or those with chronic illness are known to dehydrate themselves if the need to go out is pressing.” She added: “I’m so pleased the town council gave speakers a fair hearing and appreciated how difficult some of their distressing experiences were to share publicly we can now use the three month time scale we’ve been given to work side by side with both councils to provide safe clean and accessible toilets for the town and its many visitors.” Teams from all over the region gathered for a day filled with thrilling matches By Ian Lewis · 31 May 2024 Burry Port was buzzing with excitement as the town's Mini and Junior Rugby Festival took place designed to bring young rugby enthusiasts together Children from various clubs displayed remarkable skill with families and supporters cheering players creating a vibrant and supportive environment the festival grounds were alive with the sounds of excitement and joy From the youngest minis to the more experienced junior players everyone had a chance to shine and contribute to their teams' efforts said: "We are immensely grateful to everyone who supported the event The success of the festival wouldn't have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers and the unwavering support from parents and fans Your involvement and encouragement were instrumental in making the day a triumph." She added: "Positive feedback poured in from visiting teams Coaches and parents from other clubs expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to compete and connect with other teams emphasising the importance of such events in fostering a sense of community and togetherness in youth sports Also a huge thank you goes out to all of our sponsors who supported our festival." The continued growth of women’s rugby in Wales means there will be five new clubs taking part in the WRU Admiral National League programme in the 2024-25 season Ynysybwl and Newport HSOB have all entered teams resulting in an expansion to six leagues featuring 39 clubs This comes at a time when the two teams in the Celtic Challenge are moving to home and away fixtures next season against their Scottish and Irish rivals while Wales recently hosted a Women’s U18 Development Camp involving the Netherlands Scotland and USA in a week-long rugby festival in Cardiff the winners of the league titles last season will all be chasing more glory in the coming season Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd were winners in the East Porthcawl in the West and Shotton Steel in the North It proved to be a great season for Llandaff North as they also won the National Cup They scored 13 tries as they made up for the disappointment of losing to Pontyclun Falcons in 2023 Bonymaen pipped Haverforstwest 32-26 to win the Plate title and Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd held off Old Penarthians to clinch the Bowl For the 2024-25 campaign the expanded WRU Admiral National League structure will be made of the following teams: Championship (8): Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd The games will kick-off on 5 September and run through to February There will also be cup competitions to add into the mix “We now have 1,700 women aged 18+ playing across Wales and the expansion of the league system reflects the growing demand for more opportunities for women to play rugby across Wales more clubs and a more clearly defined pathway,” said WRU Girls and Women’s Community Lead “The greater visibility around the Wales Women’s national team the advent of professional contracts and the greater awareness in general of women’s sport has led to more women and girls wanting to play rugby “With the national team having qualified for next year’s World Cup in England the rise in interest and demand is only likely to climb even higher That’s why it is great to see new clubs coming on board in the national league system “We’ve also six schools and colleges playing in a near mirror image of the Welsh Schools and Colleges (WSC) Rugby competition for the boys at U18 level “These players now have full international programmes at U18 and U20 levels to grow into with the Celtic Challenge tournament the next step after that we have a great workforce of nearly 100 WRU 100 Hub Officers to deliver an equitable offering to girls and boys in the schools “With more players joining our Girls hubs at clubs across the country we need to ensure that not only are we able to cater for the growing demand to play rugby but also concentrate our efforts on retaining those players and helping them to graduate through the system and into the senior club game “The WRU Hub Officer Education Programme is also making significant impact in providing increased opportunities for young girls to engage in rugby within their education setting and be transitioned to become active registered players within the Girls Hubs or mixed rugby at clubs.” There are now around 4,800 girls aged under 18 taking part in rugby activities in Wales giving a playing population on the female side of the game of around 6,500 WRU WOMEN’S ADMIRAL NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES CUP FINAL REPEAT IN ROUND 1 OF NATIONAL WOMEN’S CUP Seven Sisters will get the chance to avenge their Road to Principality National Women’s Cup final defeat to Llandaff North when they head to the Welsh capital for a first round repeat on Sunday 20 October It wasn’t a pleasant day at the home of Welsh rugby for Seven as they found themselves buried under an avalanche of 13 tries in a 85-14 defeat That enabled Llandaff North to regain the title they had won two years earlier The 2023 champions Pontyclun will host COBRA while last season’s Plate winners Bonymaen head to Lampeter Town Plate runners-up Haverfordwest will host Gwernyfed National Bowl winners Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd kick-off in the Cup competition with a long trek to Caernarfon while the team the beat 34-21 in the final © 2025 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union Richard Youle – Local Democracy Reporter Long-awaited dredging to clear silt and sand at a troubled marina which is under temporary management from Carmarthenshire Council went into administration early last summer Boat owners had been complaining for years about what they claimed was a lack of maintenance culminating in a petition from campaign group Friends of Burry Port Harbour to the council calling for action Dredging diggers are now at the harbour to ensure that berth holders can safely sail out to the Burry Inlet and back The council said the harbour was under the temporary management of administrators Azets UK and that the administration process was continuing “The council is working with the administrators to manage a path forward for the future operation of the harbour,” said a spokeswoman for the authority said it was a tricky situation but that things seemed to be heading in the right direction He said: “There is positive evidence of progress.” He added that a barrel post at the harbour’s outer entrance was also going to be repaired When it presented its petition to the council in January 2023 the “friends of” group claimed that boats were regularly stuck in the harbour due to an accumulation of silt and sand and that it had concerns about the condition of pontoons Council chiefs said they had told leaseholder Burry Port Marina Ltd – a subsidiary of a larger marine company – that it must stick to a management plan without delay The director of Burry Port Marina Ltd said dredging work would be carried out while also describing the harbour as challenging and loss-making cabinet members were told that council officers were liaising with administrators and that the authority wanted a safe fully-functioning and attractive harbour – the same outcome as that sought by Friends of Burry Port Harbour Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council have received a £50,000 Local Places for Nature grant from the Welsh Government and The National Lottery Heritage Fund The funding will help create permanent wildlife refuges and encourage biodiversity to flourish in an urban The Pembrey and Burry Port Environment Project Four is developing four old and unused playgrounds in Burry Port into a sensory garden These places aim to boost the mental health and wellbeing of local people and attract pollinators such as birds They will give children a chance to experience nature and learn about the environment Community Development Officer at Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council “I am delighted that this project can go ahead because it is providing much-needed relief and hope for the community of Pembrey and Burry Port during the COVID-19 pandemic “Pembrey and Burry Port ‒ like many areas ‒ had a number of rundown playgrounds that the council took on as asset transfers By developing them through this project they will be used more productively which will be beneficial for the community.” “Many local people have come forward to become volunteers at the sites which we are obviously managing closely due to current guidelines Each of the primary schools are linked to one site and the children have become actively involved in the design and the ideas for each area.” “The development has given Burry Port’s natural heritage an opportunity to thrive It has encouraged wildlife – such as pollinators – back into the area to benefit the local environment and habitats Creating and maintaining a balance in this way leads to improved air quality and soil condition.” We are now able to offer increased Local Places for Nature grants with grants of £10,000–£100,000 available for capital projects to acquire restore and enhance nature in areas of deprivation There are also a limited number of £100,000–£250,000 grants available for urban or peri-urban nature projects in areas where there are high levels of deprivation or limited access to nature Find out more and explore the Local Places for Nature application guidance If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team. 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Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. leaving the community facing an uncertain future Administrators say they will "continue to operate it" while they "consider what to do" But the people who rely on it for their livelihoods are already feeling the pinch Geoffrey Flemming has been fishing in the harbour for 50 years "I've even been thinking of packing the fishing up because of everything "At the moment it's been in such a state that's it's difficult to come out close to bottom water because of all the muck There's even grass growing on the mud out here He continued: "You'd think with the state it's in with the boats not floating all the time Carmarthenshire County Council have been helping adminstrators to find a stable operator to take over the running of the marina Adrian Davies' family have had a boat in the harbour for years he said: "My brother was a commercial fisherman "There's nowhere else round here you've either got to travel to Swansea or there's no where else He says the harbour is like "the heart of Burry Port" and is "so busy in the summer" But he fears the council wants to "wash their hands of it" Mr Davies said: "Who knows who's gonna take it over because it needs so much money spent on it." Discussions have also been taking place to decide what immediate and ongoing work needs to happen to make sure the marina remains viable Martin Tummuscheit runs a boat maintenance business and says he's seen the quality of work "drop off" "We can't get as much for our business," he said "If the marina is working well then the business flourishes with it I've been Burry Port born and bred and to see where it's going is not good at the moment "Everybody's doing their best to keep going here and it's helping us tick along but it's the difference between ticking along and doing well He added: "I really hope the outcome will be that someone will take over and bring it back to a standard that the area deserves." But it's not just the fisherman who need the harbour Meryl Trussler lives in the area and is worried about a "knock on affect" on the local economy She said: "We love coming as a family It's ingrained in us now we just love coming down here "This is a lovely attraction for tourists and if that stops then it could have an affect on local businesses The situation is "not a quick fix" says Matthew Richards a partner with Azets and joint administrator “It is likely that this process will continue into 2024 The  continued cooperation of all stakeholders is appreciated.” Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration Culture and Tourism says they're continuing to speak to local community and stakeholders She said the council is "committed to finding a long term sustainable future for Burry Port Harbour." Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know.. An injury time try by Whitland ensured they came away victorious in the Women’s Plate Final against Burry Port after a titanic struggle at Principality Stadium There are claims visitors are forced to relieve themselves behind dunes By Ian Lewis · 7 March 2023 Fresh calls are being made for temporary toilets at the very least to be placed at Burry Port Harbour There is growing concern that the harbour is severely lacking in public toilets and action is needed ahead of Easter and the coming summer months when visitor numbers to the harbour will increase such as Llansteffan and Pendine have purpose built public toilets yet those coming to the harbour are being caught short it is claimed Burry Port resident and former Llanelli Borough Councillor Les George is urging Carmarthenshire Council to act and put toilets on both sides of the harbour who is also a former Pembrey and Burry Port town councillor said: "With Easter and summer fast approaching surely Carmarthenshire Council should urgently consider providing temporary toilets on both east and west sides of the harbour "Basic necessities such as toilets are desperately needed at Burry Port Harbour toaccommodate the ever increasing number of visitors to this local hotspot which are now also frequented by a growing band of wild water swimmers on a daily basis Mr George argues that the lack of toilets presents an awkward predicament for visitors and said: disabled and those with medical conditions who should not have to put up with this shameful inconvenience He said the image created is damaging to the tourism drive in the county and that the harbour is not being treated with the same parity as other popular tourist hotspots in Carmarthen Bay Mr George added: "This certainly does not create a good impression for one of Carmarthenshire’s major tourist attractions at the heart of our prestigious Millennium Coastal Park "It’s unbelievable when you compare Burry Port Harbour area with other small seaside towns in Carmarthenshire who have ample public toilet facilities on "Not forgetting Pembrey Country Park that has five toilet blocks situated throughout the park "This is in complete contrast to Burry Port's Harbour and beaches which have no public toilets whatsoever "This is a ridiculous  situation that needs to be urgently addressed by the county council who seem to have lost all interest and enthusiasm for Burry Port Harbour." Cllr John James and Cllr Shelly Godfrey-Colessaid in a joint statement regarding the lack of public toilets at the harbour: “Any attraction such as Burry Port Harbour should have public toilets all yearround and with the spring and summer seasons not far away there is an evengreater need for these facilities due to the higher number of visitors expected "Carmarthenshire Council has received funding to improve the carparking facilities at the east side of the harbour so the money made from thatcar park should go to establish toilets at that location the county council said they were closing the toilets subsequently a petition was handed to thePembrey and Burry Port Town Council asking if they would support placingtoilets in at the east side of the harbour they have now removed them stating they are too costly to run and thatthere are other toilets only three minutes away "We have an ageing population that suffer from conditions that come in laterlife and readily available toilets play a crucial part in ensuring they can copewith these needs in a proper and dignified manner whilst also allowing themto go out and enjoy the seaside and socialise with others "But there are other groups such as children and people with disabilities andexpectant mothers that need this service as well "If Carmarthenshire Council is reluctant to place public toilets at the harbouralone why don’t they once again approach the town council to work in partnership on achieving what residents and visitors are crying out for public toilets at the eastside of Burry Port Harbour.”  Carmarthenshire Council's cabinet member for regeneration culture and tourism said: "Pembrey & Burry Port Community Council are leading on the provision of temporary and longer-term permanent public conveniences for the east side of Burry Port Harbour "Carmarthenshire Council officers are in regular dialogue with the town council with regards to agreeing the siting for these facilities "There are public toilets on the west side of the harbour linked to the food and beverage franchise provided there and there is a public toilet at the railway station Shine a spotlight on your neighbourhood by becoming an Area Ambassador Click here to learn more! Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council created welcoming accessible green spaces in residential areas of the town Native plant and wildflower species were chosen carefully to boost biodiversity and attract pollinators such as birds Signage was created for a nature trail to connect the four spaces Serving community need and improving local people’s wellbeing was also crucial to the project The community and schoolchildren contributed their ideas of what they wanted the green spaces to be used for and local people contributed over 550 volunteer hours to bring the plans to life The Community Development Officer at Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council said: “The sites have had a huge positive impact on our community and as they mature they will only grow in style and community engagement "In public consultation surveys completed during the project 100% of people asked were pleased with the work carried out many wishing to volunteer themselves towards the upkeep of the sites.” One resident living near the community orchard said: “The idea of having a community orchard near our home is amazing and my little boy has watched the site develop from the overgrown unsuitable park into the orchard He can’t wait to see the trees grow and to spend time as a family picking the fruit and coming home to cook with it.” This project was supported through the Local Places for Nature scheme If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team We urge you to read our privacy policy which gives you more control over your information and clearly explains how we use it The town's Convenience Campaign continues to push for improvements to public toilet provision By Ian Lewis · 12 April 2024 Above: The county council-run toilet block next to the railway station has been shut for five months due to vandalism (Image: The Convenience Campaign) People in Burry Port have launched a petition over what they claim is a lack of public toilets in the town they are concerned about the closure of a toilet block next to the railway station which has been shut since December due to vandalism Carmarthenshire Council is responsible for the toilets and campaigners want them reopened as soon as possible to meet the needs of people A placard-led effort was held recently in the town to highlight the need for those toilets to unlocked and for more public toilets in the town generally said: "The toilets next to Burry Port railway station have been closed since before Christmas We request immediate action from Carmarthenshire Council to reinstate them The toilet block must be accessible to wheelchair users with appropriate management and cleaning regimes so as to restore pride in our town and welcome tourists We request the town council and relevant community groups are involved from the planning stage through to the reopening of the toilets." Speaking following a day of gathering signatures for the petition many people said how frustrated they were by the lack of toilets The Convenience Campaign plans to hold an open meeting in the near future so that members of the community can share their ideas." A door at the toilet block next to the station has a county council 'out of order' sign on it beneath it campaigners have responded with their own sign which reads: "'Carmarthenshire County Council: No apology Carmarthenshire Council said steps are being taken to reopen the toilets as soon as possible The council's director of place and infrastructure Ainsley Williams said: “The public toilets at Burry Port railway station are temporarily closed whilst we rectify an issue with the electricity supply to the building We apologise for the inconvenience caused locally and we are working with the electricity company to restore power to the building as soon as possible." Turning to public toilets across the county Mr Ainsley added: "The 14 stand alone public toilets in Carmarthenshire which were included in a public consultation that formed part of the council’s budget setting process earlier this year will remain open and operational during this forthcoming year as the council has deferred a £210,000 reduction of funding to its public conveniences budget until 2025/26 pending asset transfer option consultation.” Campaigners have also met with Burry Port Town Council's regeneration committee to discuss ways to improve public conveniences in the town Ideas from campaigners include calling on the Welsh Government to consider making the provision of public toilets a statutory obligation along with contacting local businesses in the town to see if they would be willing to allow the public to use their toilet facilities The same campaigners fought for toilets to be placed at the town's harbour last year after concerns people were being caught short in the area Burry Port Town Council is placing a portable block of public toilets on the eastern side of the harbour from next month the town council said: “A portable toilet block will soon be in place on the East side of the harbour with installation and connection to services over the following weeks The facility is being provided by the town council.” Burry Port celebrate their victory against Seven Sisters to reach the final Burry Port Ladies are defending an unbeaten record this afternoon in the Women’s National Plate final against Whitland Ladies Burry Port have proved unstoppable in the league this season where they have so far had a 100% success rate with bonus point wins in all league fixtures to date they faced Seven Sisters away in the semi-final Burry Port anticipate a highly competitive game which is the norm when the two sides play each other Player development is at the core of their squad with Lady Blacks players representing Wales U18s U23s and the senior Ladies Six Nations squad Whitland now stand in the way of Burry Port’s unblemished record They were founded in 2005 and have gone from strength to strength and currently run girls under 8’s,10’s,12’s,14’s,16,s and 18’s alongside the senior team coming second best to a very strong Skewen side and two Plate finals winning both against Gwernyfed and Seven Sisters Over the years many of the players have represented the Scarlets at both 18’s and senior level with six going on to represent Wales at U18’s six at U20’s and seven gaining senior caps Today’s Team Manager Sue Davies has been the driving force behind the Ladies and Girls set up since the journey began in 2005 and her daughter and former player Sara has followed in her footsteps and is currently Team Manager of The Scarlets Today is a fitting end for Whitland skipper Natalie Walsh who is hanging up her boots in the 15-a-side game after 17 years’ service to the club Following a mixture of stunning coastline and beautiful woodland the Millennium Coastal Park is rich in wildlife and history and is one of the most spectacular sections of the Celtic Trail Starting at the Discovery Centre in Llanelli this gorgeous route winds through the site of the old Duport Steelworks which is now the picturesque Sandy Water Park with its impressive lake and birdlife Continue through Ashpit Ponds Nature Reserve and the new marina at Burry Port before reaching the Pembrey Forest - one of Britain’s rare sand dune forests and home to much rare botanical wildlife including 35 species of butterfly Here you’ll find a variety of fantastic tracks to follow around the country park all with varying levels of difficulty follow the trail east from the Discovery Centre in Llanelli to the Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre Loughor Bridge and onwards to Mumbles where the route joins up with Swansea Bike Path You can also extend your adventure westward to Kidwelly where a visit to its mighty castle is a must Would you like more route inspiration? 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We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes Walking and cycling routes change over time Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability experience and confidence levels of those in your group The Millennium Coastal Path is part of the National Cycle Network Your donation today will help keep the Network safe and open for everyone to enjoy Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square The two-day event will help raise money for the club while celebrating the love of rugby By Ian Lewis · 26 April 2023 Burry Port RFC is holding its Mini and Junior Rugby Festival over the bank holiday weekend will see seven-a-side competitions for children aged between six and 16 The event will kick-off at 10:30am on Sunday with a curtain raiser tag game involving the club's newly formed Little Ruggers Academy teams will compete in several rugby matches across both days The event aims to bring the rugby club community together and raise funds to support the club's programs and initiatives The festival promises to be a fun-filled day for the entire family and other activities for children of all ages Funds raised from the festival will go towards improving club facilities and expanding access to rugby for children in the community Festival co-ordinator Vida Dallimore said: "We are very excited to host the children's rugby festival again this year." "We invite everyone in the community to join us and be part of this exciting event."Entry is £3 for adults and free entry to under 16s Carmarthenshire.","thumbnailUrl":["https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1920x1080/p05dn1cn.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1232x1232/p05dn1cn.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p05dn1cn.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/400xn/p05dn1cn.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2017-08-29T18:54:49.000Z","duration":"PT1M17S"}Burry Port driftwood 'barnacle monster' draws a crowdThis video can not be played CloseSome have likened it to a sea monster with tentacles while others have dubbed it the beast of Burry Port - but what has washed up on a Carmarthenshire beach It is in fact a large piece of driftwood encrusted with gooseneck barnacles - which are a delicacy in Spain The spectacle has attracted crowds of people over the past couple of days Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore more'Barnacle monster' draws beach crowds 00:01:17'Barnacle monster' draws beach crowds 1:17Up Next On the rocks with Spain's barnacle hunters 00:03:44On the rocks with Spain's barnacle hunters 3:44Rocket debris removed from beach 0:15Editor's recommendationsWatch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:40Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:40Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. 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