West Wales Review of the Year: July to September

As we reach the end of another year, we take a look back at the headlines that have shaped the past 12 months, continuing with July to September.

July

A mother and daughter from West Wales who travelled to Rhodes were told to go home immediately after the island was engulfed by a wildfire.

Lowri Jones, from Crymych, travelled to the Greek island, which at the time was experiencing soaring temperatures and raging wildfires, with her 13-year-old daughter, having booked an all-inclusive luxury resort in Gennadi, where many are were being evacuated from.

But as soon as they arrived on the island they realised there was a big problem. “Once we got on the plane and we were all checked in they apologised for the delay to the flight and said they were running risk assessments to ensure it was safe for us to travel to Rhodes,” Lowri said.

“But as soon as we landed I realised it was absolute carnage at the airport.

"No-one knew what was going on and the buses were delayed because they couldn’t get through because all the roads are closed due to the fires."

They ended up along with 600 others sleeping in the lobby of a hotel before being able to catch a flight home.

Rhodes battled wildfires fanned by strong winds as Europe dealt with a challenging heatwave. Thousands of tourists were ultimately evacuated by land and sea to safety.

July also saw the announcement by Llanelli Crematorium that people could now have their ashes or those of your loved one scattered in space.

The crematorium, a part of the Westerleigh Group, can now send someone’s ashes 100,000 feet into the atmosphere. The site – along with Aberystwyth Crematorium in Ceredigion – can offer two services that can either release the ashes into the atmosphere or to undertake a return voyage.

The ‘Memorial Launch’ service involves ashes being placed inside what’s called a ‘scatter vessel’, which is fitted to a space-capable biodegradable balloon filled with renewable hydrogen gas.

The ashes are then released in a gentle cascade around 100,000 feet above the Earth and spend the next three to six months orbiting the globe, according to Westerleigh Group.

They will then re-enter the atmosphere, where they seed the formation of clouds and fall back to Earth as raindrops and snowflakes all over the world, according to the group.

The ascent and release of the cascades are captured on video for families to keep.

Llanelli Crematorium’s website said a service of this kind could cost you £2,950. Alternatively, the ‘Voyager’ package, which costs £495, involves a ceremonial portion of a loved one’s ashes to travel into space, to the same height as the scattering launch, before being returned to their families on Earth in a premium miniature urn.

Elsewhere, 15 ideas to make Burry Port more interesting were being prioritised after Carmarthenshire Council chiefs approved an over-arching plan for the town centre.

The aim is to reinvigorate the commercial heart of the town and create better facilities for visitors. The 15 proposals are separate to long-established plans to regenerate the harbour and harbourside area, but Cllr Gareth John, the then cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism, said not taking them forward would hinder the wider planned investment.

Business and community groups had a big say in the new plan for the town centre, and a group will now be set up to prioritise the proposals, which include improvements to Station Road and Stepney Road to support existing businesses and encourage new ones; railway bridge and cycling infrastructure improvements, and a more welcoming road approach to the town from Ashburnham Road; potential new homes on a vacant plot off Gors Road; more use of fields south of the railway station for community events; new space for businesses and community enterprises when the Co-op food store moves from Station Road to Seaview Terrace.

Cllr John said £100,000 of funding had been allocated to the town centre plan and that more would be needed to turn the 15 ideas into reality.

Progress on proposals for a Llandeilo bypass or road diversion scheme appeared to still be in the slow lane by July.

The Welsh Government had expected to recommend a preferred option last autumn, and then when that didn’t happen, in the winter.

There was a shortlist of four options: three featuring a bypass which would skirt the east of the town; one incorporating traffic lights and the removal of parking in Llandeilo’s Rhosmaen Street, which runs through the town centre.

Many residents and businesses have argued for years that Bridge Street and Rhosmaen Street - the narrow road it becomes - are not suitable for the heavy traffic which trundles along it. Lorries frequently have to slow to a crawl in order to pass one another. Llandeilo is also a designated air quality management area due to historic breaches in nitrogen dioxide levels.

Work to build a bypass was initially supposed to begin in 2019, but this was delayed twice with a new start date of 2025 proposed. The Welsh Government consulted the public on its shortlist of four options in 2020.

The bypass was mentioned in a Carmarthenshire Council planning committee meeting this month, during a discussion about the new Towy Valley cycle path to link Carmarthen with Llandeilo.

A planning officer said the very final section between Ffairfach and Llandeilo had been omitted because of the proposed bypass. The project was one of the few road schemes which weren’t scrapped by the Welsh Government following a wide-ranging review of the country’s roads.

We asked the Welsh Government if it had recommended a Llandeilo bypass or road diversion option by now and if so what would happen next.

A spokesman replied: “We are working with Carmarthenshire Council to develop options to resolve traffic problems in Llandeilo and Ffairfach. This will include options to accommodate the Towy Valley cycle path.”

Asked whether any of the four options had been ruled out, or new ones ruled in, the spokesman said he couldn’t expand on the statement.

August

A Welsh doctor, who helped establish that the babies eventually found to have been murdered by Lucy Letby were victims of crime, has said the infants and their families were failed by everyone who had a duty of care to them.

Dr Dewi Evans, a retired consultant paediatrician from Carmarthen and who previously worked at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital, was one of two paediatric specialists brought in by the prosecution during the nurse’s trial.

Letby was sentenced to a full life order, which means she will die in prison, although she has appealed the conviction.

She was found guilty of murdering seven babies while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016.

Speaking on TalkTV, Dr Evans said he felt that justice had been served.

He said: “I think this is horrific, it’s probably the single most appalling event affecting any hospital in the NHS over the last 75 years. It is beyond belief what happened to these babies and it is beyond belief why she got away with it for such a long time."

Transport for Wales (TfW) was accused of operating a “shambles” of a service after up to 30 passengers were told to get off a train at a remote station and left to wait for two and a half hours without a toilet or easy access to food or drink.

Jim Ayres said he was on the 11.38am train from Swansea to Llandrindod in Powys on Thursday, August 17.

The route forms part of the Heart of Wales Line, which runs through Llanelli, Ammanford, Llandeilo and Llandovery among other towns and communities, is operated by TfW and is often lauded as one of the most scenic routes in the whole of the UK.

However, about two hours into the journey, as the train was approaching Llanwrtyd railway station, an announcement was made informing passengers that the service would be cancelled and everyone would have to get off.

TfW apologised and said the cancellation was due to a points failure.

Politicians also asked questions after being contacted by passengers who had been experiencing delays and cancellations on the service.

TfW said in mid-August: “Due to engineering work and a number of operational challenges at both Transport for Wales and Network Rail, there have been a higher than usual number of service alterations on the Heart of Wales line recently.

“We recognise this is very frustrating for our customers and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

“We’re working closely with Network Rail to provide passengers with a consistent timetable and services on the line have now returned to normal.”

There were celebrations as pupils across West Wales received their GCSE and A-level results this month.

Learners from across the region are reaping the rewards of two years of dedication and hard work.

At GCSE, in Carmarthenshire, 67.8% of all pupils achieved A*-C grades with 21.7% of them getting A*-A grades.

Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for education and Welsh language said: “Congratulations to all of our young people that have received their GCSE results, I am immensely proud of their hard work and achievements.

“On behalf of Carmarthenshire Council, I must also thank our teachers, support staff, families and friends for your support and commitment to these young people, who are Carmarthenshire’s future generation.”

Results indicate that high standards are also being achieved in schools across neighbouring Ceredigion.

Ceredigion Council said 97.2% of entries for WJEC examinations were graded A*-G; 68.6% achieved A*-C grades and 24.8% of the entries achieved A*-A grades.

Councillor Wyn Thomas, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for the schools service, said: “Pupils in Ceredigion can be proud of their results once again.

“Governors, school leaders, teachers and assistants need to be congratulated for their hard work, endurance and expertise.

At A-level a total of 96.6% of A-level students in Carmarthenshire achieved A*-E.

Through a combination of exams and assessments, a total of 29.4% of A level students across the county received A or A*.

While 88.7% of the county’s AS students achieved A-E grades.

Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for education and Welsh language, Cllr Glynog Davies, said: “Congratulations to our young people that have received their results, you are a credit to Carmarthenshire.

“The results day belongs to you, your teachers, support staff, families and friends for all of your hard work and commitment, but I am also looking forward to hearing of your future achievements. Llongyfarchiadau bawb.”

In a joint statement, Carmarthenshire Council’s chief executive, Wendy Walters and director of education and children’s services, Gareth Morgans added: “Congratulations to our A-level and AS students for their well-deserved and excellent results.

“The county council is grateful for your commitment and perseverance over the last two years and also thankful to your teachers, support staff, families and friends for their support and encouragement to you.

“We wish you every success for the future, diolch.”

In neighbouring Ceredigion, results indicate that high standards are being achieved in schools.

Figures show that 99.1% of entries for WJEC examinations were graded A*-E; 82.5% achieved A*-C grades; 61.4% were graded A*-B and 37.5% of the entries achieved the top ‘A-A*’ grades.

Ceredigion Council cabinet member for schools service Cllr Wyn Thomas, said: “Once again, Ceredigion pupils have done well in their A Level results and my sincere congratulations goes to each of them along with my heartfelt thanks to all teachers and support staff who have helped them in their achievements.

A daredevil performer returned to his hometown of Carmarthen and completed a spectacular high-wire walk across the town park.

Ellis Grover, 30, said the homecoming was a “major milestone” in his life, both as a circus performer and for personal reasons.

Carmarthen Park in Morfa Lane is where Ellis took his first steps on a journey that would set him on a globe-trotting career.

The 100m-long, 10m-high wire walk took place on August 12, along the length of the rugby pitch which lies in the centre of the park’s velodrome.

He did not have any safety support apart from, as he explained, a belief in his ability to not fall.

While the weather was far from ideal on the day, with blustery gusts of wind threatening the entire event, Ellis said it went well and he will go down in history alongside a fellow high-wire walker who did the same thing at the park over a century ago in 1905.

Speaking about returning to town, Ellis said: “I’ve performed all over the world, and don’t know anyone in the crowd usually, but this time was different, there were friends and people who have known me all my life below me looking up at me on that wire.

“So I did think a lot about that on the day as the walk got closer, but it went very well.

“I performed some tricks on the wire and had to tone it down a little because of the weather, but I did what I felt was safe and it was fantastic to be able to do something at the park.

“It felt like coming full circle, a real milestone for me, because it was on the railings around the velodrome and steps of the park that I started doing things, that’s where it all began for me."

It was announced that up to 250 new houses are set to be built just outside Carmarthen after a housebuilder agreed a deal to purchase large pieces of land to the west of the town.

Persimmon Homes West Wales has agreed a deal to buy the site at Pentremeurig Farm, situated near St David’s Park and north of the Johnstown area of the town.

The land – sitting to the north and south of Ffordd Pendre and close to the A40 dual carriageway – is part of a strategic allocation in Carmarthenshire Council’s Local Development Plan, which already has outline planning permission for up to 250 new homes.

The site will include 30 social homes and will be well served by the Carmarthen West link road, which opened in 2019 following a delay in construction that began in 2015.

Persimmon has said the development will create new jobs and include the delivery of both equipped and open play spaces.

The company will begin working on its vision for the project as part of its reserved matters application.

The streets were lined with people and more than 100 cyclists led a funeral procession to say goodbye and pay their respects to a much-loved Llanelli man.

In August 2022, triathlete Wayne Evans, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, with further cancers in four secondary areas.

Wayne had always trained and competed in events and was due to do Ironman Wales in Tenby last September, but sadly this did not happen due to his diagnosis.

Incredibly, despite his diagnosis, Wayne completed the Swansea and Llanelli Sprint triathlons later that year as part of a team where he walked or ran the 5k race.

He had also planned to take part in other events earlier this year, but he sadly passed away on August 9, aged 50.

On Friday, August 25, his funeral took place at Llanelli Crematorium, and the procession to the service was testament to how loved and popular Wayne was.

September

A 10-year-old boy needed hospital treatment after being bitten while saving his toddler brother from being attacked by a dog.

Caio Lewis was playing with his two-year-old brother Jac in his father’s front garden in Cross Hands.

It was then that a French bulldog ran into the garden.

Realising quickly the potentially serious implications of what could happen, Caio ran towards his little brother to defend him against any potential attack.

“The boys were playing at their dad’s house when the dog ran straight for Jac,” said Caio’s mum Lara Poyer, who lives in Llanelli.

“Caio noticed the dog running straight for Jac and he went straight over and pushed him out of the way.

“As Jac ran back towards the house, the dog bit Caio on his thigh.”

Lara took Caio to Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and after a wait of several hours he was treated with a dressing over the cut and given a six-day course of antibiotics.

He was soon on the mend and grateful that his little brother was not bitten, as his injuries could have been far more serious given his much smaller size.

Public opinion over three potential sites for a new hospital in West Wales saw concerns raised over location, road infrastructure ambulance response times and whether enough staff can be recruited for it.

Hywel Dda University Health Board received the final independent report from Opinion Research Services (ORS) following the end of its 12-week public consultation on possible sites for a new urgent and planned care hospital – two located near Whitland and one near St Clears.

Health bosses then confirmed after a meeting that  the new hospital will be built on either Ty Newydd in Whitland or St Clears. The Whitland Spring Gardens site will no longer be considered.

Steve Moore, chief executive officer for Hywel Dda said the decision marked "a step closer to identifying the site for the planned urgent and planned care hospital that is an important part of our Healthier Mid and West Wales Strategy.”

Concerns were raised this month over what the future holds for Llanelli’s Trostre tinplate works in the wake of the announcement for its sister steelworks site in Port Talbot.

The Indian-owned steel giant announced a £1.25bn investment into Port Talbot steelworks to install electric arc furnaces and shut down the two primary steel-making blast furnaces.  

Trostre is reliant on steel from Port Talbot and questions have been raised by Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith, who said: “I have already spoken with the Secretary of State for Wales calling on him to guarantee that this deal will not affect the quality and grade of steel currently supplied to Trostre from there and that local jobs here in Llanelli are not being put at risk as a result.

Community Union representative at Trostre, Andrew Bragoli, who is also a Llanelli town councillor said: “I am very concerned about the news of what is going to happen at Port Talbot. It leaves a big question mark over Trostre’s future.”

Also in Llanelli, controversial plans to relocate a drug and alcohol support service from Llanelli town centre to North Dock were turned down by councillors amid fractious scenes.

One of the objectors present at County Hall repeatedly said, “Shame on you,” to the four councillors who voted in favour of the application. Nine councillors voted to refuse planning permission.

The application by Hwyel Dda University Health Board was to locate six health and well-being services to the former WRW building at Anchor Point, North Dock.

These included a psychological team to help young people who’d experienced traumatic events, and another to help people improve their diet and physical activity and reduce their alcohol intake.

The element which generated significant opposition was the planned relocation of the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS) from Vaughan Street, Llanelli.

Addressing the committee, ward councillors Louvain Roberts and Sean Rees said the proposal was in the wrong location and asked who would be responsible if a water-related fatality occurred. Cllr Rees added: “We have a popular coastline in Llanelli and we want it to stay that way.”

He also said a public spaces protection order in Llanelli had been extended earlier this year to include North Dock, suggesting that anti-social behaviour and crime was already an issue in the vicinity.

Planning development manager John Thomas said the application complied with planning policies and that alternative locations had been looked at by the applicants. He added that councillors would have to provide evidence to substantiate any reason for refusal.

Before the vote, Cllr Ken Howell said there seemed to be a problem connected to the DDAS at its current Vaughan Street base. “Are we not merely moving that problem to this location?” he said.

Our review of stories that made the headlines for the remaining three months of the year will continue tomorrow.