Support your local markets
Our indoor markets at Llanelli and Carmarthen, and our outdoor market at Ammanford, are open and well stocked with fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish – as well as items like newspapers, books, music, puzzles, games and more.
Our traders would appreciate your support. Please remember to take care of your own health and protect others, including our traders, by following good hygiene practice and washing your hands regularly.
Providing care for children of key workers
We are planning to develop school sites for the provision of emergency childcare cover for key workers and support for vulnerable children and young people.
Plans are also in place to ensure the provision of free school meals can continue.
More information on this will follow as soon as possible including how you can register.
Whitland recycling centre
The recycling centre in Whitland will be closed today (Friday, March 20) due to staff shortages. We will aim to re-open as soon as possible.
Covid-19 contact number for businesses and residents
We are providing additional support to help and advise Carmarthenshire businesses and residents throughout the on-going Coronavirus crisis.
You can connect to this new service by calling us on 01267 234567. This is available between 8.30am and 6pm seven days a week.
Council officers will be on hand to provide guidance and signposting on areas including:
- Financial support and other help for businesses
- Assistance available for the elderly, vulnerable and isolated
- Linking the needs of communities with volunteers
This service builds on work already being carried out in our communities, with council staff helping volunteers on the ground.
Council housing repairs
Only urgent or emergency work on council homes will be undertaken by the property maintenance team for the foreseeable future.
Any work which is not urgent will be put on hold and tenants will be contacted when the work is planned to take place.
You can report an emergency repair by calling 01267 234567 during office hours (8.30am – 6pm, Monday – Friday). Outside of these times please call 0300 333 2222.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
Bus services
All bus services are continuing to run as normal, although as the Coronavirus situation develops this could be subject to change. We advise you to check your journey with Traveline in advance in case of any changes.
Traveline is the national transport enquiry service. It is available online at www.traveline.cymru or by calling freephone 0800 464 00 00. Traveline has set up a special page specifically for Coronavirus updates, including links to operator websites.
Join the library to enjoy our free digital resources
If you would like to join the library during the current temporary closure in order to access our free online resources, please contact your local regional library on
- Llanelli: 01554 744327
- Carmarthen: 01267 224824
- Ammanford: 01269 598360
Find out more about our digital library.
Adult Community Learning
In line with the announcement of school closures yesterday, Adult Community Learning venues also remain closed until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Residents enrolled on Learn Welsh Carmarthenshire courses will be able to continue with distance learning and keep in touch with tutors via Facebook. All learners will be contacted directly.
The situation will be reviewed regularly.
Temporary closure and reduction in service of learning disability and mental health day services
From today (Thursday, March 19) we are starting a staggered temporary closure of our learning disability and mental health day services and a reduction in respite / short breaks.
All parents/carers and service users have been called and notified of the changes and made aware of the alternative help available to them depending on their individual needs. These range from
- Wellbeing telephone calls
- Online contact such as facetime, skype, youtube videos
- Activity packs such as contract work, craft, exercise plans, TEACCH schedules etc.
- Lunchtime assistance
- Support with personal care
- Respite activities within the persons home
Everyone affected has also been allocated a contact person so they can discuss concerns and let us know if their situation changes.
We will be reviewing the position regularly to ensure we can support those with critical needs.
Council buildings close to public from Friday
All council buildings, including the Hwbs in Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli, will be closed to the public from this morning (Friday, March 20). This decision will be reviewed regularly.
For general enquiries on council services please visit our website, email direct@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 234567.
You contact our cash desks for payments on:
- Carmarthen: 01267 228686
- Llanelli: 01554 742551
- Ammanford: 01558 825450
Childcare
Schools across Wales will close from today (March 20), however, this does not apply to childcare, childcare will remain open. If you are looking for childcare in Carmarthenshire please visit fis.carmarthenshire.gov.wales or contact the Family Information Service on 01267 246555 or e-mail ChildrenInfo@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Libraries closed
A decision has been made to close all our libraries from Thursday (March 19) until the end of May. The health and wellbeing of users and our staff is our main priority. This decision will be reviewed regularly. You will not be fined if you have items to return and members are encouraged to access services online in the meantime.
Leisure centres closed
A decision has been made to close all our leisure centres from Thursday (March 19) until the end of May. The health and wellbeing of our customers and our staff is our main priority. Please be reassured that no customers will lose out financially; all memberships will be frozen automatically, bookings will be credited or amended etc.
All customers will be contacted directly and we urge customers not to get in touch directly unless absolutely necessary.
Please check for updates on the Actif website, Facebook and Twitter pages, and via the ‘Actif Sport and Leisure’ app. This situation will be updated regularly.
Country parks remain open, with some changes
All our country parks currently remain open to visitors, however, there are some changes to some services / activities.
The visitor centres at Pembrey Country Park and Llyn Llech Owain Country Park are closed until the end of May, along with Yr Orsaf (restaurant), the Ski Centre and all toilets at Pembrey.
A decision has also been made to postpone all events at all of the country parks, and the Millennium Coastal Park, until further notice. Staff will be contacting event organisers to re-schedule.
The campsite at Pembrey Country Park will remain open for all seasonal campers, and self-contained units only. Bookings will no longer be taken for tents, trailer tents, or any other unit that is not self-contained with its own facilities. i.e. toilet and/or shower. If you have already make a booking to stay between now and May 31, please email camppembrey@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01554 742435. A full refund will be issued to all affected bookings.
We apologise for the inconvenience, however, the health and wellbeing of our staff and customers remains our priority and we advise all visitors to adhere to the Government’s social distancing guidance. All these decisions will be regularly reviewed.
School closures in Wales
Please see below announcement released by Welsh Government today. As from Friday all schools will be closed.
Mobile libraries service suspended
We have taken the precautionary decision to suspend our mobile library service until the end of May. We appreciate some residents will be disappointed but hope residents will appreciate why we have made this decision in light of the evolving situation.
The safety of our staff and customers is of paramount importance. This decision will be reviewed regularly.
Council meetings
As the coronavirus situation develops, we have taken the precautionary decision to suspend some of our council meetings.
The Executive Board, Planning Committee and Licensing Committee will continue to meet to make key decisions on council business. This decision will be reviewed regularly.
We would like to reassure residents that we continue to take advice and direction from Public Health Wales and Welsh Government; and are working with multi-agency partners to prepare for what may be a lengthy period of disruption.
Joint Statement by WLGA and Welsh Government
Joint statement by Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James, and leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, Cllr Andrew Morgan
“We are facing a serious public health emergency, which has the potential to affect large numbers of people across Wales and to cause major disruption to normal daily life.
“We know people are worried. If we work together we can overcome challenges together.
“Local government services are at the heart of every community in Wales. They are relied on by children, adults and the elderly every day in every part of Wales. The coronavirus outbreak will have an impact on public services – as demand for key services will increase but there will be fewer people providing them.
“We are working together to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring local government has the support and resources it needs as we face this outbreak together.”
Coronavirus-related scams
Our trading standards team want to make residents aware of coronavirus-related scams and to be vigilant.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of such scams, please contact the Citizens Advice Bureau on 0808 223 1133.
Welsh Government announces £200 million support package for small businesses
Measures include:
- Shops, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less to receive 100 per cent business rate relief
- Pubs with a rateable value of between £51,000 and £100,000 to receive a £5,000 reduction on their bill
The Welsh Government also says a further £100 million will be made available for a new grant scheme for small businesses not eligible for this new business rate relief.
Details will be published on gov.wales as soon as they’re available.
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections postponed
The UK Government has announced that all polls scheduled for May 7, 2020 will be postponed for 12 months. This includes the Police and Crime Commissioner election for the Dyfed-Powys Police area.
Announcement about Urdd Eisteddfod Carmarthenshire 2021
Urdd Gobaith Cymru has announced changes to its programme of events in light of the Coronavirus situation. As part of several changes, the Urdd Eisteddfod due to be held in Llandovery in May 2021 will now take place in 2022.
Council implements contingencies in response to COVID-19
Carmarthenshire County Council is preparing and implementing a comprehensive response to coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent and limit the spread of the outbreak as far as possible.
A tactical command group bringing together the council’s leadership team is implementing contingency plans and taking special measures to help protect residents.
The council continues to take advice and direction from Public Health Wales and Welsh Government, and is working with multi-agency partners to prepare for what may be a lengthy period of disruption.
Protecting residents at our care homes
As part of our preparation and response to the evolving coronavirus situation we are taking additional measures to prevent any potential risks at our care homes. As such, we are implementing sections of our visitors’ policy – that we have to implement from time to time – to restrict visits from families and friends, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
In addition, day services for older people are temporarily closed with bespoke plans for residents who need alternative provision that cannot be provided by friends and family.
These actions are purely precautionary to ensure that the people we care for are protected. We continue to take advice and guidance from Public Health Wales and Welsh Government, and our position will be reviewed daily.
We appreciate this decision may cause inconvenience and some distress, but please be assured that we are acting in the best interests of our residents and service users.
Coronavirus Testing Units set up
Hywel Dda University Health Board has announced on Tuesday, March 10 they have opened a Coronavirus Testing Unit in Carmarthen in a bid to assess and test more people during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Another unit has opened in Cardigan with the possibility of others opening in more areas during the coming weeks.
The specific location will not be announced due to the need to protect patient confidentiality.
The testing unit is only for people with a prior appointment and instruction from 111.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
