Blogs

Well the winter in Pembrokeshire has been less than ideal for Paragliding, though often we get fantastic flying over winter- this year that was not to be-however things have been getting and better of late, and we've had some cracking days and it's only Febuary! looking forward to the spring thermals and cruising above the coastline dolphin spotting!!

Melin Consultants, the fast-growing South Wales firm of environment and sustainability experts, has played its part in helping to recognise quality builders in Carmarthenshire.
Melin sponsored two categories at Carmarthenshires 2011 Local Authority Building Control Excellence Awards ceremony at the Machynys Peninsula Golf Club in Llanelli.
Working closely with constructors and builders we get to see plenty of examples of excellent work in Carmarthenshire, said Melin managing director Jamie Best.
Sponsoring two award categories was our way of helping to recognise the achievements of excellent building projects in Carmarthenshire.
A total of 12 building projects were recognised at the awards, which were introduced by LABC (Local Authority Building Control) President Mike Sanson.
The county councils director of regeneration, Dave Gilbert, said: It was not too many years ago people used to say buildings and homes to the standard we are achieving in the county now could never happen in Carmarthenshire.
But the quality guidelines laid down by our building control officers are being respected and adhered to by contractors and developers and landmark building of outstanding design and quality are appearing all over the county.
The councils Executive Board member for regeneration and leisure, Councillor Clive Scourfield, said: It is brilliant to see contractors within the county doing such a wonderful job and being recognised with the best of the best. I am so pleased to see the high quality buildings we have here in Carmarthenshire.
The Best Education Building, sponsored by Melin, was won by Kier Western for the construction of a new primary school at Brynsierfel, Llwynhendy, Llanelli.
The school was built on the site of the former Brynsierfel School, which was completely demolished. The site had its own issues being very steeply sloping, which meant the school being built on two levels with the upper section incorporating the hall, kitchen and administration areas and the lower section containing the teaching areas.
The changes in level resulted in features such as steps and stairs being a significant issue which needed consideration, assessment and agreement to ensure safety requirements were not compromised.
A prominent design feature of the project was the curved retaining wall, which swept along the whole length of the school. The main contractor operated a very professional site set up. Together with the on-site Clerk of Works Andrew Thyer, a very good team approach was utilised in all aspects of the project, which helped deliver on time a successful project which fully satisfied the modern design brief.
The award was presented to Kier Western by Melin managing director Jamie Best.
Melin also sponsored the Best Sustainable Project (Residential), which was won by Heritage 2000 for a barn conversion and alterations to a dwelling at Troed Rhiw Gelynin, Rhandirmwyn, Llandovery.
The property is situated in rural countryside to the north of Rhandirmwyn and on a country lane leading to Cwrt Y Cadno with stunning views across the valley.
The main house and attached barn have been converted to a high standard with the main theme of sustainability, ground source heat pump, thermal store, under floor heating, lime render both internally and externally.
A modern kitchen has been incorporated with the existing timber A frames which have been sand blasted and treated to enrich their colour and appearance. The builder was diligent in his methods and always eager to achieve the highest standards of build quality. The award was presented to Heritage 2000 by Melins Mathew John.

LABC Building Excellence Awards. Left to right: Martyn Osbourne,Ewart Wilson, Carmarthenshire County Council Principal Building Control Surveyor Steven Pound, Jamie Best of Melin and LABC president Mike Sanson.
Pic Jeff Connell, Carmarthenshire County Council

LABC Building Excellence Awards. Left to right: Building Control Surveyor Eifion Jones, Nicole Jones, Michael Parkin, Lucy Parkin, David Somerfield, LABC president Mike Sanson, and Mathew John of Melin.
Pic Jeff Connell, Carmarthenshire County Council
Weblinks:
http://www.melinconsultants.co.uk
http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/English/news/Pages/QualitybuildersinCarmarthenshirerecognised.aspx
http://www.labcbuildingexcellenceawards.uk.com
Twitter: @melinconsult
Facebook: Melin Consultants Ltd
LinkedIn: Melin Consultants
Melin Energy Consultants has been providing SAP & SBEM calculations for local authorities, architects, builders & developers over a number of years.
All Melin technicians have a wealth of experience in dealing with individual requirements.
The company motto is "10% calculation 90% solution".
As a building consultancy specialising in Part L of the Building Regulations and environmental assessing of new buildings, Melin technicians are qualified and accredited to issue certification in all the following fields BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes, EPC, SBEM, SAP, air-tightness testing.
Contact details: Melin, Llys Aur, Llanelli Gate, Dafen, Llanelli, SA14 8LQ
t: 0845 094 1593
m: 07800 634804
e: jamie@melinconsultants.co.uk

http://djleekee.wordpress.com/cardiff-st-davids-day-parade

Check out my blog post featuring all the colour and giant puppets from the annual St Davids Day aparede in Cardiff 2012! Here's one for tasters! Yep that's Gethin Jenkins!

ive just watched the bbc new historical tv series the story of wales.the first episode named the making of wales starts by tracing back 30,000 years to the first stoneage settlers in wales.the program was a true insight.very intresting and in deed very entertaining with the cgi spescial effects and re enactments were excellent.and the carrasmatic and passionate Huw Edwards was a great choice to front and present the show. i cant wait to see the rest of the series,and i would urge all to see this excellent portrail of our history.it was lovely to see my local beach dinas dinlle,and the ancient roman fort SEGONTIUM in my home town of Caernarfon,was also amazing to see so much history and interesting places in wales which i hadent really any knowledge of.a great offering by bbc CYMRU.

Tomorrow at 4. a.m. the St David'd Day Special will be broadcast live from St Clears on UStream. Can AC members currently logged in ( or who see this post ) go to:- http://www.ustream.tv/channel/st-clears-tv

and help with testing?

There are two streams, chat and social, need to be sure they are both working.

OH and dont forget....the St Davids Day special is at 12 ( GMT ) 4 am (PST) 5 ( Mountain ) 6 ( Central ) 7 ( Eastern ) tomorrow morning. SO set your alarm clocks and celebrate St David's Day live from St Clears

Leaping Lizards! The Stagecoach Theatre Arts School in Carmarthen is planning a special production this summer.
The popular musical Annie will be the featured show and will take to the stage at The Lyric Theatre in King Street, Carmarthen.
Its the schools third annual production, following on the successes of Billy Elliot and last years production of Oliver.
The annual summer production is always one of the highlights of the year here at Stagecoach, said Stagecoach Carmarthen principal Liane Davies.
Annie is a very popular choice, featuring some great songs such as Maybe, Tomorrow and Its the Hard-Knock Life.
Casting has started already and we will be starting rehearsals next term, which is April.
Pupils joining our new afternoon school will be able to take part in the production, which will see us do three performances at the Lyric (one a matinee) on Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21.
Every single person in the school gets an opportunity to perform in the show - even the four to six-year-olds get to do their own version of Annie in the studio of the Lyric.
As usual, we get a huge amount of help for the production from parents and the Stagecoach team members are very grateful to have parents of pupils who are so very supportive of the work we do here.
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen has its base at the Model Church in Wales School.
The school opened in May 2009 and became an instant success. The school now attracts students from the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.
Principal Liane added: Our aim is always to nurture and develop four to 18-year-olds to fulfil their potential through dance, drama and singing.
If you want to find out more about Stagecoach Carmarthen, contact Principal Liane Davies, phone: 0845 604 1422. Email - carmarthen@stagecoach.co.uk.
Website - http://www.stagecoach.co.uk/carmarthen

The event was the first of its kind to be held at the BIC, the former Technium building overlooking Cleddau Bridge.
Red Kite Law partner Betsan Powell, pictured, said: It was a major feather in our cap as we have just moved our legal firms Pembrokeshire commercial department into new offices at the state-of-the-art BIC.
Working with Finance Wales, this was the first seminar and networking event of its kind, but I am sure it wont be the last as the team here at the BIC and Red Kite Law are keen to host other events which will prove to be beneficial to the business community in Pembrokeshire.
It was also something of a coup for us as we were able to secure a top keynote speaker in Sue Davenport, regional ambassador for the IOD (Institute of Directors) Chartered Director programme in Wales.
A graduate of Havard Business School, Sue, is an experienced sales and marketing led MD with more than 25 years experience of developing and growing businesses in the food service sector.
Sue, a former Woman CEO of the year with the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA), gave an inspirational address to the seminar.
The event also featured a joint presentation by Betsan Powell, who is head of company commercial with Red Kite Law, and Rhian Elston, Deputy Fund Manager with Finance Wales.
Rhian said: Finance Wales were delighted to co-host the event and particularly encouraged to see that many growing businesses and their advisers are considering equity investment as a valuable option for raising growth capital.

Construction firm Morganstone Ltd has won three separate contracts to provide new homes for Pembrokeshire Housing Association.
The projects have a combined value of 2 million.
The projects are significant news for us as we can now proudly say we work across the length and breadth of South Wales, from Chepstow in the east to the west of Pembrokeshire, said Morganstone Managing Director, Ian Morgan, pictured above.
The projects with Pembrokeshire Housing fulfil a great need for social housing in the area and we are delighted to be carrying out the work.
At Munro Court in Pembroke Dock, Morganstone is building two, semi-detached, bungalows.
At St Marys Road, the project is for four bungalows and at Stranraer Road, 16 houses and flats are being constructed.
Ian Morgan added: From our offices in Llanelli we are very conveniently located to serve both the eastern and the western regions of South Wales.
We have senior staff with decades of experience working in all sectors of development and construction and it is this combination of experience and a personal and flexible construction service that means so much to our clients, both old and new. These projects are a good opportunity for us to work with Pembrokeshire Housing and we are excited to continue our affordable housing delivery
Weblinks
http://www.morganstone.co.uk/
http://www.pembs-ha.co.uk/
On Facebook, search Morganstone Ltd.
On Twitter, look for @MorganstoneLtd
Morganstone
Morganstone was formed in 2008 to deliver a personal and flexible construction service to clients. Senior staff have more than 50 years combined experience of working for national companies in all sectors of development and construction; new build residential for both sales and affordable markets, estate regeneration, refurbishment and planned maintenance.
This wide ranging and in-depth experience helps clients achieve their targets and objectives by taking on the functions of design co-ordination, project value engineering, programming and delivery. The services available from Morganstone extend from initial site appraisal, through construction to handover, planned maintenance programme works and advice on tendering routes, sales and marketing.
Services include -

• Site sourcing and appraising
• Acquisition advice
• New build
• Estate Regeneration
• Conversion/Refurbishment
• Planned maintenance
• Contract management
• Design and build
• Sales and marketing
• Void Improvements

The company has an excellent reputation for delivering on its commitments to clients through its hands-on, flexible, but disciplined approach. This is backed up with all of the necessary supporting systems, demonstrated by our accreditation for Quality Assurance, Constructionline, CHAS, Considerate Constructor and Green Dragon Environmental Standard (Level 4).
Based in new, BREEAM rated, offices in Llanelli Gate, Morganstone is excellently positioned to provide a local base for clients all over South Wales, from Pembrokeshire to Chepstow.
The company address is: Morganstone House, Llys Aur, Llanelli Gate, Llanelli, SA14 8LQ. Tel No: 01554 779126. Email: mail@morganstone.co.uk
Pembrokeshire Housing
Pembrokeshire Housing is an independent, not for profit Industrial & Provident Society and is the local housing association, being based in and operating in Pembrokeshire.
Since it was established in 1981 it has achieved consistent growth and now provides more than 2,000 homes. These are distributed from St David's in the north-west to Saundersfoot in the south-east of the county.