A LLANGADOG fundraiser has had her good work honoured in Madagascar.

Theresa Haine, has had her charity efforts rewarded and has been made a Chevalier de l'Ordre National Malagasy (Knight of the National Order of Madagascar) for her work as co-ordinator of charity, Money for Madagascar.

Theresa started her work with the poor in Madagascar in 1967 when she taught at a rural secondary school with no electricity and no running water. She said after seeing the poverty on the island she had to help.

"On completing my teaching assignment in 1971, I knew I couldn't just walk away.

"Having seen the poverty, but also the ingenuity and hard work of the Malagasy people I was determined to find a way to help.

"So in 1986, when Swansea Quakers founded the first British charity dedicated to helping Madagascar, I jumped at the chance to get involved."

After becoming a trustee and then co-ordinator of Money for Madagascar, Theresa has dedicated 27 years helping poverty-stricken residents on the island and now her team at the charity sends more than £250,000 a year to help Malagasy-run projects across the island.

Theresa said the charity has not only helped the Malagasy people with money, but it has also provided friendship to those living on the island.

Money for Madagascar has helped to build more than 100 classrooms, planted forests the size of 60 football pitches and has fed and educated thousands of children.

After her knighthood, Theresa added: "As the sun shone on the green, white and red of the Welsh and Malagasy flags we gave thanks for the friendship between our people — for those who have gone before us, and those whose lives still depend on us."

A FARMER from Kidwelly who has purchased a historic former coal site for £260,000 has said he is looking to "breathe new life" into the location.

Dai Gravell has bought the former Coedbach Washeries site, which is next door to his Mudlescwm Farm.

The 50-year-old said the 35-acre site provided plenty of exciting opportunities for development in the future — adding that he was open for ideas on its future use.

"With the help of the council and the Welsh Government I could do things to bring some life back into it in terms of industrial units in that nature or put part of it back into agriculture," he said.

"It would be things like small units for workshops or businesses wanting space to operate their business — it all depends how the council can advise me on the best way forward really and what sort of help there is from the Welsh Assembly."

To many, the closure of Coedbach Washeries spelled the death knell for the area.

The coal washery, seen by many as one of the last great employers in the area, closed in 1998 after 40 years in the town.

Unemployment jumped overnight in an already depressed area and residents feared they were on a downhill path.

Clive Hughes, who later took over the site, had hoped to bring a £70 million power plant to the area, but was met with fierce opposition from the Coedbach Action Team (CAT) and the application was rejected by Carmarthenshire Council in 2009.

A winding up order that was brought before a court in Birmingham in December meant the loss of the site, and Mr Gravell acquired it from Edward Symmons property consultants.

The dad-of-two added that it was a new venture for him, admitting he had never bought any brown land sites before, only commercial property in the past.

"The feedback has been positive so far," he said.

He added: "It's a new avenue and we will have to see where it goes, but nothing is starting yet.

"It's a shame that the Coedbach Washeries site had to come to an end — it employed a lot of people for nearly 30 years.

"I'm open to suggestions about the future, but something of that nature will be out of my hands.

THE fight against "extreme energy" in Llanelli has begun.

A group calling itself Frack Off Llanelli met in the town's Glenalla Civic Hall last week in order to draw up battle plans to prevent a process of extracting gas from the Loughor Estuary's coal seams know as underground coal gasification (UCG).

The meeting attracted more than 100 people from Waunarlwydd to Laugharne.

One of the group's organisers, Paul Jennings, said: "The objective is to start a visible and vocal opposition to extreme energy in Llanelli and the surrounding region.

"If we carry on the way we are with carbon dioxide I'm fearful for the future of my grandchildren.

"This is an issue for Llanelli, the surrounding area, Wales and the whole world."

To date, the group has nearly 2,000 members on Facebook, and support is growing.

Mr Jennings, who lives near Whitland, said: "Llanelli is not alone, I had a phone call from a lady I didn't know in Scotland, wishing me luck for tonight."

And fellow organiser Keith Ross, of campaign group Swansea Against Fracked Energy, said: "We are concerned about all forms of unconventional gas, including underground coal gasification, for environmental reasons which you can divide into local — that is the potential for pollution and damage to the local environment — and global, in these gasses are fossil fuels, they emit carbon dioxide, so how are we going to meet our carbon reduction targets if we just keep digging more gas out of the ground?

"Most people we speak to have no idea this is going on."

Llanelli resident Chris Bingo added: "It's going to affect the whole Llanelli area with very probable pollution of the water table and pollution in the air. Everyone should be concerned about it."

Councillor Winston Lemon, who was at the meeting, said afterwards: "My personal opinion is no thank you, I don't want it on my doorstep.

"At the moment I've got concerns but I can only say that on what I've heard.

"There are people who are positive about it. It's about 70 to 30 against.

"I'm still in the learning process."

And Sean Rees, of Llanelli's Plaid Cymru branch, said worried residents had contacted the party about the issue.

"Our view is making sure we get energy and natural resources devolved to Wales," he said.

"What concerns us is you're going to have property prices plummeting.

"It doesn't do much for the tourist industry."

A COASTGUARD campaigner said it was "scandalous" that employees at Swansea's understaffed coastguard station still did not know when it would close.

Mike Dubens, the co-ordinator of campaign group Save Swansea Coastguard, said he felt staff at the Bracelet Bay maritime and rescue co-ordination centre were not being treated fairly.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the UK Government agency which runs HM Coastguard, said the controversial closure was still scheduled for the next financial year, which starts on April 1. But it could not give further details.

"It's absolutely scandalous for these people to be left in limbo, especially after all the messing about," said Mr Dubens.

He was referring to the fact that Swansea Coastguard had been due to remain open under a UK Government review before a U-turn effectively sealed its demise.

Save Swansea Coastguard, backed by the Evening Post, campaigned to keep the station open and delivered a petition with 100,000 signatures to the Houses of Parliament in 2011.

The maritime rescue and co-ordination centre is Wales's busiest and dealt with around 1,300 incidents during 2012.

It currently has 17 employees but should have a complement of 23.

Concerns about staffing levels at the station, and others in the UK, have been voiced by the Public and Commercial Services union. The MCA said the second of two recruitment drives was under way and that when a station was under-staffed, "pairing" arrangements with another station — in Swansea's case Milford Haven — were put in place.

Swansea Coastguard is one of nine UK maritime and rescue coordination centres earmarked for closure out of a total of 19. The MCA said it was likely that Milford Haven, and a national maritime operations centre near Southampton, would cover the huge area currently scanned by Swansea Coastguard.

EDUCATION in Carmarthenshire is set to be transformed following a major education merger.

Coleg Sir Gâr joined the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David Group (UWTSD) earlier this month, following Swansea Metropolitan University who joined the group in October 2012.

The new group is part of the Welsh Government's post-14 education plan and is expected to transform the educational landscape of Carmarthenshire and South West Wales.

But the identity of Coleg Sir Gâr will not lost in the new partnership.

Professor Medwin Hughes, vice-chancellor of UWTSD, welcomed Coleg Sir Gâr into the group.

He said: "We are creating a radical new system of education for Wales that will transform, shape and develop the communities we serve.

"The UWTSD system is comprised of universities and colleges committed to educating students of all ages and backgrounds and stimulating economic development in our region."

Mr Hughes said the new UWTSD system will have more than 25,000 learners spread across 15 campuses in rural and city locations.

"Collectively we are delivering clear, tangible benefits for learners, employers, industry and communities through an innovative portfolio ranging from further education to doctoral studies," he added.

Coleg Sir Gâr principal, Barry Liles said: "This historical and ground-breaking merger has been completed from a position of great strength, with both institutions having very good quality profiles and sound financial health.

"The merger has created a strong and innovative educational group structure for South West Wales, incorporating both further and higher education.

"This group structure can be termed a 'dual sector university' and at the heart of this development is a strategy to improve opportunities for learners at all levels across the region."

Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills, welcomed the new group.

He said: "This merger represents a major step forwards for UWTSD. By bringing together further and higher education in this way, this new institution will be able to offer learners a whole range of different opportunities and build on vital partnerships within the business community.

"This is good news for the learners and the economy of South West Wales. I'd like to congratulate everyone involved in this process for their vision and commitment in seeing through the merger."

Museum to house fascinating history — see Journal Local page 16

POLICE have warned youngsters who are "risking their lives" jumping into Burry Port harbour.

Dyfed-Powys Police and Carmarthenshire Council have spoken out over the dangerous activity —  known as tombstoning — saying people have been jumping from the harbour bridge during the summer.

And the force have also warned other lives could be put at risk after the Coastguard complained life rings were being used inappropriately.

"The Coastguard have come to us expressing concern that the youngsters engaging in this practice were using the life rings to help them get out of the water," said Sergeant Stuart Bell.

"That is not what the life rings are there for.

"They are there in case someone gets into difficulty swimming and could offer them an essential lifeline.

"The worry is these youngsters will use the life rings but not put them back where they got them from.

"That could put someone else's life at risk in the future.

"I'd ask local youngsters and their parents to bear this in mind and behave more responsibly."

And a Carmarthenshire Council spokesman said youngsters were risking serious injury.

"We are working with police to try and stop this practice which often recurs in school holiday times," he said.

"Rangers and harbour staff speak to them but many of the youngsters are offensive and police have to be called. But as soon as backs are turned they are at it again.

"There is also a problem with some life safety aids being wrecked and lost by their antics.

"They are taken from their emergency stations and used as playthings in the water. As well as risking their own lives by jumping their are also putting the lives of others at risk who might need the life aids in any water emergency."

And harbour master Rory Dickinson appealed to parents to speak to their children.

"We really would like to appeal to parents to have a word with their children before someone is seriously hurt or killed," he said.

"They are jumping into the unknown because anything could lie under the water."

The council is now looking at putting temporary fencing up over the bank holiday to prevent the nuisance.

But the measures could make the harbour unsightly to its many visitors at peak holiday times.

RESIDENTS in Mynyddygarreg have been victorious in their campaign for improvements to be made to the village park.

Disgruntled villagers hit out over the way the children's play area was unkempt and neglected last month, with overgrown grass and verges making it unusable.

They claimed that their late hometown hero Ray Gravell would have been "very upset" at the time and effort being made on maintaining his memorial while the play area had been allowed to go to rack and ruin — calling on the council, who stated it was not their land, to take immediate action.

And as a gesture of goodwill, the council stepped in and cleared up the land.

After appearing in the Star, the issue also featured on Jason Mohammad's BBC Radio Wales show.

Viv Summers said: "The publicity raised by the community and supported by local press and national radio, has had the desired effect, which we as a community express our thanks for that support.

"But we hope that if others have a problem with their local authority, do not despair, but follow the lead of Mynyddygarreg, which proves that success can be achieved.

ACTION

"I do not believe that there is any coincidence in the fact that Carmarthenshire Council took immediate action after the publicity, which showed them up in a negligent light.

"Did they establish ownership of the play area, with rapid investigation, after maintaining that it was nothing to do with them, or have they attended to land which is not owned by them?

"Will the council carry on with the maintenance for the foreseeable future?

''Because it will certainly be monitored by the local community."

Fellow resident Marlene Tapscott, who first highlighted the issue added: "It is nice that they have actually taken it on board — on Tuesday morning we had the thing with Radio Wales and then the following morning I went up at 8.15am and the workmen were all up there."

She added: "What was lovely was that there were children playing up there almost straight after — I went up there and I thought this is fantastic to see."

A spokeswoman for Carmarthenshire Council said: "We have been in discussions with Kidwelly Town Council for some time regarding asset transfer and a meeting was held last week (prior to the radio show) where the issues in relation to Mynyddygarreg Park were discussed.

"We are still trying to clarify ownership of the land, however, as a gesture of goodwill it was agreed that we would tidy up the area. Discussions are ongoing."

SHOPPERS will be able to enjoy more than 100 discount deals at Swansea's city centre stores in today's Post.

We're giving away Big Heart of Swansea loyalty cards to all of our readers so they can make the most of their money.

Business bosses are hoping their firms will also enjoy a boost.

Full story — pages 6 to 9

SHOPPERS will be able to enjoy more than 100 discount deals at Swansea's city centre stores in today's Post.

We're giving away Big Heart of Swansea loyalty cards to all of our readers so they can make the most of their money.

Business bosses are hoping their firms will also enjoy a boost.

Full story — pages 6 to 9

PORT Talbot campaigners opposing plans to close a beach footpath turned out in full force at a pre-inquiry meeting.

Due to objections to Neath Port Talbot Council's proposals to close footpath 92 from Langland's lane in Margam, and have a diversion order for the path from Kenfig Nature Reserve, known as footpath 93 — a four-day inquiry will be held in November.

It will also look into the creation order of a new footpath which would form part of the Wales Coastal Path.

To make sure the inquiry is run efficiently, inspector Helen Slade, held a pre-inquiry meeting at Margam Park's Orangery yesterday.

More than 50 campaigners, who have been opposing the changes to the footpaths near Morfa Beach since August 2011, attended the meeting.

Mrs Slade, who has been appointed by Welsh Ministers, said she undertook her own site visit of the footpaths on Monday. "I walked the whole lot of it and it took me the best part of four hours," she said.

It was suggested that a formal site visit for all interested parties could take place on Monday, November 4 — the day before the inquiry is due to start.

This will be subject to Tata Steel's approval, as some of the land to be debated is owned by them.

The meeting also heard from the people who wanted to speak at the inquiry. The council's barrister, Edwin Simpson, said they would only be calling Jonathan Griffiths, who is the council's rights of way officer, as a witness.

In response, chairman of the action group Save Morfa Beach (Friends of Morfa), Dr Charles Smith, said he was "surprised" to hear that they would not be calling a Tata Steel representative.

Those who wish to speak at the inquiry will include Terry Griffiths, from the Neath Port Talbot Ramblers, who will be supporting the diversion and creation orders, but will be opposing the extinguishment order of footpath 92.

Margam councillor Robert Jones will be speaking on behalf of the campaign group.

Several other residents also said they would like to make representations at the inquiry. Mrs Slade also requested for several maps — one which indicates landownership — and paperwork in relation to the Wales Coastal Path. Mr Simpson said the council also intended to carry out traffic survey.

Following the meeting, Dr Smith said he was pleased with the turnout.

He added: "I am very impressed with the business-like and impartiality of the inspector."

A Tata Steel spokesman added: "We have assisted the local authority with their footpath proposal. How they approach the inquiry is a question for the council, it would be inappropriate for us to comment."

The council's head of planning, Nicola Pearce, said: "I can confirm that the council will be represented by its rights of way officer, as in all inquiry cases."

PLANS for an asbestos storage site on the edge of Gorseinon have been given the go-ahead — despite reservations from councillors.

The scheme — by Phoenix Asbestos Recovery Ltd — will see a new secure unit built on Garngoch Industrial Estate which will handle waste asbestos from commercial and residential removal jobs.

Up to 10 tonnes of packaged waste will be stored at the plant — the former JD Furs site — before being taken for disposal.

A number of councillors on Swansea Council's planning committee voiced concerns about possible safety implications, but they were told that public health was a matter for Natural Resources Wales and other licensing bodies, and that they should determine the application on building and appropriate land use matters only.

One of those who opposed to the plans was Gorseinon ward member David Lewis.

He said: "The mere mention of asbestos can cause fear in a community. It can cause lung cancer and asbestosis, and often the diseases can take 20 or 30 or 40 years to develop, when we are long gone and our children are here.

"It is the exact location of this I have a problem with — it is right on the edge of the industrial area, on the borders of retail and residential and countryside. It is just too close — there are lots of houses nearby."

Penllergaer councillor Wendy Fitzgerald said she too had concerns about the application, and said members had to be absolutely sure of the safety of the waste before approving the plans — but Uplands member John Bayliss pointed out that Natural Resources Wales had raised no objections, and said that if the application were in his area he'd be "incredibly excited about the jobs coming to my ward".

The application was approved. Following the meeting, Mr Lewis said he was disappointed by the decision.