SCHOOL SAFETY: Llanelli councillor calls on Welsh Government to put life-saving bleed kits in every school in Wales

A campaign to place life-saving bleed control kits in every school in Wales has reached the desk of the new Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language.

Labour councillor Shaun Greaney, who represents the Lliedi ward on Llanelli Town Council, has written to Anna Brychan MS asking her to commit to placing critical bleed control kits in every primary and secondary school in the country.

Each kit costs around £95 and contains military-grade equipment designed to help control major blood loss before emergency services arrive. The contents include a tourniquet, chest seal, haemostatic gauze, blunt-edged shears, gloves, a foil blanket, a resuscitation shield and a trauma fix bandage, along with a body map instruction card.

Cllr Greaney has argued that the kits should be treated as a basic safety tool in the same category as defibrillators, which are now widely deployed in schools and community settings across Wales.

“After all, as a society we shouldn’t be asking what price a child’s life,” he said. “I think the kits will be seen as a crucial safety tool in the same way that defibrillators are. Nothing is more precious than a child’s life. I sincerely hope the initiative is taken up before there is a preventable tragedy.”

Campaign with a track record

Cllr Greaney is no stranger to public access emergency equipment. In October last year, he used CPR skills learned on a town council course to revive an unconscious man in Stepney Street, reinforcing his long-running campaign to expand the availability of defibrillators and bleed kits across the town. In December, a new defibrillator was installed at a children’s play area in Bigyn as part of a wider Llanelli Town Council drive he has helped lead.

In February, campaigners called for bleed control kits to be installed in every Carmarthenshire school and outside public buildings across the county, warning that Carmarthenshire was falling behind its neighbours.

Those neighbours include Swansea, where more than 430 critical bleed control kits have now been installed — the highest number anywhere in Wales — in a rollout backed by Swansea Council and the charity Heartbeat Trust UK.

The local network behind the campaign

A network of councillors, businesses and charities has been steadily building bleed kit provision across the area. Former Llanelli paramedic and Labour county councillor Rob Evans, a GoodSam emergency responder, has been instrumental in securing ten kits for primary schools in the town, with funding from local businessman Paul Brookfield.

All registered kits appear on the national Bleed Map, a UK-wide database designed to allow members of the public to locate the nearest emergency bleed control kit as quickly as possible. The scheme in south Wales is led by the charity Heartbeat Trust UK, under its trustee Melanie James, a former High Sheriff of West Glamorgan. Welsh icon Max Boyce backed the rollout last year at the launch of a kit at Glynneath RFC.

Cllr Greaney has previously pushed for kits to be installed alongside defibrillators in existing community centre and park cabinets across Llanelli — a move backed by the town council during its previous Labour administration.

The Links donation

A kit has now been donated to Llanelli mental health charity Links, where it sits inside the defibrillator cabinet on Queen Victoria Road. Links general manager Michele Rees said the equipment was vital.

“Having this equipment readily available is vital, as rapid treatment of severe bleeding can help save lives before emergency services arrive,” she said.

The defibrillator at the Links cabinet was installed a couple of years ago following a fundraising drive by Cllr Greaney and the charity. Mrs Rees said it had been accessed three times since installation.

A test for the new Welsh Government

Cllr Greaney’s letter to Anna Brychan represents one of the earliest specific policy asks placed before the new Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government on a school safety issue. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has pledged that his administration will prioritise primary care and frontline services.

The Llanelli initiative also has the backing of Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith.

Members of the public can find their nearest registered bleed control kit using the UK Bleed Map at thebleedmap.com — a free online tool designed to help bystanders respond rapidly in the event of a serious bleeding emergency.

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Political battle erupts as Llanelli Rural Council approves 8% council tax rise – bringing three-year increase to 47%

The decision will affect residents across communities outside Llanelli town centre, including Llwynhendy, Pemberton, Five Roads, Bynea, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, and Glyn.

Opposition councillors from Plaid Cymru and Independent groups condemned the decision, warning it will place a further burden on households during the ongoing cost of living crisis, following an “eye-watering” 32% increase last year.

But Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans hit back, claiming the opposition councillors themselves were responsible for driving up the precept by insisting on ward-specific projects – and accused them of hypocrisy for criticising allowances while earning approximately £20,000 per year as County Councillors.

Cllr Alex Evans, Leader of the Opposition, said the decision shows “the administration is out of touch with the priorities of ordinary residents.”

“People are already struggling to get by. Forcing them to pay almost 50% more in council tax than just three years ago is just not on — that is why we had to vote against the proposed budget tonight. Residents are being asked to pay more while council leaders spend on luxuries,” he said.

Opposition councillors also criticised continued spending on councillor attendance payments, along with a leased car and chauffeur to escort the Chair of Council to events. An optional attendance payment allows councillors to claim £15 for each meeting they attend, with several meetings lasting less than 10 minutes in 2025, and the shortest lasting only three minutes.

“Opposition councillors and residents will rightly question the judgement and priorities of Labour councillors after refusing to scrap attendance payments and return the leased car,” Cllr Evans added.

Llanelli Rural Council offices on Vauxhall in Llanelli town centre, where councillors approved an 8% council tax rise bringing the three-year increase to 47%. Image: Google Maps/Llanelli Rural Council

Opposition councillors contrasted the move with neighbouring Llanelli Town Council which voted to freeze its tax.

The council has since moved from being Labour-run to a new Independent administration and has committed to scrapping councillor payments.

Cllr Sharen Davies, Independent member who also voted against the budget, challenged the administration’s claim that the tax rise was driven in part by the Canolfan Llwynhendy project.

“This development has been funded largely through grants and partner support. It should not be used as a smokescreen to justify excessive tax rises. Llwynhendy residents deserve investment and improvements in our community,” she said.

“This tax hike is completely unacceptable and will put serious financial pressure on our residents. Labour must rethink this further tax increase and start cutting back on unnecessary luxuries.”

However, Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans strongly rejected the criticism, pointing out that the Council’s administration is a coalition of Labour, Independent, and Plaid Cymru members – not a solely Labour-led authority.

He said the current Council has inherited a significant backlog of issues from the previous administration’s “lack of foresight” when adopting numerous new projects and asset transfers.

Cllr Evans explained that last year’s 32% increase was driven by unavoidable commitments, including £107,000 required in the Llwynhendy/Pemberton Ward to complete the new Canolfan Llwynhendy build and to fund unexpected drainage works at Gwili Fields in Cllr Sharen Davies’s ward, recruitment of additional staff to support growing community facilities, and replacement of a grounds maintenance vehicle.

He said this year’s 8% rise primarily reflects investment in Plaid Cymru and Independent wards, including £40,000 for refurbishing a play area for the Five Roads/Glyn Ward – Cllr Alex Evans’s ward – and further investment in Canolfan Llwynhendy.

“It is important to note that had Councillors Alex Evans and Sharen Davies not insisted on these additional ward-specific projects, this year’s rise would have been closer to the general cost of living and would have eased financial pressure on local households. For a Band D property, the increase equates to 28 pence per week,” Cllr Evans said.

On the Chairperson’s car, he said the Council continues to maintain a car and driver because the Chair must represent the Council at numerous civic events across the community, and not all Chairpersons are able to drive. “This support ensures the Chair can fulfil the role effectively and inclusively,” he added.

Regarding councillor allowances, Cllr Evans said Llanelli Rural Council is one of the largest and most ambitious town and community councils in Wales, and as a result, councillors face increasing demand on their time to meet governance and regulatory requirements.

“The role is no longer entirely voluntary in practice. Members dedicate substantial time to reading agendas, reports, and background papers, in addition to attending meetings. The meeting allowance ensures councillors are not out of pocket for fulfilling their duties,” he said.

He added:

“It must also be acknowledged that the councillors quoted in the opposition press release are themselves County Councillors. County Councillors receive a basic salary of approximately £20,000 per year, and for context this is more than the rural council’s entire budget.”

The council’s administration said it remains committed to transparency, responsible financial management, and ensuring that all communities within the Council area benefit from sustained investment and high quality services.

#Bynea #CllrAlexEvans #CllrRobEvans #CllrSharenDavies #Dafen #Felinfoel #FiveRoads #Glyn #IndependentPoliticians #Llanelli #LlanelliRuralCouncil #Llangennech #Llwynhendy #Pemberton #PlaidCymru #SwissValley #WelshLabour

Anger as frail veterans left unable to access Llanelli Cenotaph

RAF veteran and Labour councillor Rob Evans has criticised what he described as “disgraceful inaction” by the Plaid Cymru‑led authority, after his request for a temporary access ramp at the Old Llanelli Town Hall was rejected.

The Cenotaph, which sits in the grounds of the former town hall, is currently only accessible via steps — leaving elderly and disabled veterans unable to take part in this year’s commemorations.

‘Basic dignity’

Cllr Evans said he had asked in early October for a temporary ramp with a handrail to be installed in time for the Week of Remembrance.

“They should put a temporary ramp in as soon as possible, and most definitely before this year’s Week of Remembrance,” he said. “And then install a permanent one before next year.”

The council turned down the request, citing short notice.

‘Disrespectful and shameful’

Labour town councillor Shaun Greaney backed the call, saying he could not understand the county council’s position:

“Surely it can’t be beyond their wit and ability to construct a ramp as soon as possible.

If they can’t do a permanent one in the timescale, then a temporary one with a rail for the week of Remembrance in November does not seem too much of an ask.

In my view, for them not to take action on this right now is disrespectful, shameful and an embarrassment.”

Armed Forces Covenant

Llanelli Town Council leader, David Darkin, also urged the county council to reconsider, arguing the refusal was at odds with its commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and the Disability Act.

“This petty refusal of such a small demand, which would make a difference to a number of veterans, seems very mean‑spirited,” he said.

“Veterans have served our country with distinction. What’s more, the county council’s refusal seems to be disrespectful to the war dead themselves. This is not what they fought and gave their lives for.”

Carmarthenshire County Council has been approached for comment.

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“Whose flag flies here?”: The politics of symbolism in Carmarthenshire

At County Hall in Carmarthen, three flags fly: the Welsh Dragon, the council’s own standard, and the Ukrainian flag — a gesture of solidarity with a nation under siege. But the fourth pole stands empty. The Union Flag, which some councillors say should fly permanently alongside the others, is conspicuously absent.

That absence sparked a heated debate in the council chamber earlier this month, when Labour councillor Rob Evans (Dafen & Felinfoel) tabled a motion calling for the Union Jack to be flown daily at council buildings in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford.

“Our men and women in uniform don’t just serve on special occasions — they serve 365 days a year,” Cllr Evans told the chamber. “They fight under the Union Jack, and many have been buried beneath it after making the ultimate sacrifice. Surely the least we can do is honour them every single day.”

His Labour colleague Cllr Michael Thomas (Pembrey) echoed the call, saying the council’s current stance was “disingenuous” given its recent Defence Employer Recognition Scheme award.

But Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors in the ruling administration rejected the proposal. They argued that permanently flying the Union Flag was “too political” and risked alienating residents. One Plaid member said some in Carmarthenshire would not want to stand under the Union Jack because of “600 years of London rule.”

The motion was defeated, with 41 councillors voting against, 22 in favour, and two abstaining.

How councillors voted

Party / GroupForAgainstAbstainedNotesLabour1200Motion proposed by Cllr Rob Evans. Cllr Michael Thomas spoke in support.Plaid Cymru0380Voted as a bloc against, citing political neutrality and independence stance.Independents832Split: some backed Labour, others aligned with Plaid administration.Reform UK200Cllrs Michelle Beer (Lliedi) and Carmelo Colasanto (Llangennech) voted for.Total22412Motion defeated.

Flags on the streets

The row over the Union Flag came just days before another controversy. Carmarthenshire Council was criticised by Reform UK councillors after removing Welsh flags that had been attached to lampposts as part of the Raise the Colours campaign.

Cllr Michelle Beer (Reform UK, Lliedi) said:

“It is with deep disappointment that we witness the Plaid Cymru‑led council’s decision to remove Welsh flags from lampposts across our county. The Welsh flag, a proud symbol of our heritage and identity, has long served as a unifying emblem. Yet Plaid Cymru — the so‑called ‘Party of Wales’ — has chosen to strip this powerful symbol from our streets.”

The council defended its actions, saying flags attached to highway structures without permission are unlawful and can pose safety risks. A spokesperson said a new “dynamic risk assessment protocol” is now in place to manage such displays.

Welsh flags attached to lampposts in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire
(Image: Reform Carmarthenshire)

The politics of colour

The Raise the Colours campaign itself has become controversial far beyond Carmarthenshire. Launched in summer 2025, it encouraged people to tie Union Jacks, St George’s Crosses and other national flags to lampposts, bridges and roundabouts. While supporters framed it as a grassroots celebration of patriotism, anti‑racist groups such as Hope Not Hate warned that it had been amplified by far‑right activists and linked to anti‑immigration protests across the UK. Polling suggested a significant share of the public saw the campaign as a statement against migrants rather than a neutral show of pride.

That wider context helps explain why the council’s decision to remove the flags has been so politically charged — and highlights the contrast with its choice to fly the Ukrainian flag at County Hall, a symbol of solidarity with a nation under attack that has broad cross‑party support.

A pattern of disputes

This is not the first time Carmarthenshire Council has faced scrutiny over its approach to flags. In 2018, the authority declined a request to fly the Pride flag during LGBT History Month, a decision campaigners said was out of step with other Welsh councils.

Taken together, the empty pole at County Hall, the removed banners from lampposts, and the rainbow flag that never flew suggest a pattern: in Carmarthenshire, decisions about what flies above civic buildings are shaped as much by politics as by protocol.

As Welsh Conservative MS Sam Rowlands put it in an earlier row over the Union Flag:

“We should be striving for actions and symbols that unite us, not divide us. Yet this decision is the petty nationalism that divides us.”

#Carmarthen #Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrMichaelThomas #CllrRobEvans #CountyHall #Dafen #Felinfoel #FlagPole #flags #Llanelli #Pembrey #RaiseTheFlag #UnionFlag