Trouble tenants kicked out as council shuts homes and clamps down on chaos across Carmarthenshire

The authority’s Anti‑Social Behaviour Team has been targeting problem council properties across the county, using some of the toughest powers available to stop drug‑linked exploitation, violent disturbances and persistent nuisance behaviour spilling into communities.

Council homes shut down after serious trouble

Four council homes have been hit with closure orders — a legal measure that locks out the people causing the trouble and stops anyone entering the property for a set period. The orders were used to protect vulnerable tenants and neighbours in St Clears, Y Fan and Granby Close in Llanelli, and Llys y Felin in Kidwelly, where residents had endured serious disruption linked to a tenant and their associates.

Council officers say the action has already brought relief to neighbours who had been living with constant disturbance.

Evictions after severe damage and persistent ASB

Two more council homes — one in Granby Close, Llanelli, and another in Maescader, Pencader — have been repossessed after what the council described as serious anti‑social behaviour and severe property damage.

The authority says eviction is always a last resort, but in these cases the behaviour was so persistent and harmful that removing the tenants was the only way to protect the community.

Warnings for nuisance neighbours as council gets tougher

In the last three months alone, the ASB team has issued ten community protection warnings and notices to tenants causing nuisance to neighbours and the wider community. Anyone who ignores these notices risks being hit with a fixed penalty fine.

Joint patrols and early intervention — but enforcement when needed

The council says it is combining tough enforcement with early intervention, working with Dyfed‑Powys Police on joint patrols in hotspot areas and offering mediation and support to resolve issues before they escalate.

But officers say they will not hesitate to act when behaviour becomes persistent, serious or harmful — especially when it affects vulnerable residents in council homes.

“We will not allow a small number of tenants to make life miserable”

Cllr Emlyn Schiavone, Cabinet Member for Homes, said the latest results show the council is prepared to take firm action to protect communities.

He said:

“These results show the real impact our anti‑social behaviour team is having across Carmarthenshire. They are stepping in quickly, protecting vulnerable residents and taking firm action where behaviour crosses the line.

“People have a right to feel safe in their council homes and in their communities. We will not allow a small number of tenants to make life miserable for their neighbours.

“By combining strong enforcement with meaningful support, we’re sending a clear message: anti‑social behaviour will not be tolerated in Carmarthenshire.”

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Britain’s most desirable home? It’s a modest Carmarthenshire cottage

It’s not a sprawling mansion, a quirky lighthouse conversion or a celebrity pad. Britain’s most desirable home of 2025 is a modest detached house on the edge of Pencader, near Carmarthen — and it’s still waiting for a buyer.

Property site Zoopla has revealed that more people clicked on this listing than any other in the UK last year. The reason? It’s affordable, rural and deceptively spacious.

The sell

On the market for £220,000, the house comes in around £40,000 cheaper than the average UK home. It has two bedrooms, but the upstairs landing could easily be partitioned to create a third. There’s a farmhouse‑style kitchen, a large open‑plan lounge/diner, and a downstairs shower room.

Outside, there’s driveway parking, an integral garage, extra hardstanding for a caravan or motorhome, plus gardens big enough for chickens or vegetables. Recent upgrades include solar panels, new windows and an air source heat pump.

Why so popular?

Zoopla says the listing topped its annual “most‑viewed” chart, beating off competition from luxury villas and quirky conversions. The appeal seems simple: buyers are flocking to countryside homes that are affordable, practical and energy‑efficient.

The Pencader property reflects a wider trend. Zoopla estimates 1.15 million sales across the UK in 2025, up 4.5% on the previous year, with rural homes and affordable terraces proving the most popular.

The rest of the top 10

If you prefer something flashier, the second most‑viewed home was a £1.8m six‑bed villa next to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, complete with 11 acres of land and a floodlit football pitch. Other hits included a £75,000 studio inside Strathy Point lighthouse and a stately five‑bed near Loch Lomond for £800,000.

But the Pencader listing shows that, for many, the dream home isn’t about grandeur — it’s about price, practicality and a slice of Welsh countryside.

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#Carmarthenshire #homes #Pencader #Property #ruralHomes #Zoopla

New evening buses added to Aberystwyth – Carmarthen route as TfW boosts rural connections

The changes, which come into effect from 20 July, include:

• T1 service: New evening departures from Carmarthen at 6pm and 8pm, and from Aberystwyth at 7:35pm and 10:35pm
• T1X express service: A new Sunday-only departure from Aberystwyth at 8:35pm

The updated timetable is designed to better align with Sunday rail services at Carmarthen, offering smoother connections for longer-distance journeys across west Wales. The T1 route serves a mix of rural communities and tourist destinations including Lampeter, Llanybydder, Pencader and Aberaeron, while the T1X offers a faster, limited-stop service between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen.

From 31 August, passengers will also be able to purchase a new Aberystwyth–Aberaeron Day Ticket, allowing unlimited travel on both the T1 and T5 routes.

Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport and Integration at TfW, said the changes reflect community feedback and a commitment to improving access:

“Whether you’re travelling for work, study, or leisure, these changes make it easier to get where you need to go — especially in the evenings and on weekends.”

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Context: wider reforms ahead

The announcement comes as Wales prepares for major changes to its bus network, with the Welsh Government planning to introduce bus franchising from 2027, starting in South West Wales. Under the new model, decisions about routes, timetables, fares and service standards will be made by the public sector, with operators bidding to run services under contract.

The aim is to create a simpler, more reliable and better-integrated network, with coordinated timetables and ticketing across bus and rail. Read more about the proposed franchising reforms.

Rail link campaign

Efforts to reopen the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth railway line have been ongoing for over a decade, led by campaign group Traws Link Cymru, which argues that restoring the route would significantly improve connectivity across west Wales.

The line, closed in 1965 during the Beeching cuts, is seen by supporters as a strategic corridor that could stimulate economic growth, tourism, and regional cohesion.

A feasibility study commissioned by the Welsh Government in 2018 found that 97% of the original trackbed remains unobstructed, suggesting that reopening is technically viable.

However, with estimated costs now exceeding £800 million, and recent statements from officials suggesting the project may be decades away from realisation, campaigners continue to press for political commitment and funding to bring the line back into use

#Aberaeron #Aberystwyth #Bus #Lampeter #Llanybydder #Pencader #T1 #T1X #T5 #Transport #TransportForWales

Illegal dog breeder ordered to pay £100,000 in three months or face 12 months jail

Marc Jones from Golwg yr Ogof in Pencader was found to have engaged in unlicensed dog breeding activity, in breach of animal welfare and licensing laws at a case brought by Carmarthenshire Council at Swansea Crown Court.

The council said that its investigation into Marc Jones began in December 2021, when he was first contacted by the council with a formal letter outlining the legal requirements surrounding dog breeding, including the need for a proper licence. Despite further action, including the provision of an application form and an information pack sent on 10 May 2023, Mr Jones failed to submit any application to regularise his activities.

Evidence gathered from multiple online advertising platforms, including Pets4homes and Gumtree, showed that Mr Jones had bred more than three litters of puppies within a 12-month period – clearly exceeding the legal threshold requiring a licence. Investigators also found that breeding and sales continued despite the advice and interventions from council officers.

As a result of the investigation, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the court determined that Mr Jones financially benefited from the criminal activity, assessing an amount of £100,000. Mr Jones has been ordered to repay this amount within three months or face a 12-month default sentence.

In addition, the court imposed a 12-month conditional discharge in lieu of a separate financial penalty. Mr Jones was also ordered to pay the statutory victim surcharge.

Carmarthenshire Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability – Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen said: “This case demonstrates the council’s commitment to upholding animal welfare standards and ensuring that dog breeding is conducted responsibly and legally. Despite repeated attempts to advise Mr Jones and encourage compliance, he chose to ignore the law and profit without regard for regulation or animal welfare.”

#Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #dogBreeding #Dogs #IllegalPuppyTrade #Pencader

Swansea-based animal welfare charity raises £2,000 for Border Collie Rescue Centre

The Pettifor Trust say the £2,000 donation will go towards feeding, housing, and therapy for the Carmarthenshire centre’s rescued border collie dogs.

The Border Collie Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre has been rescuing and training dogs for over 30 years. All donations go directly towards feeding, housing, and providing each border collie with a better life. The centre helps dogs who suffer from social anxieties, excessive biting, poor lead walking, aggressive behaviour, and lunging at objects or people.

The Pettifor Trust organised a coffee morning, online sales, and a market to raise the funds.

Diane Hart, Founder of the Border Collie Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, expressed her gratitude for the donation: “We’re incredibly grateful to The Pettifor Trust for their continued support. We spend up to £4,000 a month on veterinary bills alone and another £2,000 on food, so donations like this are absolutely vital to keep us going.

“Many of the dogs we take in have been mentally or physically abused. They need structure, exercise and emotional support in order to recover. We work with them as a pack, which helps with socialisation and rehabilitation.

“With the right approach, we help them rebuild trust. Having financial support means we can continue to give these dogs the second chance they deserve.”

Over the past three months, The Pettifor Trust have been running various events to raise funds for the centre, including a coffee morning at the Uniting Church in Sketty and the Killay Precinct had a market. 

Rachel Wooldridge, Chair of the Pettifor Trust, shares why the centre was chosen and reflects on the success of the fundraiser: “We’ve supported the Border Collie Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for many years because we know the incredible work they do to transform the lives of these dogs. The dedication and care they show is inspiring, and we’re proud to help make a difference. The support we’ve had from our community for this fundraiser has been fantastic, it’s a real reminder of what we can achieve when we all come together for a cause that matters.”

#animalRescue #BorderCollie #Carmarthenshire #Charity #Dogs #Pencader #Swansea