Vibrant murals brighten up Llandeilo and Cross Hands
The artwork can be seen on the side of Jenkins Pharmacy in Llandeilo and Squires and Lane Hairdressers in Cross Hands.
They are among seven murals that have been painted as part of the project, with three more set to be completed in late spring.
The other murals can be found in Laugharne, St Clears, Whitland, Kidwelly, and Newcastle Emlyn.
Carmarthenshire Council has encouraged people to visit the murals and upload pictures of them with the hashtag #MuralsofCarmarthenshire.
The murals were funded by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund and the 10 Towns project.
Councillor Carys Jones, cabinet member for rural affairs, community cohesion, and planning policy, said: "Thanks to the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund and the 10 Towns project, we have been able to show Carmarthenshire's history, culture and community spirit through art.
"It is wonderful to see our rural market towns come to life in such a colourful and creative way.
"I'd like to thank Jenks Art for bringing vibrancy to our market towns."
Llanybydder, Cwmaman, and Llandovery are the next areas for JenksArt to visit to create new murals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Reeves did not discuss Grangemouth during Ineos meeting
Sir Jim, who is ranked seventh on the Sunday Times Rich List and is reportedly worth over £17 billion, was among several 'external stakeholders' present at the meeting, understood to have taken place on Monday April 8. The Grangemouth refinery ceased processing crude oil on Monday April 29. READ MORE: The SNP called the revelation 'damning', while the GMB described it as an 'inexplicable abdication of responsibility'. Petroineos, the joint venture between Ineos and PetroChina that owns the 100-year-old site, first announced plans to close the facility in November 2023. The company said it was losing £385,000 a day, and that its future as an import terminal would 'require significantly fewer people to operate', with a 'net reduction of approximately 400 roles over the next two years'. It was the last oil refinery operating north of the Border. In recent months, hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy, while a number of compulsory redundancies have also been made. A report commissioned by the Scottish and UK governments — known as Project Willow — was tasked with charting a low-carbon future for the site. But it concluded that around £3.5 billion in private investment would be needed. Grangemouth stopped refining at the end of April (Image: Jeff Mitchell/Getty) As well as the impact on local jobs, the closure has also hit the economy. Recent figures from the Scottish Government show GDP growth fell by 0.4% in the three months to May — wiping out the 0.4% increase seen in the first quarter of the year. In May alone, GDP contracted by 0.2%, following a 0.1% boost the previous month. The largest drop was seen in the manufacturing sector, which was badly affected by the refinery's closure. Output fell by 4.1% that month. In response to an FOI submitted by the SNP, UK Government officials initially refused to disclose details of the meeting, before finally conceding that 'a meeting did take place in April 2025 at which the Chancellor and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were present'. However, they confirmed: 'The threatened closure of the Grangemouth refinery was not discussed at that meeting.' The Treasury said its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act meant it was unable to say who else was present. SNP energy spokesperson Graham Leadbitter said the episode demonstrated a lack of political will from the UK Government when it came to protecting Grangemouth, especially compared to the nationalisation of the Scunthorpe steel plant, the support for a refinery in Lincolnshire, and the £100 billion spent on nuclear energy in England. He said: 'This is a damning revelation. Scots will be disgusted to learn that just days before the Grangemouth doors slammed shut, Rachel Reeves held a meeting with the owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, yet didn't even bother to mention the refinery. 'The UK Government only conceded the information after significant pressure, which speaks volumes about how desperate they were to keep this under wraps. 'That's because the truth is that never mind being an afterthought, the fact the Labour Government didn't even think it worthwhile to bring up such a critical issue to Scottish jobs shows Scotland doesn't even register as a thought at all. 'A steel plant in Scunthorpe was nationalised, a refinery in Lincolnshire was bailed out, and £100bn is found for English nuclear power plants — yet when it came to a Scottish refinery the UK Labour Government didn't lift a finger to keep it in operation. "That tells Scots all they need to know about Westminster and where Scotland lies in its priorities. 'It is this disregard for Scottish industry that leaves a growing number of Scots to wonder just how long we stay tied to this so-called Union of Equals, because only with independence can we prioritise Scottish jobs, Scottish growth and Scotland's people.' Robert Deavy, a senior organiser with GMB Scotland, representing contractors at the site, said: 'In the months and years leading to its needless closure, the public support of ministers on both sides of the Border did nothing to save Grangemouth. 'Now we discover that despite all the warm words in public, in private, the Chancellor did not even think it worth raising with the owner. 'Her silence only confirms the lack of political will or even interest in protecting our industrial infrastructure and all the jobs and communities it supports. 'It beggars belief that Rachel Reeves did not discuss Grangemouth with Jim Ratcliffe weeks before he pulled the shutters down but thought it worth asking for his help to formulate government policy? 'The Chancellor would be far better asking for guidance from the workers, families and communities shattered by this avoidable closure.' The Treasury said the meeting in question was regarding a different issue and that the Chancellor has had "extensive engagement" on the future of Grangemouth. They also pointed to the £100 million funding package to "secure a just transition for the Grangemouth workforce and community," and the Prime Minister's promise to allocate £200m from the National Wealth Fund to "grasp the opportunities" of Grangemouth. A UK Government spokesperson told The Herald on Sunday: "This Government recognises Scotland's vital role in the UK economy, with the Chancellor delivering a record settlement in the Spending Review, the largest in real terms since devolution in 1998. "We are investing millions of pounds in Scotland's defence and clean energy industries, securing tens of thousands of jobs, and we have already announced a £300m package to secure a just transition for Grangemouth workers and secure the long-term future of the site." Ineos declined to comment. Sir Jim is Manchester United's minority owner (Image: PA/Adam Davy) Earlier this year it emerged it took First Minister John Swinney more than two months to secure a meeting with Sir Jim. According to investigative website The Ferret, the two men finally spoke via video call on April 25, after Mr Swinney had written to the Ineos chair requesting a meeting at a 'very early opportunity' to discuss 'a way forward that protects employment at Grangemouth'. Most of the meeting's details remain redacted, but partial minutes show Ineos arguing the refinery was 'aged and loss making', and Sir Jim expressing 'concern about carbon taxes and energy costs'. The Scottish and UK governments jointly funded the £1.5 million Project Willow feasibility study, which was carried out by Ernst & Young and commissioned by Petroineos to assess the future of the site. READ MORE Last month, UK energy minister Michael Shanks said there was a 'certain inevitability' that Grangemouth would close by the time Labour came to power. Appearing before the Scottish Affairs Committee in the Commons, he described Grangemouth currently as a 'hugely investable opportunity' for businesses. Asked whether the UK Government considered bringing Grangemouth into public ownership, Mr Shanks told MPs: 'I think it is fair to say we didn't take any option off the table and we did look at a whole series of options. 'But firstly, the Government's not in the business of nationalising failing businesses. 'That is difficult to say, but it is the reality that a business that's losing tens of millions of pounds, it can't be nationalised with the public facing the cost of that. 'That's the same position we're in with the Prax Lindsey refinery (North Lincolnshire), and it's the same position with Grangemouth.' Mr Shanks said Labour 'moved every possible option forward' to do what it could to save the refinery. He added: 'The truth is, we were far too far down the line with the Grangemouth process to really change the outcome and as regrettable as that is — and it genuinely is, and I've met the workers on a number of occasions, I know how significant the impact is on them and their families — there was a certain inevitability about the outcome by the point in which we came into Government.'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Builder wins ‘significant' slice of £980m homes contract
Hamilton-based Procast Group has been awarded Lot 13 on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Net Zero Housing Retrofit Framework Agreement. The contract is for a national framework, covering all nine regions of England, not just Greater Manchester. However, it is geared towards supporting Greater Manchester's Net Zero target of 2038 – 12 years ahead of the overall UK Government target. The work will see Procast Group carry out an end-to-end solution from surveying to handover, with significant opportunities across England's housing stock and access to various government grant funding schemes. Procast Group - who are leading innovators in the retrofit and renewables sector - will also provide expertise in project management, customer support, and quality assurance. The framework is available to all public sector, housing associations, and third sector organisations. Derek Innes, owner and managing director of Procast Group, said: 'We are delighted to have been awarded this lot, which we feel really positions Procast as national player in the retrofit market. 'We are pleased to be playing our part in supporting UK Government's net zero targets, alongside trying to tackle fuel poverty nationwide. 'This award demonstrates our capability to deliver complex, compliance-driven projects and provides a significant growth opportunity in the expanding retrofit sector.' Procast Group, which currently employs more than 130 staff, is a market leader in retrofitting work and innovative multi-trade contracting projects across Scotland and the North of England. The group also operates bases in Aberdeen, Dumfries and Forfar. Nick Nairn: 'Hospitality industry has been hung out to dry' Nick Nairn has spoken of fears that Scotland's hospitality industry has been "hung out to dry" amid increasingly challenging conditions. Following the closure of Nairn's in Bridge of Allan last year, the celebrity chef has shifted his focus back towards the Port of Menteith cook school, restaurant, and lifestyle store, which he operates in partnership with his wife, Julia. It has been a successful summer for the duo as they build on a venture that "ticks every box" for their shared creative passions and celebrate 25 years since the first series of Cook School demonstrations took place. Despite this, Nairn remains vocal regarding the unrelenting pressures on hospitality businesses across Scotland and warns of the impact this could have on a nationwide scale. AROUND THE GREENS ⛳ Owner gets into business for the love of the game This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series The popularity of golf simulators has surged in recent years, transforming the way many people experience the game and how new players come into the sport.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
New calls to exempt people from paying National Insurance Contributions after 35 years
A new online petition is urging the UK Government to change the current policy on National Insurance deductions. Income tax rises for Scots in April - how the changes affect you A new online petition is calling for National Insurance (NI) deductions to be scrapped once someone has contributed 35 years' worth and is entitled to the maximum State Pension rate in retirement. The State Pension age is currently 66, but set to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028. Many people approaching retirement age may not be aware that to receive the full New State Pension payment of £230.25 each week, they will need around 35 years' worth of NI contributions. You will usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to qualify for any State Pension payment. Petition creator Debra Fielding argues that the current system is 'unfair' and people 'should be able to stop paying after we have reached 35 years of NI contributions'. The 'exempt people from paying National Insurance Contributions after 35 years' petition has been posted on the UK Government's Petitions Parliament website and states: 'I urge the Government to exempt people from paying National Insurance after reaching the 35 years of NI contributions required to receive the basic state pension. 'I believe we should be able to stop paying after we have reached 35 years of NI contributions.' The campaigner continues: 'I believe it to be unfair of people still paying NI after they have achieved the 35 years. I feel the situation has been made more unfair by raising the State Pension age. 'By the time I retire at 67, I could have paid 16 years more than the 35 years for full pension - that's 51 years NI paid as I worked since the age of 16.' If you are worried about how many years you need to work - if retirement is a long way off, or just a few years away - our handy guide below should help you understand how National Insurance contributions affect the amount of State Pension you will be paid. How to get any New State Pension payment You will need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to qualify for any State Pension, but they don't have to be 10 qualifying years in a row. This means for 10 years at least one or more of the following applied to you: you were working and paid National Insurance contributions you were getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill, a parent or a carer you were paying voluntary National Insurance contributions If you have lived or worked abroad you might still be able to get some New State Pension. You might also qualify if you have paid married women's or widow's reduced rate contributions - find out more about this on the website here. How to get full New State Pension payments The first thing to understand is that the term 'full' means the maximum amount of New State Pension a person can receive. You will need around 35 qualifying years to receive the full New State Pension if you do not have a National Insurance record before 6 April 2016 - this may be more if you were 'contracted out', find out more here. For people who have contributed between 10 and 35 years, they are entitled to a portion of the new State Pension, but not the full amount unless they buy additional NI years. Qualifying years if you are working When you are working you pay National Insurance and get a qualifying year if: you're employed and earning over £242 a week from one employer you're self-employed and paying NI contributions You might not pay National Insurance contributions because you're earning less than £242 a week. You may still get a qualifying year if you earn between £123 and £242 a week from one employer - find out more here. Qualifying years if you are not working You may get National Insurance credits if you cannot work - for example because of illness or disability, or if you're a carer or you're unemployed. You can get National Insurance credits if you: claim Child Benefit for a child under 12 (or under 16 before 2010) get Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance receive Carer's Allowance If you are not working or getting National Insurance credits You might be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions if you're not in one of these groups but want to increase your State Pension amount. Find out more on the website here. What if there are gaps in your National Insurance record? You can have gaps in your NI record and still get the full New State Pension. You can get a State Pension statement which will tell you how much State Pension you may get. You can then apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check if your record has gaps. If you have gaps in your National Insurance record that would prevent you from getting the full New State Pension, you may be able to: get National InsuranceI credits make voluntary National Insurance contributions Check your National Insurance record on here. Check your State Pension age Check your State Pension age to find out when you can retire and claim State pension using the free online tool at here. This will tell you: when you will reach State Pension age your Pension Credit qualifying age We have a dedicated section for the latest news on the State Pension here.
