January 2025 – County Councillor Reports
Below are the monthly reports from your County Councillors for the Radyr & Morganstown Ward.
Cllr Calum Davies – January report
Received by the Web Team on 2 February 2025
Local Development Plan
I am very pleased that the next stage of the Replacement LDP has been released, revealing that none of the candidate sites in Radyr and Morganstown have been taken to the next stage. This is a huge victory for the community and fulfils a major pledge I made during the election. The three sites were totally inappropriate for development: Goitre Fawr marked our ward’s only green space and ignored the enormous progress that will be made at Plasdwr over the coming years; the rail station car park is a new and well-used amenity that reduces the need to drive into the city; and land north of the M4 is generally regarded as a green wedge for Cardiff. I must commend the R&M Local Development Group for their hard and expert work as well as the Community Council for this victory. The Deposit Plan will go out to consultation in February so please do engage with it when it opens.
Drovers Way Park
I am pleased that the Council has now installed the lights along the path that links the park to Plymouth Drive. These were a much-needed addition in the community and I’m pleased they are finally in place. This will help residents with mobility and sight issues, and, hopefully, help people feel safer than before. I have been calling for this for a couple of years and am glad we now have what we need.
National Insurance increase
At the last full council meeting, I led a debate on the negative effects the British Government’s increase employer national insurance contributions would have on Cardiff. Not only will it hamper the ability of businesses and charities to operate as more of their money has to be paid in tax rather than invested in operations, but the Council will be hamstrung in public service delivery too. Public bodies may not be fully compensated for the rise and they will have to absorb the costs of external companies it commissions to carry out public services and building projects.
Surgery
My next councillor surgery will be at 5:30-7pm in the Weir Room at the Old Church Rooms on Thursday 27 February. No appointment is necessary but you’re welcome to flag your attendance with me in advance by email – calum.davies@cardiff.gov.uk
Written Questions
Ahead of every Council meeting, I have the chance to table five written questions to the Cabinet. I will aim to use up my allocation each and every month to find out information useful to myself as a representative of Radyr & Morganstown but also in my other roles on the Council, including the Conservatives’ education spokesperson. This month I asked:
- What update can the Council provide on re-installing safe access for paddle-boarders and kayakers at Radyr Weir?
- What proportion of council tax revenue is being spent on the local authority’s pension obligations?
- Will the Council consider the merits of bringing forward the planned date for resuming garden waste collections after their premature end in 2024 – and bear this in mind for the pause in Winter 2025?
- Does the Council believe a proposed national inquiry into grooming gangs would be of benefit to vulnerable children in Cardiff and will seek support from Cardiff’s parliamentarians to secure one?
- Will the Council publish the scheduled dates for when drains in Radyr & Morganstown will be inspected to ensure they are not vulnerable to further flooding?
Answers can be found here on the written questions section of the Council meeting agenda.
Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones – January Report
Received by the Web Team on 9 February 2025
Across Radyr & Morganstown
Buses (FIRST PRIORITY) and TfW Transport for Wales
I waited especially so I could report back to you the outcome of a meeting between TfW and Cardiff Council officers dealing with buses and myself. It was cancelled.
What had I wanted to discuss? The need for a link up between the bus service and the railway. I still have the words of one of our residents ringing in my ears. “It hurts my knees going down to the station and my heart can’t cope with walking up from the station”. We need a regular service to the railway station.
Splitting it down into the smallest steps, we know that when the Community Council asked years ago for a link, the answer came back that it was impossible to turn the bus at the railway station. We know that is no longer the case (if it ever was) but it is important that TfW keep that space by the ticket office so that one day, (because it will happen) there will still be a turning point for the buses.
The argument that it’s impossible to stick to schedule because of delays on Kings Road has been made.
Is it because there are cars parked on the side of the road or because it is difficult to get out on to Heol Isaf at peak times or are both issues a problem?
Solutions? Do we look at double yellow lines on Kings Road from Taff Terrace down to the roundabout? Do we need a traffic light solution allowing traffic out of The Sidings and the Station onto Heol Isaf? Would using the War Memorial triangle as a roundabout solve the traffic flow problem?
Should we start small and just try and get one extra bus each side of the day to help commuters? We have a 7:00 am; a 7:55 am; and a 8:34 am at present and coming back from the Cardiff Bus Interchange 16:35pm; 17:45pm and an 18:35pm. Another bus at 7:30 am or there abouts going into Cardiff and one around 18:05 pm from Cardiff back to Radyr would be a help.
Tickets In the Rhondda the bus company and TfW have teamed up to make one ticket work for a bus-train solution. So could we have the same, that would give us a lot more flexibility for commuting to Cardiff Bay, Cardiff University, Cardiff Queen Street for example?
Ticket fares. One of the problems we have is that it is cheaper to use the train from Radyr than Taffs Well so people from locations north of Taffs Well chose to drive to Radyr and then use the train. Can we get parity on fares between the two stations so there is no advantage driving onto Radyr?
Buses generally
We all think we know that if we had a regular reliable bus service, we would start using it again. However, it is hard to advocate for more buses when we see empty buses go past. Even the service we have at present has a significant subsidy.
Possible gains. Could we turn the 62 into Radyr even if it only reached the Railway Station, that would mean the Comprehensive, the Medical Centre and the shops on Station Road would be easier to reach? The bus is funded by Section 106 money and there is a contract ( as I understand it ) between the developer and the Council to run the 62 on its current route. However, one of the plus points about Plasdwr was its accessibility to the Metro which the 62 doesn’t deliver well. The developer had been willing to consider an amendment to the contract but the take over by Barrats of Redrow means we have to start the process again.
Could we have a shuttle bus, maybe minibus size going into Radyr Gardens in Morganstown and into the Sidings (with a stop at the station) and then going down to Danescourt where other buses can be caught?
I worked with Cllr Davies on this idea, but we have heard nothing back.
Drovers’ Way
The lights have arrived in the alley way between Plymouth Drive and Drovers Way playground. We are looking to see if we can find funding for some more lights along the path. Parc Radur Management Company are leading the search.
St Philbert St
Last time I went past there was no sign of landscaping in front of St Philbert. The developer has not replied to requests for update.
Clos Parc Radur
Have had reports of smells returning but that seems to have been sorted.
Radyr Cricket Club
Radyr Cricket Club was badly affected by Storm Darragh. They are looking for funding to help restore the Club House, the pitch and the fencing. The Club would be grateful for any donation that will help them restore the facilities they had. They are actively looking for funding. Their web site is www.radyrrcc.co.uk
Walkers may have noticed while using the permissive path behind the Cricket Club House that the river is eroding the bank. I have flagged this up. I have asked if there can be a site meeting with an officer from NRW Natural Resources Wales to discuss ways in which the bank can be protected.
If anyone reading this, is an expert in flood defences please contact me or the Cricket Club Chair.
Morganstown
Radyr Rangers (RR) SECOND PRIORITY
A meeting has been fixed with FAW officials at Mound Field to discuss the drainage of the pitch. Hopefully Radyr Rangers will be able to apply for funding.
A meeting has been held with Cardiff Council, Radyr Rangers, TfW and Amey re the Changing rooms and the vision of a Club House. Currently waiting for Radyr Rangers to organise another meeting so the next steps can be taken.
The fields that belonged to Cwm Farm
This has upset the people who live close to the fields and others, dog walkers (that includes me), ramblers, residents in Morganstown. Despite all the Councillors in Pentyrch and Radyr and Morganstown doing their best, there are no laws that the Council can call on to stop the work that has been done which has destroyed a lot of habitats. Would very much like a meeting with the owner of the fields to find out whether he has done this work with the aim of improving the land agriculturally.
Morganstown Village Hall
It’s important that as a community, we realise that neither the Community Council nor Cardiff Council have ownership in the Village Hall. There has been a preliminary meeting with some Community Council members willing to support the trustees and we are hopeful, there will be another meeting soon.
Radyr and Morganstown
Litter Picking
There is an active group of litter pickers. Please contact peter.fortuneuk@gmail.com for details. The more the merrier.
Radyr Woods Wardens
I attended a meeting in January discussing what would need doing this coming year. We are lucky to have such dedicated volunteers. They would love to have more. Contact clerk@radyr.wales if you’d like to help too.
I have a Facebook page Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones Do please follow me.
Replacement Local Development Plan
The consultation should go live 18 February. Do contribute. We have worked very hard to protect what little green space remains in the ward. We need to show it matters to us to keep this space. Huge thanks to the Radyr and Morganstown Local Development Group, who did a very professional piece of work making the case for leaving the green space undeveloped. I was also involved in making sure every house received a leaflet when the first consultation took place. Would be glad to have more volunteers willing to help distribute the next leaflet reminding us all, that the second consultation is now open.
Youth Work THIRD PRIORITY
Now the new maths block has been built at Radyr Comp, the Cardiff Youth Services CYS will start holding a Youth Club there on Fridays starting on 7th March. The Monday session at Radyr Hub will close on Feb 24th (so it will be there on Feb 24th) and the Thursday Session will contribute to be held in the Radyr Hub. Huge thanks to the Community Council for the commitment they have shown to providing Youth facilities in the ward.
Flooding under the M4 bridge
A meeting has been held with myself, a Highway Maintenance office and a resident who was an engineer working on the building of the M4 Bridge many years ago. It was very helpful and hopefully when the weather is more clement, the Council intends to follow up on the information gained from the meeting.
Green Waste Collections
The Council does not have a statutory duty to collect garden waste. Many other councils in Wales charge for garden waste collection. Knowing how much it costs me to get the waste removed responsibly, think many of us would prefer to pay and have collections all year. I have lobbied for green waste to be collected during the winter and will continue to do so.
Community Engagement Officer
Made no progress on this during January.
Police Incidents
When we ask for a regular police patrol, we get told there aren’t enough incidents to justify their presence. Please use swp101@south-wales.police.uk and flag up any incident if you witness one.
Goldies
Goldies is every first Friday of the month in the New School Rooms by Christchurch 2pm -4pm. Next will be 7 March. Everybody welcome to come and sing along with the Karaoke.
Radyr Weir Landing Stage
Many of you have mentioned the loss of the steps at Radyr Weir Landing Stage. There was no alternative because the steps were rotten and there were long nails sticking out. I chaired a meeting with stakeholders (canoeists, kayakers, paddle boarders, wild water swimmers and the key council officers) over a year ago. There are issues that need resolving. Nothing is ever as straightforward as one expects but there has been a report on the Recreational Use of Inland Water which used Radyr Weir Landing Stage as a case study.
We are hopeful that we may be able to make progress on this in the coming year. Please note that water sports on rivers are dangerous and that the water quality can not be guaranteed as safe.
Cardiff National Park City
I have been asked if I will chair this initiative. The aim is to get Cardiff an Accredited National Park City which should further help us to protect our green spaces but also is keen to encourage more use of open-air activities. This is something Cardiff Council would like to see happen but is being steered by an independent group of volunteers who are passionate about the environment.
The Budget
This is still being worked on. I will be chairing the Full Council Budget Meeting in March.