May 2025 – County Councillor Reports
Below are the monthly reports from your County Councillors for the Radyr & Morganstown Ward.
Cllr Calum Davies – May report
Received by the Web Team on 28 May 2025
Council-owned car parks
Many will be aware of the Council’s plans to do away with the initial hours of free parking in the car parks it owns in the city, like those in Canton, Llandaff, and Whitchurch. The Conservatives opposed this and highlighted its flaws in a debate and made it the centrepiece of our alternative budget. Labour refused our calls both times. However, they have now conceded on the principle that no free parking will be damaging, suggesting the possibility of a free half hour. However, this does not go far enough and only limits the damage done to our high streets.
If you want to keep free parking, you can still sign my petition. You can do this by emailing calum.davies@cardiff.gov.uk with the subject line CAR PARK PETITION; write “I call on the Council to drop plans to end initial free parking hours”; and provide your name, address, and postcode. All of this is needed for a valid petition from you. To all those who have signed already, I am grateful.
School Budgets
As those who read my recent my leaflet will know, I had asked the Children & Young People Committee to conduct an inquiry into school budgets, with a particular emphasis on the worrying rise in deficits across the city. I was very pleased that the Committee agreed to look into this and work will start on the matter very soon.
Closure of Golf Club Lane
I’ve had some correspondence regarding concern about the temporary closure of this much used route. I have had confirmation that the only section that will be temporarily closed is the bottom end of the lane. The Public Footpaths will be unaffected and anyone using the lane can still utilise adjoining paths as alternatives. Signage has been requested as has a posted plan on-site at either end so that the public are aware in advance and during works.
New roles
Following the Council’s AGM, I am delighted to have been elected as Chairman of the Policy Review & Performance Committee, which oversees scrutiny of the authority’s governance. It is a huge privilege and responsibility that I look forward to undertaking. The new role means I will leave my place my place on the Children & Young People’s Committee, which I have really enjoyed over the last three years and swapping my role as spokesperson for Education for Investment & Development.
Radyr & Morganstown Festival
I was pleased to attend events from this year’s festival, which benefited from some spectacular weather, in addition from the usual excellent organisation by the Radyr & Morganstown Association. I had a great time at the Fete, Party in the Park, and Civic Service/D-Day Commemoration. I know the funds the RMA will have raised for the festival’s charity this year, St John’s Ambulance, will make a big difference. Congratulations and well done to all involved on another successful year.
Surgery
My next councillor surgery will be at 5:30-7pm in the Castle Room at the Old Church Rooms on Thursday 19th June. No appointment is necessary but you’re welcome to flag your attendance with me in advance by email – calum.davies@cardiff.gov.uk
Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones – May Report
Received by the Web Team on 3 June 2025
VE 80 Day commemorations at the War Memorial
It was wonderful to see so many people at the simple VE 80 Flag raising event at the War Memorial on the 4th May. And it was particularly pleasing to see the Radyr Rangers and the Scouts and Rainbows and other scouting groups there.
We were very honoured to be joined by the Lord Lieutenant for South Glamorgan and Cardiff (she represents the King) and the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan as well as our MP Alex Barros Curtis and our MS Mark Drakeford and I tend to forget that I was there as the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, a very great honour. I have now handed the baton on to the new Lord Mayor.
VE 80 beacon on the Garth
We couldn’t publicize this because there isn’t enough room for cars to park close to the top of the Garth and we had to make sure the emergency vehicles were in place. However, there was some joined up thinking between Tongwynlais, Radyr and Morganstown, Pentyrch, Creigiau and even Canton. Groups involved included adventure scouts and our role in Radyr and Morganstown was to supply the beacon. Pentyrch Community Council sorted out the paperwork.
Amazing to think the beacon could be seen from Somerset as well as up the Welsh Valleys. Everything went well, thank you to all concerned.
Buses FIRST PRIORITY
The need for a bus to link up with Radyr Railway station.
Unfortunately, neither Councillor was able to pull funding down from the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme which means our dream of moving things forward towards having a bus link to the Station is still a dream. We will continue to press for improvements.
Funding S106
Before I became one of your councillors, funding from S106 money was given to subsidise the 62 bus. Given that the route is served well by Stagecoach and Radyr and Morganstown desperately need a more frequent bus service, I would have pointed out that the 62 route isn’t very helpful to anyone but it was already happening before I became your Councillor.
I am trying to find out whether there is any funding available that could help the bus situation.
Have been offered another meeting with the relevant people who deal with buses end of June.
Drovers’ Way
The process for installing a light continues. It is becoming a saga and a half
Windsor Gardens
Thanks to the group who placed an interesting Easter art work into the Gardens for us.
Clos Parc Radur
Traffic problems with contractors parking on the pavement. I have flagged the problem up again with Redrow but have had no response.
Heol Isaf
Think we all noticed the work being done by Windsor Gardens. The good news is that dangerous pothole by the lights has been put right.
There were quite a few lessons to be learnt from the traffic management that day. I have passed what I hope will be helpful comments back to the Council so that hopefully other work elsewhere might be less traumatic.
Have asked if the grass can be cut back on the triangular shape between Heol Isaf and Llantrisant Road as it is becoming very hard to see if there is traffic coming from the traffic lights.
Problem at the moment is identifying whose has the responsibility for the triangle.
Radyr Cricket Club
This continues to be a worry. It has even been mentioned in Parliament by our MP Alec Barros Curtis. He extracted a promise of another meeting with the National Grid.
We have had a promise of another meeting with National Grid and the Chair of the Environment Committee on the Community Council is meeting National Resources Wales again in the first week of June
For those who may not be aware, the river Taff has started to erode the riverbank on the same side as the Cricket Clubhouse. So not only is it getting flooded in the big storms, but also its foundations are at risk from river erosion. Even if you don’t belong to the Cricket Club, the fact they have created a permissive path which enables us to walk alongside the river in 40-acre field, is a good reason to want to keep the riverbank stable.
Morganstown
Radyr Rangers (RR) SECOND PRIORITY
We are still plodding on both with respect to gaining grants to drain the Mound Field Football pitch properly and to replacing the changing rooms as promised by TfW
Skatepark Mound Field
Having taken advice, I applied to the Neighbourhood Regeneration Grant for an upgrade to the Skatepark but was not successful
Cwm Farm Stream
The work discussed by me and an officer during a site meeting is being implemented and things seem to be happening. I have also asked if all the drains on Ffordd Treforgan and Heol Syr Lewis can be cleared so they can catch the surface water.
Would warn you that the drains under the road by the Ty Nant need upgrading and the Council is looking for a good time to do the work (i.e. a time that gives least disruption to the village)
Morganstown Village Hall
Still things to solve. The existing trustees would welcome help. Let me know if you are interested. Hopefully they will apply for a grant to improve the Fire Safety Standards of one of the rooms that needs upgrading. I have sent the details of the grant to the Chair of MVH
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. They would love to have more volunteers, They intend to do what they can to clear the back road between Station Road and Kings Road this weekend.
Radyr Woods Wardens
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 often flag up working parties in the Woods on my Facebook page.
I have a Facebook page Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones Do please follow me.
Replacement Local Development Plan
We are now in a waiting phase when all the feedback Cardiff Council has received is being assessed. We can see that the developers are not happy that we have managed to protect some land and have started to object. So, we will have to continue to be vigilant and we may well have to campaign again and again.
Youth Work THIRD PRIORITY
The Cardiff Youth Services CYS holds a Youth Club for Year 7,8 and 9 at Radyr Comp on Fridays. The Thursday Session is held in the Radyr Hub. Huge thanks to the Community Council for the commitment they have shown to providing Youth facilities in the ward. Congratulations to the Cardiff Youth Service for being awarded the Gold quality mark for youth work in Wales which included the work they are doing in Radyr and Morganstown.
Flooding under the M4 bridge
Was promised work would be done this Summer. Haven’t noticed anything happening yet. Have started prompting people.
Flooding by Pughs Garden Centre
Remedial work has started. It goes from Cwm Farm Pond (see above) and follows the stream down to Ty Nant Road.
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 June 6th. Everybody is welcome to come and sing along with the Karaoke.
Radyr Weir Landing Stage
Slow but steady progress is being made and hopefully we will get a landing stage back, ideally designed to high accessibility standards.
Please note that water sports on rivers are dangerous, and the water quality cannot be guaranteed as safe.
Cardiff National Park City
I have been asked to Chair this initiative in Cardiff. We currently need a keen lover of green spaces who is willing to be a treasurer! So please let me know if you are interested. One volunteer needed.
Lord Mayor Duties
These have now finished. It has been an amazing experience and a huge honour to represent Cardiff. And I have been impressed by the standards I have seen in the schools I have visited. And I have been impressed by so many wonderful people.
I wish the new Lord Mayor of Cardiff a wonderful time.
Radyr and Morganstown Festival
Thanks to everyone who took part in any way at all. Haven’t heard yet what the final sum raised was but do know that we enjoyed the Fete and the Party in the Park and all the other concerts and events that were put on for us. The Festival is one of the things that makes Radyr and Morganstown so special.