News

As reported on this website and in the last two issues of the Radyr Chain, I said that the Community Council, in partnership with the Radyr & Morganstown Association and our County Councillor, was starting to prepare a Village Plan for Radyr and Morganstown.

Since I last wrote there has been quite a bit of progress. We have now started work on three projects, two of them in conjunction with M.Sc. students from Cardiff University.

The first project is to look at the shape and content of our final plan. The aim is to:

review plans prepared by similar sized communities in England and Wales review best practice in producing these plans advise on what a final document for Radyr and Morganstown could look like suggest the scope of the Plan advise on how to implement the plan advise on how far into the future the plan should look

A second project is to provide an overview of the whole Radyr and Morganstown geographical area as defined by the boundaries of the R&M Community Council (shown on the R&M map that you may have and is on display in the Post Office and Library). It will set out the potential for future development (including housing and light industry) within the context of creating a long-term sustainable community. Specifically, we will be reviewing:

The practical limits to further housing (bearing in mind, e.g., needs such as schooling, leisure, shopping, and increases to transport requirements) The potential for establishing suitable jobs within the locality, so as to minimise traffic generation. A potential future vision for the R&M Community as described in a ‘land use plan’. The Cardiff Local Development Plan is currently being revised. Our project will help us to understand its implications. Whilst our study is specifically aimed at our Communities, account will also be taken of neighbouring areas and the wider Cardiff plan. Our third project is to ask you how you would like to see the area developing in the future. The main aims of this project are: To review the methods of data collection for different groups or sections of the community To decide on appropriate questions. To distribute the questions. To collate and analyse the returned data. To present our findings to you.

All of this work will help all of us plan for the future of Radyr and Morganstown. I will up-date you on progress here on the website and in future editions of the Radyr Chain.

If you have any comments on the plan there is a thread in the soapbox on this site or pass them to the Clerk to the Community Council at the Old Church Rooms. If you wish to help us in producing the plan please contact the Clerk.

An ITV programme featuring the Argentinian Tango class with Colin Jackson filming in Morganstown Village Hall.

On Good Friday 21st March 08 a community Easter fun event took place at Radyr Woods. The sun was shining over 250 people attended this fun event while 165 children took part in scouring the woods looking for over eggs 400 eggs and participating in fun games such as throw the water balloon, kids archery, penalty shoot, and a fishing game.

£427.50 was raised for the Radyr office NSPCC.

New Horizon’s, Radyr Baptist Church wish to thank all who through willingness and teamwork helped make this event happen to bring a community together in a fun way that made a difference.

You can see more photos here.

St Philbert and Bryn Deri children just before the French children depart after a very successful and enjoyable long weekend in Radyr. This was their 22nd exchange….Bryn Deri look forward to their visit to St. Philbert this coming May.

Clients at Salon Nia in Radyr take a break to enjoy a Welsh cake and a cuppa in support of the Bake for Bobath campaign to raise money for the charity.

Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales is encouraging people around Wales to Bake for Bobath and hold coffee mornings, cake sales at work or at school or Welsh cake competitions during the week of St David’s day, 1st to 8th March, to raise vital funds for the centre.

Salon owner, Celyn Hamlin saw a poster for the appeal in the shop next door to the Salon and decided to get involved. She says, “It’s a great way for our clients to celebrate St David’s Day while getting their hair done and raising money for a good cause at the same time.”

The Salon is going to be selling Welsh cakes all this week in support of Bake for Bobath.

Volunteer coordinator, Emma Bennetts says, “Bake for Bobath has really grown over the last two years raising over £13,000 last year. We are really hoping to make it the biggest Welsh cake bake for charity.

The event will help towards raising the £800,000 that Bobath needs each year.

Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales uses a unique transdisciplinary approach to therapy, combining physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy to help children with cerebral palsy explore their world, communicate their needs and reach their full potential.

If you would like to take part in Bake for Bobath then contact the fundraising team at Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales on fundraising@bobathwales.org or 029 20522600 for a fundraising pack.

Anna Williams who attended Bryn Deri and Radyr Comprehensive School, and also Radyr Methodist Church married Mark Smith in Derby on Saturday 9th February.

After leaving school, Anna gained a degree at Liverpool University before returning to Cardiff. During her time as a Youth worker she learned BSL (British Sign Language for the Deaf) taking it to an advance level at Bristol University. She subsequently worked in education using BSL to help deaf students in the classroom in Derby and Walsall. She recently qualified as a maths teacher and is now teaching in the school for the deaf in Derby.

Mark is an ordained Anglican Minister working as chaplain to the deaf community in Derby.

The service, conducted by the Rev. Anita Matthews, took place in St Peters Church in Derby town centre attended by between 150 and 200 friends and relatives, including many from the deaf community. The address was given by the Rt.Rev’d Dr Alastair Redfern the Bishop of Derby. Anna was escorted down the aisle by her father to the sound of “Calon Lân” in Welsh. All the service, hymns, songs, address and speeches were signed in BSL.

After a toast in the church the party adjourned to another location for buffet and entertainment.

Anna can be contacted on annaclaresmith@googlemail.com .

A report giving a different view of the wedding can be seen at Deaf Church.com.

These 7 girls auditioned for Festival Queen this year … once again a difficult choice … results will be announced in the Festival Programme.

Hurry!! Hurry!! Radyr Parish Music Group announcement

Tickets are still available for our forthcoming production of “Hello Dolly”.

Wednesday 13th February 2008 until Saturday 16th February, 7.30 in Bishop of Llandaff High School, Rookwood Close, Llandaff.

Tickets £6.50 (Concessions £5.50) Wednesday and Thursday 

            £7.50 Friday and Saturday

Licenced bar available – ample parking – easy access

Tickets available from Maggie Roberts 029 2084 2995

If you prefer email me with your contact details and what tickets you need.

Come and support the Music Group and enjoy a spectacular show – all the principals are Radyr and Morganstown residents and the orchestra are all local young people (mostly under 18yrs) who have been rehearsing under the close supervision of Simon Davison (WNO) and are very professional in their performance. They all deserve your support.

The New Horizons allotment got going on Monday. Forest Farm conservationists joined volunteers from Radyr Baptist Church to plant 80 mixed trees donated by Western Power and Forest Farm and to construct a perimeter fence.

The allotment is a first stage of the Vine project and involves creating an eco-system for local bio-diversity – come along to the Festival Eco-Fun day to find out how we all get on. There may even be some early produce from the scheme at the EcoFun Farmers Market.

The layout of the allotment is being designed by children at Playchurch as part of their eco-congregation curriculum. The landscaping, with guidance and resources from Dean at .4 seasons, will be achieved through a young people’s ground force involving RTC, Radyr Comprehensive’s Green Flag group and the Radyr and Morganstown Association’s young leaders in the community programme. If you want to give some time in the great outdoors then contact Lewis at greenflag@radyr.cardiff.sch.uk to get involved.

Stage two of the project begins in September with some therapeutic learning hours for students with supportive education needs or not in education, employment or training, and we also hope to offer a course in gardening with the adult education centre.

Contact the eco-manager Joanna at dave@radyrbaptists.org for further details. If you want to find out about Forest Farm Conservation see the Friends of Forest Farmwebsite.

May Queen and attendants with the Chair of the Community Council in the OCR after lighting the Christmas trees in Morganstown and Radyr.

Unfortunately it was too wet and windy to take any photos at the actual lighting. In fact it was awful, even worse than last year when the tree snapped. (But see more about this year in the Soapbox.)

A Community Christmas caroling event it took place on Monday 17th December 2007.

The Radyr Baptist Church accompanied other members of the community in carol singing around the Sidings area, Radyr.

£118.00 was raised that will go to support the NSPCC (Radyr office). Thank you to all the children who collected donations for the NSPCC and to the brass playing musicians.

Many thanks also to Mike and Sonia Collins who opened up their home and invited us all back for a glass of mulled wine and mince pie.

We all had a lovely time!

The 19th October saw the opening of Ener-chi Radyr in Station Road. The evening was apparently a great success and Ener-chi say that the business is growing daily. They say that they are encouraged by the support and enthusiasm of local people and are keen to provide a useful service to the local community. offering a full range of complimentary health and beauty treatments , herbal remedies , Physiotherapy ,chiropody and speech therapy clinics. Advice and information centre for all aspects of natural health and nutrition.

The opening hours are mon-sat 9am-5pm but open late on Tuesday and Thursday till 8pm. On tue and thur the 4th and 6th December Ener-chi are having shopping extravaganza evenings and will be offering taster treatments and demonstrating skin care and make-up ranges. Ener-chi invite all for a cup of mulled wine and seasonal treats.

For further details please call Judy at Ener-chi on 02920 214012 .

The Chair of the Community Council lays a wreath at the War Memorial, November 2007.

At the last R&M PACT Meeting held on 10th October, chaired by Rod McKerlich, it was agreed he should write to our local Police Inspector raising residents’ concerns on a few issues. The letter and the reply received are copied below.

If you would like to comment on this correspondence or raise other relevant issues, then the Soapbox is the place to head. Keep a look out for the date of the next PACT and Neighbourhood Watch meetings too.

Letter sent 24th October 2007

Dear Inspector Brock,

I enclose a copy of the minutes of the recent Radyr and Morganstown PACT meeting and apologise for the slight delay in sending them; this was because CPSO Tory Miller was sick and, as she was your sole representative at the meeting, it was difficult to get approval of my draft minutes.

As you can see I was instructed by the meeting to write to you with a copy to the Chief Constable to make the following points:

Pc Huw Thomas worked very effectively in our villages but recently he has not been working in the area so much. Why is he being diverted away?

Calls to 101 very rarely result in a satisfactory police response and the belief is that this is a mechanism to dampen public expectation of our police rather than a means of addressing problems.

You have a good grasp of the youth annoyance problem with lots of good intelligence but no clear strategy for dealing with offenders. Can we have a presentation on this subject?

I look forward to hearing from you and I am appreciative of your commitment to PACT meetings and Neighbourhood Watch.

Yours sincerely

Rod McKerlich 
cc Chief Constable

Reply sent 3rd November 2007

Dear Mr. McKerlich.,

Re: Policing issues, Radyr.

Thank you for your letter of the 24th October 2007 concerning policing issues in the Radyr area. May I first of all thank you for stepping in to chair this Partnership and Communities Together meeting. My sources tell me that you did an excellent job.

PACT meetings were introduced as part of our Neighbourhood Policing Programme to allow communities the opportunity to consult with us and our partners over issues that affect their community. It was not really there to examine general policing issues such as those you have raised.

I am however happy to address the points you have raised here and I will endeavour to attend at the next PACT meeting to talk about them personally with those who raised them.

Unfortunately we do not have an unlimited supply of officers and at times it is necessary to move them around as demand dictates. This can happen from time to time with PC Thomas with everyday policing matters and also in his role as a Specialist Medic with the Police Support Units.

The policing of Radyr is not the sole responsibility of Huw. There are numerous other resources with South Wales Police and the Cardiff Division who are there to address the communities’ needs. Having spoken with Huw, his time away has been kept to a minimum and he does as I do remain totally committed to providing the best possible levels of policing for the Radyr area.

With regards to 101, I could not agree totally with the statement in your letter. I appreciate from time to time problems occur but 101 do provide a highly valued service and there are numerous examples of their good work that have been publicly recognised. The 101 service in Cardiff was part of a National Project and there are many places throughout England and Wales who would love to have this service.

I think the problem is occurring with the grading of calls received by 101 staff. Calls are graded according to their severity and that then determines the type of response sent. It is here that I believe the public feels let down when the type of response they expect is at variance with our guidelines and subsequent delivery provide. Some calls are resourced immediately where as others receive a delayed routine response. Again it is striking the right balance to ensure that expectation meets the demand.

I know that managers from 101 have attended the Radyr PACT meeting in the past and I will get Huw to invite them along to the next meeting to answer any specific questions that the community may have.

The final point raised concerned youth annoyance. We do have set strategies and policies for dealing with these problems. This work together with our partners will encompass a range of options including education, to environmental issues, to actual enforcement. How we tactically deal with each and every problem varies according to the nature of the problem. I or Huw would be more than happy to answer questions on this subject.

As I said I hope to be at the next meeting. Should you wish to discuss further these or any other issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely:

N. BROCK SECTOR INSPECTOR

This year I am excited to have a part in Radyr Parish Music Group`s production of `Hello Dolly`.

I will be playing the part of `Stanley` who is a boy waiter at the `Harmonia Gardens restaurant`. Stanley`s job is to announce `Dolly`s` arrival at the restaurant just before she descends the grand staircase and sings the title song `Hello Dolly`.

It all promises to be great fun and very fast moving. I hope you will all come and watch us perform and enjoy it as much as we do!

Watch this space and the young people`s magazine the Radyr Link for my update on the excitement and drama of producing performing arts.

Tickets are available from Sue on 02920 310894.

You can find out more at the Radyr Parish Music Group Website.

The Old Church rooms has won the first prize for Best Community Building in the Cardiff in Bloom competition. 

Three local disabled people feature in a new campaign to challenge and change attitudes towards disability, launched in Wales by Leonard Cheshire Disability this week.

The charity has teamed up with Aardman Animations to create a highly original campaign called Creature Discomforts. The awareness campaign is based on the much-loved Creature Comforts series and features the hallmark plasticine characters with disabilities.

The characters will appear in adverts at bus stops and shopping centres across Cardiff, as well as in newspapers, magazines and online from Thursday.

The Aardman Animations team has created new characters for Leonard Cheshire Disability’s campaign that include a bull terrier in a wheelchair, a stick insect with a walking stick and a tortoise on crutches.

The four animations are based on the genuine voices of disabled people describing in their own words the negative attitudes and barriers they experience, which separate them from society. Each animation ends with the message “change the way you see disability”.

The campaign coincides with the publication of the Disability Review 2007 – the first annual in-depth examination of life for disabled people in the UK today.

The Disability Review 2007, commissioned by Leonard Cheshire Disability, reveals that almost half (45 per cent) of disabled people in Wales who responded to the national survey believe their quality of life will get worse over the next five years.

The report also found that a fifth (20 per cent) of respondents in Wales felt the quality of treatment they received from GPs was not up to scratch. Eight per cent had been a victim of crime over the last 12 months. And 84 per cent of Welsh respondents voted in the last General Election – compared to 61 per cent of the UK population.

Sheila Morgan from Cardiff, who stars as Peg the Hedgehog, said: “Disabled people don’t want your pity, we just want your respect.”

Vanessa Bourne, Wales and West Regional Chairman at Leonard Cheshire Disability said: “We want people to change the way they see disability, to think and act differently and to make a positive difference to the lives of disabled people.

“Disabled people experience unnecessary social barriers which are created largely through ignorance. In the twenty-first century it is unacceptable that such negative attitudes to disability still persist. Everyone has a part to play in creating a world in which disabled people are included in every aspect of life.”

For a preview of the campaign visit www.creaturediscomforts.org. From Thursday the characters will appear in adverts at bus stops, in newspapers, magazines and online. In January, the animations will be aired on ITV.

Radyr Baptists got together for a community harvest at Forest Farm allotments on 20th October.

The PlayChurch team got stuck in to some outdoor learning. The aim is to make more learning styles available, connect with nature, develop concern for the local environment, and cultivate a child-centred allotment strip.

Meanwhile some of the adults brought a spade to start digging but most enjoyed the stunning clear and sunny day and launched a vision for enhancing the education experience of students wth special education needs or having difficulty managing at school.

We were very grateful for the connection with the allotments and its role enhancing life within the community.

The Community Council has decided to develop a Village Plan for Radyr and Morganstown. This will be done in partnership with the Radyr & Morganstown Association and our County Councillor. A steering group has been set up with members from the Community Council, the RMA and Cllr Marion Drake.

At the steering group’s first meeting Terms of Reference were agreed and first steps taken to consider the scope of the Plan. The Plan will show our many community strengths as well as our present and future concerns. This information will be used to plan future projects for local benefit. It is important to realise that not all the issues identified will be within the control of the Community Council or local organisations. Where control lies with other bodies, such as Cardiff Council, we would use the Plan to try to influence decisions taken by them.

Village Plans are already in place for many areas in England and some communities in Wales. We feel that such a plan would promote an even greater sense of community for Radyr & Morganstown and give us direction for planning for the future. The Plan would continue to evolve as our community changes and develops; it would not be a static document.

Over the next few months there will be opportunities for you to contribute your views to the Plan and, should you wish, to help put the Plan together. We will keep residents informed of progress via articles in the Radyr Chain and on this website. If you have expertise or experience in community consultation or would like to help with this please contact Helena Fox, Clerk to the Community Council on 20842213 or clerk@radyr.org.uk.

The Old Church rooms has won the first prize for Best Community Building in the Cardiff in Bloom competition.