News

At long last Morganstown United FC and Radyr Rangers FC (both junior teams) have an official home ground at the Mound Field.

Morganstown United have the first Fixture, today Saturday 13th at 10:30. I have received numerous comments on how good the Mound field is looking lately, (which now has junior and senior football posts and line markings, well cut grass area`s which are litter free).

This open space is a credit to our community and a step in the right direction for the Radyr & Morganstown sports development trust.

On behalf of Morganstown United F C I wish to thank:- Councillor Marion Drake : Radyr & Morganstown sports development trust : Mike Clark Highways and parks : Western District grounds maintenance : Adam Beach (Outdoor leisure) : Cardiff and District league [hr>] This item is based on an email from Dave Jenkins (Clerk of Works to Cardiff Council) and sent for publication by Cllr. Marion Drake.

For everyone`s information, the National Assembly led Inquiry into the future of the Radyr Arms (will the planning application to turn it into 46 sheltered homes) has now finished.

Good arguments were heard on both sides. A petition of 600 names and 83 letters supporting the pub were noted. Well done everyone for showing interest. Evidence was presented by Cllr Marion Drake, members of the Association and the public. I cannot predict the outcome, but I have my fingers crossed. The Inspector said his ruling would take about four weeks – so we should know by mid September.

In the meantime, keep using the pub!

Radyr Residents should be aware of the following planning application 02/02751/W for The Radyr Arms, Station Road, Radyr, Cardiff, made by McCarthy & Stone Developments Ltd.

They wish to demolish the existing building (The Radyr Arms) and carry out redevelopment to form sheltered apartments for the elderly, including house manager`s accommodation, communal facilities and landscaping.

The Radyr Arms situated at the heart of the village provides a great community asset and its loss would surely be missed.

What about the residents – of how many hundreds? – of houses soon to be built at Radyr sidings (who, planners say, will never use their cars to go to work since they can walk to the station). Oh dear! they will now have to get their cars out to go to the pub (and encourage drink driving). Will they buy their houses on the strength of local facilities to find that an important one of them just vanished overnight?

Maybe we need sheltered housing. We have some in Radyr, not all of it full, and just half a mile away (as crows fly) in Velindre Road a very large development of this type has recently been completed. Also if its a priority, why weren`t they planned into Radyr Sidings?

Do we want this to happen? What can we do about it? You can start a campaign. Put your comments in the guest book. Write to your councillor. Scream and shout. Do it now or “Complacancy Rules OK”.

At the Council Planning meeting on Wednesday, 18th January, Council Members overturned the Council Officers’ recommendation to accept the planning application by Taylor-Woodrow to build 136 houses as the first tranche of building on the ‘Sidings 2’ site.

The attack was led by Councillor Marion Drake and supported by Nick Hawkins (Chairman of the R&M Association, who was able to speak due to a petition having been raised against the development). The Community Council, which did not have the right to speak, was represented by Cllr Judith Marsh. The Council has been involved at all stages and endorsed the representations which pointed out to Members that the plans showed an overdevelopment of the site (more in line with London densities). There was inadequate parking provision; the proposed ‘courtyards’ were not being built to public highway standards and would not be adopted by the council but would fall under the control of a management company (yet to be defined); Waste Management had offered no comments, which meant that the practicality of access by refuse trucks etc was unproven and also that the positioning and usage of wheelie bins was unclear; and that the security of the site was poor, with pathways designed with doglegs and uncertainty over the lighting of some of the public areas. One of the responses by the developer to the security issue was to propose to ‘gate off’ various areas. As Councillor Drake pointed out, ‘gating’ areas is a response to a problem which should not occur if the site was properly designed.

The Council Members were extremely sympathetic to all the concerns raised and asked many pertinent questions. They would probably have liked to have thrown out the whole application, but this was not technically possible due to many of the fundamental issues (including the traffic implications) having been ‘lost’ when Outline Planning Consent was granted in 2002. Consequently, consideration of the application was deferred for one month for the police to be fully consulted on the safety, lighting and security issues. (The police had, in fact, issued a statement that they had ‘no comment’ on the design, but Members doubted that the plans had been looked at in sufficient detail).

It is certain that this development, hopefully with amendments, will be approved in the near future but there will be many meetings over the next month aimed at removing the worst aspects of the design. The developers (and Council Officers) have also been given a clear message about designs for the rest of the site.

The following item was sent by email. Dee is Community Ranger for the Ebbw District of the Forestry Commission.

For information Coed y Gedrys and Coed Rhiw’r Ceiliog are on the lower slopes of Garth Hill either side of Gwaelod-y-Garth.

After Listening to you during a process of public consultation back in March 2005 in Taff’s Well, Coed y Gedrys and Coed Rhiw’r Ceiliog now have new Forest Design Plans.

We have taken on board what local people said, as we started to work through our Forest Design planning process to produce the Forestry Commission blueprint for the future of the two woods. What you want from the woods has been balanced with the needs of the woods for conservation, biodiversity, recreation and timber.

The majority of these woodlands will generally be subject to gradual thinning to restore semi-natural ancient woodland, as these woodlands are designated as ‘Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites’ (‘PAWS’ for short). In both cases we will be leaving the broadleaves and encouraging more to grow through natural regeneration; and some planting if there are any problems with the natural regowth of broadleaf trees. So, this will make those of you who said that wanted more broadleaf happy as we start to increase the chances of this over time.

At Coed y Gedrys we shall be starting to take out conifers soon. In terms of Coed Rhiw’r Ceiliog, however, due to problems with access we’re not too sure when work will actually start on site; watch local newsletters or web-sites for up-dates.

We’ve taken down trees that were encroaching at the backs of some houses and hedges along the entrance lane have been cut back and will be trimmed every year from now on.

In terms of other issues people were concerned about, we have made a start in addressing them. The improvements you asked for to the entrance to Coed y Gedrys have already happened, opening up the forest roads and putting in new gates for people and horses.

Water problems behind houses will be investigated further in the New Year i.e.when the land is at its wettest.

So the Forestry Commission is listening – and the local area Ebbw Team will carry on listening and trying to make the work in our woods fit in with what you want; any issues you want to discuss, please ask to speak to the Ranger, Dee Ashurst on: 02920 886 863.

With you, the local people and users of FC woodlands talking to us, we can make a real difference to both of these woodlands, not just for peoples’ enjoyment now, but for future generations as well.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this consultation process and I want to say a special ‘On your Bikes!’ to the local young people getting out into the woods on their mountain bikes and getting some exercise; it’s great these woodlands are well used by you all. Please talk to us before you do as in January we will be looking a lot more closely at what is possible locally with the involvement of local people. But please note if you do want to see something positive happen, you have to think about what you can help out with; so get talking to each other and your local community centre. Forestry Commission will not do everything; we need you on board to make it work. Mountain biking is a great sport and we’re all for it !

Meantime, the good news for anyone looking for more extreme cycling we have a cross country trail at Cwmcarn Forest Drive near Crosskeys, with a purpose bult downhill trail. Also, there’s a jump spot at Caerphily in Coed Park Van Woodland on Vann Road too. Play safe, and enjoy !

So, Forestry Commission Progress so far:

• Hedges along the lane to the woodlands have been cut. 

• The entrance to Coed y Gedrys has been made easier, particularly for horses and people with prams or mobility difficulties.

• Conversion to broadleaf woodlands is imminent in terms of clearance of conifers.

We have a very special and spectacular visitor on the Glamorgan Canal Reserve – a Wood Duck, which is native to North America.

How it came to be at the nature reserve is a mystery – it is capable of flying freely (i.e. it is not pinioned) and it has no leg ring (which it would have if it was an escapee from a wildfowl collection). It appears to be in perfect condition, is feeding well and is in full breeding plumage.

You can also find more information about the visiting American Wood Duck at www.forestfarm.org.uk or www.glamorganbirds.org.uk.

Alternatively just walk along the tow-path. I understand the Wood Duck is socialising with the Mallards which you will always see down there.

This article has been supplied by Adrian Hopkins who runs an excellent website of his own photography of birds and wildlife at www.wales1.me.uk.

Caroline and Ann, our splendid librarians at Radyr library hosted a Coffee Morning on Friday the 2nd of December. All of their borrowers were invited but as the weather was “Pretty frightful” only a dozen of us attended. It was a jolly morning and we all enjoyed cups of coffee and mince pies. All things considered, to use that hackneyed expression, it was not a bad idea to sip coffee and reminisce with one’s chums on the pleasures of reading poems and listening to Caroline extolling the pleasures of and reading extracts from some of the latest editions to her collections.

At the same time she urged us to proclaim the joys of being a member of our Library. The oracles at Cardiff main library have given Caroline and Ann a target of attracting 100 new subscribers before the end of 2005. At this precise time they have gathered 37. We promised to spread the gospel. This is the least that we can do, such dedicated members of the staff deserve our full support. If you missed this event, another Coffee Morning is planned at Radyr Library – The Centenary coffee morning on 20th Dec. Look out for details.

At the Annual Mulled Wine and Mince Pie Evening the Radyr and Morganstown Friends of Tenovus Group presented a cheque for £7,000 to the Tenovus Charity, which will go directly to help fund important programmes. Grateful thanks were extended to all who helped the group raise this magnificent sum during the year and for all the support the group enjoys in so many ways from our community.

The event was enhanced, this year, by a Fashion Show, organised by Joan Bowgen of CC/Minosa at Howells, after an invitation from Audrey Skidmore was kindly accepted by Joan and her team of models.

The packed audience appreciated the chance to see the latest fashions and new colours for this season and the Tenovus Group was very grateful to the Howells team for, coming to Radyr and giving so freely of their time to help the Charity. A very large sum was raised for research, care and counselling, as a result of their help, and many thanks go to all who were involved.

The event was very enjoyable and many supporters took the opportunity to stock up on cards, and small gifts etc. and at the same time catch up with friends, while partaking of some Christmas cheer!

Many thanks and very best wishes for the Festive Season go to all who have helped the Tenovus Group during the year.

For information about the R&M Friends of Tenovus Group please ring 20842096 or any committee member.

The R.T.C (Radyr Tuesday Club), which meets every Tuesday evening from 7pm to 9pm in term time in the Methodist Hall, started in September and has already proved to be a great success. It has been set up jointly by the Radyr and Morganstown Association, Christ Church, the Methodist Church and the Baptist Church for our youth community. The club, for 11-13 yr olds, is already fully subscribed; any youths wishing to become members can be placed on a waiting list. R.T.C. would welcome any adults who would like to take an active role in this new venture. All helpers over the age of 16 have to be police checked.

On Sunday 2nd October, 18 R.T.C members took part in a ‘Community Campaign Clean-up’ picking up litter and cleaning off any undesirable graffiti in the Radyr area (see pictures). They worked very hard and with lots of enthusiasm. The team was approached by several residents who expressed their admiration and gratitude. A large carrier bag of sweets was given to the team by a resident. As one of them said ‘We all enjoyed the day and hope to do it again in the future’

The next R.T.C event will be on Saturday 3rd December at the Methodist Church from 10am to 4pm. It will include a Jazz Cafe, a display/sale of a variety of hand painted arts and crafts, several fun and game stalls, plus tea/coffee and cakes – all performed, run or provided by the youths themselves. If anybody would like to donate gifts for a raffle these would be received with many thanks. A team of youth members will also be washing cars in the Methodist car park. Half the proceeds of this event will go to supporting an orphanage in Tanzania. The children are primarily orphaned because they have lost their parents to AIDS/HIV infections. Donations of money are critical now for obtaining food, medicine and a farm project this project could make the orphanage more self sufficient.

If you require more information about the ‘Radyr Tuesday Club’ please contact Jane or Kevin Morris (029 20843487, janemorris17@yahoo.co.uk)

Radyr Drama Society’s November Production is the play Kes – about a boy who trains a kestrel.

The director for the play Chris Loring said that although they don’t need to be experts, the cast need to have a clear understanding of Falconry to be convincing on stage. It was therefore decided to make a group visit to the Welsh Hawking Centre and on the 24th September 24 members and friends enjoyed the display at the centre near Barry.

On display were birds of prey of all kinds – Eagles, Owls, Hawks, Vultures, Falcons Buzzards and Kestrels. The climax of the visit was the flying display when several individual birds were put through their paces.

In the play James Staniforth will play the part of Billy Casper who trains a kestrel. During the visit to the hawking centre, James got first hand experience of handling a bird of prey.

The play has quite a large cast and rehearsals are progressing well. Radyr and Morganstown audiences have seen Chris Loring’s performances on stage numerous times, but this is her debut as director. This play is particularly challenging.

Kes will be performed in Morganstown Village Hall from 10th to 12th November 2005. Tickets will be available soon.

by The Hall Management Committee – 03/08/2005

As part of the process of continuing to restore the Old Church Rooms, and enhance the facilities, the boundary wall has been repaired and new railings installed – similar in design to the original ones. The work to the wall has been done by Barclays Builders and the railings installed by ARC Services. We think they have done a grand job – see picture.

You may notice that, part of the garden adjacent to Heol Isaf has been ‘Astroturfed’, and additional gates fitted. This is actually a new children’s play area that will be used and maintained by the two nursery schools that meet in the Old Church Rooms during term time. We hope that the area will soon be as pretty a picture as the rest of the grounds (looked after wonderfully by Norman Clewer) – and make the building even more worthy of a Cardiff in Bloom award. (Judging for this year has just taken place, and we have our fingers crossed.).

Thanks to the Ysgol Feithrin and the Community Council, who have provided funds to make this project possible.

If anyone wants details of the facilities available on the Old Church Rooms, or wants to book any part of the complex, get in touch with the Booking Officer, David Cargill, on 029 2084 2034 or see Association webpages at www.radyr.org.uk/association.

The Radyr & Morganstown Association has nominated the Teenage Cancer Trust for Wales as the sponsored charity for the May Festival in 2006. TCT(W) is a charity that has been formed specifically to raised funds for a dedicated cancer ward for teenagers in the University Hospital of Wales.

The new ward will be TCT’s flagship unit as, at University Hospital, the unit will be placed between the Children’s Hospital (funded by the Noah’s Ark Appeal, which the Association sponsored in 2004) and the Adult Oncology Dept. TCT does not have a unit in England that can boast this. The unit will, however, cost £2.2M, of which £900K is still to be found.

The Association is proud to be associated with this endeavour. Each day in the UK, six teenagers will find out they have cancer – that is over 2,200 new diagnoses each year. Where there is no TCT unit, teenagers have to be treated in a children’s ward alongside toddlers and babies, or with adults and often elderly people. However, teenagers have unique problems with respect to cancer. In many cases, the cancer is not picked up early enough and symptoms are dismissed as growing pains or sports injuries. Because teenagers are undergoing growth spurts, their cancers grow faster than other age groups and they can be at greater risk. There are also important issues such as age of consent and the impact on fertility. These issues are often not addressed on a children’s ward or on a ward with the elderly. There is a desperate need for them to be treated in a specialist unit such as provided by TCT, and where oncologists say that they have up to 15% greater chance of recovery.

We are already working with TCT(W) to plan a great Festival for 2006. We will release details as they are agreed. You may, however, like to put in your diary a fantastic Gala Concert in aid of TCT(W) at the Wales Millennium Centre on Sunday, 9th October. Details have been put in the Radyr on-line diary, and tickets are available on line via www.wmc.org.uk.

If you would like to read more about the work of the Teenage Cancer Trust, please visit their main website on www.teenagecancertrust.org. If you want any more information, or would like to help in any way, please contact the Association’s Secretary, on Association@Radyr.org.uk.

As part of our policy to plan ahead as much as we can, you may also like to know that the Charity for 2007 will be the NSPCC.

The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at Cwm Farm was officially opened on 14th July 2005 by Neal Ardley of Cardiff City FC, and is designed to provide young people of all ages living in Radyr and Morganstown with an all-weather area to play football, basketball and cricket. Seating and a shelter have also been provided for those wishing to participate or watch.

Detached Youth Workers (funded jointly by Radyr & Morganstown Community Council and Cardiff Council) and the Local Youth Centre undertook a consultation with young people involving the use of questionnaires. Following its findings it was unanimously agreed to tackle issues it identified collectively, involving all sections of the community. In March 2004 the Radyr and Morganstown Young People’s Action Forum was established. It involved local people and became a focus for local residents to discuss issues of concern, particular those relating to anti-social behaviour. Led by Councillor Marion Drake, the Forum also comprised of Community Council, Radyr & Morganstown Association, police, local residents and youth workers and other council staff.

Through regular meetings and consultation, a design for a multi use games area was produced by local young people and presented to officers working for Parks Services. Young people were involved in every aspect of planning and design, right down to choosing colour schemes. Their hard work securing £52,000 for the MUGA and a further £6000 was provided by the Community Council and Community Association for a seating area. The project’s construction was then carried out under supervision of the Council’s Parks Services.

The name ARENA was chosen by the young people themselves.

by Web Team Reporter – 14/07/2005

Congratulations to Radyr and Morganstown Association on a very successful Festival Fortnight from the Radyr and Morganstown Friends of Tenovus Group.

The Group, delighted that Tenovus was the adopted Charity for Festival Fortnight 2005, sends many grateful thanks for the magnificent sum of £2,800, raised as a result of the events organised and promoted by the Association Festival Committee.

The total represents funds and donations from many different organizations and individuals who participated in the festivities. The Group appreciates the generosity of all who were involved in and supported the following:

The Association Festival Committee members dedicated many hours to ensure the success of the Radyr and Morganstown Festival 2005 and the Tenovus Group was very grateful to be invited to participate in and benefit from what, many will agree, was the highest standard, most event – filled and enjoyable Festival to date.

Many sincere thanks are, once again, extended to the Festival Committee and to our caring and generous community for the very happy and pleasant way in which the Charity has been helped to fund vital programmes, which are important to all of us.

Don`t miss the opportunity to enjoy some wonderful events within your community and the chance to help another worthwhile cause during the Association Festival in May 2006.

For further information about the Tenovus Group please ring 20842096.

Charity no.1054015

by Betty Fitzgerald – 09/07/2005

by Maggie Roberts – 17/04/2005

The Twinning Fellowship held it’s Bi-Annual Quiz Night in the Old Church Rooms at the beginning of April. It was a full house as 9 teams competed for the prestigious gold medals.

Mr Alan Doe, from Radyr Golf Club was our Quiz Master once again and as usual was assisted by Mr. Dale Edwards. A variety of general knowledge questions keep us all busy. Several questions about France had us scratching our heads, this included a French man, school teachers and members of the Twinning Committee. The winners by just one point were the Bar Stewards and they were delighted to receive their golden (chocolate) medals and the genuine bottle of Champagne.

A tasty supper was served during the evening and everyone enjoyed themselves in true Twinning Fellowship style.

This is written from Firefox

On Monday 14th September, at 2.30pm, a Blue Plaque will be unveiled on the site of the Sweetshop frequented by the young Roald Dahl.

The Sweetshop was immortalised as the home of the hideous Mrs Pratchett and scene of the Great Mouse Plot, in his autobiography, Boy. Here the young Dahl and his accomplices hid a dead mouse in a jar of gobstoppers, to scare the creepy confectioner – with terrifying consequences.

The Llandaff Society, Roald’s wife, Liccy and members of the Dahl family will be at 11 High Street, Llandaff, Cardiff, where Roald’s son, Theo Dahl, will unveil the plaque commemorating the life, work and birth in Llandaff, of ‘The World’s Number One Storyteller’. Then, excerpts from The Great Mouse Plot will be re-enacted to set the scene, and provide entertainment for the many Roald Dahl fans invited from local schools.

Events will begin at 2.30pm, at 11 High Street, Llandaff, with a news conference, followed by the unveiling ceremony.

For further details, please contact Geoffrey Barton-Greenwood on 029 20 563181

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This statement has been issued at the request of the Council Parks Department.

Cardiff Council has discovered an outbreak of Phytophthora Ramorum at the Mound Field Motte site in Morganstown and will now be working to destroy the infected vegetation. Phytophthora Ramorum – known as Sudden Oak Death – is a fungal infection and has been found on rhododendron in the small woodland area around the motte. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has been informed and under its instructions the Council now has to remove and destroy all affected vegetation to limit the chance of the disease spreading.

Phytophthora spores spread through water, including airborne droplets which can be carried on animals, and through infected water in soil. The Mound Field site is extremely waterlogged and there are no footpaths. The area will now need to be fenced off before any works take place to ensure that there is no public access to the infected area. All vegetation will then need to be removed from around the mound and burnt in accordance with the destruction notice issued by FERA (the Food and Environment Research Agency), an agency of DEFRA. As the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, consent has been obtained from CADW for this work to begin.

A second fenced off area in the north western corner of the field will need to be created for the burning to take place. Due to this area being close to an adult-sized football pitch, use of this pitch will be suspended while the burning operations are in progress until at least the end of the year, subject to ground conditions. This burning is also expected to take until at least the end of 2009. The fencing will need to be retained on the main site to exclude public access until it has been declared free of the disease, which could take between three and five years.

The infection was detected when the rhododendrons on the site were routinely tested as part of the process of preparing the Conservation Management Plan for the Mound field Motte site in early November. This outbreak does not appear to be linked to a similar recent infection at Parc Cefn Onn.

For the first time, the Parish of Radyr will take part in National Open Churches Day in Wales on 19 September, by inviting the people of Cardiff and beyond to come inside and explore its hidden treasures.

And the Parish has some surprising little gems to discover!! One of its churches, St John’s in Danescourt, lies almost hidden in the middle of a modern housing estate and shopping centre, but within its walls are clues to Cardiff’s past. Not many people know that St John’s is built on the site of an ancient wayside shrine that is believed to have given Radyr its name. Its churchyard has a 1000 year old yew tree, one of the oldest in Wales, and is also the place where the parents of Roald Dahl, born in Radyr, were buried..

This historic country church has survived the march of time, civil war soldiers and modern urban planning, and today provides a spiritual respite from the madness of modern life, and is home to a thriving community.

Its sister church, Christ Church, in Radyr is also hosting a number of events throughout the day but the message is the same- “come and enjoy the buildings, the atmosphere, and what an asset we have” .

“We have never done this before” says the Parish Rector, Jenny Wigley, “but we would love people to come and see what a church is all about. The buildings are precious and important, with lots of features to interest everyone. But they are also fascinating because they follow an ancient design, every feature is significant. And of course, we want to have fun – so, between the two churches of St John’s and Christ Church, Radyr, we have organised a series of events to help everyone enjoy and be part of the community on their doorstep. We have something for everyone – music, children’s activities and Welsh cakes!”

The BBC will be interviewing Jim Cowan, one of the Parish organisers, live on BBC ‘Good Morning Wales’ on Saturday morning at 7.50am to find out more about what the Parish is doing. So have a listen at that time.

The events will run at both churches from 10am-5pm. Entry is free. Further information about the Parish and the activities on Open Churches Day can be found on its website www.parish.radyr.org.uk

At Radyr Golf Club, and around Wales, 6,000 golfers teed off at 10 am on Saturday 10 October to the accompaniment of guns being fired from castles around the Principality. The Tenovus Challenge Day was a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest number of golfers to tee off together. The Friends of Tenovus extend many thanks to the Rev. Christine Colton and Colin Evans, former Assistant Chief Constable of Wales, who kindly agreed to be the independent witnesses of the event. Grateful thanks also go to David Cargill for recording the necessary photographic evidence. The event will raise a very large sum for the Charity programmes and many thanks go to all who participated.

Betty Fitzgerald (Radyr Friends of Tenovus)