Some readers will be aware of the recent arson attack on a bird hide located in Forest Farm. Although this is not in Radyr and Morganstown, it is an area enjoyed by members of our community. It is a nice place for a walk, where residents can enjoy nature and wildlife in a semi-urban setting. It is a great pity that some people think that setting fire to a community resource is something that they should do. It is hard to understand their motivation - and difficult to believe that they have much respect for their community and neighbours. They must also have no concern about causing upset and distress to people they don't know, by burning to the ground a facility that many people enjoy - which was built by voluntary effort. They may also be unaware of the penalties they could face, if caught. These are set out in the Sentencing Council's Sentencing Guidelines. A fire such as this one, causing moderate damage to a public amenity, can result in a prison sentence ranging from 6 to 26 weeks. You can read the guidelines here. Similar sentences exist for criminal damage. The guidelines for this include community orders, which can include up to 300 hours of unpaid work - whilst being under supervision by the Probation Service for twelve months. More serious criminal damage (where the damage was to property worth more than £5,000) can also result in a prison sentence ranging from 6 to 26 weeks. You can read the criminal damage guidelines here. Any criminal record has to be disclosed to employers and potential employers - and some jobs, such as locksmith, lawyer and teacher, require a criminal record check. The ‘standard’ and ‘enhanced’ criminal record check will show an employer your past crimes, even if they’re spent. If you’re not suitable for a job because of a spent conviction or caution, the employer can withdraw a job offer. You can read more about this here. Anyone with any information about this incident should contact the police. What is a bird hide? A bird hide is a shelter, often camouflaged, that is used to observe wildlife, especially birds, at close quarters.
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We have received the following advice from Katie Powis, Plasdwr's Community Liaison Manger. If you're driving through this area, you will probably need to leave slightly earlier than you normally would, to reach your destination on time. In a previous article, we referred to the fact that we are facing many more months of disruption.
Here's Katie's advice: Essential works will be taking place throughout September and October to create the new Heol Isaf junction and install BT and drainage services across Llantrisant Road to the new development. On the evening August 28th three-way traffic lights will be installed at the Heol Isaf roundabout to create a new crossing within the carriageway and complete road surfacing work. These lights are expected to be removed on September 2nd before the schools return. On September 3rd, two-way traffic lights will be in place in front of the filling station to install a BT chamber, BT road crossing and to complete works to the northern footpath. This work can’t be installed and made safe to re-open the road during our usual 09:30-15:30 traffic light hours so we have permission for these lights to be in place 24 hrs a day. These works are due for completion by September 9th. From September 9th, two-way traffic lights will be in place to the west of the filling station to install drainage across the road. These lights will be in operation during our usual 09:30-15:30 hours until October 2nd. From October 3rd we have permission for these lights to be in place 24 hrs a day to complete the drainage installation, these are expected to be removed on October 12th. We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused, our contractors are working hard to complete this work as quickly as possible. Here is an update about some of the work we have undertaken recently:
Tree maintenance: Recently, tree maintenance work has been completed at Windsor Gardens and Granny Park. There are further works to be done in Dan y Bryn Woods and Radyr Woods – these will be carried out from Autumn onwards. Litter in Windsor Gardens: There has been an increase in litter in Windsor Garden and several residents have kindly assisted in collecting it over the past weeks. We will be monitoring the situation and will aim to ensure that discarded litter is collected as quickly as possible. Pentwyn Park: There has been an overgrowth of vegetation over a resident’s garden in Pentwyn Park. This has now been removed. The specification for the new retaining wall in the Park has been received and the necessary steps are underway to lead to the construction of the said wall. Road safety - Heol Isaf: The Community Council has written to Cardiff City Council regarding the overgrowth of vegetation on the East to West side of Heol Isaf commencing at the motorway bridge all along to the Scout Hut. This vegetation was obliterating the speed signs but remedial work has now been completed so that both these signs are visible to motorists. Road safety – Windsor Road: The Community Council recently received a letter from the Cardiff City Planning Department in response to a letter of complaint from the Community Council in regard to the dangerous bend at the top of Windsor Road. We are delighted to report that the Planning Department has received Welsh Government funding to enable certain areas in Cardiff to be made safer for residents. Consultations in regard to the development of this particular area will shortly commence and will involve residents, the Community Council and the Radyr Ward member. Take Part in our latest survey!
You can find it here. What new money? Caro Wild, Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for strategic planning and transport has written to every community council in Cardiff, seeking ideas for a new initiative, to be called the Local Infrastructure Idea Lists. Specifically, he has asked for ideas in relation to public open spaces, community facilities and local highway improvements. Whilst looking primarily at ideas that may be funded through Section 106 developer contributions, the lists will also help to inform other work that is undertaken by Cardiff Council’s service areas, using the Council's normal funding channels. What will this mean for us? This is an opportunity for people across Radyr and Morganstown to submit their ideas. What would you like to see developed in your area? Would you like to see any improvements to our public spaces Better, or more, playgrounds? An outdoor gym? Improved landscaping? More places to sit and enjoy being outdoors? Somewhere for our young people to meet up? Do you want to see any improvements to Station Road? How about community facilities? Improvements to our halls? How about a new community hall on the Mound Field, with facilities for Radyr Rangers? Better sports facilities? A MUGA*? Or how about road safety and ease of movement across our community? Safer cycling? More zebra crossings? The invitation is there, from Caro Wild - so we would like to respond with a set of ideas that could really make a difference to our community. What can I do? You can send us your ideas by completing our survey, here. What will happen next? We need to send our ideas to Cardiff Council as soon as we can, in September. After that time, we can still send more ideas, but it's important for us to get our ideas onto Cardiff's initial list. An Important caveat: It's important to understand, however, that there is no guaranteed pot of money to fund everything or anything. But if we don't present our ideas, we won't be able to complain if other areas see their projects developed. So, Cardiff will assess all of the ideas it receives and prepare the Local Infrastructure Idea Lists. They will use this to help priorities how Section 106 money should be used (as well as helping to priorities the work they fund themselves). What is Section 106 money? New developments can have an impact on the local community. For example, growth in population arising from a new residential development might lead to greater pressure on local schools, community facilities, open spaces, highways or transportation. Planning obligations, known as Section 106 Contributions, can be used to require developers to provide new facilities, or contribute financially towards developments that help to mitigate the impact of their development. To help guide the S106 process, the Local Infrastructure Idea Lists is a new scheme which will be developed to provide Cardiff Council with a way to identify local infrastructure ideas for different wards, which can be taken into consideration when S106 contributions are being sought. Section 106 contributions can be sought for a range of infrastructure developments, such as affordable housing, transport, highway works, schools, open spaces, community facilities, public realm improvements, waste management facilities and flood risk management. However, as mentioned above, Caro Wild has asked us for ideas linked to public open spaces, community facilities and local highway improvements only (but we are checking why he has limited his request to those areas). The boring bit There are three legal tests governing the use of Section 106. It can constitute a reason for granting planning permission for the development only if the obligation is:
Think big! But don't these legal tests put you off! Send us your ideas. However wild! However ambitious! However big! However small! We want to know what you would like to have! Complete the survey and let us know what you'd like to see. * A Multi Use Games Arena as described here. We've replaced the floor in our main hall (the Garth Room), with oak-effect tiles. We think it makes the room look bigger, better and lighter! It will also be much easier for hall users to clean after their events. No more gouging Camembert from carpet tiles after cheese and wine parties! No more dabbing at red wine stains with a wet cloth! Simply mop and sweep! We hope you will like the new-look hall! |
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