We have previously reported that Cardiff Council has agreed to build three new tabled zebra crossings in Radyr and Morganstown (near Heol Syr lewis, Ty Mynydd Close and Rectory Close).

We met with Cardiff Council recently, to discuss traffic issues. During the meeting, Cardiff explained that the work to install our new zebra crossings was out to tender, with an aim of getting on-site in April / May.

One problem, however, might be a shortage of contractor capacity, given the number of large projects underway in Cardiff, such as the Plasdwr project.

We will keep you posted.

We have today received an invitation from Cardiff Council to draw attention to their consultation on their budget for 2020/21. We are happy to do so - and if you wish to take part in this process, you can see the consultation documents:

• in Welsh, here:  www.caerdydd.gov.uk/cyllideb
  
• in English, here: www.cardiff.gov.uk/budget
  

The consultation has already launched and closes on 31st January so Cardiff has provided us with quite a tight schedule.
Cardiff Council is keen to emphasise, however, that the results of the survey are key in the planning and delivery of council and partner services. 

Paper copies available for the budget consultation are available from Cardiff Council. Questions or requests for hard copies can also be addressed to consultation@cardiff.gov.uk.  

Active travel is good for our health and the environment.

Did you know that Cycle Training Wales refurbishes bikes with both new and used parts? The bikes come from Cardiff Council's recycling centres or are donated by the public. As well as being carefully repaired, all the bikes are given a thorough pre-delivery inspection by a qualified mechanic before going on sale.

All sale bikes come with a three-month warranty against faults and defects. Note that Cycle Training Wales is unable to warranty bikes against punctures or damage arising from misuse.

This page has the details of available bikes - for children and adults. Adult bikes are currently available from £60; kids from £20.

Founded in 2007, Cycle Training Wales aims to promote the benefits of cycling through education and other activities. It is a leading provider of cycle training in schools, and has also trained many of the local authority instructors in Wales. From its base in Cardiff, it also runs its award-winning bike recycling and repair workshop.

'Active travel' means making journeys by physically active means, like walking or cycling. These are usually short journeys, like walking to the shops, walking the kids to school, cycling to work, or cycling to the station to catch a commuter train.

In recent months, volunteers have been turning up at Radyr Library to help with litter picking across our community.

They have done excellent work - and we can all be thankful to them for helping keep our streets free from rubbish.

​Now we need three volunteers willing to ensure that this important work continues. As such, it is proposed that the next litter pick be followed by a cuppa in the library - and a brief discussion about the future of the scheme.

Are you free next Monday morning? Are you keen to help keep our streets free from litter? Do you want to make new friends and enjoy some fresh air as you help the litter-picking team?

If so, please pop along to the library at 10.00am - and be a local hero!

Our thanks also goes to Redrow for helping to sponsor this work.

Last week we broke the news that Cardiff Council is consulting about their proposal to turn almost the whole of Radyr and Morganstown into a 20mph zone.

What do you think about this proposal?

Let us know by taking part in our short survey, here!

Towards the end of 2019 one of our councillors stepped down, leaving a vacancy on the community council (Morganstown Ward).

When a vacancy arises on the Community Council, the process to fill the vacancy is as follows:
​

• If ten or more registered electors within the relevant ward (members of the public) call for a by-election then an election is organised by the Electoral Registration Office and a Notice of Election is displayed.
• If a By-election is not called then the Town or Community Council is notified by the Returning Officer to fill the position by co-option as soon as is practicable.

In this case, ten electors did call for a by-election - and the process was set in motion to hold a by-election.

On 10 January, the Electoral Services Office  confirmed that the election to fill the vacancy will be contested and that a poll will take place on 6 February.  You can see here the official statement of persons nominated.

Poll cards will be sent by post to all eligible electors in the near future (i.e those that live in Morganstown).

It has been quite some time since an election was held for Radyr and Morganstown Community Council - and we encourage all registered electors to vote on 6 February.

In October we broke the news that the new tenant set to occupy the old Spar site on Station Road will be the Coop.

Some residents have spotted that the 'Under-offer' sign has been removed from the site - and that 'To Let' is back in view.

We have spoken with the letting agent. This is what we were told:

A lease was agreed with the Coop in December - but (according to the letting agent) the company is being slow to act with regard to completing the legal processes involved.

If the Coop does not act quickly, the site will be re-marketed. Removing the 'Under-offer' sign is a first step in that process.

So - we may yet have a tapas bar or another restaurant on Station Road!

​What would you like to see?

What's happening?

The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales has published its draft proposals for the future electoral arrangements for the City and County of Cardiff. 

The Commission's proposals can be seen in Welsh, here - and in English, here. If you want to comment on the proposals you will need to do so by 13 April, the closing date for the consultation.

Will this change things in Radyr and Morganstown?

Quite possibly. At present, we have 5,259 electors, represented by one councillor (currently, Cllr Rod McKerlich). This number would be 67% above the proposed average number of electors-per-councillor across Cardiff. As such, it was agreed to include an additional councillor in the Commission's proposals, in order to address the fact that we are currently under-represented on Cardiff Council.

If these proposals are agreed, we will have two councillors representing us on Cardiff Council, rather than the one we have at present. This will give Radyr and Morganstown a higher profile on the Council  and a stronger voice. 

It was for this reason that Radyr and Morganstown Community Council supported the call for an extra councillor when the Commission began its review.

An extract from the Commission's document, discussing Radyr and Morganstown, can be seen below.

Can I make my views known?

Yes. The Commission is inviting responses to its consultation by 13 April. Responses can be sent to:

consultations@boundaries.wales

This is what the Commission has to say about Radyr:

Radyr

1. The existing Radyr electoral ward is comprised of the Community of Radyr. It has 5,259 electors (5,562 projected) represented by one councillor which is 67% above the proposed county average. The electoral ward has an estimated population of 5,160 eligible voters.
   
2. The Commission received five representations concerning these wards from; The City and County of Cardiff Council, Cardiff Council Conservatives Group, Radyr and Morganstown Community Council, Councillor Phil Bale (Llanishen) and Councillor Rod McKerlich (Radyr).
   
3. The City and County of Cardiff Council, Cardiff Council Conservatives Group, Radyr and Morganstown Community Council and Councillor Rod McKerlich (Radyr) all proposed to allocate an additional councillor in the Radyr electoral ward in order to address the inappropriate level of electoral variance in this ward.
   
4. Councillor Phil Bale (Llanishen) stated that whilst he does not presently accept the arguments to increase the council size above 75 members, he would support an additional member in the Radyr electoral ward in order to address the existing under-representation.
   
5. The Commission proposes that the Community of Radyr forms an electoral ward of 5,259 electors (5,562 projected), which if represented by two councillors (an increase of one) would result in a level of representation that is 17% below the proposed county average.
   
6. The Commission has given the proposed electoral ward the Welsh Language name of Radur and the English Language name of Radyr. The Welsh Language Commissioner is in agreement with the proposed name. The Commission would welcome any suggestions for alternative names.
   
7. The Commission agrees with the representations received for the area. It is the view of the Commission that this arrangement best addresses the existing levels of electoral variance. The Commission considers that the proposed electoral ward shares a common identity and provides for an effective electoral ward, which would build on the established community, communication and social links within the area.
   

An Election is to be held of a Councillor for the Radyr & Morganstown Community Council (Morganstown Ward).  

The Notice of Election is published today.  You can read the official Notice of Election here:
Notice of Election - Election of Community Councillor for Radyr & Morganstown Community Council