Our survey seeking views about Cardiff Council's proposal to create a 20mph zone throughout Radyr and Morganstown (apart from Parc Radur) has now closed.

We received 454 responses - and here are the main results:

The majority of those who responded support the introduction of the speed limit. The survey showed that 286 people agreed - and 164 people disagreed:

Comments about the zone included:

• Speeding is a serious problem in Radyr. I've seen cars doing nearly 40mph on Heol Isaf and not stopping at zebra crossings.
• This has to happen, so many cars go too fast along Heol Isaf, the pavements are very narrow and the sheer volume of traffic makes crossing the road very difficult.
• Absolutely; we live in a residential area with many community amenities  For our next next generation we need to create an environment that feels safe and allows for use of bicycles and encourages people to walk more. This ticks some major boxes: sustainability, community, health & wellbeing.
• The speed is far in excess of even 30mph. Dropping it down to 20mph and adding more crossings and safety measures for all residents will make it far safer for all.
• R&M is currently not pedestrian or cyclist friendly and frankly dangerous as used as an extension to the A470.
• 30 mph is fine. 20 is silly. Enforce the current speed limit, don’t impose a ridiculous one
• I think that this is too slow for many of the roads. You almost have to constantly brake. This surely pollutes with noise and extra emissions.
• Definitely not. It'd be too slow

An even greater majority of those who responded support the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on the road where they live. The survey showed that 325 people agreed - and 122 people disagreed. 

This may suggest that people agree that lower speed limits can be justified - and can bring benefits to residents - although they may be keener to see those limits introduced outside their homes than outside other people's homes.
​ 
In other words, the principle that lower speed limits can be beneficial seems to be accepted by 72% of respondents.

Most respondents believe that none of the roads in Radyr and Morganstown should be exempt from the speed limit. The survey showed that 235 people think that no road should be exempt - as opposed to 134 people who think that some roads should be exempt.

​Comments about possible exemptions included:

• All Roads should be 20mph. That way it's more straightforward and less confusing for inattentive drivers
• Only a simple and consistent rule will work.
• These are very built up villages, I can't think of any road in Radyr or Morganstown that would be safe for cars to be traveling over 20.
• The main road, Heol Isaf, should be 20 mph - it’s very unsafe for children walking to school.
• We walk and cycle on all our streets.
• I see no reason for this area to continue to be dominated by cars - and anything that makes walking and cycling more pleasant is to be welcomed
• All roads should be 30 MPH unless there is a decent majority to the contrary.
• The main road going through Morganstown and Radyr should stay as 30mph
• All main roads should remain at 30, so as to ensure reduced pollution and flow of traffic. 20mph zones focus on drivers staring at the dashboard as opposed to full focus on the road.

Continuing with the same theme, most respondents believe that the entire length of the main road should be subject to a 20mph speed limit. The survey showed that 286 people agreed with this view - as opposed to 164 who disagreed.

​Comments about this included:

• Speak to the people who walk from Morganstown to one of the 3 schools and ask what it’s like walking Heol Isaf
• Perhaps not the bit between Radyr and Morganstown (under motorway bridge) but I understand it’s cheaper to have 20 the whole way and will dissuade excessive traffic using Radyr as a high speed access to Cardiff
• It would reduce the attractiveness of the village as a commuter route to/from Cardiff, M4 etc
• It is very intimidating being a pedestrian or cyclist on Heol Isaf. Now try being 1m tall with cars whizzing past you on narrow pavements.
• Absolutely essential. Narrow pavements and speeding vehicles, including HGVs, mean it's only a matter of time before someone is killed.
• Heol Isaf is intimidating for pedestrians, cyclists, the young, the elderly and the disabled. 20mph will rebalance this situation, so the road can be shared more equally between local motorist, commuters, the local community and residents. A 20mph limit will lower the number of Sat Nav drivers coming off the A470 to rat-run into Cardiff. We could have walking buses taking pupils to school. None of these are possible whilst we continue at the mercy of the internal combustion engine.
• Possibly not the section between the M4 motorway bridge and the top of the hill
• Only a small area by the High School crossing should be 20mph. The rest of the road should all be 30mph.
• Only the built up parts, past churches and the High Street and especially past Radyr Comp

When also asked a series of questions:

• 71% agreed that a 20mph limit would be safer for pedestrians and cyclists
• 68% believe that a 20mph limit can improve life on residential streets
• 81% said that they would comply with a 20mph limit

• 53% said they would undertake active travel more frequently within a 20mph zone
• 51% said they believed 20mph would lead to less congestion

• 54% said that they did not think that a 20mph speed limit would lead to an increase in air pollution.

Here is the age breakdown of respondents:

The lowest support for a 20mph zone was amongst 25 to 34 year olds. Support is fairly constant between the ages of 35 and 64. It falls away slightly between 65 and 74 - and increases significantly at age 75 and over. 

Here's the gender breakdown of respondents:

Not only were the number of respondents split almost equally between male and female - there was hardly any difference of opinion between the genders with regard to the proposed 20mph zone.

[NB: Parc Radur may be included in a future 20mph zone proposal].

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.

This will help slow traffic and make our main road safer.

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.  

During our recent meeting with Cardiff Council, we were invited to develop (for consideration by Cardiff), proposals for improving Station Road and the surrounding area, to improve its role as a place for the community to meet, shop and socialise.

This could include introducing a one-way system, changes to parking, closure to traffic at specific times and more. 

This is all very exciting - and we will be consulting with residents about this in the near future.

​So please keep an eye out for more news about this!

During our recent meeting with Cardiff Council we were informed that the nextbikes station will be located outside McColl's on Station Road.

The station will be installed in the very near future.

The bike station will measure 7m by 2m (7m by 1 m without the bikes).

If this location proves to be unsuitable, the station can be moved quite easily.

Cardiff is also considering installing electric bikes at Radyr Station. Other locations may also be considered.

What is a nextbike? This is a system which rents bicycles for anyone who has downloaded the nextbikes app onto hir, or her, mobile. You can rent a bike from any nextbike station - and leave it at any other station. You can read more about nextbikes here.

This could be another useful resource for Radyr and Morganstown residents. For instance, you could go to town on the train - but fancy cycling home. Now you will be able to grab a nextbike and enjoy riding along the Taff Trail.

​We will have to see how the nextbikes look outside McColl's. Will they limit the room available for pedestrians? Let us know what you think after they are installed.

Following its recent consultation about the future of Golf Club Lane, Cardiff Council has taken the decision to close it to traffic.

A traffic regulatory order is being prepared by the Council (which will be issued for consultation, in due course).

​Start of works is expected in summer 2020.

Bollards will be placed at either end of the lane (which is not deemed suitable for emergency vehicles, even when the main road was blocked).

Golf Club Lane will certainly be safer for walkers as a result of this move - which could also reduce the use of Bryn Derwen as a rat-run.

​More road safety measures are being considered, of course, including a 20mph zone for Radyr and Morganstown.

You can read about all of the road safety ideas here.

We held another meeting with Cardiff Council's Head of Transportation on 10 September. It turned out to be a very positive meeting - and it was great to hear Cardiff officials saying how much they valued the close relationship they had developed with our community, through the work of Radyr and Morgantown Community Council - and its Road Safety Working group. Our thanks go, again, to Cllr Rod McKerlich (our County Councillor) for facilitating the meeting.

This is what we discussed:

• a positive response had been received to Cardiff's consultation on installing three new zebra crossings in R&M. These were now at detailed design stage. The work would go out to tender in October, with start of works planned for January / February 2020. These would be funded with £300k of Section 106 money, released early by Redrow Homes. They would be simple zebra crossings (not pelican crossings) since these would enable pedestrians to cross more quickly, compared to waiting for pelican lights to change.
• a survey had been undertaken on Windsor Road, at the bend where there is no pavement. Pavement design and layout was now at the design stage - to be followed by a consultation. Start of works could be around March 2020. The scheme could include parking restrictions on the bend.
• the 20mph zone (which would include all of R&M apart from Parc Radur) would require a traffic regulatory order. This was in the hands of Cardiff's lawyers - but the work would take some time, with consultation on the orders likely to take place in early 2020, with a 3 week response time. Objections were likely (most other 20mpg schemes had led to objections), so start of works on this (if it was to proceed, following the consultation) was likely to be spring / summer 2020. In the meantime , R&MCC could help prepare the local community for introduction of the zone.
• Cardiff agreed to include Heol Isaf and Ty Nant Road in its air quality monitoring programme, to evaluate the impact of road improvement works, including the 20mph zone.
• consultation with regard to the closure of Golf Club Lane had been completed - and the decision taken to take the process forward. As such, the traffic regulatory order was being prepared. Start of works was expected in summer 2020. Bollards would be placed at either end of the lane (which was not deemed suitable for emergency vehicles, even when the main road was blocked)
• it was agreed that Cardiff Council would carrying out an assessment of the junction of De Clare Drive and King's Road (at the roundabout by Radyr Station), to assess whether there is justification for highway improvement works. Any resultant scheme would be added to Cardiff's future programme to be ranked against all similar road safety schemes.  Any public consultation would be undertaken only when a suitable scheme had funding secured.
• it was agreed that Cardiff would consider measures that could be implemented to calm traffic along Bryn Derwen. In the meantime, the closure of Golf Club Lane could help, by removing traffic travelling along Bryn Derwen to use the lane as a rat run. It was noted that Bryn Derwen had been approved as a location for speed monitoring by local volunteers
• the Nextbikes station was to be located, in the near future, outside McColl's on Station Road. The bike station would measure 7m by 2m (7m by 1 m without the bikes). If this location proves to be unsuitable, the station could be moved quite easily. Cardiff was also considering installing electric bikes at Radyr Station. Reference was made to the Lime Bikes scheme in Vienna, where members of the public are paid for charging bikes in their homes, before replacing them on the street, for hire by registered users (https://www.li.me/about-us)
• it was agreed that R&MCC should develop, for consideration by Cardiff, proposals for improving Station Road and the surrounding area, to improve its role as a place for the community to meet, shop and socialise. This could include introducing a one-way system, changes to parking, closure to traffic at specific times and more. 
• reference was made to the prosed Coryton link, which would place a train station opposite Radyr Station, on the other side of the Taff. This could ease journeys east and west across the city - and encourage more people to use public transport
• Cardiff Council explained that the proposed park and ride schemes (near the M4 and on the A470) were experiencing delays - but these were still planned
• R&MCC explained that it was working with Sustrans to develop proposals with regard to safe cycling and walking. Cardiff explained that it was intending to work with Living Streets; although the focus would be the city centre, the principles involved could apply to R&M. In the meantime R&MCC could encourage residents to use public transport when travelling to the city centre
• R&MCC explained that it's Road Safety Working Group was developing place-making ideas, which would be presented to the community council in the near future
• Cardiff explained that a further £638k of Section 106 money had been earmarked for R&M, over and above the £300k released by Redrow (as described above). This would become available when house-builders' trigger points were reached. The total Section 106 money to be generated by the Plasdwr project was £25m.
• Cardiff explained that a white paper was to be submitted to Cardiff Council in the autumn, discussing key development projects across the capital, including the cross-rail scheme, park and ride facilities and active travel schemes. The estimated cost of these works was £1bn
• Cardiff agreed to arrange a meeting of all the agencies who could monitor and enforce the restrictions on HGV traffic through R&M. This would discuss strategies for ensuring better enforcement. Representatives from R&MCC would be invited to the meeting - and would provide a note, beforehand, setting out the extent of the problem and the outcome to be sought at the proposed meeting.

H O Jones
Chair
​Radyr and Morganstown Community Council

We have received the following bilingual message from the School Organisation Planning team at Cardiff Council. Please note the opportunity for you to respond to the consultation - and the drop-in sessions to be held during September and October:

21st Century Schools
 
As part of the planning agreement for the construction of the Plasdŵr development, a new primary school is being provided by the site developer to serve this first phase of the development, the wider area and some future housing developments that have also been planned.
 
The new school at Plasdŵr is proposed to be a two form entry primary school, with two language streams, organised as:
 
·         One form of entry Welsh-medium (30 places per year group)
·         One form of entry predominantly English-medium, with significant use of Welsh (30 places per year group)
 
This means that there would be 420 primary school places in total.
 
There will also be 48 part-time nursery places for the Welsh-medium stream and 48 part-time nursery places for the English-medium stream.
 
The proposed changes would take effect from September 2021.
 
A public consultation on the proposed new school is taking place from 9 September – 28 October 2019.
 
The Council is keen that as many people as possible are aware of the consultation.  We would like people to be informed on how to find out more about what is being proposed and how to express their views on it.  
 
How can you find out more and let us know your views?
 
Details of the consultation, how to have you say, and an online response form can be found on the Council’s website at www.cardiff.gov.uk/Plasdwrschool 
 
As part of the consultation we have organised drop-in sessions and a public meeting that you can attend if you would like us to explain the suggested changes to you and for you to ask us questions.​
 ​​​​​​​​​​​
Drop in Session
Date/Time 
Venue 

Drop in session
Monday 16th September,
10.00 – 11.30 am
Redrow site office,  Clos Parc Radur, Radyr

Public meeting
Monday 30th September, 6.30 – 8.00pm
Radyr Comprehensive School

Drop in session
Tuesday 1st October, 10.00 -11.30am
Fairwater Leisure Centre

Drop in session
Thursday 3rd October, 5.00 -7.30pm
Central Library

Drop in session
Monday 7th October,
2.00 -3.30pm
Radyr Library

 
The consultation will end on 28 October 2019.
 
Hard copies of the consultation document are available at Central Library, Radyr Library and Fairwater Hub. 
 
Alternatively, if you would like a hard copy of the consultation document sent directly to you please contact the School Organisation Planning Team.
 
Email: schoolresponses@cardiff.gov.uk. 
Phone: 029 2087 2720
 
Regards 
 
 
School Organisation Planning 
 
 
Annwyl Lywodraethwr 
 
Ysgolion yr 21ain Ganrif
 
Fel rhan o’r cytundeb cynllunio ar gyfer adeiladu datblygiad Plasdŵr, mae ysgol gynradd newydd yn cael ei darparu gan ddatblygwr y safle i wasanaethu’r tai yng ngham cyntaf y datblygiad, yr ardal ehangach a pheth datblygiadau tai yn y dyfodol sydd hefyd wedi eu cynllunio.
 
Bydd yr ysgol newydd ym Mhlasdŵr yn ysgol gynradd â dau ddosbarth mynediad, gyda dwy ffrwd iaith, wedi’u trefnu fel a ganlyn:
 
·         Un dosbarth mynediad cyfrwng Cymraeg (30 lle fesul grŵp blwyddyn)
·         Un dosbarth mynediad Saesneg yn bennaf sy’n defyddio’r Gymraeg yn sylweddol (30 lle fesul grŵp blwyddyn)
 
Golyga hyn y ceid cyfanswm o 420 o leoedd i gyd.
 
Bydd hefyd 48 o leoedd rhan amser yn y feithrinfa ar gyfer y ffrwd Gymraeg a 48 o leoedd meithrin ar gyfer y ffrwd Saesneg.
 
Byddai’r newidiadau arfaethedig yn cael eu rhoi ar waith o fis Medi 2021.
 
Mae ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar yr ysgol newydd arfaethedig yn cael ei gynnal o 9 Medi tan 28 Hydref 2019.
 
Mae’r Cyngor yn awyddus bod cymaint o bobl â phosibl yn ymwybodol o’r ymgynghoriad.  Hoffem ni i bobl gael gwybod yr hyn sy’n cael ei gynnig, ac i allu lleisio eu barn ar yr hyn sy’n cael ei gynnig.  
 
Sut mae cael mwy o wybodaeth a rhannu eich barn gyda ni?
 
Gallwch ddod o hyd i fanylion llawn yr ymgynghoriad, gwybodaeth am sut i ddweud eich dweud, a ffurflen ymateb ar-lein ar wefan y Cyngor yn www.caerdydd.gov.uk/ysgolplasdwr 
Fel rhan o’r ymgynghoriad rydym wedi trefnu cyfarfod cyhoeddus a sesiynau galw heibio y gallwch fynd iddynt os hoffech chi i ni esbonio’r newidiadau awgrymedig i chi ac i chi ofyn cwestiynau i ni. 
 ​​​​​​​​​​​
Sesiwn Galw Heibio
Dyddiad/Amser 
Lleoliad 

Sesiwn Galw Heibio
Dydd Llun 16 Medi
10.00 – 11.30 am
Swyddfa safle Redrow, Clos Parc Radur, Radur

Cyfarfod cyhoeddus
Dydd Llun 30 Medi,     6.30 – 8.00pm
Ysgol Gyfun Radur

Sesiwn Galw Heibio
Dydd Mawrth 1 Hydref    10.00 – 11.30am
Canolfan Hamdden y Tyllgoed

Sesiwn Galw Heibio
Dydd Iau 3 Hydref       5.00 – 7.30pm
Llyfrgell Ganolog

Sesiwn Galw Heibio
Dydd Llun 7 Hydref ,
2.00 -3.30pm
Llyfrgell Radur

 
Bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn dod i ben ar 28 Hydref 2019.
 
Bydd copïau caled o’r ddogfen hon ar gael yn y Llyfrgell Ganolog, Llyfrgell Radur a Hyb y Tyllgoed. 
 
Fel arall, os hoffech gael copi caled o’r ddogfen ymgynghori wedi’i hanfon atoch yn uniongyrchol, cysylltwch â’r Tîm Cynllunio Trefniadaeth Ysgolion.
 
E-bost: ymatebionysgol@Caerdydd.gov.uk
Ffôn: 029 2087 2720
 
Yn gywir
 
 
Cynllunio Trefniadaeth Ysgolion

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:

• necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms - there must be a planning policy justification for requesting the planning obligation
• directly related to the development - there must be a direct and obvious link between the proposed development and the obligation being sought
• fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development.

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.