December and January Report

So that's the festive season over and done with. Brexit is upon us - and as we enter the twenties the community council is ready to face another decade of hard work, aimed at benefitting all who live and work in Radyr and Morganstown.

In the meantime, thinking back to Christmas, our thanks go to all of those who helped us celebrate our Christmas lighting event, including Radyr Comprehensive, Brynderi, Radyr and Gwaelod-y-Garth Primary Schools, Radyr Methodist Church the RMA and our staff.

As ever, one of the main issues we will have to deal with is managing the impact of road traffic flowing through our community. The Plasdŵr development continues to grow - and we need to do what we can to deal with the extra traffic that will flow from there.
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To this end, Cardiff Council is consulting about its proposals to introduce a 20mph speed limit across the whole of Radyr and Morganstown (apart from Clos Parc Radur). We have carried this story on our website (www.radyrandmorganstown.org) - where we have also published an online survey, to find out what residents think about the proposal. As I write this piece, we have 221 responses: 50.5% in favour of the speed limit, and 49.5% against. However, 61% want a 20mph limit on the road where they live - as opposed to 39% who do not. Cardiff's consultation continues until 31 January - as will our survey.

Following the huge delays and disruption with the 24 hour traffic lights on Llantrisant Road before Christmas, we met with Cardiff Council - and pressed them to change their protocols, so that the County Councillors will be consulted before any temporary lights are installed, which could have a significant impact on the movement of traffic. Our County Councillor could, in turn, discuss the proposals with the community council. We know the area better than Cardiff Council does - so they should seek our advice. We await Cardiff's response to our proposal.

Contractors should be on site in April / May to begin installing three new zebra crossings on our main road (near Heol Syr lewis, Ty Mynydd Close and Rectory Close). One problem Cardiff Council has is a shortage of contractors - with so many working on major projects such as Plasdwr. We will, of course, keep you posted.

HGV traffic remains a problem. We are working with Cardiff Council on a solution to this. One or two interesting options have been discussed and, again, we will let you know when we have a firm proposal to hand.
Cardiff's public consultation about the closure of Golf Club Lane should take place soon.

Other news includes preliminary talks with Cardiff about changes to Station Road. Should it be one way? Can parking be better managed? Can it be enhanced as the centre of our community? We hope to consult residents about the possibilities before long.

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.

We have agreed procedures with Natural Resources Wales with regard to reporting, and dealing with, pollution in the River Taff as it runs past Radyr and Morganstown (especially plastic bags hanging on overhanging trees). We will say more about this in the near future - on our website.

We continue to manage many of the open spaces across Radyr and Morganstown, including Radyr Woods. We planted an oak tree in the woods in December, during National Tree Week. If you want to help, you can join the Radyr Woods Wardens' working parties. They would be delighted to welcome you. The dates are usually posted on our web site, the community web site - and the Radyr, Pentyrch and Morganstown - and Friends of Radyr Woods Facebook pages.

We are close to agreeing a deal for refurbishment of the children's play area at Drover's Way. A total of £42,468.64 has been raised (from ourselves, Cardiff, Parc Radur residents, a crowdfunding campaign and the Welsh Government) - and Redrow is to fund essential drainage works which will prevent the flow of mud and water onto the site. This work needs to be done before the new equipment can be installed.

We held the first meeting of our Youth Engagement Working Group on 6 January. The group brings together the community council, social workers, the church, local police and schools to discuss developing services and activities to benefit our 12 to 17 year olds. The next stage of this work will involve setting up a forum on which our young people can help us develop ideas.

And don't forget our over 50s lunch club - held at the golf club twice a month. Good food, great speakers and the occasional quiz. Contact our clerk if you would like to attend.

We continue to work to rebuild the wall between Pentwyn Park and the adjoining flats, following work to improve drainage of the footpath. We have a number of legal niceties to resolve.

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.   The cost of the by-election will be borne by the community council. You can see on our website the official statement of persons nominated. Poll cards will be sent by post to all relevant electors in the near future. 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.​

Cllr Huw Onllwyn Jones
Chair
Radyr and Morganstown Community Council
​15 January 2020