Cllr Rod McKerlich's report for December 2021

HGV Gateway: this has been operating for several weeks and there is a noticeable reduction in the HGV numbers and very few expressed concerns about illicit use of our main road for transient HGVs. Some eligible drivers have been penalised and had to employ the appeal process. It is best to register these in advance using the advertised process.
Local Development Plan: The replacement LDP to be completed in late 2024 will run to 2036. The first consultation stage relates to 3 growth options and the further stage will relate to candidate sites for development. Given that the over provision of housing land in the present LDP has created a land bank adequate for over 16K houses, I believe that this landbank plus brown field and windfall sites will provide adequate growth without releasing any more green- field land. On the list of candidate sites, a 57.4 Ha site of Pant Tawel Lane is proposed; this massive area was a reserve site in the present LDP and its elevation to accepted candidate site would be an error with profoundly damaging consequences for this community.
Gelynis Crossing: the level crossing at Gelynis will be replaced with a bridge; while this is welcome on safety grounds, this has a serious consequence for users of the public right of way (PROW) who are disabled, infirm or pushing a pram. The bridge should be augmented by a pedestrian lift similar to those at Radyr Station: when the application to alter the PROW is submitted, we must press for this addition.
 Llantrisant Road Junction: we await the Highways response to the petition pointing out the problems with the current junction.
Kingfisher Pond: residents have pointed out the hazard of an unfenced pond and I have asked for a risk assessment
SUDs at bottom of St Philbert Street: Planning application 21/02785 refers and depending on the outcome a further application relating to landscaping will follow
Refuse collections: these appear to have settled down. A further trial of a different collection regime for recycled material is being carried out in part of the ward. This is aimed at reducing the high level of contamination inherent in the present use of green bags. Garden waste collections will resume in March and in early January there will be collection of Xmas trees.
Litter Pickers: they continue their good work as do the Cardiff Rivers Group who have made further visits to clean up the area of the River Taff.
PROW matters: various kissing gates were reported as faulty, and these have been repaired. 
New Primary school: The planned primary school in Plasdwr is planned to accept pupils from September 2023. It will be a 2-stream school with a Welsh and an English stream.
Coed Cymru: Cardiff Council has an ambitious target of a 25% canopy   cover of deciduous woodland by 2030. This is in many ways commendable but providing for long term sustainable management will be challenging
County Councillor Rod McKerlich, 13th December 2021