News on Plasnewydd

The next meeting of the Plasnewydd Forum is on Tuesday 1 March at 7:30pm at the Mackintosh Residents Centre, Keppoch Street. All are welcome to attend to discuss local issues.

The Council has received the following planning applications.

Planning Application 05/00406/C
Received: 21/02/2005
Applicant: Mrs Saleem
Agent: D Thomas, DTB Design, 286 North Road, Cardiff
Proposal: Two storey rear extension
At: 12 Montgomery Street, Roath, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00420/C
Received: 24/02/2005
Applicant: Mrs A Williams, Shirley Road, Roath Park, Cardiff
Proposal: Replacement windows to front and rear of property white UPVC 50/50 bar design.
At: 18 Hendy Street, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

The applications can be inspected during normal working hours at the Regulatory Services Department at City Hall. If you have any comments that you would like to be taken into account by the council's planning committee before it decides whether or not to grant this application, then please send them in writing to:
Phil Williams
Development Manager
Regulatory Services
City Hall
Cardiff
CF10 3ND

This year’s national St David’s day service will take place at the City Centre parish church of St. John the Baptist and be closely followed by the reintroduction of the Lord Mayor’s Parade.

The service starts at 11am on February 26 and will feature readings from a diverse range of organisations and groups.

The Lord Mayor Jacqui Gasson, explained: “In this year of Cardiff’s centenary as a city and half century as the capital of the Principality, I hope this celebration of St David’s day will inspire everyone and provide a unique opportunity for a wide cross-section of people to come together to celebrate the nation’s culture and heritage.”

Readings will be made by the Archbishop of Cardiff the Most Reverend Peter Smith, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of the County of South Glamorgan Norman Lloyd Edwards, South Wales Police Chief Constable Barbara Wilding and hymns by the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Youth Choir.

Following the service, the Lord Mayor's parade starts at 12.15pm – and everyone is invited to watch. The Order of March for the parade includes groups such as the Band of the Royal Welsh Regiment, HMS Cambria, Polish Ex Combatants, South Wales Police, Oddfellows, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, County Scouts, County Guides and the Military Preparation Course.
There are road closures to allow the procession to follow the route from St John's, High Street, Duke Street, Kingsway, Boulevard de Nantes and to the City Hall forecourt.

Over the next few weeks the Council will be resurfacing the pavement on Arran Street between numbers 43 and 119. The work is expected to be finished in 3/4 weeks.

During this time lane restrictions will be in operation from approximately 8am to 4pm. In order to reduce delays/traffic congestion, it would be appreciated if car-owners could arrange for their vehicles to beparked off the street to allow the work to proceed. During the reconstruction works access to the properties will be limited but every effort will be made to accommodate all homeowners.

If you experience any difficulties over the next few weeks, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The monthly unemployment statistics for Plasnewydd in December 2004, as compiled by the Office of National Statistics, are as follows:
Male - 345 (up 48)
Female - 82 (up 16)

Total - 427 (up 64)

The Council has received the following planning applications.

Planning Application 05/00292/C
Received: 07/02/2005
Applicant: Ms Jo Durnall
Address: 107 Ninian Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5ER
Agent: Julian Phillips , Victoria Park Road West, Cardiff, CF5 1EZ
Proposal: SINGLE STOREY REAR EXTENSION AND RECONFIGURATION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS ON REAR ELEVATION
At: 107 Ninian Road, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00293/C
Received: 10/02/2005
Applicant: Peter Payne, 27 Roath Court Place, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3SJ
Agent: J M Design, 27 Princes Avenue, Roath, Cardiff
Proposal: TO RETAIN BUILDING AND CONVERT INTO A THREE BED HOUSE
At: The Coach House, 1 Kincraig Street, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00324/C
Received: 14/02/2005
Applicant: P Trewick (Royal Mail), 3rd Floor, Royal Mail, 220 Penarth Road, Cardiff
Proposal: INSTALLATION OF POSTMAN SECURITY CONTAINER FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF MAIL.
At: Outside, 134 Mackintosh Place, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00328/C
Received: 14/02/2005
Applicant: P Trewick (Royal Mail), 3rd Floor, Royal Mail, 220 Penarth Road, Cardiff
Proposal: INSTALLATION OF POSTMAN SECURITY CONTAINER FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF MAIL.
At: Dalcross Street, to side of, 107 Donald Street, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00330/C
Received: 15/02/2005
Applicant: Ardec Properties Ltd, 47-61 City Road, Cardiff,
Agent: Mr P Eveleigh, E & N Associates, 142 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff
Proposal: PROVISION OF 2 NO. ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS.
At: Global Tyres, Penlline Street, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00348/C
Received: 09/02/2005
Applicant: Glebeview Properties, 2 Gunnesbury Gardens, London
Agent: D A Djialli, St Hilarion House, Rhiwbina Hill, Rhiwbina, Cardiff
Proposal: DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE SELF-CONTAINED SHELTERED HOUSING, RETAINING MAJOR PART OF FACADE TO RICHMOND ROAD.
At: 97-107, Richmond Road, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

The applications can be inspected during normal working hours at the Regulatory Services Department at City Hall. If you have any comments that you would like to be taken into account by the council's planning committee before it decides whether or not to grant this application, then please send them in writing to:Phil WilliamsDevelopment ManagerRegulatory ServicesCity HallCardiffCF10 3ND

I am sure that you will agree with us that there should be medical facilities on the Cardiff Royal Infirmary site, and that the health authorities should never have downgraded the CRI to the extent they have.

Many local residents will remember the sorry recent history of the Cardiff Royal Infirmary, which was downgraded whilst our Labour MP Jon Owen Jones was Welsh Health Minister.

Ever since that point, local Lib Dems have been campaigning for better health facilities on the CRI site. We have collected thousands of petition signatures and presented them to the health authorities, and held many meetings with the people responsible, to try and drive the campaign forward.

After years of campaigning, we are starting to make progress.

The Cardiff Local Health Board have published plans for the future of the Cardiff Royal Infirmary – and we think it is important that local people have their say on the plans.

The plans would move services from other hospitals to the CRI site, including minor injury surgery, some intermediate care beds and out patient services. More details at www.cardifflhb.wales.nhs.uk/

The Community Health Council have set up a number of public meetings to allow members of the public inspect the plans and have their say – the nearest ones are:

Thursday 24th February – St Germans Church Hall, Adamsdown, 9am to 12pm

Thursday 10th March, St Andrews Church Hall, Wellfield Road, 7pm to 9pm

Please come along and have your say on the plans for our local health facilities.

The Council are to create a zebra crossing accross Ninian Road, near the closed off junction with Kelvin Road. As part of this scheme the double yellow lines which weren't removed from the junction with Kelvin Road when the road was blocked off will now be removed to allow more parking space. If you have any comments to make about the removal of the double yellow lines please contact us.

Lib Dem run Cardiff Council is to consider a less than three percent increase in council tax.

The Executive’s budget recommendation, which has to be agreed by the Council, is to approve a 2.93 percent rise in council tax.

The figure, which has taken into account the findings of a wide-ranging consultation process with Cardiff residents, includes an increase of £1.9m in the Fire Service levy – a rise of 13 percent. If the Fire Service increase was at a similar level to the council’s it would have meant a rise of just 1.4 percent in council tax.

The proposed rise, which is below figures for council tax increases recommended by many other Welsh local authorities, would also enable the Council to make efficiency savings of £7.7m.

Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Rodney Berman, said: “This recommendation shows that we have listened to the views of the people of Cardiff. When we consulted it was clear that the majority wanted to see improvements in priority areas but also to keep the tax rise as low as possible.

“We have been working hard to come up with this result which has been achieved in part following the Council’s success in lobbying for a change to the Business Rates Incentive scheme and for adjustments to Census calculations.

“This is a proposal which preserves services – delivering much needed improvements in social care - while at the same time ensuring Cardiff can mark the important milestones of celebrating its golden jubilee as the capital of Wales and 100 years as a city.”

Many hundreds of people took part in the major consultation to let the Council know their spending priorities which culminated in an innovative Citizens’ Forum.

The Forum gave a clear message they wanted council tax rises to be kept to a minimum whilst at the same time highlighting the areas where more money should be spent.

Key areas where it is proposed the budget will be spent include providing extra funding for social services and recycling, additional money for schools including for special needs education and tackling the problems of anti-social behaviour and litter.

Councillor Mark Stephens, Executive Member for Economic Development and Finance said: “We have not recommended this budget in isolation but we have listened to views from our political colleagues, from Scrutiny committees and the residents of Cardiff. We have taken all views into account in bringing forward this recommendation.

“This has been a tough financial year for Cardiff with one of the lowest settlements in Wales. It has barely covered inflationary pressures, let alone the additional spending requirements of a European capital, the statutory costs imposed on the authority by the Assembly and the loss of monies for service provision in vital areas such as social care and health. However, we were determined to keep the council tax as low as possible while still protecting services and that has been achieved.

“We have proposed substantial savings of £7.7m which includes a £100,000 cut from Members’ Allowances, a saving of £400,000 on consultants’ fees and £30,000 from hospitality budgets.”

The budget will now go before the full council for approval when it meets later this month.

The Council has received the following planning applications.

Planning Application 05/00279/C
Received: 08/02/2005
Applicant: Dr Hargrave, 32 Shirley Road, Cardiff
Proposal: Dormer loft conversion and Velux rooflights
At: 32 Shirley Road, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00280/C
Received: 08/02/2005
Applicant: Peter Manning & Jonathan Davies, 8 Highfields, Llandaff, Cardiff
Proposal: Ground floor bathroom extension to rear/side of property – additional window to side of property
At: 19 Lochaber Street, Plasnewydd, Cardiff

The applications can be inspected during normal working hours at the Regulatory Services Department at City Hall. If you have any comments that you would like to be taken into account by the council's planning committee before it decides whether or not to grant this application, then please send them in writing to:
Phil Williams
Development Manager
Regulatory Services
City Hall
Cardiff
CF10 3ND

The Council has received the following planning applications.

Planning Application 05/00206/C
Received: 01/02/2005
Applicant: S. N. Design & Build Limited
Proposal: Demolition of all buildings within curtilage of former builders workshop on site by rear of Montgomery Street, except for boundary walls adjoining private properties.
At: Former builders' workshop on land at rear of, Montgomery Street, Roath, Cardiff

Planning Application 05/00212/C
Received: 28/01/2005
Applicant: S & N Enterprises
Proposal: New fire escape spiral stairs, escape door and two windows from first floor function room and relocation of flue.
At: Bar YK, 1 Elm Street, Roath, Cardiff

The applications can be inspected during normal working hours at the Regulatory Services Department at City Hall. If you have any comments that you would like to be taken into account by the council's planning committee before it decides whether or not to grant this application, then please send them in writing to:

Phil Williams
Development Manager
Regulatory Services
City Hall
Cardiff
CF10 3ND

If anyone is planning on driving into or through town tomorrow please be aware that there is a major rugby international (Wales v England) taking place in the Millennium Stadium. This means that there will be road closures in the centre on town between 3:30 and 8:30. They are as follows:

Kingsway from its junction with North Rd / Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with Duke St.

Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Neville St to its junction with Westgate St.

Tudor St from its junction with Clare Rd to its junction with Wood St (access for residents and traders will be permitted).

Plantagenet St and Beauchamp St from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor St (access for residents and traders will be permitted).

The following roads will be closed in their entirety - Duke St, Castle St, High St, St Mary St, Caroline St, Wood St, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay St, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park St, Havelock St and Scott Road.

There will also be no parking in Cathays Park.

On occasions when major events are held at the Millennium Stadium, the Central Bus station, Wood Street, Westgate Street, Saint Mary Street, High Street, Castle Street, Duke Street and Kingsway are closed to all traffic, including buses.

Cardiff Bus services which normally use these roads operate from special city centre temporary terminal points during the period of closure. Cross city services are split at the city centre with each section operating from separate city centre temporary terminal points.

Over the next few weeks the Council will be resurfacing the pavement on Albany Road between the old Globe Cinema and the junction with Pen-y-Lan Road on one side and between the junctions of Claude Road and Claude Place on the other.

The work is expected to be over within a month. During that time a certain amount of disruption will occur but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.

Students can decide the fate of MPs in some seats at the next election, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has claimed. The party says the votes of students can win it 27 new seats at the poll – including Cardiff Central.
The Lib Dems say scrapping university fees wins them student support.

'Make a difference'
The Lib Dems have named the 14 seats where there are enough students to take the Lib Dems from second place to beat Labour, and the 13 where they could go from second to beat the Tories.
Launching his campaign to win students' votes at the London School of Economics, Mr Kennedy urged students to "make their mark".
He underlined Lib Dem plans to scrap university fees and reintroduce maintenance grants of up to £2,000.
He said: "Top-up fees put students off university, especially those from a poorer background.
"And is it really right that so many young people are starting out in life with mortgage-style debts hanging round their necks?"
Mr Kennedy also said students want action on the environment and see the Iraq war, which his party opposed, as a defining issue.

Although the expected 5 May election would be during term time, students can vote by post.

The Electoral Commission and National Union of Students are worried students in halls of residence can find it hard to register to vote.

Some hall wardens are reluctant to register students because of data protection fears - but students can get themselves registered.

If the election is on 5 May, voters need to register by 11 March.

The seats where the Lib Dems say student votes can swing the election for them are:Bristol West, Cardiff Central, Leeds North West, Cambridge, Manchester Gorton, Sheffield Central, Oxford East, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central, Liverpool Riverside, Holborn and St Pancras, Oldham East and Saddleworth, Manchester Withington, Islington South and Finsbury, Birmingham Yardley, Surrey South West, Taunton, Orpington, Haltemprice and Howden, Eastbourne, Isle of Wight, Dorset West, Bournemouth East, Wells, Canterbury, Cities of London and Westminster, Bournemouth West, Westmorland and Lonsdale.

A lrge pot hole has appeared in the middle of the road on Kincraig Street, at the junction with City Road. Anyone driving past will have noticed that it is particularly dangerous. Elgan repoted it today and it will be dealt with soon.

Richard has spoted and reported a cooker that has been dumped in the lane off Connaught Road. This will be collected shortly by a Council team. If you spot any dumped items either report them to us or contact Connect 2 Cardiff via the link on the left or call them on 2087 2087 to arrange for it to be cleared.