Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 56

news
Plasdŵr traffic
Areas of North Cardiff are likely
to feel the effects of construction
work on the Plasdŵr development
until the summer of 2020.
Danescourt, Llandaff, Fairwater
and Radyr have all been affected
by the work around Heol Isaf.
Construction workers are working
to widen the road for a bus lane
and a cycleway. Drainage work is
also taking place and permanent
traffic lights have been installed.
Resident Marie Charles told
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living:
"It's been going on so long now. It
feels like it's never going to end."
New speed limit
A new speed limit and a pedestrian
crossing are being planned by
Cardiff Council for Caewal Road.
The plans include a toucan
crossing and 30mph speed limit at
the western end of Caewal Road
by March 2020. It will be sited at the
junction on Western Avenue.
It is hoped that the new plans
will prevent accidents and make
the route safer, especially for
vulnerable residents. The current
speed limit is 40mph.
Parking plans
Cardiff Council are currently
proposing new parking plans
to help ease parking issues in
Whitchurch and Llandaff North.
Draft proposals put forward would
see residents paying for a parking
permit while yellow lines and pay
and display parking facilities would
be installed on streets in the areas.
Residents have been up in arms
at some motorists' parking, which
have been blocking pavements
and even emergency vehicles.
The proposals for the controlled
parking are still in their early stages.
4
Medieval building
found under
Llandaff toilets
Archaeologists have discovered what
they consider a 'high status' medieval
building under former public toilets
in Llandaff. The location of the site
next to the 13th century Old Bishop's
Castle suggests that an important
person would have lived there.
The discovery was made during
a community dig which started in
September. A fireplace, chequered
ceramic floor tiles, animal bones and
old horse shoes were also uncovered
during the dig. Archaeologists have
dated the medieval building to about
1450.
The dig involved more than
200 schoolchildren and 35 other
volunteers. They were supervised
by archaeologists Dr Tim Young
of GeoArch and Louise Mumford,
Archivist of The Cathedral School.
Conservatives candidate Mia Rees
was recently elected to Cardiff
Council after winning the Whitchurch
and Tongwynlais by-election with
36% of the vote.
The result means the Conservatives
have held onto the seat, with 1,544
votes. The by-election was triggered
following the death of Timothy Davies.
Llandaff 50+ and Llandaff Society
volunteers also worked throughout
the event.
Lead archaeologist Dr Tim Young
told the media:
"This was a surprise to find a high
status building. It includes a Bath
Stone fire surround which was
imported from the Bath area and
it is not really known as a stone in
Llandaff.
"It had always been assumed that
the area was the pound before that so
the discovery of a medieval dwelling
on the site was quite unexpected," he
added.
BBC Wales staff begin their move from
Llandaff to Cardiff city centre
Staff at BBC Wales have begun
moving to their new home in Cardiff
city centre.
Around 1,000 members of staff are
due to migrate to the new city centre
building over the next few months.
The move will bring an end to more
than 50 years of broadcasting from
the Llandaff site.
The new 150,000 sq ft building,
which is around half the size of its
current site, was first announced
in 2015. It's designed to reduce
operating costs and provide
BBC Wales with a future-proof,
contemporary environment equipped
with cutting-edge technology.
The new headquarters is spread over
five floors, with a rooftop garden that
can double up as a shooting location.
On the ground floor, there are three
TV studios and an additional flexible
space, which is adjacent to the
studios and next to an open atrium
area. The public will be invited into
the centre for a range of tours, and
community and learning activities.
The Llandaff site is set to be
converted into housing after the staff
have completed the move. In 2014,
it was confirmed that Broadcasting
House and Ty Oldfield would be
demolished and turned into 400
residential units. Broadcasting House
was officially opened by Princess
Margaret on St David's Day in 1967.
Conservatives win local by-election
Mia said:
"I love where I live and I want to be
part of making it even better. Most of
the issues which frustrate residents
can be improved and I'm determined
to make that happen.
"The main areas I will focus on
include tackling parking issues and
traffic concerns."