Integrated Transport Map

Consultation

26th January 2017

Old Church Rooms

Present Gail Bodley Scott, Helen Lloyd Jones, Chris St Leger, Allan Cook, Arwyn Harris, Steven Boyd, Jason Bragg (RCT Footpath Officer)

The meeting began by welcoming all the improvements shown in the Integrated Transport Map web site plans for Heol Isaf and other roads feeding into Heol Isaf.

The question was raised as to whether the network of very short paths between estates were classified as public rights of way. This would need to be checked with the Rights of Way Officer in Council.

The meeting was then divided into several sections:- i) Safety issues for travelling to all the schools:

a) Safety issues re traveling to the primary schools and in particular to Radyr Primary.

b) Safety issues re traveling to Radyr Comprehensive School. ii) Cycle routes and in particular the cycle routes on the Integrated Transport Map.

i) Safety issue for all schools

Suggestions

School Safety Zones; These needed to be more extended than simply close to the curtilage of the schools.

i.a) Safety issues re traveling to the primary schools and in particular to Radyr Primary

There has recently been a near-miss by Radyr Primary School and everybody is very concerned about the safety of the children and the adults who accompany them to the school.

Suggestions

Bus route; The bus route should be altered so the bus does not come up Park Road from Heol Isaf to the cross roads at Windsor Avenue. An acceptable alternative route can be found.

Width of Pavements; These were too narrow for an adult to walk safely with a pram and small children in tow and need to be widened.

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Zebra crossings; There should be at the very least a zebra crossing at every street entering Heol Isaf, from Heol Syr Lewis to Radyr Farm Road. The preferred option would be to have Toucan Crossings except at the Radyr Farm Road where the request for a Pegasus crossing was made.

Roundabouts; the recommendation was to have a roundabout at the junction of Bryn Derwen and Heol Isaf

Pinch points: Between Maes yr Awel and Min y Coed there is no pavement on the west side of Heol Isaf. This location is on the brow of the road.

The pavement on the east side is already showing signs of slippage. The road is built on the edge of what was a river cliff. Further down Heol Isaf, one of the gardens has slipped and the resulting landslide prevented the railway running up the valleys for several days and is reputed to have cost over £1,000,000 to rectify. The County Councillor has pointed this problem out and individuals in Radyr have also informed of the slippage but nothing has been done.

To reduce the vibration stress from traffic on the river side of Heol Isaf at this point, a traffic light controlled pinch point could operate between these two roads. This would also slow down the traffic.

Move pavement to west side of Heol Isaf

Traffic Speed: the recommendation was that there should be 20mph zones along Heol Isaf, at the very least from the entrance of Min y Coed with Heol Isaf to the entrance of Drysgol Road with Heol Isaf.

Roundels: More roundels should be in place to remind drivers of the speed limit.

i.b Safety issues re traveling to Radyr Comprehensive School.

Suggestions

A. Making the Back entrance to Radyr Comprehensive school from Woodfield Avenue more official.

1.It is possible for pupils to cycle from the Sidings along Taff Terrace, through Woodfield Avenue to a currently informal back entrance to the school. If this could be made more official, with bike racks that would encourage more cycle use.

2.Apart from crossing Heol Isaf into Woodfield Avenue. it is possible to cycle from other areas of Radyr and Morganstown without using Heol Isaf. These routes should be encouraged and sign posted.

2.a ) It is already possible to cycle from what is known as the Tree Area of Radyr along Golf Club Lane to Llantrisant Road. It is highly likely that the new development will enable a cyclist to cut across the new development linking up to the bridleway 40. Then the pupils could cross into Woodfield Avenue.

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(The current issue is that Golf Club Lane is extremely narrow. It has been suggested that emergency operated bollards could be placed either end of Golf Club lane beyond the dwellings )

2.b) It is possible to cycle from Morganstown using Gelynis Farm to access the Taff Trail and then cross the bridge by the Railway Station and head for Taff Terrace. (The improvements to the bridge by Gelynis Farm are welcomed)

B. Improve path through Radyr Woods leading to the back entrance

The current path is used by school children but is very muddy and slippery in wet weather. If this was a better surface more children would use this route from the Sidings

C .Improve use of side entrance from Danescourt into Radyr Comprehensive school

It is possible for pupils living on Danescourt to avoid using Heol Isaf, using Timothy Rees Close and then a path which leads directly to the school.

Cycle routes and in particular the cycle routes on the Integrated Transport Map.

1. There is a path from Maes yr Awel to Pentwyn which could be made a cycle path. This might encourage more active travel from Maes yr Awel to Brynderi Primary School. 2. The Community Council have requested that foorpath 22 be upgraded to a bridleway. 3. Golf Club lane has no passing spaces, often used by cyclist but currently dangerous, suggestion that retractable bollards could be used. 4. The Cycle Route that uses Footpath 47 and Footpath 50 is shown as a means of linking up to Footpath 52 and a route to the Taff Trail. Although shown on the map, there would need to be work done to make this happen as there is a very steep slope in Hermit Wood to negotiate ( putting a cycle path here with resting benches would be wonderful as the location has glorious views over the Taff at this point). There would also need to be a crossing across the Radyr to Danescourt Railway Line ( the City Line) It is possible that Great Western Power may wish to work with the Council on this because the pylon line goes overhead. Having a landscaped path on the slope would make it easier for the maintenance of the pylons.

View from Footpath 48 close to where it meets Footpath 50, looking down to the Taff. The City line railway can just be made out between the

Footpath 48 and the river. The railway would have to have a bridge or a tunnel to enable a link to Footpath 52.

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5. The Cycle Route proposed that uses Footpath 41 needs to negotiate a steep set of steps on entry to Heol Isaf . It would be necessary to alter the slopes here. 6. The route across Gelynis footbridge is used not only to link to the Taff Trail but also to access ASDA. It would be good to show this as a cycle route. The downside is the railway crossing just before Gelynis farm. A more secure level crossing system here is vital if the aim is for youngsters to use this route as a means of getting to school. There are a range of options, see http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/2158/level_crossings_guidance.pdf 7. Pughs Garden Centre could be a potential end point for any “Boris” type cycle scheme. 8. The land by the skateboard park is owned by Cardiff Council. At the moment people cycle across the land even though there is a football pitch there as well. A clear cycle route from Pugh’s Garden Centre across this and to pick up the footpath to Gelynis Farm would be worth doing. 9. There are several ways in which the Ely Trail could be brought to link with the Taff Trail. a) The most spectacular and daring one would be to re-open the tunnel of the Barry Railway, Rhymney branch and to use the brick stanchions in the Taff George to hold an all glass crossing. It would become a tourist attraction! REGRET THIS IS NOT AN OPTION. THE TUNNEL IS NO LONGER IN TACT AS IT GOES THROUGH THE QUARRY. b) More mundanely routes can be found that link up to Ffordd Treforgan and then can be easily routed into Pughs Complex and on to Gelynis Farm c) It should be noted that the old railway line is in private ownership but the owner has recently indicated a willingness to sell the land. The land should be brought into public ownership as it offers other potential travel options for future use. d) Another option which would keep the gradients better might be to piggy back the Ely Trail link to the Taff Trail on to the side of the M4 10. The Old Cart Road shown on our Community Council map as Footpath 52 goes on to meet Radyr Court Road. Because the river has such a big meander between Radyr Station and Hailey Park using the Old Cart Road is significantly shorter than using the Taff Trail to get from Radyr Station to Llandaff by bike. This old cart road is scheduled to have elms replanted along it and should be a wonderful bike ride but it needs resurfacing. If it was in good condition it would enable the Cardiff Marathon route to come up the Taff Trail across the railway bridge and then back down the Old Cart Road and into Llandaff! 11. The possibility of pedestrianizing Station Road should be considered or making it a one way system with parking available for the disabled and those with young families only. The Community Council have voiced their concerns to Cardiff Council about the impact of increasing car parking space at Radyr station and the impact of the proposed Plas Dwr development. Controlled traffic flow from the Sidings via Kings Road onto Heol Isaf is needed and a gyratory system may be a solution.

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General cycling thoughts It is important to realise that if Cardiff is to be an Active Travel City then people must feel safe to use all of the cycle paths at any time of the day.

Cycle ways in cuttings are considered risky by some women and can be considered “ASBO” corridors by the police. Ideally a cycle way should not feel isolated. Good lighting is needed. However, others may prefer a cutting as it can protect from the weathe

Where cyclists share paths with pedestrians it is helpful to have designated paths for both.

Experiments such as closing Castle Street in the summer holidays to traffic to encourage cyclists should be encouraged.

The potential for senior citizens to use electric bikes should be explored.

With respect to Plas Dwr the suggestion was made that Ove Arup which apparently are a Dutch firm could be asked to input their expertise on cycle ways.

Also discussed:- The Old Pilgrims Way from to Penrhys via Llantrisant which passes through Radyr. It was decided to set up an independent working party to take this forward.

Thanks were given to everybody for their input, it felt a constructive consultation

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