Cardiff Liberal Democrats

Local residents have backed the Gabalfa Focus Team's battle for more resident-only parking in streets around Clodien Avenue.

During the summer, Councillors Gareth Holden and Ed Bridges sent questionnaires to properties in nearby streets seeking residents' views on parking and rat-running around Clodien Avenue, Allensbank Primary School and other nearby streets.

Gabalfa's Lib Dem councillors have secured further improvements to Maitland Park.

Work was carried out last summer and earlier this year to improve facilities at the park. This saw the addition of a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) as well as extra seating and new play apparatus for younger children at the bottom end of the park.

The Gabalfa Lib Dem Focus Team have agreed the following surgery dates for the rest of 2012:

• Thursday 7th June, 6-7pm, Heath pub, Whitchurch Road
• Thursday 5th July, 6-7pm, North Star pub, North Road
• Thursday 2nd August, 6-7pm, Heath pub, Whitchurch Road
• Thursday 6th September, 6-7pm, North Star pub, North Road
• Thursday 4th October, 6-7pm, Heath pub, Whitchurch Road
• Thursday 1st November, 6-7pm, North Star pub, North Road
• Thursday 6th December, 6-7pm, Heath pub, Whitchurch Road

The Gabalfa Lib Dem Focus Team have expressed their disappointed after controversial plans for 179 student flats on land at Talybont Gate were granted by the Welsh Labour Government.

The plans had initially been refused by Cardiff Council last year following a campaign by Cllr. Gareth Holden and Cllr. Ed Bridges, which included a petition being submitted on behalf of local residents. The petition highlighted residents' concerns about parking congestion in the streets around Cross Place and Parkfield Place, and also drew attention to the 'overbearing impact' of the proposed seven-storey block.

The votes have been counted and the result declared for Gabalfa ward in this year's local election - and the Gabalfa Lib Dem Focus Team wanted to let everyone know the result as soon as possible. The votes cast were as follows:

1. Ed Bridges (Lib Dem Focus Team): 936 - elected
2. Gareth Holden (Lib Dem Focus Team): 891 - elected
3. Jones (Lab): 500
4. Crocker (Lab): 497
5. Coman (Plaid): 125
6. Breeze (Con) 115
7. Mason (Green): 106
8. Miles (Con): 91
9. Evans (Plaid): 86
10. Hamblin (Socialist): 51

The Gabalfa Lib Dem Focus Team are drawing residents' attention to two new planning applications in the area.

Whitchurch Road

The All Nations Churchhave put forward plans (ref: 12/493/DCI) for the former plumbing supplies shop at242 Whitchurch Road.

The application would see some outbuildings at the site demolished and then the unit extended at front and back (up to three storeys). The end result would be a cafe unit, meeting room and function room on the ground floor and three apartments on the floors above.

The Gabalfa & Mynachdy Focus Team have reacted with anger and disappointment to news that controversial plans for 249 student flats on land behind Mynachdy Road have been approved.

The application had been considered in March, and Cardiff Council's Planning Committee had indicated that it would be rejected. The issue had been deferred for a month to allow the case for refusal to be set out, and it had been expected that the refusal of permission would be ratified on Wednesday.

The Gabalfa Lib Dem Focus Team continue to get things fixed and repaired out in the ward.

Earlier this month, Gareth Holden and Cllr. Ed Bridges organised a litter pick of the grass area by Flaxland Avenue and Longspears Avenue. Whilst tidying up the area, they noticed that the fence of the site was broken in several places and that the adjacent lane was full of potholes which needed attention.

Gabalfa campaigners, Gareth Holden and Ed Bridges, have been representing residents over two local licensing applications.

Gareth said: "There has been an application for an off-licence at the former sandwich shop at 147 Clodien Avenue, which would see it open until 9pm for most of the week. Meanwhile, there has also been an application by the Texaco garage on North Road to operate as an off-licence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!"

After years of uncertainty, Cardiff Council's Planning Committee finally met yesterday to decide the fate of the coal yard behind Mynachdy Road.

The Gabalfa Lib Dem Focus Team was there to represent residents. Cllr. Ed Bridges outlined the community's objections to the proposal for 249 student flats at the site.