Category: General Interest Articles

oBBC drama, The Trick

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The BBC drama, The Trick, which was filmed back in June in Wenvoe, Insole Court Cardiff, London and East Anglia was screened in mid October and is available to view on BBC iPlayer if you missed it.

It tells the true story of Professor Philip Jones; Director of Climate Research at the University of East Anglia, who found himself the target of computer hackers intent on undermining his work just before the 2009 climate change summit held in Copenhagen.

Having viewed the final result I was amazed at how much footage was not used in the completed production. The crew spent days setting up the lounge and it was only partly used in preference to the garden. A bedroom was stripped and a new bed installed for a few seconds shot. A scene was set in the school grounds but not used. Still that is the film industry for you

 

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WENVOE FORUM CONSIDERING TODAY AND TOMORROW

Reducing Air Pollution and Carbon Emissions

Last month we wrote about harmful pollutants that may be hiding in the Wenvoe air. Much of the time roads through the village are quiet but at peak hours traffic pressures combine with HGVs and vans with diesel engines, people using Old Port Road trying to avoid queues, parents doing the school run. Those parts of the village that are close to the busy Port Road will also experience higher levels of emissions. What can we do, as village residents, to reduce the pollution?

At its most basic, reduction of air pollution from vehicles is obvious. Reduce the time engines are running. Let’s start with the quick wins:

• Reduce the number of vehicle journeys. Plan your vehicle use to minimise trips. Walk, cycle or use public transport if you can or share vehicles.
• Reduce the mileage and time of journeys. Choose to use local services and make journeys when the roads are quieter.
• Keep engine running time to a minimum. Make sure all the passengers are ready to depart, before you start the engine. Don’t leave the engine idling. On a public highway this contravenes the Highway Code and is liable to an on the spot fine of £20.

 

You may have all these things in mind already and they make good sense. If we each find one extra reduction we can make, it will make a difference.

Let’s think in a bit more detail. Firstly, considering the centre of the village, especially as the school is at the heart of the densest traffic and therefore our youngest residents are at greatest risk. Consider walking to activities within the village rather than driving. For most people it’s only a few minutes’ walk to school, church, the library, the shop, the Wenvoe Arms. The school is already in a scheme to promote walking to school which has many advantages beyond pollution reduction – well done Gwenfo Primary. The Forum will help if we can.

No-one is going to blame anyone for jumping in the car when it’s raining hard, and those a bit further away might have to adopt other strategies but every vehicle journey saved will improve the air. In time we are likely to be moving to electric cars which will help, though still create some local pollution through brake and tyre particles and asphalt dust.

Turning off engines whilst stationary makes a difference. Some car models do this automatically but if you are going to be stopped for a minute or more it’s worth turning off the engine. Be conscious and conscientious! Some of the vehicles left idling while passengers are in the shop come from outside the village. With the help of the Vale of Glamorgan Project Zero team who met with us all in July, the drivers of council vehicles at the Alps Depot have been alerted by senior managers that they need to switch off their engines. We are exploring signage to ask other drivers for the same courtesy.

We hope to be able to measure the air pollution and wouldn’t it be nice to declare Wenvoe a VERY LOW pollution zone? We are told it adds to house values. Perhaps in time we might be able to put signs at each end of the village to deter those who use the village to dodge queues on the main road too.

Turning to those parts of the village nearer the main road which are predominantly used by non-Wenvoe residents, it may feel that pollution in these areas is outside residents’ control. Working on the basis that every little helps all, the suggestions already made still hold true. It is possible that we can do more.

The Welsh Government plans to introduce legislation in 2023 on reducing the speed limit to 20mph in many places that currently have a 30 mph limit. Initial research showed that the public is generally supportive. ‘There is evidence that lower speeds result in fewer collisions and a reduced severity of injuries, as well as bringing environmental benefits by decreasing emissions from vehicles and by encouraging active travel.’ (Beaufort Research 2021)

There is a public consultation exercise and Wenvoe Forum will submit its comments. As well as supporting speed reduction, we will also highlight how our community is divided by a busy through route which will retain a much higher speed limit. We will underline how the lack of safe crossing points impacts on residents and restricts their capacity to walk or cycle safely and reach public transport provision. We will stress that consideration should be given to providing road crossings as part of the plan. Any roll out of this plan and decisions on which 30mph zones will be lowered will involve the local authority, so we will also copy our response to the Vale of Glamorgan LA.

This development is in an early stage. As it progresses, we can try to shape developments to provide the most benefit to us and our environment.

If your What’s On is delivered in time you can personally respond to the consultation which closes on Oct 1st https://gov.wales/proposal-reduce-speed-limit-20mph-residential-streets

We will keep you informed of other opportunities to influence. Comments and new members welcome.

List of Suppliers: Other ways of reducing vehicle miles are to plan your weekly menus and have food and goods delivered. Back at the beginning of lockdown the wonderfully community spirited team behind Wenvoe Community Support Group Facebook page created a list of traders who will deliver to Wenvoe. We have added to and updated it and you can find an expanded version on our blog https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/ Please let us know if we’ve missed anyone.

@ForumGwenfo; e-mail Facebook: Gwen Fo @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1/ Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402;

twitter gwenfo.forum@gmail.com

 

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HALLOWEEN TREATS IN STORE

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Many local children will be looking forward to Halloween at the end of this month. Historians have lots of ideas about why Halloween is associated with ghosts, ghouls and goblins. Some think Halloween’s origins stretch back to a Celtic festival called Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Others suggest Halloween as the season of spectres and spooks because 31st October falls on the day before two very important Christian holy days. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated 1st November as a time to honour all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. Halloween means ‘All Hallows’ Eve’. That is because it is the day before All Saints’ Day on 1st November – a day to honour all ‘hallowed’, or holy, people. All Souls’ Day, which is a day to remember the souls of all those who have died, follows on November 2nd.

Preparations for Halloween in the past, involved carving ghastly faces into turnips, to make them resemble demons and devils. These shining turnips were called ‘Jack o’Lanterns’ and were named after ghostly lights rumoured to be seen in marshes and bogs that were believed to be the spirits of the dead. To ramp up the scare value burning candles were placed into the hollowed out turnips.

In recent years pumpkins have become part of the Halloween experience in the UK. It is often thought to be a tradition imported from America. However, it actually started here, before being taken, along with many other British traditions, to the United States by emigrants in the 19th century. Instead of carving hard turnips, they made their Halloween lanterns out of the softer and more common pumpkins they found there.

With up to date information available on the relevant websites there are several Halloween themed events in our area. The popular Cardiff Pumpkin Picking Patch, located on the A48 between Culverhouse Cross and St Nicholas, is open in the lead up to Halloween. As currently advertised, the site will be open 10-11, 17-18 and 24-31 October, from 9.30am until 4pm. There, you can pick your own pumpkins (from £1 each). In addition to finding and selecting your own pumpkins children (and adults of course), can check out the photo opportunities and famous pumpkin house. You can even make your own witch’s broom or craft your own magic wand.

Fonmon Castle has lined up an event called Halloween Daytime (10.00am-3.00pm) with fancy dress, games and scary fun. If are you brave enough to survive ghostly goings on adult tickets are available at £13.50 and those for children and concessions £9.50.

The real fun for many children will of course be trick or treating, which is still popular around the world. It has been around a long time. Interestingly Shakespeare mentions trick or treating in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona, which he wrote in 1593, when Speed accuses his master of ‘puling [whimpering or whining] like a beggar at Hallowmas.’

Trick or treating of course can be fun and scary at the same time. In Mexico this practice is called ‘calaverita’ or skulling. Children ask ‘Me da mi calaverita?’ They ask for a little skull made of sugar or chocolate. While for most children trick or treating is harmless fun, it is important that they understand and respect that some elderly or vulnerable adults can be alarmed and upset by it.

The practice of trick or treating is thought to have evolved from a tradition whereby people in some countries impersonated the spirits, or the souls of the dead, and received offerings on their behalf. In Scotland and Ireland the tradition was called ‘guising’ and goes back to the 16th century. The term ‘trick or treat’ has only been used relatively recently. Prior to this, children in Ireland would commonly say “Help the Halloween Party” at the doors of homeowners.

 

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