Month: July 2019
The Cuckoo’s Calling
The Cuckoo’s Calling
This month’s book was Robert Galbraith’s ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’. This is the first of the Strike detective series written under a pseudonym by J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. Rowling’s identity was leaked before the televised series of her third book was launched.
Cormoran Strike is a war veteran whose injuries resulted in the amputation of a leg. After a period of convalescence, Strike opens a London-based private detective agency on borrowed money. Strike’s story opens with his break-up from his glamorous but disturbed girlfriend and we find him camping out in his office. Robin Ellacott is sent by a secretarial agency to work for Strike and her initiative helps him solve the murder of a supermodel who plunged to her death from her balcony. Despite Strike’s financial difficulties, Robin proves her worth and her position is made permanent.
As with the Potter books, Galbraith’s vibrant attention to detail gives readers a vivid description of the characters and their surroundings. One of our group found this irritating and related that much of the first quarter of the book was distended and longwinded, but thereafter found it to be a page-turner. We all thought that the book was an enjoyable light read and that the protagonist proved to be more than the stereotypical hard-drinking private detective that had fallen on hard times. Galbraith painted a tawdry picture of mostly shallow people and we were all surprised by the choice of crude language which punctuated Strike’s thoughts and conversations. However, this was probably influenced by our knowledge of the identity of the author more than our sensitivity. Overall, we gave the book a score of 7.5 and might take the next book in the series as a holiday read.
July Council News
The Chairman welcomed the new Clerk to the Council, Claire Harlow to her first meeting of the members.
Childrens Playgrounds. The Grange Park. The Vale has accepted one of the three tenders submitted. Construction of the play area not anticipated to commence until September due to preparatory drainage work having to be completed first. Work will also include a safer access from Old Port Road and new paths. The Vale are requested to also include improved safety for the steps leading from the park to Tarrws Close. The tenders for the Twyn-yr-Odyn play equipment are still awaited.
New tenders including the proposed modifications to the new library are still awaited. An application for additional funding has been submitted.
The proposed possible boundary changes for the ward have been supported by the other local Community Councils and will be forwarded to the Vale for submission to the forthcoming boundary review commission. With no change in the boundaries the present ward is expected to have a representation of almost 1:2500 electorate per ward councillor while the target is 1:1850. per councillor.
The public rubbish bins in the village are being misused. People are depositing carrier bags of food waste and other general household items in them. It was reported that there were 6 pillows stuffed in one lately and a bin by the church had a very large quantity of drink cans. These items should be placed in recycling bags or food bins where appropriate. There is a threat of having the number of bins in the village reduced if this trend continues. The Council would be pleased to hear of any information regarding this behaviour. Fly tipping continues to be a problem locally.
It was reported that school gates and some building material was stolen recently. Please contact the school or police with any information.
The Jubilee Gate entrance to the burial ground requires repairs. It is hoped that the cemetery shed door is renewed at the same time.
Bruce McDonald and his team were congratulated by the Council on being awarded six Green Flag awards this year for their orchards and the orchid field. There is no other village in the country with anywhere near this number awards.
The new homes at the site of the old bus depot site at Twyn-yr-Odyn are complete and occupation is expected to commence by the end of July.
A report from the allotment wardens was received. Some remedial work will be organised as soon as possible. Allotment holders are reminded that weeds etc. should be disposed of on their own site and not deposited on an unoccupied area.
The Councillors thanked Tony Williams for his five years of service with the Council and presented him with a token of their appreciation.
July Planning Applications Update
July Planning Applications Approved
Trehwbwb, St. Lythans Road, St. Lythans – Installation of a 12 panel / 4KW solar PV system to land south of property. System to be ground mount was withdrawn.
The following application have been approved:
• McDonalds Restaurant, Valegate Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff: Refurbishment of the restaurant with minor alterations, replacement drive- thru booths, refurbishment of customer order displays and overhead canopies. The installation of a goal post height restrictor. – New signage associated with refurbishment of the restaurant.
• 7, Church Rise, Wenvoe – Work to trees covered by TPO
• Cwm Derwen Farm, Waycock Road, Barry – Erection of single storey pre-fabricated extensions to existing farm building.
• 48, Gwern Close, Culverhouse Cross, – Convert garage to extra living room
• Unit D, Valegate Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff – Variation of Condition 2 (sale of food or drink) of Planning Permission ref. 2010/00214/FUL
July Planning Applications
July Planning Applications
• The Old Rectory, 10-12, Old Port Road. Residential conversion of the Old Rectory and coach house, demolition of outbuildings and structures, and associated works including the construction of a new residential coach house, and parking – 12 units. The Council supported the principal of the conversion but considered the proposed new ‘residential coach house’ to be out of character with the present building.
• 9, Tarrws Close, Wenvoe – Loft Conversion and rear dormer. No objection.
• 4, Old Port Road, Wenvoe – Erection of an outbuilding for a sauna, gym and storage. No objection.
• The Firs, 6, Church Rise, Wenvoe – work to four trees covered by TPO. The council considered the proposed felling should be supported by an arboriculturalist report.
August Diary of Events
Wenvoe Village Show
Have you ever been to a show and thought “mine are as good as that”? Well why not try your hand at entering our Village Show?
Submitting your entries – You must enter only home-grown/home-made produce or items. The fee per entry is 50p for as many categories as you wish to submit.
The Community Centre will be open for entries on the Friday evening before the show between 6:30 and 7:30 and between 08:30 and 10:30 on the morning of the show after which the Community Centre will be cleared for judging.
After the official opening at 12 noon, all remaining home-made goodies may be sampled by the public.
Further information in the library. See schedule page
