Month: November 2023

Ward Councillor Russell Godfrey Column

WARD COUNCILLOR RUSSELL GODFREY COLUMN

Firstly, I hope you all had an enjoyable summer. As I am sure most of you are now aware, the Afghan families have vacated the Copthorne Hotel. Cardiff Council have an agreement to have sole use of all bedrooms at the hotel until at least the end of March 2024. The hotel is to be used to accommodate families on the Cardiff Council Housing List. Further to a recent meeting I had with a member of the Cardiff Council Housing Support Team, on my request, further information is provided and included here.

I would like to congratulate all involved in organising the Wenvoe Village Show, which was a great success. Also, the Boundary Commission have put a proposal forward, to remove Twyn Yr Odyn, St Lythans and Duffryn from the Wenvoe Ward and to include them in the St Nicholas Ward. I can confirm this proposal is opposed by the majority of people living in these areas, as well as Wenvoe Community Council and myself as Ward Councillor. I am pleased to confirm that the refurbished tennis courts are now up and running. The cost is £2.25 per 30 mins or annual family membership is only £39.00. To book them and get a code for entry, you need to use the following web address: lta.org.uk Work on the installation of the outdoor exercise equipment at Station Road Playing Fields has started. This should be completed by early October. If you have any issues/suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me or pop along to one of my monthly surgeries. Tel: 07927 588924. Email: regodfrey@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Date: 8th September 2023

Dear Resident,

I am writing to inform you of a temporary of use of the Copthorne hotel located in the Vale of Glamorgan by Cardiff City Housing Dept. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the current situation. The clients that will be placed here will be families who are already Cardiff residents and already access services across the city such as health and education. To ensure there is adequate help and support the Councils Family Accommodation Team will be on site 24/7, alongside the existing Copthorne staffing teams. We will also be having visiting teams from Housing Options, Family Early Help, Health, and Money Advice. Therefore we don’t see this having any significant impact on local residents. We see this option as a short-term solution and will be working to move them into more appropriate accommodation as quickly as possible based on their individual circumstances and areas of choice. I have attached a Frequently Asked Questions Document with this letter for you to peruse. Anything not covered by this document can be responded to individually by emailing the team directly specialisthousing@cardiff.gov.uk

Kind regards Rebecca Callaghan,

Supported Accommodation Manager – Families.

Cardiff Council

St. Mary’s Church News – October 2023

0CTOBER REPORT

It is a pleasure to report that the Village Show and the Picnic in the church grounds was a tremendous success. It brought together the village in support of St. Mary’s building fund and raised a staggering amount of £1500.12. Grateful thanks to Glenys and Mike Tucker and their wonderful team of helpers. Thank you also to the people who donated the superb range of raffle prizes and to those who generously bought the tickets. The warm sunshine brought the crowds out for a very enjoyable day.

The number of entries from the oddest shaped vegetable to the wonderful array of bread and cakes, together with flowers and craft items, jams and chutneys and not forgetting the photography section, made this year’s Village Show as good as any in the past. We are all looking forward to a similar event next year. Many enjoyed Anthony’s gorgeous cakes and coffee and tea and were able to sit and enjoy catching up with friends not seen very often. So thank you Glenys and Mike for your enthusiasm and drive to arrange this village event to raise money for a good cause. Diolch yn fawr.

The Teddy Bear Picnic in the church grounds, organised by Alyson, was very well supported. Poppy, and her friend Victoria, organised the face painting to great effect, and donations given helped to swell the final amount raised. Poppy also designed the colourful poster used to advertise the picnic following her excellent GCSE exam results. She achieved 3A*, 9As and passes in Welsh Baccalaureate and additional Maths. What a clever girl. It was heartwarming to see the number of young children and parents enjoying their time together, and many took the opportunity to see inside the church. Many compliments were expressed as to how well looked after it is. Many did not realise the absolute treasure we have in St Mary’s. The repointing of the tower and porch a few years ago has greatly improved the external appearance and with the grounds being so well looked after by Mike Tucker, it makes your church one that has to be admired within the Diocese.

Harvest Celebrations. Our Harvest Eucharist service is at 9.30am on Sunday 24th September. Gifts of Fruit and Vegetables are most welcome and will be passed to a church in Cardiff for those who find it difficult to buy fresh vegetables and fruit. The Food Bank will receive all the dried and tinned goods which will have been used to decorate the church. Help will be needed on Saturday 23rd at 10.00am to arrange the flowers etc. “Come ye thankful people come, raise the song of home”. We look forward to see you on the morning and in church on the Sunday. A retiring collection will be taken for the Christian Aid Harvest Appeal following the service.

Harvest at St. Bleddian’s Church will be at 3.00pm on Sunday 8th October.

Don’t forget the meeting about the future of St. Bleddian’s Church on Thursday 12th October at

7.00pm. Please support and make your feelings known on its future.

200 Club. Renewal letters have been distributed to all shareholders seeking their renewal and hopefully taking out additional shares, together with an invitation for new shareholders to support this fund raising for the church building fund. If you are not at present a shareholder, please consider becoming a shareholder to help us keep the church in good order. Talk to Dickon Oliver 02920679108.

Visit to Margam Abbey 29th October to attend the 11.00am Mass. Book your seat on the FREE coach, leaving Wenvoe at 9.45am. Lunch can be a BYO to be eaten in the Church Hall or within Margam Park with a tour of the Abbey before we leave at 3.30pm.

Foodbank. Many thanks for continuing to support the Foodbank. Your gifts are very much appreciated; both gifts or food and money. Currently the store is providing more help than the donations coming in, and so they are reliant on stock they had received previously. Our weekly donations really do fill some of the gaps.

Pilgrimage to Sully Island 2nd October, 2.00pm –

Vicar Lyndon writes with an invitation to all.

Following our successful pilgrimage to Penrhys, some of us have been talking about finding an opportunity to do something similar – only shorter – out to Sully Island so…

Please join us on Monday 2nd October at 2.00pm to walk to Sully Island where we will celebrate a brief Eucharist and give thanks for the beauty of creation, weather permitting of course. I promise we will be back before the tide comes in!

It’s a bit rocky so could be a bit challenging at times, but it’s not very far. Please wear appropriate footwear.

We will gather by the Seashore Grill at 1:45pm on Monday 2nd October for our 2.00pm departure. All are welcome. Please feel free to invite your friends. For those who wish to do so, we will stop at one of the pubs upon our return to celebrate our safe return to the mainland.

Mid week Eucharist to be resumed at 10.00am in October on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at St. Mary’s and the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at St. John’s in Sully. This is an opportunity to join in a quieter celebration of the Eucharist if you are unable to attend church on a Sunday. Please join us.

The Chattery will be meeting on Thursday 12th October in the Church Hall at 10.30am. All are welcome to join together for a coffee/tea and posh biscuits plus a FREE raffle for £2.00.

Thank you for reading this newsletter. There is a lot going on at St. Mary’s. Do join us for a great welcome. God bless.
Parry Edwards

 

Neighbourhood Watch – October 2023

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Our village PCSO has reported few incidents in the village during the last couple of months which is very pleasing. However, Autumn is here and it is worth repeating the Watch advice about how to reduce the possibility of your house being burgled.

Criminals will look for homes that:

• Seem unoccupied

• Have little or no security

• Have doors or windows left open or

• Where they think they won’t be seen

 

As a general rule if it looks as if there is someone inside, the burglar is likely to go elsewhere.

Here are the things to remember:

Windows

• Are they closed and locked?

• If sensors are fitted, are they activated?

• Don’t forget garages, sheds, or outhouses.

 

Doors

• Are all outside doors (front. rear and patio) locked, preferably deadlocked?

• Are keys kept out of sight but readily available for your use?

 

Inside

• Are your lights on a timer?

• If you have one, is your house alarm switched on? Make sure a friend or neighbour can act if the alarm is triggered when you are out.

• Do you have a photographic record of valuable items?

 

Exterior

• Are your outside lights on a sensor?

• Are your vehicles locked and valuables removed?

• Are your garages, side gates, sheds and outbuildings locked?

• Are items which can be used to break in put away? ie bricks, rubble, ladders, or garden equipment.

 

Alan French

 

Welsh Boundary Commission Review 2023


WELSH BOUNDARY COMMISSION REVIEW 2023

On Thursday 14 September 2023 and Extraordinary Council Meeting was held to discuss the above subject.

Commission proposes to transfer the St Lythans ward, which is currently part of the Community of Wenvoe, into the Community of St Nicholas and Bonvilston. The proposal sees the existing St Lythans ward join the Community of St Nicholas and Bonvilston. The consequential community electoral arrangements have been considered. The proposal was submitted by the VOGCPWG and supported by St Nicholas and Bonvilston Community Council and places the settlements of Dyffryn and St Lythans in the Community of St Nicholas and Bonvilston. The Commission agrees that this proposal provides for more effective and convenient local government.

Finally, the Commission proposes to create a new ward within the Community of Wenvoe. This involves the creation of a new ward in the north of the community and affects 421 electors. The proposal was submitted by Wenvoe Community Council, who proposed to create a new Brooklands ward within the Community of Wenvoe by utilising the polling district of PA1 (Wenvoe B). The Commission agrees that this proposal provides for more effective and convenient local government.

At this meeting, the above was discussed and the Council unanimously strongly opposed to support this proposal. The St Lythans, Twyn yr Odyn and Duffryn have been part of Wenvoe since before 1974. It would mean the loss of the allotments and playing field at Twyn yr Odyn to Bonvilston and St Nicholas; these were given to Wenvoe by the Jenner family in excess of 50 years ago.

The village of Wenvoe has excellent community activities including a Choir, Wildlife Group, Scout Group, Community Library and Café, shop and post office, school – to name just a few. Things are happening in the village on a very positive note and which includes the residents of St Lythans, Twyn yr Odyn and Duffryn. Cllr Russell Godrey already as a petition signed by residents of St Lythans, Twyn yr Odyn and Duffryn who wish to stay in the Wenvoe ward as they use the local facilities.

The Council are at a loss as to the justification of this move as it would make the St Lythans Park estate further away from a community council. We are not sure whether the children of the St Lythan’s Park estate would be able to go to Gwenfo School.

If you oppose this Boundary Review, please sign the Petition which will be in the foyer of the Community Council on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during opening hours and in the Hub and other locations.

Cllr Janet Williams Chair –WCC

Community Council News October 2023

Community Council News – October 2023

Police Matters:

The current statistics cover the last two months and have been divided to show Wenvoe and Culverhouse Cross separately. In this period there have been eight incidents in Wenvoe involving 3 ASBs and a variety of criminal damage, aggressive and suspicious males and vehicles, and thefts from vehicles. At Culverhouse Cross there have been 32 incidents of which 24 were thefts. The remainder involve aggressive males and dogs, arson and ASBs.

Planning Updates:

Land at Chapel Terrace To amend the planning permission for a barn which was constructed in contravention of the originally approved design. Approved
Copthorne Hotel: Two officials from Cardiff City Council attended the Council meeting to explain what is happening at the hotel. Cardiff Council have now signed an agreement to hire the hotel for six months in order to alleviate a severe housing shortage in the city. They already have four hotels on hire in Cardiff but have been unable to acquire any others and have been forced to look outside the city. Despite the building of a number of modular properties in the city, demand to rehouse families is still exceeding supply. Council were told that those to be housed in the Copthorne were mostly working families and they would have little. if any, impact on local services as they would remain with their existing schools and surgeries. It is not yet known what will happen at the end of the initial six month period.

WRAC:

There is no news on this front as the committee has been having a summer break with the next meeting planned for October.

Community Centre:

Work continues on refurbishment of the main building and the outside storage sheds.

Vale of Glamorgan Boundary Commission Review:

This has been discussed extensively in Council and is the subject of a separate article in What’s On.

Allotments:

A small number of plots are being vacated and if anyone is interested in joining our band of gardeners, they should contact the Council Clerk for further information.

Highways:

We understand that the proposals to reduce the speed limit on Port Rd alongside Wenvoe from 50 mph to 40 mph will take effect at the end of September

 

Council News – October 2023

Council News – October 2023

Police Matters: The current statistics cover the last two months and have been divided to show Wenvoe and Culverhouse Cross separately. In this period there have been eight incidents in Wenvoe involving 3 ASBs and a variety of criminal damage, aggressive and suspicious males and vehicles, and thefts from vehicles. At Culverhouse Cross there have been 32 incidents of which 24 were thefts. The remainder involve aggressive males and dogs, arson and ASBs.

Planning Updates: Land at Chapel Terrace To amend the planning permission for a barn which was constructed in contravention of the originally approved design. Approved

Copthorne Hotel: Two officials from Cardiff City Council attended the Council meeting to explain what is happening at the hotel. Cardiff Council have now signed an agreement to hire the hotel for six months in order to alleviate a severe housing shortage in the city. They already have four hotels on hire in Cardiff but have been unable to acquire any others and have been forced to look outside the city. Despite the building of a number of modular properties in the city, demand to rehouse families is still exceeding supply. Council were told that those to be housed in the Copthorne were mostly working families and they would have little. if any, impact on local services as they would remain with their existing schools and surgeries. It is not yet known what will happen at the end of the initial six month period.

WRAC: There is no news on this front as the committee has been having a summer break with the next meeting planned for October.

Community Centre: Work continues on refurbishment of the main building and the outside storage sheds.

Vale of Glamorgan Boundary Commission Review: This has been discussed extensively in Council and is the subject of a separate article in What’s On.

Allotments: A small number of plots are being vacated and if anyone is interested in joining our band of gardeners, they should contact the Council Clerk for further information.

Highways: We understand that the proposals to reduce the speed limit on Port Rd alongside Wenvoe from 50 mph to 40 mph will take effect at the end of September.

Spring Forward, Fall Back


SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACK

 

On the 29th of this month many of us will bask in the joy of knowing that the clocks go back at 2a.m. and we get an extra hour in bed. The idea has been around a long time and so has the controversy over its benefits or otherwise.

The idea of aligning waking hours to daylight hours is usually credited to the American Benjamin Franklin who first proposed the idea in 1784. Franklin was dismayed by the wasting of daylight hours and so proposed a way in which everyone would benefit from getting up as soon as it was light enough. He published that old proverb ‘early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.’ In a satirical letter to the editor of The Journal of Paris, Franklin suggested that waking up earlier in the summer would economise on candle usage; and calculated considerable savings. He proposed, tongue-in-cheek, taxing window shutters, rationing candles, and waking the public at sunrise by ringing church bells and firing cannons!

British Summer Time, also known as Daylight Saving Time, was the brainchild of a builder from Kent called William Willett. On his way back from riding his horse in Petts Wood in 1905, he noticed many of the blinds and curtains in the neighbouring houses were still drawn, even though it was light. This led him to consider the idea of adapting the time to better fit daylight hours. It seems Willett had an ulterior motive for his suggestion. He was an avid golfer who disliked cutting short his round at dusk.

Willett’s proposal, which he published in 1907, was to advance the clock during the summer months. His original proposal was for the clocks to be put forward by 80 minutes in total, in four steps of 20 minutes each Sunday at 2am during April and turned back in the same way in September. He argued that this would mean longer daylight hours for recreation, improving health and also saving the country money in lighting costs. Liberal Party MP Robert Pearce introduced the first Daylight Saving Bill to the House of Commons on 12 February 1908 but it failed to become law.

The idea resurfaced during World War One when the need to conserve coal made the suggestion of daylight saving more pertinent. The Summer Time Act was finally passed in the UK on 17th May 1916. Backed by press advertisements, the clocks went forward one hour on the following Sunday, 21st May. To return to GMT on 1st October 1916, people were advised to put their clocks forward by 11 hours rather than turning the hands back an hour, as in those days this would break the mechanism.

Sadly William Willett died of the flu in 1915 aged 58 and didn’t live to see his ideas become law. Fittingly though, there is a memorial sundial in Petts Wood, set permanently to Daylight Saving Time, in his honour. His ideas still form the basis of the system we use today. Advocates for it claim the lighter summer mornings save energy, reduce traffic accidents and get people out leading to them becoming more active with associated health benefits. Critics claim darker winter mornings are more dangerous for children going to school and mean farmers working longer hours before daylight.

Whichever side of the argument you favour, the fact remains that we need to make a note to put our clocks back at 2a.m. on October 29th. Nowadays of course our mobile phones, computers and laptops do not need reminding of this momentous event

 

 

Recycling Bags Availability

Clerk to the Council – Recycling Bags

 

Please note that the Wenvoe Community Centre have stocks of all Vale of Glamorgan recycling bags, caddies (excluding hygiene caddies) food bags and dog poo bags which can be collected free of charge with the exception of green garden waste bags and dog bags which cost £2.20 each during the  standard office hours of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.00am – 1.00pm.

 

 

 

November Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude to our many friends and neighbours in Wenvoe for their tremendous support following the passing of my husband, Gordon Jones, on September 18, at the age of 86. Your cards, flowers, and messages of support have been a source of great comfort, as well as a testament to how well-respected Gordon was within the village.

I would like to extend a special thank you to The Reverend Lyndon Hutchison-Hounsell for conducting the lovely funeral service at St. Mary’s Parish Church on October 10, and to all those who were able to attend and join in the wonderful singing. Your presence meant a lot to us.

I’m please to say that the collection held at the service raised £1000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI), which was a cause close to Gordon’s heart.

With sincere thanks,

Elizabeth Jones

 

ELY CORRIES SKITTLE TEAM

We are looking for a couple of players to boost our team, we have five players already from Wenvoe.

We play from Ely Cons on a Friday night and away games any night. We car share where possible. This team has been going since the 60’s.

If interested please ring Bernard on 07960135606

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