SHORTLISTED FOR COMMUNITY NEWS AWARD 2020 AND 2019 - WALES MEDIA AWARDS
This is a community website for Grangetown in Cardiff, highlighting people, business, community activities, local news and things to do in the area and linking other websites and blogs.
This voluntary project - in connection with Grangetown Community Action - is the free, independent, online presence of the long-running Grangetown New s community paper, which has been distributed to 6,500 local homes at least twice a year for 40 years.
E-mail us on grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk if you'd like to help, are local or would like to send any contributions for inclusion, or wish to advertise. Also if you'd like to be included FREE in our DIRECTORY,
You can also follow us on Twitter @grangecardiff and look for Grangetown Community Action on Facebook. We have a growing number of followers and are keen to encourage a social network to promote Grangetown community events, activities, issues, businesses and organisations.
Tramshed wants to host more late DJ nights but some residents claim 'nightmare'
The operators of the Tramshed venue wants to increase by half the number of club nights it holds with DJs.
They have been allowed to host 21 events a year - open to as late as 3am - under terms of their late licence. But now they want to increase those to 31 events annually.
It says in its application that it believes this is "entirely acceptable" in terms of the impact on neighbouring homes.
But some residents and local councillors are opposed.
Councillor Ash Lister said: "We've submitted an objection as councillors and have asked to meet with officers to discuss this."
One resident said: "This feels like a nightmare. My daughter already has been woken up countless nights beyond 11pm scared through shouting an swearing. People coming out urinating in my street. Being sick by our door."
Another objector in Monmouth Street said it had been "nightmare" for parking and also "gangs" around the corner drinking alcohol while they wait for doors to open.
Another added: "Empty bottles and broken glass left all over the street, on windowsills and doorsteps where party-goers 'pre-drink' and then chuck their rubbish before they get stopped by security at the door.
"I have looked out of my window to see a group of people snorting coke under the tree, so that security can't see them."
Tramshed operators, Bristol-based TEG Venues UK say most events would take place on Fridays and Saturdays but others would be on Halloween, New Year's Eve or in Freshers' Week.
Conditions include increased security and no alcohol served after 2.30am. The usual curfew times are 11pm during the week and 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays but there is a special late licence for a limited number of club nights - mostly with well-known club scene DJs.
Tramshed say that there have been no complaints about the late night events held so far.
'Sensible approach'
Residents have expressed a range of opinions, with many encouraging of the venue - which opened in 2015 in the refurbished old council depot in Pendyris Street - as long as conditions are strictly applied.
"Perhaps a good compromise might be to allow the music licence but keep the alcohol licence as it is," said one. "Then people don’t get more drunk as the night goes on, don’t all leave at the same time (because some will leave when the alcohol stops, some will stay to dance), and the venue can still stay open longer?"
Another added: "I think that the Tramshed is a fabulous asset for Grangetown and Cardiff as a whole. I think it should be supported. But agree there should be a sensible approach to late nights."
Wanted: people to share stories about Grangetown!
The community group behind the new Grange Pavilion are producing a play about Grangetown - and everyone can help!
Grangetown Stories is a collaboration between the Sherman Theatre, Community Gateway and Grange Pavilion to create, over a 12 week period, a production to perform at the launch of the new £1.6m Grange Pavilion community centre on the 18th April 2020.
The performance will be based on stories about Grangetown collected during the first few weeks evening workshops, which take place between 6pm and 8pm every Tuesday night at Ebeneezer Church, on Corporation Road in Grangetown.
The production will be performed multiple times throughout the day of the launch and will be professionally filmed and featured on the Grange Pavilion website.
Lynne Thomas, Community Gateway project manager said: "It would be fantastic for Grangetown residents to be involved. There are enough roles for everyone, including storytelling, theatre production, scripting, set design etc. - and no-one will be forced to act if they don’t want to!"
The weekly sessions are loads of fun, with free tea, coffee and biccies and are suitable for people of all ages, including children accompanied by an adult.
Meanwhile, the project to build the Pavilion is still asking for donations - however small - towards the funding target. People can donate online to the Just Giving page here. Also, if you shop at Asda in Cardiff Bay, you can vote by using green tokens in the community project funding box.
Day-by-day Tuesday 18th February: Grangetown Stories Community Theatre Project, Ebenezer Church, Corporation Road, 6pm-8pm. Celebrate the best of Grangetown for the launch of the new Grange Pavilion. Working with the Sherman Players for anyone who wants to try their hand at writing, telling stories, drama production, costume or set design or acting, All welcome. Sixth weekly meeting. Sunday 22nd March: Keep Grangetown Tidy, meet Clive Street, 10am-12pm Join the popular community litter-pick. Saturday 13th June: Grangetown Festival - Fete/Carnival Day, Grange Gardens and Pavilion, 11am-3pm. Parade theme is "the outdoors". Stalls and other inquiries grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk.
The Cinema at Tramshed - Watch for future programme. click here for listings and to buy tickets online.
Regular events: Mondays: Friends and Neighbours (FAN) group at Grangetown Hyb, 9.30am to 10.30am, women-only group at Clare Road Cultural Centre, 33 Clare Rd, 9.30am; and at Ikea, 11am to 12pm Grangetown Community Choir, Cornwall St church hall, 7.30pm-9.30pm. All weclome, relaxed, harmonious environment. £70 for term, from 18th September, payment options available. Email paulinedown7@gmail.com Tuesdays: Exercise for Beginners, Grangetown Health Centre, 10.30am–11.30am. Weekly sessions to improve your mobility/flexibility and get advice on simple
exercise routines that you can do at home. Grangetown Running Club, meets Channel View 6.15pm warm-up for 6.30pm start. Friendly and easy-paced group, ideal for beginners. Cost £1. Meets weekly. 9th Cardiff Brownies and Guides, St Samson's church hall, Pentre Gardens, 6-7.30pm. For girls aged 7-10, 10 to 14. Cardiff Morris, 8pm-10pm, Lyndon Social Club, Clare Road. Welsh Morris dancing club, open to new new dancers and musicians. Long-established group has been meeting weekly for practice sessions in Grangetown for the last two years. New members of any age, gender or ability are welcome to turn up to any practice or contact bagman @ cardiffmorris.org. Sessions are free to join. The practice season runs September to May. During summer months we dance out on Tuesdays in pubs across the city and at weekend folk festivals. Grangetown Book Club, Grangetown Hub, 6pm First Tuesday of each month, December's book - The Commitments by Roddy Doyle. Wednesdays: Baby massage and baby yoga group, Grangetown Hyb, 1pm. Includes Welsh vocab and songs, suitable for babies under nine months. Email: rhian.arwel@meithrin.cymru. Six weeks from start of February.
Cardiff People First, Grangetown Hub Cafe, 1pm-3pm. A chance to meet project worker Dawn over a cuppa in the cafe, chat, make new friends or try new things. Project run by local charity working with people with learning difficulties. Cardiff Dance Stars - Ballet and Lyrical Dance, ages 4-6, 4pm; Modern and Lyrical Dance, ages 7-12, 5pm - at Grangetown Hub, Havelock Place. Qualified dance classes for children, www.cardiffdancestars.weebly.com Welsh Taster and Beginners courses, Channel View leisure centre, 7pm-9pm. Introduction to Welsh - particularly aimed at parents with children at Welsh-medium school. From October/November 2017 until July and October 2018. Cost £177, intalments possible. Pub Quiz, The Grange Pub, 8.30pm. Weekly quizzes, with a different quiz-master every week. Thursdays: The Great Brains Speed Quiz, The Cornwall pub, 8pm. First Thursday of every month. Prizes. Fridays: Grangetown Food Bank, Grangetown Baptist Church, Clive Street, 12pm-2pm. Weekly foodbank, organised by Cardiff Foodbank Grangetown FAN group, Salvation Army - Women only. Starting at 10am with an English language class then 11am for a FAN meeting. Fluent English speakers welcome too! Grangetown Local History Society, first Friday of the month, 2pm, Glamorgan Archives, Leckwith Close, Leckwith, by Cardiff City Stadium. Free, a chance to share stories, memories, work on project, talks. See www.grangetownhistory.co.uk. Grangetown Afterschool Club/Full Circle Education, Grange Pavilion, Grange Gardens, 3.30pm-5pm. Brand new girls club, perfect for girls who love arts and crafts, games, music, photography, sports and making friends. If you would like any more information, please email: Nikki@FullCircleEducation.org Cardiff Dance Stars - Acro and Gymnastic Dance, ages 5-12, 4.15pm; at Grangetown Hub, Havelock Place. Qualified dance classes for children, www.cardiffdancestars.weebly.com Cook At Church, St Paul's Community Hall, 5.30pm-7.30pm - first Friday of month. For children aged 10 and 11 to learn cooking skills and have fun Email your local events to grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk. For regular events, meetings and classes - including a listing for Grangetown Library Hub - see our directory. |
Excitement as Pavilion enters final phase
The community group which is responsible for the new £1.7m Grange Pavilion has been showing off the latest designs - and says its final make-up will be determined by the people who use it.
Its first annual report was presented at a public meeting on Monday night, as the countdown is well under way for the opening in spring 2020.
There was hope to officially open the community venue in Grange Gardens at the end of March but to ensure the developers have maximum time and the difficulty in finding a suitable date the right side of Easter, the Pavilion is now looking at a "soft launch" instead before the ribbon-cutting in front of invited guests by the winner of a My Grangetown schools competition, probably in May.
The chair of the Grange Pavilion CIO (charitable incorporated association) Steve Austins said he was "excited about what's to come," as the flexibility of the new building - on the site of the old 1960s bowls pavilion - was outlined at Tramshed Tech.
There will be three rooms for hire - the smallest Blue Room, intended as a quiet space for yoga and peaceful activities. The largest Yellow Room will be a "messy" space, ideal for arts, crafts, playgroups and kids parties. The third Green Room was intended for events, lectures, theatre productions and larger group activities. This also has an annexe or "chill-out" area off it.
Meanwhile, as well as a gallery/exhibition space near the entrance, the Hideout Cafe will return, led by Moseem Suleman, who trialed it in the pavilion's last guise, promising they would be putting on events as well as refreshments - and a teetotal bar. Members of Grangetown Youth Forum were also present at the AGM and asked if they could be guaranteed a space to meet - and are to have a member co-opted onto the Pavilion board. They also asked about basketball court facilities.
Local schools have already expressed an interest in using the outdoor classroom area, while there will also be office space for organisations like Grangetown Community Action and Community Gateway, as well as "hot desking" spaces for local people.
"The uses will evolve as people start to use it," said project manager Lynne Thomas.
Richard Powell, one of the local CIO board members was part of the residents' group which first looked to take over the old building from council control in 2012.
"It's built of a concrete but it's not set in stone," he said. "It's changed as we learnt what that site is."
New centre manager Sophey Mills says it will open from 9am until 5pm but volunteers will be able to open up for events in the evening, with a 9pm cut-off point. But she had a "dream" that one day it would successful enough to be open until 9pm every evening.
Room hire charges range from £10-20 an hour for charities and £15 to £25 an hour for businesses and private parties but local groups will get free hire guaranteed for 30% of available time.
The venue has also pledged to be dog-friendly, while in opening hours, there will be access for residents at the Holmesdale Street end of the park.
There is a hope that a piece of community theatre will be created too to "celebrate Grangetown in all its colours," to coincide with the opening.
Moving forward, the group hopes to build a bank of local volunteers and expertise to become even more involved in its running.
The Pavilion will also be launching a website, grangepavilion.wales and bookings and more information can be made via sophey@grangepavilion.walesGrange left wondering about the Wickhams
Grange Albion 2-3 FC Cwmaman
Match coverage by Tom Sargent
Grange Albion were on the losing end of a topsy-turvy encounter at Coronation Park.
FC Cwmaman were the visitors at a sun-drenched Coronation Park on Saturday afternoon for Albion's third home encounter in as many weeks.
Read more of the match report here
The Grange darts team hits winning streak
By Dai Dearden
The Grange darts team were formed in 2017 and are into their third season in the Cardiff and Whitchurch Darts league.
The pub team - the Bar Baa's - are currently playing in Division 1, the second level of a three-tier league - and the latest report covers a winning start to 2020 with four straight wins.
You can follow their fortunes on their new web page here and also on Twitter @grangedarts
We hope to bring you more monthly updates from your local darts team thoroughout the year. Any interested players can come to matches (meet at The Grange pub) around 7.30pm on Monday nights or on Sunday afternoons around 5pm when there is usually a practice game.
Grangetown News autumn/winter edition out
The autumn edition of Grangetown News is out!
It includes news on the progress of the £1.6m Grange Pavilion, including an exclusive first interview with the newly-appointed manager.
We have features on one long-running shop that has closed - and a new business which has opened. A look behind the scenes at Grange Albion football club - and we will be also catching up (if we can!) with the folks involved with Run Grangetown.
There is also a special farewell message from Grangetown vicar Father David Morris.
There is now an online version here - and we are appealing for volunteer deliverers, especially for streets in North Grangetown and off North Clive Street.
Please email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk or go to our Trello board to register an interest in delivering.
Copies are distributed to 6,500 homes, shops and businesses. It is also be available in Grangetown Hub, local shops, venues and pubs and you will be able to view an online version above.
Grangetown News was shortlisted for a community news award in the 2019 Wales Media Awards in what is the publication's 40th year.
The newspaper - with website and social media presence - was chosen by the judges in the community news category. Can we take this opportunity of thanking all our readers, contributors, volunteer deliverers and advertisers for all their help and support over the years.
Now called Grangetown News, the first edition of the new-look 16-page full-colour tabloid newspaper came out in May 2016. Published by Grangetown Community Action, it has been a quarterly magazine format since 1978. In March 2019, it was shortlisted in the community news category in the Wales Media Awards.
Thanks for all those who have contributed and advertised - and also to our volunteer deliverers. If you can help deliver - email grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk
Should you have a local news story or would like to tell the community about your organisation or school then our paper is a perfect way of reaching people!you are a local business/organisation who would like to advertise to the local community our paper is an ideal place to place an advert.
Our rates are listed below:
1/8 page - £40
1/4 page - £70
1/2 page - £110
1 full page - £200
1 full back page - £250
The Grangetown News is still printed 100% in COLOUR, but is printed in a tabloid format, making your articles and adverts larger than ever! This is a pilot project which will hopefully allow us to increase readership through spreading more positive, local news stories. The editions are 16 pages. All articles submitted should be in a Word document (or jpeg for images / designed adverts - All images to be supplied high-quality 350dpi, colour pictures converted to CMYK) and sent to grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk.
If you would like to discuss advertising in the Grangetown News, please feel free to contact grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk, or call Ashley on 07572875804.
As well as more local news stories, there are features on local businesses and also sport. The paper has also been designed by Grangetown residents. Online versions of the features - with more photos - will also be put up later on this website But it's not too late if you want to get involved:
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