river rhymney and nant fawr corridor action plan · 2. action plan aim 2.1 the river rhymney and...

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River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor

Action Plan July 2009

2

1 Background 11 Cardiff contains the three major river valleys of the Taff Ely and Rhymney together with other watercourses such as the Nant FawrThese make a unique contribution to the character and form of the city by providing continuous green corridors between the Severn Estuary and the countryside beyond the urban edgeThe water courses and adjoining open spaces possess high recreational biodiversity historic and landscape value Additionally they are located close to local communities and offer excellent opportunities for off-road access routes

12 Many organisations and Service Areas within Cardiff Council have specific responsibilities regarding the river valleysThis initiative seeks to establish an over-arching framework that effectively co-ordinates these actions

13 In order to develop a more joined-up approach to the planning management and enhancement of Cardiffrsquos river valleys Cardiff Council established the River Valleys Initiative in the winter of 200405 This has brought a wide range of organisations together who have roles to undertake within the river valleys Successful workshops and wider dialogue between organisations have enabled a strong consensus to emerge and a desire to work in partnership to make improvements on the ground

14 One of the key outcomes from the inaugural workshop was agreement to develop lsquoAction Plansrsquo for each of the river valleys over the following three years Specifically it was agreed that the Strategic Planning Section in Cardiff Council co-ordinate the preparation of an Action Plan for the River Ely Valley in partnership with other organisationsThe River Ely Valley Action Plan was the first to be developed and published in April 2006The Taff Corridor Action Plan was developed and published in April 2007 Both the Ely and Taff Action Plans are available to download from the Council website wwwcardiff govukcountrysideWork on implementing the projects contained in the Action Plans is continuing apace with Steering Groups monitoring the good progress being made across many topics

15 The process for preparing developing and implementing each of the River Corridor Action Plans is similar In this respect a well attended workshop was held in September 2007 to help identify issues and relevant data sources for the Rhymney Valley and Nant Fawr Corridor Following the workshop extensive data collection and analysis has been undertaken together with site visits and discussions with partners to develop the Action Plan and Appendices

River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor Action Plan

16 In February 2008 the annual Countryside Forum was held in Cardiff Yacht clubThis included a workshop to identify current progress and new ideas for projects along all three river corridorsThis Action Plan will use information and ideas from both the Rhymney Valley and Nant Fawr Corridor Workshop and the Annual Countryside Forum

17 The Annual Countryside Forum and River Valleys update will provide an opportunity to share progress on the Action Plan with partners and allow them to continue to have an input to it

3

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2 Action Plan Aim 21 The River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor Action Plan is intended to act as a strategic framework for a series of on-going actions that will bring about improvements within the valleyThe aim of the Action Plan is as follows

To bring relevant organisations together to identify issues agree a framework and deliver actions that

bull Positively address identifi ed priorities bull Improve the quality of the environment bull Bring about the sustainable and long term use of land bull Maximise opportunities for improved access and recreation and bull Raise public awareness of the value of the valley to the community

22 The Action Plan document evidences the consideration of prevailing issues on a topic by topic basis by identifying a list of key prioritiesThis is followed by a summary of potential projects that could be actioned to address the identified priorities Importantly the implementation of projects will rely on effective co-ordination between a wide range of bodies and also the wider publicThe following section demonstrates how it is proposed to bring about actions on the ground


3 Action Plan Process 31 To assist the effective delivery of the projects contained in the Action Plan a Steering Group comprising representatives from relevant organisations will meet twice a yearThe make up of the Steering Group proposed is as follows

bull Countryside Council for Wales bull Environment Agency Wales bull Cardiff County Council (Environment Portfolio Member for

Strategic Planning Parks HighwaysTourism Waste) bull Adjoining Local Authorities (Caerphilly and Newport) bull Community Council bull Communities First bull Local Access Forum bull Cardiff Naturalists bull Friends Group

32 The role of the Steering Group is to monitor progress in delivering identified projects contained in the Action Plan Partnership working outside of the Steering Group will obviously need to continue to ensure the successful delivery of projects However the Steering Group will enable effective monitoring and review to take place along with identifying new projects that deliver the Action Plan aimsThe plan format with a defined list of priorities together with an evolving list of projects will form a sound basis for this on-going exercise Six monthly Steering Group meetings held in the Spring and Autumn will provide timely opportunities to plan ahead monitor progress and agree priorities A formal review will take place after fi ve years

33 The implementation of the Action Plan will therefore clearly be an on-going processTo ensure a strategic joined-up approach the Steering Group will keep all other partners informed after each meeting Additionally the Annual Countryside forum workshops and mail-outs will encompass a wider gathering of all identified partners so the opportunity to review and share best practice can be enjoyed by allThe Steering Group will be facilitated by Cardiff Council (Strategic Planning)

5

6

4 Action Plan Status 41 The Action Plan sets out a strategic approach based on partnership working to improve the River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor Action Plan In doing this it helps deliver a wide range of plans aspirations and objectives from a wide range of organisations For example the Action Plan helps deliver Cardiff Council corporate objectives together with Countryside Strategy aims Partnership working to date has shown a strong consensus for the Action Plan approach and partners are encouraged to integrate the Action Plan and their organisationsrsquo work programmes

42 In recognition of this role it is not appropriate for the Action Plan to attain a formal status such as Supplementary Planning Guidance However its evolving nature ensures that the Action Plan remains fi t for purpose and will help deliver projects on the ground It is hoped that the evidenced basis for projects and the high level of partnership involvement in developing the Action Plan will assist partner organisations and others secure the necessary resources to help deliver the identifi ed actions

43 Additionally the Action Plan will be used to help inform the preparation of the Local Development Plan and other relevant planning policy documentsThis will help ensure that appropriate policies and proposals are developed that are consistent with the aims of the Action Plan

5 River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Overview


51 This section provides a context for the analysis of topics in the following sections by giving a brief description of the characteristics of the river valley

52 Outside Cardiff - The River Rhymney previously formed the boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire and is sourced on the Southern edge of the unspoilt landscapes of the Brecon Beacons The river steeply descends into the town of Rhymney in Caerphilly which was founded with the establishment of the Bute Ironworks in 1802 Steam coal pits were starting to open in the mid 19th Century and the iron works eventually closed in 1891 Before the Industrial Revolution and the development of the Welsh coal mining industry much of the valley was rural and farmedThe river also travels through the former coal mining communities of New Tredegar BargoedYstrad Mynach Bedwas and Machen As the name Ystrad suggests the southern end of the Rhymney Valley is wide and fl at

53 As the river enters Cardiff it is predominantly rural in character passing by the parish of Llanedeyrn before reaching the urban areas of Llanrumney to the East and Pentwyn to the WestThe river passes by the 15th Century Church St Edeyrn named after the Celtic Saint of the same nameThe open space of the Valley floor narrows as it is occupied by the A48 and residential buildings Downstream of Llanrumney High School the Rhymney trail lies on top of the riverrsquos man-built levees alongside playing fields and open space

54 Immediately after the Riverside playing fields the river meanders signalling the early stages of the formation of oxbow lakesTo the East of the river at this point is the attractive Rumney Hill Gardens a popular council-owned local park that includes tennis courts and a bowling pavilion On the other side of the river is the Howardian Nature Reserve Previously a refuse tip in the early 1970rsquos it is now contains a range of habitats including woodland wildflower meadow ponds and reed beds Entrance to the nature reserve can be found on Hammond Way and Ipswich RoadThe management and enhancement of this site is enthusiastically supported by Friends of Howardian

55 The Valley floor narrows considerably as it meets the western end of Rhymney Hill Small cliffs have formed as the river meets the mass of the hill revealing some of the oldest rock in Cardiff and this has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geological importance As the river passes around Rumney Hill there is a

7

Pontprennau Old St Mellons

Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa

Llandaff NorthPenylan Rumney

Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

Whitchurch Tongwynlais

Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown

Creigiau and St Fagans

major highway crossing interrupting the previously extreme flood plain Before this lsquopinch pointrsquo the Rumney Trail leaves the flood plain and passes over Rumney Hill through Rumney Hill Gardens and then passes down the other side to Tredelech Park which was officially opened and named in March 2003 In 2001 a 4 hectare lake was created which is now home to an array of fish and includes a boardwalkThe park was designed with an emphasis on conservation and wildlife Between Tredelech Park and the coast lies the Lamby Way landfill site a major landfill facility nearing the end of its operational life It occupies a large area and forms a locally prominent hill with wide views over the surrounding area and estuary

56 Rhymney Foreshore ndash The Rhymney River is the only tidal river in Cardiff flowing into the Severn Estuary which has the second largest tidal range in the world At low tide the Rhymney foreshore reveals mud flats a habitat that comes under the UKrsquos Biodiversity Action Plan and is important for migratory birdsThis area includes four designations Site of Special Scientific Interest Special Protection Area Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar There is also two salt-marsh SINCrsquos (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) Adjacent to the foreshore are the Wentloog Levels an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its unique habitat and associated wildlife The Wentloog Levels are protected by a sea wall and drained by a network of reens that are a haven for rare species Cardiff Council is currently working with local partnerships and landowners to input oversee and progress a route along the coastline of Cardiff as part of the Welsh Assembly Govshyernmentrsquos initiative to improve coastal access

57 Nant Fawr Corridor ndash The Nant Fawr Corridor stretches from the Caerphilly Ridge north of Lisvane and flows into the River Rhymney just downstream of Howardian LNR The Corridor contains a wide variety of different habitats such as woodlands grassed areas streams marshes and meadows The Nant Fawr Community Woodlands occupy part of the corridor and its name derives from the Nant Fawr stream that flows through the woodlands and the majority of the corridor The Nant Fawr Woodlands together with the many open spaces provide an invaluable wildlife corridor between Roath Park and the open countryside beyond the reservoirs

58 The two reservoirs Lisvane and Llanishen are highly valued by the local community and provide an aesthetic and recreational resource Both reservoirs are no longer in operational use but are of great importance for a diverse range of wildlife Lisvane reservoir has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1972 due to its importance for migratory birds The embankments of both Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs have been designated their own SSSI due to the presence of importantly diverse grassland fungi Llanishen 8

WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa

Llandaff North Penylan Rumney

Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

reservoir is also home to Llanishen Sailing Centre which offers courses for all levels of skills

59 Roath Park is situated further south along the Nant Fawr Corridor and is one of Cardiffrsquos most popular parks which includes a 30 acre lake The lake was formed with the damming of the Nant Fawr stream and offers a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife as well as being a recreational resource for fishing and water sports Within the park there is a varied range of habitats that attracts a variety of wildlife and islands within the lake also act as safe nesting sites

510 Roath Brook connects Roath Park to Roath Mill Gardens and Waterloo Gardens and has been designated a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation due to its importance to wildlife The gardens are located in a Conservation Area that seeks to preserve and enhance the distinct character of the park and the surrounding Edwardian housing The brook continues for just under a mile through a commercial area but does not contain a high degree of public visibility or access


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61 Key Strategic Priorities 61 The following list represents the key strategic priorities identifi ed following data collection analysis and issues raised through workshop feedback and subsequent follow-up work SWOT (strengths weaknesses opportunities threats) analysis has been undertaken to assist in summarising the key issuesThe priorities respond to key issues raised and are listed under the appropriate topic headings they are designed to act as a catalyst for actionThis list will form the basis for the development of specific projects and actions on the ground In some cases a project may relate to just one priority others may involve tackling a number of related priorities

62 SWOT Analysis ndash The table below summarises issues considered to be of greatest importance to the River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor

Strengths

bull Much of the land is within Council ownership bull Good access ndash footpath network bull Limited development bull Identifiable links to the coast bull Rhymney is the only tidal river in Cardiff bull Diversity of Landscape and biodiversity value ndash Nant Fawr wildlife corridor bull Historical and geological value bull Nant Fawr within Conservation Area bull Awareness raising by friends groups and local community ndash newsletters bull High tourism value and social focuses ndash refreshments pubs etc bull Green space used for recreational activities bull Good public transport links bull Scope for educational use eg Duke of Edinburgh Award

Opportunities

bull Links into the wider network in other authorities bull Funding from Section 106 Agreements bull Linking individual parks bull Link to the coast and coastal path bull Gateway to lsquoValleys Regional Parkrsquo bull Circular route linking the Nant Fawr and Rhymney bull Redevelopment of Lamby Way tip bull Multi-Use Paths ndash footcyclebridleway bull Improve access and ensure access for all


bull Promoting health benefits ndash Walking for Health bull Recreation ndash improve access to waterways WAG initiative bull Educationalschools programme ndash Links with local schools bull Safer routes for schools bull Vandal proof furniture bull Creation of Friends group for the river Rhymney bull Promoting the Trail and other routes ndash signage leafl ets

interpretation boards use of community newsletters bull Biodiversity enhancement and promotion bull Potential for circular walks bull Commuter route for cyclists and link to proposed north Cardiff

Peripheral cycle way bull Extending the Rhymney Trail to County boundary and beyond

Weaknesses

bull Lack of signagebrandingpublicity bull Negative perception of sections of the Rhymney Trail bull Limited maintenance funding and a lack of resources bull Private land ownership bull Access to Howardian and lack of links bull Links from Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn to the trail bull Limited access between the coast and Rhymney Hill Gardens bull Biodiversity is affected by trail bikes and scooters bull Lack of parking and information bull Anti-social behaviour and vandalism bull Fly tipping and litter bull Lack of ownership by the community bull Poor management of biodiversity bull Lack of lsquopublicrsquo sports facilities eg cricket bull Legal status of some of the paths

Threats

bull Development eg Current development proposals relating to Llanishen Reservoir bull Flooding bull Tidal risks ndash Global warming bull Anti-social behaviour vandalism fly tipping and litter bull Crimenegative perceptions bull Damage to pathways by motorbikes bull Lack of ownership of the Rhymney bull Maintenance costs bull Increased usage ndash balance needed between usage and biodiversity

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Access and recreation

63 Enhancing extending and maintaining the Rhymney Trail ndash Once completed the Rhymney Trail will run the length of Cardiff from the Coast and the proposed Coastal Path to Cardiffrsquos boundary linking in with the wider network in Caerphilly and NewportThis will provide a significant recreational resource for the East of Cardiff and also an important route for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the river corridor for work school etc promoting sustainable travel Some sections of the trail are already in place with a need to finalise the route and improve wherever it is needed Once the trail has been established it will be necessary to ensure that it is suitably way-marked and promoted so that the public are fully aware of its existence and identify routes for cyclists and equestrians wherever possible

64 The Nant Fawr Corridor ndash offers potential for identifying and developing a continuous trail to link with the wider networkThe best route and its sustainability for multi-use needs further investigation but should include Roath Park Nant Fawr Coed Y Felin and Cefn Onn to the Ridgeway

65 Creating a better network ndash In order to maximise the recreational and practical potential of the Rhymney and Nant Fawr corridor it is desirable to create an effective network of routes that provide choice variety and good links to the community In this respect it is necessary to examine the existing Public Rights of Way network the extent of public open spaces and to consider how access can be improved to within and beyond these areas and routesThis includes investigating the potential to create circular routes between and from the two main trails A primary objective is to link in with the coast and the future Coastal Path which is due to be completed by 2012 and is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to produce an all Wales Coastal PathThe Rhymney Valley stretches from Cardiff to the Southern edge of the Brecon Beacons so it is essential that links are made with local authorities to extend the Rhymney Trail through Caerphilly and beyond with a joined-up approach Maintenance is an issue high on the agenda across the whole network to ensure the continual upkeep and standard of the paths and environment Finally a good network should have excellent connections to public transport

66 Providing access for all ndash In all access-related and recreational initiatives the needs of all user groups should be considered at the outset For example where possible it is desirable to provide access for all users including pedestrians cyclists and horse riders Practical issues relating to user-conflicts need to be considered in this context to address existing concerns and develop future initiatives that reduce not exacerbate conflictsWhilst practical issues can create problems in 12


delivering this aim it is desirable that all reasonable efforts are made to provide access for all Similarly the issue of resolving motorbike problems needs to be addressed in a manner that takes full account of the implications for other users such as horse riders and those with wheelchairs and pushchairs

67 Promoting health benefits ndash The health benefits of walking horse riding cycling and informal recreation are well documented and promoted by the Wales Assembly Government Wherever possible the health benefits of physical activity and access initiatives should be considered and opportunities taken to add value to initiatives by highlighting the link between physical activity and good health Specifi c initiatives are already being undertaken in the Rhymney Valley with this as a key theme such as the lsquoWalking for Healthrsquo walks in the Riverside Playing Fields and the creation of the off road walkingcycling route from Newport Road to Pontprennau Link

68 Maximising use of open spaces ndash Similar to the Taff and the Ely the Rhymney Valley and Nant Fawr corridor contains a signifi cant amount of open space Areas include Tredelerch Park playing fi elds adjacent to the Rhymney River including the Riverside playing fi elds Rumney Hill Gardens Howardian Nature Reserve Roath Park Nant Fawr Meadows and Woodlands and the Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs The Rhymney Valley and Nant Fawr corridors have a diverse range of environments and habitats each with their own distinctive character from the mud flats of the coast to the open countryside in the North It is desirable that these spaces are appreciated and easily accessed by the local community in a way that respects their key characteristics and significance Activities should complement their setting whilst also providing a resource for formal and informal activity close to home In areas of significant recreational activity or sensitive environments the compatibility of uses requires careful attention along with impacts on other non-recreational users

69 Maximising range of activities ndash In some respects this is linked to the above point but rather than considering the management of the land this is more concerned with the range of activities that do or could take place in the river and adjoining spacesThe river valley already accommodates a range of activities such as formal sports fi shing walking and cycling to a certain degreeThere is potential to explore how these activities could be improved and consider if other activities could successfully be introduced For example the feasibility of canoeing or sailing could be explored along the Rhymney River and also suitable routes to Cefn Mably Farm Park and other attractions could be investigated

610 Securing access and recreation benefits in new developments 13

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ndash New developments adjacent to the river provide an opportunity to improve the provision of recreational and access facilities within and near the site in question

611 Promotion and Interpretation ndash Roath Park is already well promoted and offers a range of activities and events Many of the other open spaces such as the Nant Fawr Howardian Nature Reserve and Coed-y-Felin already have active friends groups with well promoted paths interpretation boards leaflets and events However there remains considerable scope for enhanced promotion of a signed Trail along the river corridor and additional interpretation at other locations

Biodiversity landscape and historic environment

612 Collecting and reviewing baseline biodiversity data ndash The Rhymney and Nant Fawr corridor is a rich biodiversity resource close to large numbers of people It contains a wide variety of habitats that provide a haven for wildlifeThe continuous nature of the valley and its links to the estuary and countryside provide a classic wildlife corridor It is therefore not surprising that the valley including the Nant Fawr corridor contains 3 SSSIrsquos (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) 1 LNR (Local Nature Reserve) and also a large number of SINCrsquos (Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation) Biodiversity interests extend to species including those of European protected status such as the otter bat and dormouse which are known to reside within the corridorThe connectivity between different habitats is also a key importance for the movement of species Cardiff Council holds many biodiversity recordsThere is a strong case for gathering up-to-date baseline data in conjunction with partners such as voluntary groups Countryside Council for Wales and the South East Wales Biodiversity Record Centre to effectively inform decision making that may affect biodiversity interests

613 Managing and enhancing biodiversity assets ndash Action is often required to maintain and enhance biodiversity assetsThis is particularly relevant where sites are vulnerable to change Cardiffrsquos Councilrsquos Local Biodiversity Action Plan and the Cardiff Biodiversity Partnership help to provide a context for such actionsTogether with more detailed work resulting from this Action Plan this will assist in the identifi cation and prioritisation of suitable enhancement projects to be progressed Furthermore the Countryside Council for Wales partnership programme will act as an effective delivery mechanism

614 Managing enhancing and interpreting the landscape - The 2007 LANDMAP landscape study of Cardiff included the three river corridors which were not included in the 1999 studyThe 2007 Landscape Character Area assessment study revealed that the River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor contained a range of landscape qualitiesThe study


highlighted the importance of the three green corridors and the variety of habitats Further consideration needs to be given as to how to respond to these findings in terms of appropriate planning policy coverage and management A number of key issues were identifi ed including managing and maintaining key features such as Cefn Onn and Roath Parks and the integrity of the landscape when subject to degradation associated with built development loss of agricultural use lsquohorsiculturersquo and fly-tippingThe Action Plan will seek to maintain and strengthen positive attributes and reduce or remove negative ones by progressing with the implementation of suitable projects on the ground Further work is required to raise public awareness and provide interpretation of the landscape and features of importanceThis can be linked with the development of the trails and green spaces along the corridors

Planning and Land Use

615 Providing appropriate planning policy coverage ndash Work has now commenced in Cardiff Council on the preparation of a Local Development Plan (LDP)This will provide the main statutory planning policy guidance for Cardiff and will be the core document that future Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) will relate to Many existing policies are particularly relevant to planning issues in Cardiffrsquos river valleysTherefore policies should be suitably drafted to ensure that the aims of the Action Plan are incorporated where appropriate Opportunities may also exist for the production of SPG Planning Briefs or Area Appraisals to address specific issues within the Rhymney and Nant Fawr corridors that are more appropriate to be progressed outside the LDP process

616 Bringing about the sustainable and long term use of land ndash Not all of the land within the Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridors is currently put to good use although the majority is generally well managed and well used It is appropriate for the Action Plan to raise the consideration of such sites in the context of the valley as a wholeThere is certainly scope for relevant bodies to discuss the sustainable and long term use of land Of particular relevance to the River Rhymney is the future land restoration at the Lamby Way landfill site It is important that future restoration proposals maximise the potential offered by the unique location adjacent to the river and coast offering considerable scope for recreational and educational benefi ts

617 Ensuring new and existing developments enhance and do not harm the qualities of the valley ndash New developments within the Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor can deliver signifi cant benefi ts that are consistent with the aims of the Action Plan Greater awareness of the issues raised in the Action Plan can help to identify material factors 15

16

that may be relevant such as habitat retention and access to the river corridors when development proposals are being considered Similarly efforts need to be made to address problems caused by existing uses that unacceptably impact upon the qualities of the corridors

Community Factors

618 Encouraging community participation and developing links with local groups ndash It is considered that this approach is a good way of helping to develop a greater understanding appreciation and use of the assets of the Rhymney and Nant Fawr corridors Moreover this approach could deliver a long-lasting involvement in local activities For example there may be scope to consider directly involving local residents in the design and implementation of local projects together with becoming actively involved in the management of open spaces Efforts need to be made to reach all groupsThe active involvement of specialist organisations such as Communities First and the use of current best practice toolkits will assist the delivery of high value projects

619 Addressing anti-social behaviour and community safety ndash In addition to the above issues there is a specific issued to be tackled concerning anti-social behaviour and community safetyWhilst areas of the corridors are well used and enjoyed in a responsible manner there remain issues relating to unauthorised motorcycling vandalism graffi ti perceived dangers or other anti-social activities It is hoped that the Action Plan will stimulate renewed dialogue between the relevant groups to identify and deliver projects that tackle areas of concern and other issues that relate to the corridors Experience from other sites in the UK demonstrates that increased responsible usage serves to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour

Water quality flooding and riverbank issues

620 Tackling litter ndash Litter carried by the river litter dropped on site and fly-tipping can have serious negative effects on the amenity value of the valley and is recognised as being a very significant issue It can also add to negative perceptions of the area discouraging responsible usageThe Action Plan seeks to bring together relevant groups to address these issues eg Keep Wales Tidy

621 Dealing with invasive species ndash River corridors can often be prone to invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan BalsamThese can rapidly colonise river banks and adjoining landThere is evidence of such species becoming established in some areas although no comprehensive survey or action plan has been prepared to address this issue in the three river corridors A number of partner organisations have a role to play in dealing with this issue and it is


hoped that the Action Plan will assist bringing about positive measures to tackle the problem

622 Maintaining and enhancing water quality - Water quality in the River Rhymney has dramatically improved in recent years as improvements have been made to drainage systems and mining related activities have ceased upstreamThe South East Wales Rivers Trust has helped to launch an initiative to monitor the health of the river Rhymney called the lsquoFly Lifersquo monitoring projectThis involves the lsquoFly Lifersquo monitoring group surveying a number of different invertebrates present in the river on a regular basis to assess the quality of the water It is necessary to maintain and enhance water quality and the Action Plan process is set up to encourage pro-active actions that encourage partners to work together to improve the existing system and respond to identified priorities Consideration may also need to be given to upstream issues and dialogue opened up with new partners if appropriate

623 Addressing flooding issues ndash It is part of the natural river system process for rivers to flood hence the presence of fl oodplains alongside the watercourseThe possible impacts of climate change and more development means that flood risk remains a serious issueTo address this issue the Environment Agency is producing a Catchment Flood Management Plan for the Eastern Valleys which includes the Rhymney River in partnership with relevant organisationsThe Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor Action Plan process can help provide a means to capture issues and share information with the Environment Agency Challenges for the River Rhymney are particularly significant with regard to anticipated increased flood risk due to climate change as the Cardiff section of the river is at the bottom of the catchment area which will be influenced by the anticipated rise in sea levelsThe Catchment Flood Management Plan process will include wide consultation that will provide an opportunity to discuss future implications within the Rhymney Valley

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7 Actions 71 The whole purpose of the River Rhymney and Nant Fawr Corridor Action Plan is to establish an agreed framework that will deliver a wide range of actions that respond to the key identifi ed priorities As outlined in Section 3 implementing the Action Plan will very much be an on-going processThere will clearly be a need for the Steering Group to manage this on-going process by helping to prioritise and co-ordinate the range of actions undertaken

72 The Action Plan document will therefore change over time as specific actions are identified prioritised and completed For this reason the list of current actions will be contained in an Appendix to the Action PlanThe main body of the Action Plan should remain robust up to its five year review but the Action List Appendix will be amended on an annual basisTherefore each year a new Action List Appendix will be prepared that provides an update on completed actions together with an Action List reflecting initiatives proposed to be undertaken in the near futureThe Steering Group will co-ordinate this process and there will be opportunities for all partners to input into the process In summary the Action Plan document will form the overall programme with the Action List Appendix summarising the projects being undertaken at any one time to deliver the Programme aims

73 It is important that the Action List Appendix contains an appropriate level of information to adequately describe the proposed initiative and how they relate to the key priorities together with an explanation of the benefits of each proposed project Similarly it is most useful to consider at the outset who might be involved how the resources to deliver (and maintain) might be secured and likely timescalesThis information will be presented on an A4 templateThe list below summarises information that will be required to identify possible future projects in the Action List Appendix

Project Title ndash A one line title for the proposed action Outline ndash Brief summary describing the project and its outputs Background ndash Brief summary of any relevant history or decisions Priorities addressed ndash Simply quoting the relevant key priorities being addressed Benefits ndash Brief summary of anticipated benefits and outcomes Lead Organisation(s) ndash State Lead organisation(s) including contact details Other partners ndash List of any other potential organisations who could be involved Resources ndash Outline of staff financial and other resources required to deliver project

Timescales ndash Anticipated timescale for project Issues ndash Summary of any relevant issues or risk Progress ndash Any work undertaken to date Next Steps ndash Actions required to progress implementation


19

Natural Environment Group Strategic Planning and Environment

Cardiff Council County Hall Atlantic Wharf Cardiff CF10 4UW wwwcardiffgovukcountryside

2

1 Background 11 Cardiff contains the three major river valleys of the Taff Ely and Rhymney together with other watercourses such as the Nant FawrThese make a unique contribution to the character and form of the city by providing continuous green corridors between the Severn Estuary and the countryside beyond the urban edgeThe water courses and adjoining open spaces possess high recreational biodiversity historic and landscape value Additionally they are located close to local communities and offer excellent opportunities for off-road access routes

12 Many organisations and Service Areas within Cardiff Council have specific responsibilities regarding the river valleysThis initiative seeks to establish an over-arching framework that effectively co-ordinates these actions

13 In order to develop a more joined-up approach to the planning management and enhancement of Cardiffrsquos river valleys Cardiff Council established the River Valleys Initiative in the winter of 200405 This has brought a wide range of organisations together who have roles to undertake within the river valleys Successful workshops and wider dialogue between organisations have enabled a strong consensus to emerge and a desire to work in partnership to make improvements on the ground

14 One of the key outcomes from the inaugural workshop was agreement to develop lsquoAction Plansrsquo for each of the river valleys over the following three years Specifically it was agreed that the Strategic Planning Section in Cardiff Council co-ordinate the preparation of an Action Plan for the River Ely Valley in partnership with other organisationsThe River Ely Valley Action Plan was the first to be developed and published in April 2006The Taff Corridor Action Plan was developed and published in April 2007 Both the Ely and Taff Action Plans are available to download from the Council website wwwcardiff govukcountrysideWork on implementing the projects contained in the Action Plans is continuing apace with Steering Groups monitoring the good progress being made across many topics

15 The process for preparing developing and implementing each of the River Corridor Action Plans is similar In this respect a well attended workshop was held in September 2007 to help identify issues and relevant data sources for the Rhymney Valley and Nant Fawr Corridor Following the workshop extensive data collection and analysis has been undertaken together with site visits and discussions with partners to develop the Action Plan and Appendices




3

4











5

6











7


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19






3

4











5

6











7


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19



4











5

6











7


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19









5

6











7


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19



6











7


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19










7


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19




Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff


Fairwater

Ely

Caerau

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48

Radyr Morganstown






WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19



WhitchurTongw

n

Fairwat

Ely

Caerau


Lisvane

Rhiwbina

Heath

Pentwyn Llanrumney

Gabalfa


Trowbridge

Plasnewydd

Cathays

Llandaff

ch ynlais

er

Canton Riverside

Splott

Butetown

Adamsdown

Grangetown

Llanishen

Cyncoed

Nant Fawr river

River Rhymney

M4

A48





9

10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19



10



Strengths


Opportunities






Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19







Weaknesses


Threats


11












14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19














14













16


Community Factors










17

18







19









16


Community Factors










17

18







19







17

18







19



18







19





19



river rhymney and nant fawr corridor action plan · 2. action plan aim 2.1 the river rhymney and...

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