Canton Councillors plea to Cardiff City FC

Councillors say City refuse to communicate on resident concerns

COUNCILLORS are urging clear the air talks with Cardiff City FC as the possibility of Premier League football nears.

Canton Coun Ramesh Patel and Richard Cook both expressed concerns to Cardiff Evening News that since the new Malaysian consortium, headed by Dato Chan Tien Ghee, officially took over in May they have had no consultation with the club.

Coun Patel said: “It seems strange that the club don’t wish to interact with the local community. They have to remember we are their neighbours, even when the crowds go home we are still here.”

Coun Cook said: “I am concerned with the lack of dialogue. There are things which are already a problem like the parking chaos on match days.

“I would like to talk with them constructively about how we can improve this for all parties, as well as discussing changes to the current park and ride system,” he said.

Under the current park and ride system run by the club as part of planning permission conditions, fans are charged per person for the service. Cardiff Council’s own service for shoppers to the St David’s Centre from County Hall charges per car.

The service currently provides 1,500 car parking spaces. Average attendances at Cardiff City matches this season have been 22,578.

Coun Cook said: “The problems are difficult now, can you imagine what will happen if they get into the Premier League?

“We want this as much as anybody but we must plan for this eventually now for the benefit of all the residents of Canton, as well as fans.

When the move to the new stadium was announced in September 2007 an official club statement read: “The plans also include improvements to the streetscape and parking facilities in nearby Canton.”

Cardiff City were unavailable to comment.

The curious case of the Sand Martin

The naming of a pub on the site of the Cardiff City Stadium has branded “crazy” and “disappointing” by City fans.

Marston’s Inns and Taverns, the owners of the new pub which is due to open in the spring, have decided to name it The Sand Martin.

And the decision has left City fans scratching their heads as to the connection between the diminutive bird and the club.

James Leighton, author of Fred Keenor: the man who never gave up about the Cardiff cup winning captain said: “It’s a crazy decision. They could have picked anything to do with Cardiff City FC.”

James Corp, a barman and City season ticket holder for 10 years said: “It’s not a great name is it? A pub’s name is meant to reflect and be a part of the community it’s in. I think it should have been called the Fred Keenor or the John Charles.”

While Chris Bond, an electrical engineer from Canton said: “Well nothing says Cardiff quite like a sand martin does it.”

Phil Nifield of the Cardiff City Supporters trust said of the decision: “I am disappointed but not wholly surprised. We don’t think the name proposed is appropriate for the location and felt The Fred Keenor or, indeed, The Bluebird would have been excellent choices.’

Explaining the name a Marston’s spokesman said: “our practice is always to choose a non-partisan name for our outlets. In recent years we have chosen various combinations of birds, insects, animals etc. Hence in other food led outlets we have in South Wales, there is the Otter at Newbridge, the Willow Tree, Brynmawr, the Dragonfly, Merthyr Tydfil and the Bumble Bee at Blackwood etc. All are hugely popular and the generality of their names has not attracted any adverse comments.

We have already been lobbied to name our pub variously, The Leckwith, The Gareth Edwards or after one of a plethora of worthy Welsh rugby legends. So as not to offend any one organisation, we always choose not to align ourselves to a specific group or individual, no matter how noble or revered the cause.

For the purposes of absolute clarity, our pub restaurant is not a sports bar or a sports TV-led outlet. It is fundamentally, a family dining outlet where food will account for up to 70 per cent of the turnover. Indeed, on match day we will be at the mercy of the local constabulary as to whether alcohol can be sold at all, without a substantial meal, during specified hours.

Although, we appreciate that some may question the precise relevance of a ‘Sand Martin’ to this particular location, in reality, it is no more perplexing than would be a ‘Red Lion’, a ‘Flying Horse’ or one of many other wonderful and imaginative names that have become attached to public houses over the years. Accordingly, we aim to appeal to as broad a church of patrons as possible, by attempting not to cause offence or disrespect to any.”

Do you have a view on the name? Send us your thoughts at thisiscanton@yahoo.co.uk

Ramsey Joins Bluebirds… again

Cardiff City hope Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey will help fire them to the Premier League.

The 20 year, Caerphilly born midfielder has arrived on loan from the Gunners for a month-long stay to aid the Bluebirds promotion challenge.

Ramsey will be available for a critical seven game period for City up to February 26, which includes one of the most important South Wales derbies in recent years.

Speaking to the club’s official website Ramsey said: “I thought it was the right time to come back, play in a few games and help Cardiff get a few points to get in top position again.”

What do you think of the Ramsey deal? Can he make the impact in a month?