Seeking 2 rowing machines! Can you help?

The Pantmawr Action Group will be holding a Row-Athon at the Pantmawr Inn if we can get hold of 2 rowing machines. Can you help us? Please email savepantmawr@hotmail.co.uk if we can borrow yours for the day. Thanks!

Fundraiser Day at the Pantmawr Inn!

As you are probably aware PAG is looking to raise funds for the legal fees we will encounter during our fight against the proposed development of the Pantmawr Inn site.

We would like to organise a fundraising day on Saturday 19th July.

The venue will be the grounds of the Pantmawr Inn commencing at 12.00.

We hope you will attend and pay us a visit on the day to support the cause. In the meantime we could do with volunteers to help organise and help during the day. If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to take part please contact one of the coordinators listed below. We would especially like to see some local children running their own stalls. If there are any young people wishing to do so please contact Sue Rawlinson on 20624218.

The following stalls need donations of items, if you have any please contact a coordinator and they will arrange to collect from you.
Can and Bottle Stall - Anne Leyshon 20624939
Books, CD’s DVD’s and Handicrafts - Gill/Judith 20623466
Toy Stall - Gail 20693007
White Elephant - Claire 20655738
Cake Stall - Pat 20613234
Plant Stall - Hugh

Attractions for the day include a supervised bouncy castle, pig roast, balloon man, music in the pub after 6.00 pm, face painting and hopefully more. If you have any other ideas please contact us.

All funds raised will go to the Pantmawr Action Group in aid of our legal fees.

Thank you in anticipation
PANTMAWR ACTION GROUP

DONATIONS DONATIONS DONATIONS!

Please help us beat the developers - we need money to help us pay legal fees. To donate:

• send a cheque payable to 'Pantmawr Action Group' and include your name and address to our Treasurer Jill Edwards, 34 Heol Ffynon Wen, Pantmawr, Cardiff, CF14 7TP.
• if you live in the Pantmawr area, you can donate cash to the PAG member to will knocking on your door soon to tell you more about representation.
• to make a bank transfer, please call our Treasurer Jill on 02920656966.
• please keep visiting this website for details of fundraising events coming soon.

Your support is vital to us winning. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Latest Pantmawr Action Group newsletter

PANTMAWR ACTION GROUP NEWSLETTER
MAY 30TH 2008

The Appeal against the decision by Cardiff Council to reject the application to demolish the Pantmawr Inn and build Flats and Townhouses on the site is now to be the subject of a Public Inquiry. During the coming week all those of you who sent a letter about the proposed development to Cardiff Council Planning Department earlier this year should receive a letter from them advising you of this. We do not yet know the date on which the Inquiry will be held, but it is likely to extend over a number of days.

We understand that many of you have already written to the Planning Inspectorate at Cathays Park, but you do not need to as your previous letter to the Council will be passed on to the Inspector. If you do wish to write because you have something further to add, you should note that they require 3 copies of your letter. We would also be grateful if you could pass a copy to our Chairman at 115, Caer Wenallt or to another member of the Committee as we wish to monitor the objections that are being made.

This is now a very different situation from the application to the Council. While anyone can speak at the Inquiry, with the Inspector’s agreement, it is important for the success of our case that only planning issues are raised. Any other comments will be ignored. The Inspector will also not wish numerous people to stand up and make the same point over and over again, particularly if they are not directly affected themselves by the development. That will be counterproductive and will not help us to win this Appeal. Anyone who does speak may also be questioned by Lawyers acting for the Applicant and Cardiff Council.

The Action Group have applied to the Inspectorate to be what is called a Rule 6 party. This will give us certain privileges that individuals will not have. We will be allowed to use a Lawyer to present our case at the Inquiry and he will be able to cross examine the Applicant’s and Cardiff Council’s witnesses (eg their planning officers). We would like as many residents of Pantmawr as possible to agree to be represented by us and our legal team. Our case will be very much stronger if we are united. Those whose properties back onto the site, or will be affected by the development in other ways, will still be able to give their views on the effect the development will have on them.

Pooling together will also shorten the length of the Inquiry, which will please the Inspector and should reduce our legal fees. Even so, Legal representation will be expensive and we are appealing for donations which can be proportionally returned if the money is not used. You can send a cheque payable to ‘Pantmawr Action Group’ and include your name and address to our Treasurer, Mrs Jill Edwards, 34 Heol Ffynon Wen, Pantmawr, Cardiff, CF14 7TP. If you prefer, you can give a cash donation to the PAG Committee Member who calls to see you about representation. If you wish to make bank transfer, please consult our Treasurer on 029 20656966. A receipt will be issued and accounts for the group are available on request. We will also be holding a number of fund-raising events over the coming weeks and months. Please support us.

We will keep you informed of any developments via newsletters and our website www.savepantmawr.org. A PAG Committee Member will be visiting every house in Pantmawr soon to obtain a signature confirming your support. This will also provide you with an opportunity to get more information on a one to one basis.

Join us on Facebook here.

PAG is calling for a public enquiry

The Pantmawr Action Group committee met last night to discuss the appeal. The applicants Mitchells & Butler and Asbri Planning (on behalf of Charles Church) have requested that the appeal be made through written representations, rather than a public enquiry.

PAG has contacted the Planning Inspectorate strongly urging them to launch a public enquiry into the matter, following the high profile and strongly supported campaign to SAVE THE PANTMAWR! The Planning Inspectorate have noted PAG's request for a public enquiry.

PAG will be making a statement at the public meeting at All Saints Church Hall, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, at 7pm on Monday, May 26th. All welcome - please come along! Spread the word.

Join us on Facebook here.

Assembly to rule on Pantmawr Inn's future as developers appeal

Assembly to rule on pub’s future as developers appeal

Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

DEVELOPERS have appealed against the rejection of controversial plans to build flats and houses on the site of a popular pub.
Proposals to build on the site of the Pantmawr Inn, Pantmawr, Cardiff, were rejected by Cardiff council’s planning committee after a lengthy residents’ campaign against the idea.
But Asbri Planning, which represents developer Charles Church and landowner Mitchells and Butlers, has appealed to the National Assembly.
The Pantmawr Action Group (PAG), which formed to try to save the pub, has said it will continue its campaign against the plans.
The Assembly’s planning inspectorate, based at Cathays Park, Cardiff, will now have 30 weeks to look at the appeal.
Asbri Planning has asked the inspectorate to consider the application on written representation alone, without a public inquiry.
But a public inquiry could be held if the Assembly receives enough demands for such action from the public.
Ward councillor Jayne Cowan said she fully supported PAG and believed a public inquiry would be in their interests.
“It would mean there would be a site meeting and the campaigners could show the full scale of the impact, as they have done previously,” she said.
A public meeting to discuss the situation has been organised at All Saints Church Hall, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, at 7pm on Monday, May 26.

M&B and Charles Church have appealed

Local Cllrs Jayne, Adrian and Brian contacted the Pantmawr Action Group with the following:

We are sorry to advise that Mitchells and Butler and Charles Church have appealed against the Pantmawr Inn Decision.

We are putting out a flyer to every house in Pantmawr to advise them of this over the next few days.

A public meeting has been arranged for Monday 26th May, 7pm at All Saints Church Hall.

Please contact us with your views which we will forward to the National Assembly for Wales.

Best wishes

Jayne, Adrian and Brian

Email Jayne - JCowan@cardiff.gov.uk

PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE SOON FOR MORE DETAILS.

Letter from the First Minister

Dear Sue,

I was very pleased to hear that the well supported campaign against the redevelopment of the Pantmawr site was successful and Cardiff Council's Planning Committee recently turned down the application.

I am well aware of the importance of the pub, especially for the Pantmawr residents, and that since the closure of the Heol Ffynnon Wen shops, it is the only facility on the estate available for the local community's use.

It is also an important part of the living heritage of North Cardiff, a place where people can meet and can now enjoy good value food & drink in a well-run establishment.

The future may not yet be totally secure, but the Committee's decision, reflecting local people's concerns as well as needs, is an important step in preserving the Pantmawr for future generations and I wish you and the pub every success.

Yours

Rhodri

Celebratory emails from campaign supporters

The Pantmawr Action Group has received a huge number of emails following the Planning Committee voting NO to development. Here's just some of them:

A short note to say many thanks for all the hard work that you’ve put in on the campaign to stop the Pantmawr planning application. My wife and I moved here last year, and we quickly realised the importance of the pub as a focus for the estate and a place for our three year old daughter to play. We were horrified at the prospect of losing it before we’d really had a chance to get to know it, and I have no doubt that this would have been the result had you not decided to press the case with such commitment and innovation. I’ve attended the last two planning meetings and the site visit and have been amazed at the support that you’ve mobilised. Pantmawr is fortunate to have you. [Pantmawr resident]

Congratulations and thanks to all concerned for achieving this result. By mounting such a professional and well informed campaign you have demonstrated how members of the community can exert a real and positive influence over decisions which affect them. You have also highlighted a worrying naivety and lack of rigour in the way that the planning and highway officers handled such a badly prepared proposal. Hopefully lessons will be learned in County Hall. [Elwyn Owen, Pantmawr resident]

Congratulations. What an amazing result. Everyone worked so hard to ensure the right result was achieved. [Independent Cllr Jayne Cowan]

PANTMAWR ON ITV!

We're on the telly!

ITV Wales visited the Pantmawr Inn to cover our campaign. Click here or copy and paste the following into your address bar.

http://www.itvlocal.com/wales/?player=WAL_HomePage_15&void=174839

Echo reports site visit! Balloons lift protesters’ pub demo to a new level!

Story in today's Echo, by Laura Wright.

"A PROTEST group made sure that a council planning committee had plenty to see when they made a site visit to a threatened pub.
Plans have gone before Cardiff council to replace the Pantmawr Inn, in Pantmawr, Cardiff, with flats. But residents have fought the plans from the outset and even set up a naked protest to make sure they were noticed.
This time round, up to 300 people turned up at the pub for the planning committee site visit to show their objections with visual aids yesterday.
About 40 helium balloons demonstrated the height and area of the flats and several signs around the area pointed towards the community’s protest.
Rachel Thomas, of the Pantmawr Action Group, said: “The balloons were very useful because it’s hard to imagine how tall a building is going to be and its effect on the area. Our signs showed how close the flats would be to houses and that the pub is used as a community facility.
“Children play on the grass outside the pub and, if that goes, the nearest park is two and a half kilometres away.
“We’re very pleased with the turnout especially with the sleet, hail and rain.”"

Hundreds brave the rain for the Site Visit

Yesterday the Council's Planning Committee visited the Pantmawr Inn site to get a better understanding of the issues facing the planning application. Local residents turned out in force to show the Planning Committee the strength of opposition to the proposals. Lead by Chairman Bob Derbyshire the Planning Committee looked at three locations around the site.



Jonathan Morgan AM came along to show his support.

The Planning Application states that the entrance to the site is 7.5m wide, however, PAG's civil engineer has measured the entrance as 6.8m, so we showed the Planning Committee this with a giant tape measure!

The Planning Application will now be considered at the next Planning Committee meeting on 16th April at Cardiff's City Hall. Please check back here for details.

PAG turn out in force at the Planning Committee

After the Pantmawr Action Group turned out in force at Cardiff's City Hall, the Council's Planning Committee have decided to have a site visit before making a decision on the Planning Application.

The site visit will take place on 7th April at 4.30pm.

Planning Officers recommend the application is granted!

The Planning Officers report has now been received and it RECOMMENDS that the application is GRANTED. Members of the Action Group have considered the report and are of the opinion that it is heavily biased in favour of the developer and ignores or brushes aside the valid objections of many residents from the Estate and elsewhere, including the local MP, Assembly Member and Councillors. 138 letters and a petition of 1132 signatures, of which 495 were from people resident on the Estate, were received by the Planning Office against the amended plans submitted in December 2007. There are also factual errors and other matters in the Planning Officers report that the Committee will be bringing to the attention of the Planning Committee.

The first meeting at which the Committee will consider this application is on Wednesday next 19th March at 2.30 at the City Hall. The room in which it is to be held (the Ferrier) has a capacity of nearly 100 and we would like as many people as possible to attend. This application is expected to be heard during the first hour of the meeting and we would hope that a decision would be deferred for a site visit to be made.

If agreed to, THE SITE VISIT WILL TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY APRIL 7TH. We would like as many people to be present as possible so please keep this date free in your diaries. We will let you know the time of the visit as soon as it becomes available.

The next Planning Committee Meeting will then be held on Wednesday April 16th – another crucial date for your diaries as a further showing of objection to the plans is required then as well.

While this is a set-back to our campaign we are determined to carry on and fight these proposals by all means possible and look forward to continuing to receive your support.


PANTMAWR INN DEVELOPMENT – NO NO NO NO

Please check back for more information coming soon :)

Did you miss PAG on the Al Murray show?

Don't worry! Watch it again here - http://www.itv.com/Watchnow/CatchUp/default.html.

Pantmawr development plans ammended

Local Councillors Jayne Cowan and Adrian Robson have forwarded the ammended Pantmawr development plans to the Pantmawr Action Group. If you'd like to see the plans in full please email savepantmawr@hotmail.co.uk and we'll forward you a copy :)

Did you know?

The Community Pubs Foundation has posted some key facts and figures on their website.


Key Facts:

• 26 pubs closed forever every month


• 8 out of 10 pubs closed forever are demolished or converted into houses


• Only 12% of those who visit pubs prefer town centre themed pubs


• 84% of those who visit pubs prefer a country pub or a community local


• 69% of all adults agree that pubs play an important role in community life

The Pantmawr Action Group is still campaigning tirelessly to save our community pub. Want to get involved? Here's what you can do:

• Email savepantmawr@hotmail.co.uk


• Pick up a car sticker from the Pantmawr Inn and disply it in your car


• Lobby your local councillor, MP or AM to support the cause


• Spread the word of the Pant to everyone you know


• Buy a Save the Pantmawr hoody or t-shirt

KEEP CHECKING THIS SITE FOR UPDATES!

Thanks for your continued support :)

Move over Calendar Girls!

That's one way to get more exposure ladies!

Feb 20 2008 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

MOVE over Calendar Girls.

A group of ladies campaigning to save Cardiff’s Pantmawr Inn pub plan to expose their campaign on national television by stripping naked on Friday’s Al Murray show.
The protesters have already posed nude outside the Tyla Teg pub, using a 15ft campaign banner to shield their modesty.
They have now been filmed alongside former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, Coronation Street actress Kim Ryder and Michael Winner as guests for the ITV show, hosted by comedian Al Murray as his character the Pub Landlord.
The naked protesters are members of the Pantmawr Action Group, which has been campaigning against plans to stop developers demolishing the pub and building flats in its place.
Sue Rawlinson, 54, an office administrator, of Cae’r Wenallt, Pantmawr, said she was not fazed by the prospect of stripping on national television.
“We will be getting good exposure in more ways than one,” she said.
“I’m not nervous. Why should we be nervous when the banner hides everything?
“It will be an experience for us all, I think.
“We’re expecting Al to take the Mickey out of us something rotten but we would do anything for our pub so it will be worth it.”
Sue’s daughter Sian-Elin wrote to the show to suggest they feature the Pantmawr Inn.
After viewing the naked protest pictures on the group’s website, programme makers invited them to London.
The television company whisked the six ladies and action group chairman Hugh Payne to the television studios for filming yesterday and put them up in a London hotel afterwards.
To celebrate, the Pantmawr Inn will be screening the Al Murray show and have its own live music in the pub on Friday.
Mr Payne hoped the TV appearance might bring the group’s fight to save the pub to a wider audience.
He said: “I don’t think any residents in Pantmawr have missed the campaign because we’ve knocked on every door and 75 per cent of them have our posters.
“But hopefully this will tell people from further afield that the pub is still open and doing very well.”
Pub owners Mitchell and Butler decided to sell the premises because of a decline in trade.
Developer Charles Church wants to build a block of 23 flats and 11 houses on the site. Cardiff council is likely to consider the plans at a planning meeting on March 19.
For campaign details visit www.savepantmawr.org

katie.norman@mediawales.co.uk

Pantmawr Inn on the Al Murray show!

This Friday 22nd Feb, the Pantmawr Inn will be featured on the Al Murray show!! PAG members will feature alongside Piers Morgan and Kym Ryder!

The show is on ITV1 at 10pm - come along and watch it with us :) We'll also have a live band to gear us up to the show!

More details coming soon...