Summer musings from Pontyclun

Tyle Garw and Pontyclun

The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales has proposed that the boundaries of the Community of Pontyclun are extended to include the approximately 700 residents of Tyle Garw who are currently served by Llanharry Community Council. This proposal is subject to further public consultation until mid September.

The existing community of Pontyclun, represented by the Pontyclun Community Council, includes Talygarn, Brynsdaler, Pontyclun, Ynys Ddu, Miskin, Mwyndy and Groes Faen. There are just over 8000 residents.

Pontyclun Community Council would offer a warm welcome to the residents of Tyle Garw if this proposal is implemented.

Pontyclun centre has many amenities which are used extensively by Tyle Garw residents: the primary school, nursery schools, the GP surgery, the dentist, the post office, the bank, the credit union, Café 50, Pontyclun Park, the Rugby and Football Clubs, the shops, restaurants and cafes.

For the financial year 2019-20 Pontyclun Community Council agreed a budget of £118,480. It charges the average Band D household £33.80 each year – compared to £75 in Llanharry, £64 in Llanharan and £41 in Llantrisant.

The services offered by Pontyclun Community Council include:

• -          Pontyclun Park
• -          Ivor woods
• -          Maintenance of public rights of way
• -          Maintenance of war memorial
• -          Café 50 and its wide range of social activities for older residents
• -          Summer flowers in Pontyclun, at the station, in Miskin and Groes Faen
• -          Christmas lights
• -          Summer Festival
• -          Christmas Festival
• -          Walks Festival
• -          Grants in support of local groups
• -          Encouraging visitors and promoting the local economy
• -          Putting pressure on those who have an impact on Pontyclun – Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, Cwm Taf Health Board, RCT Council

Pontyclun has always been eager to share its facilities and services with the residents of Tyle Garw and the changed boundary would give Tyle Garw residents a say in how Pontyclun develops – electing its own member to the Community Council.

Pontyclun Community Council would be eager to discuss with residents of Tyle Garw how it could extend its services to the Tyle Garw area – providing summer flowers and Christmas lights.

Pontyclun Community Council  will be surveying each household in Tyle Garw on the proposal to include Tyle Garw in the Pontyclun Community.

If you have a view, for or against, you can also contact me directly by e-mail or telephone.

With the inclusion of Tyle Garw, the Boundary Commission is recommending that Pontyclun has three, instead of two, representatives on RCT Council. My view is that there should be a RCT Councillor for each of the following three areas:

• -          Groes Faen and Mwyndy (all roads off Ffordd Cefn yr Hendy)
• -          Miskin, Hendy and Ynys Ddu
• -          Tyle Garw, Maesyfelin, Brynsadler and Talygarn.

Is giving in your Blood?

Ray Blank one of Pontyclun Community Council staff has just been given an award for making 350 blood donations over the last 20 years.

This is a fantastic achievement and will have saved many lives. We know that he is not the only person in our community who donates and volunteering like this is another way that we show how we are a caring community which looks after those who are in need.

I am in awe of Ray – I have not yet reached 100 donations.

If you would like to give blood, please contact the Welsh Blood Service on 01443 622000 and arrange to visit them at the Welsh Blood Service Centre near the Royal Glamorgan Hospital or at their mobile service which visits Pontyclun and Talbot Green.

Paul Griffiths

Chair, Pontyclun Community Council

Summer in Pontyclun

Picnic in the Park

June, so far, has been a bit cool and damp.

But on 8 June the Community Council worked with the whole of Pontyclun to create a little ray of sunshine when several hundred families came to enjoy the ‘Picnic in the Park’. I thank everyone who came to create this event which showed the truly friendly spirit of Pontyclun . Recently, I asked what made Pontyclun a successful town – this event provided a large part of the answer.

This picture shows the egg throwing competition organised by Cllr Carole Willis, and Ysgol GGG Llantrisant,  as part of a wide range of traditional family games.

I thank the wide range of groups who contributed so much to this fantastic community event.

Pontyclun Environment Group

This wonderful group of Pontyclun residents do so much to support our local environment. They arrange litter picking days. They organise nature walks. They established and maintain the walk along the River Ely from Brynsadler  with hidden pebble beaches and some of the most natural woodland in Pontyclun. At the Picnic they helped children make bird feeders for their gardens.

You can contact the group through Sarah Jenkins; e-mail srj555@hotmail.co.uk

Pontyclun Road Runners

This group were brilliant contributors to Picnic in the Park. Many members came along to provide enjoyable run-based activities  for children – including the bean bag relay I remember from my primary school. There was a 1.5 k run around the rugby field. On the very same day Pontyclun Road Runners provided around thirty marshals for the Pontypridd Park Run.  You can join this group by visiting https://www.pontyclunroadrunners.co.uk/contact-us/

Pontyclun Community Garden

This is another inspiring group who contributed to the Picnic. These volunteers provide a community garden within Pontyclun Park. They have created attractive growing beds where they have cultivated vegetables, shrubs and flowers. Members of the public are invited to come pick the vegetables for free – so many people respond to this invitation with a gobsmacked “you must be kidding me”; but it is true. To join the garden group e-mail ‘pontyclungarden@gmail.com’.

Bethel Baptist Church

Church members provided a wonderful musical and melodic accompaniment to the Picnic. They also provided a lounge for those who needed a quiet moment.

Macmillan Fundraising Support

Our inspiring Macmillan Fundraising Support had a stall at the Picnic showing how Pontyclun is a community that wants to give to those in need as they fundraise for a new  care centre for with cancer – Y Bwthyn

Citrus Arts

Performers from Citrus Arts came along to share circus skills among the children at the Picnic.

Miskin Cricket Club

The ageless Keith Davies of Miskin Cricket Club came along to introduce bat and ball to the youngsters in the park.

Walking Rugby and Football

The ageless stars of Pontyclun walking rugby and football groups shared their skills with the children in the park; the children shared their pace and agility. You can join the walking rugby and football groups by contacting ‘cafe50@pontyclun-cc.gov.uk’.

Pontyclun Pentanque

The Petanque Players of Pontyclun came to share the game of petanque, boule to some of us, to the picnicers in the park.  You will find the Petanque players regularly at Pontyclun Rugby Club.

Jo Cox

We were inspired to introduce Pontyclun’s Picnic in the Park in 2018 by the events in memory of the  murdered MP, Jo Cox. Jo had always held that in every community “there is more that unites us than divides us”. She was killed for holding that belief. Our picnics have shown that in Pontyclun there is real joy in coming together on a summer’s day to meet our neighbours, introduce ourselves to each and enjoy the company of all others, no matter what their age or background.

In Defence of Politics

Jo was killed for being a politician. I have been elected politician since I became a a member of  Pontyclun Community Council in 2004. I have not experienced the threats of violence and abuse experienced by so many other politicians – but people often step back with dismay and puzzlement when I introduce myself as a councillor.

I was once a lecturer in politics, explaining  that politics was the process of resolving the differences of opinion and interest in any community. I would argue that democratic politics was the mark of civilisation as we seek to resolve those differences through dialogue, persuasion and compromise – rather than force and oppression. The politician seeks to be bridge, the person who forges compromise and decision amidst disagreement and division.

I fear for the future as democratic politics is denigrated, all politicians are demonised, the institutions of democratic government – be they local, central or European – are cast aside. The end result is fascism: the end of politics, the oppression of individuals and minorities.

Pontyclun’s  Picnic in the Park shows other ways forward: hope over fear, cooperation over competition, solidarity over division, togetherness over  separation. We showed that there is more that unites than divides us.

Paul Griffiths

Chair of Pontyclun Community Council

Summer events in Pontyclun

Picnic in the Park

On Saturday 8 June everyone in Pontyclun is invited to come to the Park – all members of the family, from toddler to teenager, dad to hen,hen mam-gu.

It is all free. You can bring your own picnic and, if you choose, leave your purse at home – although there will be food and drinks for sale.

There will be games, sports and family races. There will be a circus school and music. Every group in Pontyclun has been invited to run a stall so that we can all meet new people.

This picnic is organised by Pontyclun Community Council so that we can all enjoy each other’s company – knowing that there is always  more that unites than divides us.

The fun starts at 1 pm and will continue all afternoon. You will get a great welcome.

A Summer of Fetes and Festivals

Congratulations to Ysgol Llantrisant who ran a very successful ‘Gwyl’ on 18 May at the Rugby Club to get out summer off with a smile and a song.

Pontyclun Falcons

Congratulations to  Pontyclun’s women’s rugby team who reached the Welsh Super Final at the Principality Stadium on 10 May. They were matched against the might of Swansea, Davina versus Goliath. Pontyclun scored two magnificent tries on the hallowed turf but finally lost 33-12.

Congratulations also  Pontyclun’s men’s team who had a good season, finishing third in their league, ahead of such prestigious teams as Penarth and Penygraig.

Pontyclun Walking Rugby

Pontyclun’s walking rugby team were also at the Principality Stadium in the last month. They took part in the WRU’s first walking rugby tournament. Pontyclun won as many matches as they lost and caused a lot of interest by including local resident, JPR Williams, in their team. Also included were Community Councillors Anne and Gwyn Jackson, and Mike Davies.

Every Wednesday morning at 10 am you are all invited to join our walking rugby players in Pontyclun Park. There is an hour of rugby and an hour of football. This has been organised by a partnership between Pontyclun Community Council, Café 50 and Sport Wales.

 International Petanque

On 4/5 May Pontyclun hosted the 31st Celtic Challenge, the annual pétanque competition between Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

There two full days of intense competition which saw Scotland emerge as overall winners. Congratulations all the players who were made very welcome in Pontyclun with a tournament dinner taking place in Pontyclun Rugby Club which has done well to develop an international arena for Petanque.

I was so delighted to be invited to welcome the teams as Chair of Pontyclun Community Council that I wore the Council Chain for my first time. You may think I spoiled the effect by also wearing shorts and sandals.

I told our guests how we were a small town with a long history and a big heart.

  

Margaret was better dressed to provide a welcome from RCT Council.

We should all thank the local Petanque players and organisers who put Pontyclun on the international map.

Pontyclun storm the Principality Stadium - well almost!

Pontyclun Walking Rugby team play at the Principality Stadium

The WRU organised a Walking Rugby festival at the Principality Stadium on Monday 29th April 2019.

8 teams from South & Mid wales were invited to attend and Pontyclun as one of the first Walking Rugby teams in Wales was invited to play.

14 Intrepid players and our great coaches from Play Sport Wales made the short hop by train to Cardiff.

The budding starlets starting getting ready in the Home changing rooms with a short warm up on the pitch where photos were taken including with the 6 Nations and Triple crown trophies

Pontyclun with 6 Nations and Triple Crown Trophies

The 8 teams gathered and it was down the tunnel to music and lights to start the games. 

We knew it was serious when a set of qualified referees turned up for each match! One recalled refereeing a match at Pontyclun where he was punched by a player - from Builth Wells thank goodness so he had no hard feelings to us.

Pontyclun played teams from Cambian (Porth); Pontypridd; Ynysybwl and Treorchy.  The matches were played with a great spirit of fun.

Even with JPR on our side we did not achieve a clean sweep but it is fair to say every team came over for photos with us. Amazing what having a legend with you does to your popularity. 

After the matches there were medals for all, back to the Players lounge for refreshments then the serious action started in the bar!

We have now arranging more matches against Treorchy and Cardiff for this summer.

The team meets Wednesday mornings at 10am in Pontyclun Park. New players, are always welcome so come along and join

Behind the scenes in the stadium

Home changing room - where's Alun Wyn's space?

Lord Ellis Thomas issuing medals

Geraint John with JPR Keith and Gwyn

Springtime in Pontyclun

Pontyclun Spring Clun

On the weekend of 16/17 June Pontyclun’s Eco Warriors came to the rescue. 37 volunteers and members of the Pontcylun Environment Group spent the weekend collecting litter left in various parts of Pontyclun, Miskin and Hendy. In total 83 bags were filled with rubbish. Our thanks and congratulations goes to every volunteer.

This is the second year when the Environment Group has organised its Spring Clun. Whilst a lot of rubbish was collected, Pontyclun was noticeably cleaner than last year. As a community we are indebted to the walkers and dog walkers who collect litter day in and day out. We have benefited from a number of young school children who have been collecting litter every weekend as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award. Environment Group members have adopted ‘black spots’ and do regular litter cleans – Marg and I try to do Station Terrace regularly.

Darren and Ray, the Community Council staff, litter pick on our public rights of way and in Pontyclun Park. RCT staff litter pick each week in the shopping areas.

When we keep our community clean, we feel better. We are more likely to go out and socialise. Our health improves. We attract more visitors and local businesses benefit. It is no small matter.

Pontyclun Environment Group

This Group was initially formed in 2011 to create a walking trail along the River Ely, upstream from Brynsadler Bridge, on land in danger of falling into the hands of developers.

It has since developed into a group with a wide range of activities. It organises the litter picks – the next one will be on June 22/23. This summer it will be creating boxes for birds and bats. Sarah Jenkins is a key organiser and she can be found on srj555@hotmail.co.uk or 0785 002 0477. Karan Lane is the Community Council’s lead councillor on the environment - karanlane@pontyclun-cc.gov.wales. Please make contact if you want be involved.

Picnic in the Park 8 June

Put Saturday 8 June in your Diary. This is the day in which every Pontyclun resident is invited to bring a picnic to Pontyclun Park. There will games for children of all ages – with support from our rugby, football and cricket clubs. There will be music and food stalls. Every local organisation is invited to create a stall explaining their contribution to our community  - contact Julius, the council clerk, to book a space;  e-mail clerk@pontyclun-cc.gov.wales or ring 01443 238500

Plant Sale 18 May

At Pontyclun Community Centre on Saturday 18 May, 10 am to 12 noon, there will be a plant sale in aid to St Paul’s Church in Pontyclun and St Anne’s in Talygarn. You will be able to buy from a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants provided by local gardeners. There will be home made cakes, tea and coffee.

The sale is organised by Maureen Hybart, tel 01443 225427. You can bring your plants along to sell and book a table through Maureen for garden produce.

Pontyclun University

Our local university of the Third Age is open to anyone who is retired or semi-retired. It organises over 20 different groups for learning and socialising. On the third Monday of each month at the Community Centre, 1.30 pm, there is a guest speaker

Mon May 20th	Graham Watkins: "From Novice Wordsmith to Published Novelist".
Mon Jun 17th	Rev. Clive Williams: "Classical Music"
Mon Jul 15th	Dean Powell: "Welsh Male Voice Choirs".

Llantrisant Folk Club

Our local Folk Club meets every Wednesday evening ay Pontyclun Athletic Club. On 7 May John Doyle provides a ‘fine voice and stunning guitar’. On 22 May the Hut People will be ‘dramatic, joyous and beguiling’.

Pontyclun Institute and Athletic Club

Part of the bedrock of the community of Pontyclun is the Athletic Club . This was opened in 1910.

It was built by Godfrey Clark who lived at Talygarn House. He was the son of George Clerk who had been manager of the Dowlais ironworks. Godfrey Clark had been Chair of the District Council since 1894 taking responsibility for improving the public health of the area. In 1907 he bought farmland to the south of the railway and developed the area of Palawyf, Cerdin and Llwynfen as a ‘model town’. The development included open recreational space and the ‘Institute’ as a social amenity that could bring people together. Clark donated the Institute to the people of Pontyclun, appointing trustees to ensure that it served the interests of local people.

In the First World War the Institute was made available to the Red Cross to provide care for the war wounded.

In 1959 the Club gained its first alcohol licence and, building on its relationship with local sports clubs, took the name ‘Athletic Cub’. The activities currently taking place at the Club include bowls, skittles, darts, snooker, the folk club, the Sunday night quiz, choir practices, toddler groups, line dancing.

I have heard it suggested that Pontyclun needs a ‘community pub’, a pub owned by local people. Well, we have had one since 1910 and it deserves our support. Anyone can join. As a member, anyone can share responsibility for taking this club forward into the next century. 

Pontyclun Walking Rugby

Our Walking Rugby team is going from strength to strength having been invited to play at the WRU's "Road to Principality" event at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

They have been playing for nearly 3 months now and as one of the first Walking Rugby teams in Wales have been invited to demonstrate this "new" sport at the home of Welsh Rugby. This is a great opportunity to promote the team and Pontyclun.

If anyone wants to join them they meet at 10am on Wednesdays in Pontyclun Park. Bring some water and a sense of fun.

What makes Pontyclun a successful place?

Whenever I visit sites of Ancient Greece I am reminded of how many thousands of years people have yearned for a ‘polis’ – a shared space in which we engage with others, share dreams, argue different points of view, provide mutual support. We yearn for successful towns. They are a feature of every civilisation.

What Makes Pontyclun Successful?

I have recently returned, on a temporary and part time basis, to the role of being a special adviser to the First Minister of Wales – such is the advantage of losing my Pontyclun seat on RCT Council.

One of my tasks has been to create a discussion within Welsh Government on what makes a town successful.

I suggest that all of Wales could look with interest at what is being achieved in Pontyclun.

We are a small town which grew rapidly up to the year 2000. In 1980 the population was 4000. In 2000 the population was 8000 as a result of the new housing in the Hendy, Ynys Ddu and Brynsadler.

A Shared Public Space

Population growth does not always create successful towns; it can just create detached, soulless commuter zones. The challenge is to foster a shared space that brings people together. Our success in Pontyclun  has been to create a town centre that brings people together when they live in the various villages of Brynsadler, Talygarn, Hendy, Mwyndy, Miskin and Groes Faen.

Public Amenities

It is a feature of a successful town that central and local government continues to invest in town centre public amenities.

Pontyclun Primary School, with 540 pupils, is in the town centre. Y Pant Secondary School with 1400 pupils is close by.

Our GP clinic in School Street is adjacent to our main street. We kept our town library open and it is near to the school and shops. We have kept our Community Centre and Café 50 as amenities that bring people to the town centre. We recently created Pontyclun Park as a place that brings people together.

In 1990 we re-opened Pontyclun Station and this brought people into the town centre.

Elsewhere in Wales we can see the negative effect of moving schools,  health centres and other shared amenities  to out out-of-town, green field sites. The gleaming new citadels of concrete and glass can only be approached through a fume of congested traffic; and the town centre is left behind, vacant and empty.

Voluntary Action

A successful town harnesses the energy of local people who come together to create and share the same space. We are lucky in Pontyclun to have the people and the local groups that bring us all together.

Pontyclun Rugby Club, in the town centre, has over 500 playing members: men, women, young and less young. With all their families, volunteer coaches and organisers they bring life to the centre of our town.

Pontyclun Football Club, which socialises in the Pontyclun Athletic Club, has just as strong a playing base with the same volunteer spirit. It brings people to the town centre.

Pontyclun Running Club meets throughout the week in the centre of Pontyclun.

Our choirs such as Cantorian Pontyclun meets at Café 50 in the town centre. Llantrisant Folk Club has an international reputation and meets at Pontyclun Athletic Club.

Pontyclun University of the Third Age was created only two years ago. With 150 members and over 20 learning groups, it brings people to the town centre.

Churches and Chapels, such as Bethel and St Paul’s, bring hundreds of people together in the town.

   

Less successful towns than Pontyclun have less voluntary action and it is less focussed on the shared space of a town centre.

Innovative Business

Successful town centres cannot rely entirely on shops. It is inevitable that we will buy more and more on the internet. The town centre businesses that succeed will offer the personal service that the web cannot provide – cafes, restaurants, sociable bars, hairdressers, beauticians. An innovative business like Giles Gallery offers unique products and services that cannot be gained digitally – it brings people to the town centre and benefits when our local voluntary groups and public services bring people into town. When food retailers, like our Deli and Butcher, offer local and distinctive products, they succeed.

We need businesses to locate in town centres so that their employees can use the town centre shops and services. Businesses in Pontyclun that provide this role include Churngold in the old chapel, Rina Consultancy on Clun Avenue, Concrete Canvas opposite the Pant School.

A Lively Community Council

It is my privilege to chair Pontyclun Community Council which buzzes with energy and imagination. When we organise a Christmas Festival, a Summer Festival, providing lights and flowers, a walking festival, a music festival, a public park, Café 50 - we bring people to the town centre.

When the Community Council works with the volunteers in the Community Garden and the Environment Group, we make the town centre attractive to people. We provide the town car park which is crucial to bringing people to the centre.

A successful town needs a lively and engaging town council.

The Future for Pontyclun

Nothing is guaranteed – towns go backwards as well as forwards. We need continued investment in our town centre public amenities. We need to attract and support the next generation of volunteers that will lead our voluntary groups and our local council. We need the excitement and innovation of new business leaders.

The inherent tendency of capitalist markets is to centralise into ever fewer and larger conurbations. We need governments to provide the support and infrastructure, including transport, that allow local towns to thrive. What we do not need is any more out-of-town retail parks.

In 1896 Pontyclun Football Club coined the socialist mantra ‘Gorau chwarae, cyd chwarae’ – those who play the best, play together. Successful towns need that same spirit.  

Paul Griffiths

Chair

Pontyclun Community Council

Traffic & other road issues!

Traffic in Groes Faen

Two years ago Cardiff Council gave a planning consent for 10,000 new homes around Creigiau and St Fagans.  Pontyclun Community Council and RCT Council objected to this planning application arguing that the resulting flow of traffic through Groes Faen to Junction 34 would cause huge disruption. The Planning Inspectorate and Cardiff Council did not respond to our objections.

Groes Faen residents are already feeling the impact as construction traffic adds to the flow of traffic through the village. RCT Councillor Margaret Griffiths and Community Councillor Carole Willis have been working with residents to make the case for safety measures on the road through their village. They called a public meeting and are working with residents to make the case for a pelican crossing, mini roundabouts and cameras which record average speeds.

We are continuing to meet the RCT Director of Highways and we are pressing for extra expenditure on these projects.  

Mayhem on Heol Miskin

All of us attempting to get in and out of Pontyclun along Heol Miskin will know that there are two sets of traffic lights with one way traffic at each.

The first piece of work is to make good the retaining wall that prevents the road from sliding down the hill into River Ely. It was last year that this wall was assessed as being at risk of slipping away.  RCT Council has commissioned contractors to repair the stone retaining wall - a three month project costing over £100,000 It is a nuisance but the work is essential.

The second piece of work is the up grading of the main gas pipe as it joins all the new gas pipes on the Hendy where residents have spent the last year watching the new gas pipes being ‘moled’ under the pavement. I have asked why these two pieces of work are being done at the same time. I was told that one period of disruption may be better than two separate periods.

Safe Walking Routes in Pontyclun

Last year Pontyclun Community Council submitted a series of proposals which would make walking through Pontyclun safer. Following two rounds of public consultation  RCT Council has bid for money from Welsh Government to:

·         Introduce an island in the middle of Cowbridge road near the War Memorial.

·         Move the bus stop from Tescos to the Masonic Hall and construct a new bus shelter making access to busses easier for wheel chair and pram users.

·         Introducing dropped kerbs at several crossing points.

·         Introducing a 20 mph zone around the Primary School, around the Cowbridge Road shops and on Station Terrace.

I thank everyone who has participated in the consultation. As a result several detailed amendments have been made to the scheme which will be implemented during the next year.

Community Council Budget

Due to increases in employment and energy costs the Council has agreed to increase its annual budget from £113,410 to £118,480. The average cost to a household for the Community Council will increase from £32.50 to £34.20. Our expenditure will include the provision of Pontyclun Park, Café 50, public toilets, the car park, Ivor woods, 24 miles of footpaths, summer flowers, Christmas lights, grants to local groups, summer and Christmas festivals. Our full budget can be found on www.pontyclun.net. I think the Community Council gives very good value. I would welcome your comments and suggestions on our budget.

Council Tax

A recent report by Cardiff University shows that council budgets in Wales, apart from schools and social services, have fallen by over 40% since 2010, due to the cuts in public expenditure by the UK Government. The number of jobs in Welsh local government has decreased by over 20,000. We have fewer libraries, leisure centres, day centres, litter pickers, rubbish collectors, road menders etc etc. And still people blame the Council for every shortcoming. http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/wgc/files/2019/02/local_government_finance_report_Feb19_final.pdf

Pontyclun Volunteers

Partly as a response to council cuts we rely ever more on the army of volunteers. Each week our own Environment Group and young Duke of Edinburgh volunteers are out picking litter.

A resident was complaining about council workers not removing the fly tipping outside the bedsits at the bottom of School Street. I joined the volunteers and removed the rubbish.

Dog Poo!

We all love dogs and all dog owners who pick up dog poo. Residents in Miskin have asked that I remind dog owners of their legal duty to pick up dog poo and bin the plastic bag. If you don’t, you risk a fine. You will certainly lose the friendship of your neighbours.

Pontyclun Road Runners

Congratulations to Pontyclun Road Runners who have organised an amazing ‘Couch to 5k’ programme over the past two months. Hundreds of residents have been introduced to running for the first time.

I have been a participant with the road runners from their very beginning three years ago. The organisers have been inspiring and I am pleased that the Community Council has been able to help with the cost of training ‘coaches’.

Margaret and I do the weekly 5k Park Run at Porthcawl. Margaret has the support of the plastic knees inserted by our wonderful NHS. We recommend running for all – this is a photo of our run in the Christmas sunshine.

Paul Griffiths
Chair
Pontyclun Community Council