Such a shame building got into run-down state
IT was nice to read such a well-researched piece on the history of the old Gaiety Cinema on City Road (WalesOnline, October 23) which now faces demolition.
Most people in Roath, like my fellow local councillors and I, have found it incredibly frustrating that this important community building has been allowed to fall into a state of total decay by its absentee private owner.
Many residents remember using Spin Bowling, when the building was a bowling alley, and the Gaiety Cinema before that. The building holds a lot of memories, particularly for older residents.
My colleagues and I have worked with a number of organisations, including a housing association which was hoping to turn the building into social housing, to try to bring the site back into use.
The Gaiety got into such a state a few years ago that we had to work with the council’s planning department to take enforcement action to tidy the building up. I’m pleased that something finally seems to be happening with this site, but think it’s a tremendous shame that more hasn’t been done by the owner to try to redevelop the Gaiety building. Councillor Dan De’Ath Plasnewydd
Lament for the old Gaiety Cinema
THE building stands boarded up, Domes like an imitation mosque, A former cinema then bingo hall. I have never stepped inside the doors Of this Cardiff landmark, now sad, That I’ve viewed many times over the years
Walking down this fast-food polluted street
Just like so many millions of feet.
For a century and more
It has watched all kinds of people: Families, the homeless and those swaying from
A night out in the Royal George. Today it awaits execution Though it should be saved and restored
And turned into something artistic and grand
Not student flats for which there’s no demand.
I wonder if ghosts peer down, Alive when traffic was light
And this building was in its prime: Men with hats and ties
And women with lengthy skirts But those days are deep in history, Soon bulldozers will come, dust will blow
As if spirits from a long time ago. Guy Fletcher Pantmawr, Cardiff
We had to work with the council’s planning department to take enforcement action... Councillor Dan De’Ath
Retired miners are barred from union
I AM replying to R Stoate’s letter in the South Wales Echo (October 24). Mr Stoate claims the union is still highly respected by the many miners and their dependants who benefit from their advice.
We are members of the South Wales retired miners’ campaign conducting a petition on behalf of low-paid ex-miners and widows, and against the £1,000,000 a day being taken out of the miners’ pension scheme by successive governments since 1994.
We have repeatedly asked Wayne Thomas, the South Wales area secretary, for help and assistance, and have been refused every time. Not only has Mr Thomas refused to help
us, he has advised ex-miners not to sign our petition.
I have written to Mr Thomas twice by recorded delivery letter asking for our team to meet him in the Pontypridd office and we have been refused. He has written to say that I can go and meet with them but I must go alone without any support or witness. I have declined this offer.
The reason why there are so few members in the NUM today is not what Mr Stoate claims because of the Tories decimating the coal industry; it is because the present leaders of the NUM changed the rules between 2008 and 2011 and excluded all retired miners without consultation and explanation.
Rule 17 H has been inserted to allow NUM areas to have associations of retired miners but they are not allowed to be members of the union.
Mr Stoate states he is a proud member of the 25 members of the South Wales Area. He is a member of the union because he is employed by the union as the caretaker of the NUM Pontypridd office.
Harry Parfitt Mountain Ash The small print:
Letters will not be included unless you include your name, full postal address and daytime telephone number (we prefer to use names of letter writers but you can ask for your name not to be published if you have a good reason). The Editor reserves the right to edit all letters.