Lisa Jones

And Katie Norman

Echo.newsdesk@walesonline.co. uk

CAMPAIGNING residents are celeb­rating the decision by city councillors to scrap a controversial housing de­velopment on their playing fields.

The Ely Garden Villagers were formed in protest at a scheme to build 230 new homes on land near Snowden and Pethybridge Roads, Ely, Cardiff, which was intended to put to use an area riddled with anti-social behaviour.

But yesterday's executive business meeting voted to withdraw the plans, citing the groundswell of opposition as one of the major factors.

Protester Lynda Sullivan interrupted the meeting with a gleeful cry of "Yeah, we've won", before inviting fellow campaigners to celebrate over a pint in Cardiff's Vulcan pub.

Lynda said the fight to save the fields from development had brought the community closer together.

"It made us realise what we stood to lose," she said. "There's no way we are ever going to let it go back to the way it was. We realised that if we didn't do something, these fields would just disappear for ever."

Since the housing plans were an­nounced in October 2007, locals have been using the fields to stage football training sessions for newly formed teams as well as collecting a 1,400-name petition.

Judith Woodman, executive member for communities, housing and social justice, told the Echo: "The community has made considerable efforts to turn around the anti-social behaviour they experienced.  That

has been a really positive outcome.

"It took the threat of losing it for the community to pull together. I hope they will sustain it."

She added that a second round of consultation found there was no clear majority in the community for or against the scheme. Ward councillors had also switched allegiances.

Lynda, whose husband Peter is assistant team manager of one of the football teams, Avenue Hotspurs, said funding would now be sought to help make the fields a permanent home for the football teams which use it.

She said: "We will just get stronger and stronger now. There's lots of things we've wanted to apply for funding for,

but no-one would help us because of the plans for the fields. Now we can look at all the options.

"A meeting will be called to ask residents what they would like because it's not our decision, it’s a community decision."

Tay Godfrey, spokeswoman for the Ely Garden "villagers, said: "If we hadn't got together and done something about it, it would've gone through.

"We hope the fields will continue to be used as they have been in the last two years.

"We will now be looking to the council for help in refurbishing our changing rooms."

WHILE the Ely Garden villagers are over the moon that we won our fight to save our only green spaces, sadness comes with it.

Tragically, we lost one of our much-loved campaigners Stuart Robst just the day before we knew we won, and he would have been there on the day to hear our good news.

Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

We are so pleased the council allowed us to keep our fields and we are so grateful they listened to the people of Ely.

We have so many people to thank - firstly, the Ely community for all their support, for the letters they wrote, petitions they signed and for demonstrating with us at City Hall. Your support will never be forgotten.

Special thanks to Peter Hamblin, Collin Hill and Derek Carson, the Parks Department, Arson Reduction, Tidy Towns, the Friends of Plymouth woods, Community First, St Fagans Community Council, the VAC and Community Chest for the funding that made a big difference for the children of Ely.

Also, the local shops for displaying posters in their windows - special thanks to Anne and Peter (Pete's Stores).

Apologies if we missed anyone out, there are so many of you to thank.

Last, but not least, Plaid Cymru councillor Neil McEvoy, AM Chris Franks, AM Dai Lloyd, and all from Plaid for your ongoing support and for taking the time to visit our fields during our campaign.

 Lynda Sullivan

Llewellyn Avenue

Ely, Cardiff

As a member of the Ely Garden Villagers, I would like to thank the Ely community for signing our petitions and for their many letters of support regarding the proposed development plans to our Rec.

The decision was rejected by the council, but not one of our three Labour councillors have visited the Rec or contacted any member of the Ely Garden Villagers to congratulate us on our victory to keep our playing fields.

Maybe it was not a decision they agreed with, but I know the voting decision I will be making, and, believe me, it will not be Labour.

 Jane Sully,

Ely, Cardiff

I WOULD like to say a big thank you to Ely Garden villagers for working so hard to save our only green spaces. My two grandsons attend the well-turned-out football training sessions. They also went alone to a tournament at Canton Community Hall during the Easter half-term.

The children looked lovely in their football kits, now called the Elyites, and did Ely proud.

I'm glad the council listened to the people of Ely and I for one I’m really grateful for that.

Well done to everyone involved.

Sandra Thomas,

Ely, Cardiff

I WAS so pleased to hear that the  council have let us keep our green spaces in Ely. It just goes to show when we stick together things can be changed.

I was really worried about losing our only green spaces and the impact it would have had on the area if the housing plans had gone ahead. I would like to thank Plaid and especially Councillor Neil McEvoy for their great help in our fight to save the Rec.

I would also like to thank ITV and the Echo for keeping Ely in the public eye throughout our campaign.

Denise Hale

Llewellyn Avenue

Ely, Cardiff

For Those Unaware!

By Peter Sullivan

After two years of trying the Ely Garden Villagers finally achieved what they set out to do, saving our only green recreation fields for the children and residents of our community. We would now like to thank all those who supported our campaign we wouldn't have won without your support.

Now we can get the ball rolling. Why should the children and

youths have to go outside of Ely to play competitive football? Now

the Avenue Hotspurs have a ground to call home, competitive

football will now be played at the Rec Saturday afternoons and we

will now be able to register child and youth teams (at last). We

have training equipment, kits, and FAW trained coaches in place.

Training sessions will be held Thurs­day evenings at 6.30pm and a kick about Sunday afternoons 2.30pm all welcome.

If any body would like to get involved with coaching we can provide training as we do need more

coaches. (If interested call me on 02920657024 or 07500220379)

Many thanks to Julie and Neil Lewis G&J motors who sponsor

us and supply us with two mini buses. These have enabled us to

get our young teams to tournaments and will help get them to

match day games when the new season starts.

Also for the first time in a great many years an Ely Festival event

(which was Funded by the National Lottery) was held at the Rec. The 'It's a knockout' competition was greatly enjoyed by all who attended. We hope to hold more events in the future.

At the moment we are trying to get fund­ing for our next fire-work display at the Rec. If you were at last years I know you will not want to miss this years.

Again a massive 'Thank You' to all that supported our campaign, the hard work paid & was not in vain.

www.elygardenvillagers.co.uk

IT has been more than 10 weeks since our tyre swing has disappeared at our play centre at north Ely.

Apparently it was taken away because it failed the test for "safety reasons". You only have to. look at the ground to see how much this swing is used - or should I say was used!

The children miss it and would

like it replaced. They think they've done something wrong, and that's why it's been taken from them.

Apparently it will cost £300-£400 to

replace this swing. Due to cutbacks it

looks like our swing will be lost for ever. Why does it seem that deprived areas are first on the hit list for cutbacks?

Surely if people are working hard within their community to make a difference, they should be commended.

So how can Ely sustain what’s been achieved and move forward if Ely keeps having things taken away, never to be replaced.

This swing was not misused or vandalised. The only thing the children are guilty of is using something they had a lot of fun on.

Play centres are so important throughout communities; this is where their life begins.

Getting it wrong due to lack of funding means that they will be loitering around your streets in the future!

For the sake of £300-£400 I think the outcome is priceless. So please can the children of Ely have their much-loved swing back?

Lynda Sullivan Llewellyn Avenue, Ely