Just what to do with Clifton Street in Adamsdown?
That is the question posed by many residents and council officials alike as the takeaway-heavy street comes under the spotlight again. For residents there are two deeply concerning issues, the one-way system and the sheer number of takeaways popping up along the road – leading it to be dubbed the next City Road.
(Takeaways in red, hairdressers in blue)
To tackle the number of takeaways, Adamsdown councillor Nigel Howells, Liberal Democrat, has asked the planning committee to consider making the street a saturation zone. If accepted, Clifton Street becoming a saturation zone would mean any application put forward for a takeaway licence would be rejected out of hand.
But Sandra Todd, who runs Todd’s Butchers in Clifton street with her husband Phil, said of Coun Howells’s saturation zone pledge: “They’ve been saying this forever, nothing will change.”
Mr Todd added: “Howells has known about this street for years and yet here we are.”
Residents estimate there are about 20 takeaways along the street and Mrs Todd said: “They’re taking over. What I want to know is where they’re getting their money from to refurnish and open and disappear after six months.”
The issue of the one-way system is perhaps one that hurts businesses the most however, and its flaw was made clear two weeks ago with a fire at the Splott bingo hall. The fire caused roads to be shut and meant people coming down Clifton Street had to turn left, leading to cars blocking the road and causing delays as they three-point-turned in the street.
Richard Hill, who runs Cardiff Lock and Key company on Clifton Street, said: “People just don’t come down here anymore, businesses are struggling.”
Mrs Todd added: “They need to get it back to two-way. People don’t come to Clifton Street anymore because it takes them so long to get back to the main road having to go via the roundabout.
“Making it two-way might not stop the takeaway problem but it might bring some business back to the street.”
