Radyr’s shadowy path finally lit – but councillor calls for more lighting where the path splits
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Radyr’s shadowy path is finally lit – but some say it’s still too dim for safety

‘I still don’t like to walk through alone,’ says one resident

STREETLIGHTS have now been installed along one of Radyr’s busiest public paths but concerns remain over the safety of residents.

The two lights have replaced a faulty one along a usually dark footpath that connects Drovers Way Park to the centre of Radyr village.

“It’s definitely progress and it’s better than it was, but I am particularly keen to see a light in the park itself, because the path actually forks there and it needs to be obvious,” said councillor for Radyr and Morganstown, Helen Lloyd Jones.

The narrow path, lined with wooden boards, winds between two houses and is used by Drovers Way residents to access Radyr’s high street.

Credit: The Cardiffian

But where the path splits at the edge of the park, there is no still lighting.

A resident whose mobility scooter toppled over there on the way back from an event asked Radyr and Morganstown Community Council to light the area three years ago.

But now Coun Lloyd Jones is concerned that despite the improvements made by Cardiff Council in early January, that risk still lingers.

Residents feels that Drovers Way Park is still unsafe and want to see lights where the path splits and through the park Credit: The Cardiffian

“We need to look at getting lighting across the park to Drovers Way because if you have a person who has mobility issues and needs to use a scooter, that’s the only way they can get to the centre of Radyr,” she said.

Radyr resident, Sian Wallace still worries about how dark it is in the park despite improvements to the path that leads there.

“I use the Plymouth Drive cut-through only during the day as I worry about slipping.”

But this isn’t the only path causing concern to residents.

In green: the path from Drovers Way Park to Plymouth Drive that has been lit;
In yellow: desired areas to be lit from left to right ( the path leading to Windsor Road and Drovers Way Park) Credit: The Cardiffian

Patricia Williams has lived in Drovers Way for 20 years and also wants to see lighting installed on the footpath that runs parallel to this path at the top of the village to Windsor Road.

“We have had some extra lighting there but it is still quite dark at night. I don’t like to walk through alone,” she said.

“Improving the lighting on all these shortcuts is what we should be trying to work towards,” says Coun Lloyd Jones.

“A lot of them are quite dark, and women in particular are quite frightened, particularly in the evenings.”

Another resident, Richard O’Brien, proposed putting lights along the path at waist height to help with visibility.

“Otherwise, it is easy to lose the path or get a branch in your eye,” he said.

Residents are also concerned about the lack of lighting at the top of Drovers Way leading to Windsor Road Credit: The Cardiffian

Lighting along Drovers Way Park was first raised in November 2022 by Coun Lloyd Jones and the Parc Radyr Management Company, which oversees the maintenance of the Parc Radyr estate’s common areas, including Drovers Way Park.

The community council was unable to pay for the project, but an estimated £18,000 was secured from Cardiff council in July 2024.

The next step is to secure lighting in Drovers Way Park and across other public paths in Radyr.

“It’s now a case of finding the money and if the Parc Radyr Management Company can help us out, that would be absolutely miraculous,” said Coun Lloyd Jones.

If the cost exceeds the council’s budget, she plans to approach Cardiff Council once again.