Gabalfa
{{Short description|District and community of Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Wales
| welsh_name =
| constituency_welsh_assembly = Cardiff North
| coordinates = {{coord|51.500|-3.204|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Gabalfa
| community_wales =
| unitary_wales = Cardiff
| lieutenancy_wales = South Glamorgan
| constituency_westminster = Cardiff North
| post_town = CARDIFF
| postcode_district = CF14
| postcode_area = CF
| dial_code = +44-29
| os_grid_reference =
| population = 8,790
| population_ref = (2011){{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/gabalfa-w05000862#sthash.owcM66sj.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011 |access-date=8 April 2015}}
| static_image_name = St Marks church, Gabalfa, Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1462652.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Marks Church, Gabalfa
| module=
{{Switcher
| 240px
| Show map of the community
| 240px
| Show map of the electoral ward
}}
}}
Gabalfa ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|ɡ|ə|ˈ|b|æ|l|v|ə}}, {{IPA|cy|ɡaˈbalva}}) is a district and community in the north of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is characterised by a four-lane flyover road at the Gabalfa Interchange, where the A48 road meets the A470 road (North Road) which leads from Cardiff to northern Wales, and the A469 road (Caerphilly Road).
The name is derived from the Welsh {{lang|cy|Ceubalfa}}, literally translated as 'place of the boat'. It was formerly the site of a ferry crossing across the River Taff, upon which a school is now built.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/streetsofcardiff/gabalfa.shtml |title=Gabalfa |work=Streets of Cardiff |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=2008-01-16}} The area was first heavily developed in the 1880s, with most of the characteristic terraced housing originating from the next 30 years of construction.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecardiffmuseum.co.uk/gabalfa.html |title=Gabalfa |website=National Museum Cardiff |access-date=2019-08-22}}
The area around St. Joseph's Church near to Companies House is known as 'the Colonies' due to a number of streets named after former British colonies, including Australia Road and Newfoundland Road.
Education
= Primary =
Gabalfa has three primary schools, with a combined attendance of more than 720:
- St. Joseph's (Roman Catholic) Primary School{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/st-josephs-r-c-primary-school-122950|title=St Joseph's R.C. Primary School, Cardiff|website=The Good Schools Guide|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.estyn.gov.wales/provider/6803301|title=St Joseph's R.C. Primary School {{!}} Estyn|website=www.estyn.gov.wales|access-date=2019-08-21}}
- Allensbank Primary School{{Cite web|url=https://www.estyn.llyw.cymru/darparwr/6812007|title=Allensbank Primary School {{!}} Estyn|website=www.estyn.llyw.cymru|access-date=2019-08-21}}
- Ysgol Mynydd Bychan ('Heath School' in Welsh),{{Cite web|url=https://www.estyn.gov.wales/provider/6812180|title=Ysgol Mynydd Bychan|date=2019-08-21|website=Inspection Reports|access-date=2019-08-21}} which teaches in the Welsh medium
Gabalfa Primary School is not within modern Gabalfa but in neighbouring Llandaff North.
= High School =
Gabalfa has one comprehensive school, Cathays High School,{{Cite web|url=https://www.estyn.gov.wales/provider/6814054|title=Cathays High School|date=2019-08-21|website=www.estyn.gov.wales|access-date=2019-08-21}} with around 900 students{{Cite web|url=https://www.cathays.cardiff.sch.uk/documents/EstynCathaysHigh.pdf|title=A report on Cathays High School|date=2013-02-01|website=Cathays High School|access-date=2019-08-22}} (mainly from outside Gabalfa).
= University =
Gabalfa has a high student population. There are several halls of residence for Cardiff University in the area, housing about 3,100 students, some 10% of the student body.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/residences/talybont-north|title=Talybont North|website=Cardiff University|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/residences/talybont-south|title=Talybont South|website=Cardiff University|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/residences/talybont-gate|title=Talybont Gate|website=Cardiff University|language=en|access-date=2019-08-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/residences/talybont-court|title=Talybont Court|website=Cardiff University|language=en|access-date=2019-08-22}} Liberty House{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/residences/liberty-house|title=Liberty House|website=Cardiff University|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}} serves mainly medical and nursing students at the nearly University Hospital of Wales. In addition, many students live in privately rented accommodation in the area.
Places of worship
File:St Joseph's Catholic Church, Cardiff (Geograph 1972973 by Jaggery).jpg
Churches in Gabalfa include St Mark's on North Road (Church in Wales),"Who we are". St Mark's Church St Joseph's on New Zealand Road (Roman Catholic),{{cite web |title=Contact Detail |url=http://www.saintjosephs.org.uk/details/contact.html |website=Saint Joseph's R.C. Parish, Cardiff |access-date=28 August 2019}} and the All Nations Church on Eastern Avenue (Ministries Without Borders, co-located with the All Nations Centre).
Politics
File:Cardiff ward location - Gabalfa.png
The electoral ward of Gabalfa lies within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North, which has been represented since 2017 by Welsh Labour MP Anna McMorrin. In the Senedd, Cardiff North is represented by Welsh Labour MS Julie Morgan.
There is no community council for the area.
Gabalfa was served by two Cardiff councillors: Ed Bridges (Liberal Democrat), elected in 2004, and Gareth Holden, elected in 2012. Holden was elected as a Liberal Democrat but resigned from the party in 2013.{{cite news|author=Peter Law |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/lib-dem-councillor-leaves-party-2497677 |title=Lib Dem councillor leaves party in anger at coalition government |work=Wales Online |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=2018-04-20 }} He lost to a Liberal Democrat candidate in the May 2017 election. The ward is currently served by Rhys Taylor and Ashley Wood (2019).
Gabalfa is bounded by Birchgrove and Heath to the north, Cathays and Maindy to the south, and Llandaff North to the northwest.
Transport
The area is known for the Gabalfa Interchange (or Gabalfa flyover), where the A48 Eastern Avenue, A470 North Road, and A469 Whitchurch Road (south)/Caerphilly Road (north) meet. The interchange is known for its suicides and suicide attempts,{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/major-cardiff-road-shut-due-9778186|title=Major Cardiff road reopens after man dies falling from flyover|last=Melville-Smith|first=Alicia|date=2015-08-03|website=walesonline|access-date=2019-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cardiff-western-avenue-delays-live-road-closed-10434382.html|title=Body of a man discovered on A48 Western Avenue in Cardiff|date=2015-08-03|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}} although efforts have been made to improve this, with signs to suicide prevention charities now clearly visible on the pedestrian bridge over Eastern Avenue.
= Bus =
Cardiff Bus' service 35 bus circles the area before heading to Cardiff Bay via Cathays and Central station. Services 1/2 Bay Circle run along Western Avenue towards Heath or Llandaff. Additionally, the following services stop at the Gabalfa Interchange:{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiffbus.com/services|title=Routes & Maps - Cardiff Bus|website=www.cardiffbus.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-21}}
- 8 (University Hospital of Wales) or (Cathays-Roath-Central Station-Grangetown-Cardiff Bay)
- 9 (University Hospital of Wales) or (International Sports Village)
- 21 (Rhiwbina-Coryton-Whitchurch) or (Central Stn)
- 23 (Whitchurch-Coryton-Rhiwbina) or (Central Stn)
- 24 (Whitchurch-Llandaff North-Pontcanna-Llandaff)
- 25 (Central Stn)
- 27 Capital City Green (Heath-Birchgrove-Thornhill) or (Central Stn)
- 35 (Gabalfa) or (Cathays-Central Stn-Cardiff Bay)
= Rail =
There are no railway stations located within Gabalfa, although a new railway station serving the ward was proposed by the County Council in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3384 |title=Cardiff County Council - Local Transport Plan 2000-2016 |format=PDF |date=2000-08-01 |access-date=2008-01-17 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221049/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3384 |archive-date=2007-09-26 }} The nearest railway stations are Heath Low Level and Heath High Level to the north-west, Cathays to the south and Llandaf to the north-east.
= Walking and cycling =
The Taff Trail, a long-distance footpath and cycle route that runs along the River Taff, is connected to Gabalfa by Llys Tal-y-Bont Road.
In 2023, a new cycle path was completed along Allensbank Road on the edge of Gabalfa, as part of Cardiff's Cycleway 1.{{Cite web |last=Peskett |first=Ted |date=2022-09-16 |title=Council defends cycle lane roadworks after complaints |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/council-defends-gabalfa-cycle-lane-25004168 |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gregory |first=Rhys |date=2023-06-27 |title=New Cardiff cycle path hailed a game changer by residents |url=https://www.wales247.co.uk/new-cardiff-cycle-path-hailed-a-game-changer-by-residents |access-date=2023-08-29 |language=en-US}} To promote cycling and improve safety, in recent years councillors and residents have campaigned with some success for traffic calming measures, such as Gabalfa becoming a {{convert|20|mph|km/h}} zone, raised crossings being installed,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/transport-projects/Consultations/Documents/Clodien%20Avenue%2c%20Traffic%20Calming.pdf|title=Clodien Avenue Area Traffic Calming|date=2019-08-21|website=Clodien Avenue Area Traffic Calming|access-date=2019-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/transport-projects/Consultations/Documents/CO16127%20-%20%2802%29%20General%20Arrangement%20and%20Finishes-GA%2003.pdf|title=Whichurch Road/ Flaxland Avenue Pedestrian Crossing Facilities|date=2019-08-21|access-date=2019-08-21}} and curbs being narrowed.
Gabalfa is within a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute cycle of the city centre.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}
Gallery
File:Africa Gardens, Gabalfa - geograph.org.uk - 827176.jpg|Africa Gardens
File:Gabalfa flyover, Cardiff.jpg|Part of the Gabalfa Interchange and flyover
File:Subway under Gabalfa Interchange, Cardiff.jpg|Subway under Gabalfa Interchange
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/suburbs/gabalfa.shtml The History of Cardiff's Suburbs - Gabalfa]
- [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2774288 Geograph - Photos of Gabalfa, Cardiff]
- [https://www.stjosephsprm.cardiff.sch.uk/ St. Joseph's R.C. Primary School]
- [http://allensbankprm.cardiff.sch.uk/ Allensbank Primary School]
- [http://www.ysgolmynyddbychan.cymru/en/ Ysgol Mynydd Bychan]
- [https://www.cathays.cardiff.sch.uk/ Cathays High School]
{{Cardiff}}
{{Communities of Cardiff}}
{{Politics and Government in Cardiff}}