The re-opening of Grangetown Library is set to take place in December.

A long delay in work starting on the new Grangetown Libary hub led to fears it would not re-open until 2016. New facilities are being added to the building, which is extending out into the existing car park. The library services closed in February and work was due to start in March lasting six months. But problems with two utility companies meant work only started in the summer. Councillor Lynda Thorne said she had been told the hub would open in December.

Pub, cafe and church helps during library extension

A pub, churches and a cafe are stepping in as informal pick-up locations for books, with Grangetown Library set to close for six months as part of a £500,000 extension and revamp.

New facilities are to be added to the building, which will be extended out into the existing car park. Work is starting on March 12th and the library will re-open later this year with added services and a large community room as part of plans to turn it into a hub.

A bookshelf in the Black and White Cafe in Penarth Road

The Central and Canton branch libraries are being suggested as the nearest for main services when the library closes in March 7th.

An informal borrow-and-bring back "library" involving older books at local points - including a cafe, pub and church - is being launched on an "honesty" system. This will see readers able to pick up a book and then return it when they've read it, with no need to check in and out. Among locations which will have books are the Black and White Cafe, Cornwall pub and Salvation Army.

Staff from Grangetown Library

The library is to be extended to include a new community room and to offer some employment, training and advice services

Grangetown Community Action has already moved out of it office in the library - its temporary office is at Bayden Scout Hall, Ferry Road, Grangetown, Cardiff, CF11 OJR. The telephone number will be 029 2066 7246 and the email address will stay the same, grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk.

Grangetown Local History Society has started holding its monthly meetings from Glamorgan Archives, who are also looking after the archive and files during the work, first Fridays of the month, 2pm (except April, Fri 10th).

Councillors' surgeries on the first Saturday of the month in the Buzz Cafe instead, 10.30am.

Into Work Services: The Buzz Mondays 9am-1pm; Fridays 9am-4pm

Communities 2.0 IT training: The Buzz Tuesdays 10.30am -2.30pm

Credit Union: St. Paul’s School Thursday 8.30am-9am; The Buzz Monday 2.30pm - 4.30pm

Citizens' Advice Bureau: 1st Floor Marland House Mon-Wed 9am - 5pm; Thurs 10am- 6.30pm; Fri 9am-5pm.

Looking to book a room for a meeting? Channel View Leisure Centre have rooms for hire from £10 p/h; call in or 02920378161. St Paul's Community Hall and the Bayden Scout Hall are also available for hire.

While the library is closed Our phone (029 20 230 526) will be redirected to Canton Library. We will be having a new phone number when we re-open and will let everyone know what that will be as soon as we can. You will be able to renew, reserve and download books on-line through the council website - www.cardiff.gov.uk/libraries. You can also access some of the on-line resources to help with homework and study. You will need your PIN to be able to do this. Ask a member of staff if you have forgotten your PIN. You can return your book to any library. If you aren't able to travel to another library there are small book collections to be borrowed on an honesty basis at: Black and White Café Penarth Road The Cornwall Pub, Cornwall Street Ebenezer Church, Corporation Road 4winds centre, Clare Road Salvation Army, Corporation Road Children's Story Times will be every Tuesday at the Scout Hall, Ferry Road Tots Time 9:45 - 10:45 am Amser Stori 11am - 12pm Councillors intend to hold Saturday morning surgeries at the Buzz Cafe. For information about the councillors' surgeries please contact Cllr Ashley Govier 029 2087 2020 / 07896 294865; Cllr Chris Lomax 029 2037 2853 / 07905 149308; Cllr Lynda Thorne 029 2034 5679 / 07891 086560 You will be able to pick up recycling and waste bags from: Channel View Leisure Centre Jim Driscoll Way County Hall Schooner Way The Buzz Penarth Road Or by contacting Connect2Cardiff on 029 2087 2087

Trefniadau tra bod y llyfrgell ar gau Caiff ein galwadau ffôn (029 20 230 526) eu hailgyfeirio i Lyfrgell Treganna. Bydd rhif ffôn newydd gennym pan fyddwn yn ail-agor, a byddwn yn rhoi gwybod i bawb beth yw'r rhif cyn gynted â phosibl. Byddwch yn gallu adnewyddu, archebu a lawrlwytho llyfrau ar-lein drwy wefan y Cyngor - www.caerdydd.gov.uk/llyfrgelloedd. Gallwch hefyd ddefnyddio rhai o'r adnoddau ar-lein i'ch helpu gyda gwaith cartref ac astudio. Bydd angen Rhif Adnabod Personol (PIN) arnoch i wneud hyn. Gofynnwch i aelod o staff os ydych wedi anghofio eich PIN. Gallwch ddychwelyd eich llyfr i unrhyw lyfrgell. Os nad ydych yn gallu teithio i lyfrgell arall, mae casgliadau bach o lyfrau ar gael i'w benthyg ar sail gonestrwydd o'r lleoliadau canlynol: Black and White Café, Heol Penarth The Cornwall Pub, Cornwall Street Ebenezer Church, Corporation Road 4winds centre, Clare Road Salvation Army, Corporation Road Cynhelir ein sesiwn Story Times i blant bob dydd Mawrth yn Neuadd y Sgowtiaid, Ferry Road Tots Time 9:45 - 10:45 am Amser Stori 11am - 12pm I gael mwy o wybodaeth am y cymorthfeydd Cynghorwyr cysylltwch â: Y Cynghorydd Ashley Govier 029 2087 2020 / 07896 294865 Y Cynghorydd Chris Lomax 029 2037 2853 / 07905 149308 Y Cynghorydd Lynda Thorne 029 2034 5679 / 07891 086560 Gallwch gasglu bagiau ailgylchu a bagiau gwastraff o: Canolfan Hamdden Channel View Jim Driscoll Way Neuadd y Sir Schooner Way The Buzz Heol Penarth Neu drwy gysylltu â Cysylltu â Chaerdydd ar 029 2087 2088

Councillor Ashley Govier said: "The hub has given us the security for the library - and it will make it more modern and more community-focused."

There is a Cardiff Neighbourhood Regeneration page featuring the hub

Three-year shops facelift begins

The first shops have been given a facelift as part of a three-year regeneration of Grangetown's main shopping centre.

The first phase involves 10 shops in Penarth Road and will take around four months. Work on the road junction with Clare Road and Corporation Road has already begun.

The plans involve 10 shops in Penarth Road

Council officials say the project, part of a £1m improvement programme, will provide support for local businesses to make them more attractive and accessible to customers.

The shops and businesses involved include: Millstones household goods; Anglers Supplies, FA Jones decorating supplies; Spice Essence restaurant; Mr Hair; Inmas delicatessen; Chicken Plus take-away; Ummul Mumineen Centre and the Victory Chinese take-away.

There has been some disruption to businesses while the work is carried out, as well as parking and drop-offs being difficult.

The fronts will be smartened up and new roller-shutters installed.

The next two phases, whcih include Clare Road businesses, will roll out over the next two years and be completed in 2017.

Initial discussions with shops and businesses about the second 2016 phase are due to start later this month.

The project aims to "enhance the economic prospects of businesses within the district shopping centre by increasing footfall for local shops and services." It also aims to improve access to bus services and provide "safer and more user-friendly" pedestrian and cycling routes.

Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant, when he announced the initial funding last year, said: "Grangetown can look forward to improvements to commercial buildings within the shopping area, thanks to a grant scheme designed to brighten up, clean up and add character to the buildings.

"The tackling poverty fund will also be used to improve the Clare Road and Penarth Road area, making it more pedestrian-friendly with improved pavements, public spaces, landscaping, safe crossing points and enhanced signage. All of this is designed to make the district centre area of Grangetown more appealing and accessible with the overall aim of improving footfall and giving local businesses and communities a boost."

There is also a Cardiff Neighbourhood Regeneration page featuring the plans

Junction revamp work nearly over

Five ways - the junction is Grangetown's busiest

Work on a facelift to Grangetown's main road junction has nearly been completed.

The new pedestrian crossings, road surface and pavements will transform the busy intersection of Penarth Road, Clare Road, Corporation Road and Paget Street.

Motorists and residents were warned in February the work would take four months but there were delays and work was due to be completed in September.

It is part of a £1m regeneration project for the local shopping district, funded by the Welsh government and council, which includes new shop fronts and a community hub at an extended library.

The revamp will also include bins, cycle stands and seating.

The latest plans for the Penarth Road junction; and the plans for the new zebra crossing in Clare Road at the Pendyris Street and Court Road junction.

At the moment, the crossing islands for pedestrians are narrow and shoppers can only walk half way across at a time, but they will now disappear and people will be able to cross straight over. The plans are aimed at improving road safety and making it easier for people to cross. Proposals had been put forward to close off Paget Street but after consulting with resdidents it will stay as a through road although signs for the one-way for buses should be clearer.

Community cabinet member Councillor Peter Bradbury said: "We apologise in advance for any inconvenience drivers, pedestrians and visitors to the area may experience while the works are being carried out to greatly improve this part of the city."

He called it a "fantastic project to breathe new life into this part of Grangetown".

The junction from Clare Road

The council said the complex nature of the junction and the scale of work means that there would inevitably be some disruption but the construction phase was being timetabled to limit it during the busiest periods.

Diversions or lane closures will be clearly displayed when they are needed.

There is a Cardiff Neighbourhood Regeneration page featuring the plans