Friends of the Mid: Success!

Friday 11 March 2022

Success!

Delighted to announce that the threat of housing development that hung over the Mid has been lifted. Council leader Andrew Morgan visited the Mid Rhondda Athletic Field on Wednesday 2nd March and announced that no housing development would take place. It will instead remain in council control with a view to restoring it to something like its former glory - hopefully incorporating a heritage trail around the perimeter.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Andrew Morgan and members of Friends of the Mid and all those within the community who supported our campaign by bringing the field and its unique history and heritage to the attention of a a wider audience. Friends of the Mid will continue to work to try and raise a wider awareness of the history of this unique place.

Our only regret is that Paul is not here to share it with us.

Reactions From Supporters:

" Paul would be absolutely delighted. To preserve this wonderful ground for the community meant a lot to him. As it did to me and our daughter. Lovely news !! xx" Susan Berry

"Wonderful news, you and Paul and your team worked so hard for this, Phil. Congratulations on the outcome. One small slice of history and a great amenity saved for future generations." Catrin Collier.

"Great news. Well done to all involved. Such an important site and so much potential." Heledd Fychan MS/AS

" Hi Phil, Congratulations to you and your team on what sounds like a great outcome. I must admit that I am a little surprised as I do not have much confidence in the decisions of local councils. Thankfully on this occasion they seem to have got it right and I hope that they make a longterm commitment to keeping The Mid for the community. I was saddened by your news of Paul Nagle. I didn’t know Paul but anyone who was able to stand between the try line and John Bevan was made of the right stuff." Maurice Richards

"You and the other leaders of the Campaign have been splendidly persistent in taking the cause forward, and the community’s victory is yours." Dr John Geraint Roberts

"Well done Phil , you and Paul (RIP) have made this possible with your hard work , lets hope that RCT will honour this and leave the Mid for the people of Tonypandy and the Rhondda to enjoy as one of the only green spaces left , great news Phil." Dennis Stallard

" Phil and everyone concerned in this protest, it is a victory for the community. What a shame that such a body did not exist in the years that the Power House at Llwynypia descended into decline. It is to be hoped that the local authority will now recognise that Rhondda has a domestic need, not bland, impersonal projects that do little for the borough." Bill Richards

"That’s fantastic news. It is such a pity that Paul didn’t live to see the outcome. Perhaps as a tribute to Paul a commemorative bench at the site in honour of him once the area has been restored?" Cheryl Morgan

"Wonderful news, well done to everyone for your hard work ,To keep our mid Rhondda field for people to enjoy." Sandra Gaylard

"Brilliant news and well done all who were involved. Have some great memories of that place and would love to see it restored and used more for what it was meant for." Paul Stevens

"It is so good to know that the powers to be …. Listen to the people …. Well done All for your dedication to this. " Jan Evans

"Well done all, I spent many a happy hour, Over the years, Playing football, Cricket. Etc. On "The Mid". It great to see, People power win for once." Ian Williams

"Phenomenal job! Well done everyone, more memories of fun and laughter in the years to come with our children playing over the Field . At the bottom of Ely Street . Lesley Galliford

"Amazing news!!! Thank you for all of your hard work to protect it for the community! We and our dogs are so grateful." Sian Elson

"Well done to “The Friends of the Mid”, a little bitter sweet that the news has come after losing one of the original founders Paul Nagle after working so hard in conjunction with Phil Rowlands." Neill Wilcox

"Great news great memories on t h at field through school sports and I am 81yrs then my youngest son whose 42yrs watched him many times in that field well done." Mary Thomas

"Great news I played on Mid as a young Hendrecafn boy and then representing Tonypandy Grammar School in rugby this is now an opportunity to develop the land in a modern way for our local community." Gareth Richards

"Fantastic news. Well done, Neill Wilcox, John Charles and all the rest of the “Friends of the Mid” group." Steve Riddick

"Great news. I played hockey many times there, attended inter-school sports days, and of course regular games lessons." Helen Forder

"Took a girl on a date there once." Darren Lock - "Let's hope they don't find her when they cut the grass!" Wayne Thomas

"Brilliant work to save the cultural sporting history of The Rhondda. My heartiest congratulations to you all." Peter Brown

"Absolutely magnificent news. As someone who spent a huge amount of his childhood, enjoying this facility. I'd just like to say diolch yn fawr iawn to all the people who have worked so hard to win this battle. I salute you all you bloody legends!!" Mike Clarke

"We’ll done. You have all been amazing and unstoppable. Enjoy your success." Christine Dando

"Congratulations and THANK YOU to Phil Rowlands and the 'FRIENDS OF THE MID' for working tirelessly to ensure the Mid has been saved for future generations of our kids to enjoy. Without your dedication and commitment this would not have been possible." Mathew Rowlands

Apologies that we haven't included everyone's comments. Altogether on Facebook we got 418 LIKES and 133 COMMENTS

THANKYOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT

IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU

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Your Suggestions Please

'Save the Mid' is the start of a campaign to save an historic community asset for the benefit of future generations.

At this time we are looking for:

1. Expressions of Support - please Like our Facebook Page Click Here.

2. Suggestions of how the ground could be developed for community use. Please use the Comment Box below each Post or visit our Facebook Page to Post suggestions.

3. Should we be successful we will be looking for people to form a Committee or Working Group. If you are prepared to get involved please let us know by posting a comment here or on our Facebook Page.

Without the support of our community there is little chance of success. Please support this community campaign.

Comments

Brought up in Ely St, where the track is at the bottom of the road. As a young child growing up the freedom and joy I benefitted from was wonderful, and where children could be children. Families gathered to celebrate occasions, school sports, golf, jogging. It is essential that there is a wide open space like the track for the health and well being of all the people in the area. It is essential that as times continue to change that these open spaces are becoming absolutely necessary for the family of all ages and generations to be able to use. It is also a vital habitat of wildlife among the meadow flowers and long grasses that grow along the edges of the track. The long history of the track is also a jewel in Tonypandy's crown. The track must be saved as a wide-open space for all. After this pandemic of 2020 this space will be needed more than ever after such a prolonged lock down. (J. Thomas)

There are enough houses in this small Town and what is needed is a recreational area with trees, flowers, shrubs. This then can bring in wildlife for us to enjoy and this can be somewhere safe to walk around for the less mobile people. (S. Richards)

The 'Track/Mid' is of huge importance to Tonypandy, its surrounding area and to those of us who live here. It has monumental local historical importance while serving as one of the, if not the last green space for our children and future generations of our children to enjoy. Invest and Preserve . . . (M. Rowlands)

I spent all my childhood in this place, it needs to stay. (J. Shallish)

I spent so much of my childhood playing here, as it was at the end of my street. It has been with the community for generations and should be utilised for the good of the community. It should be used for local sports teams, children's fitness, for the local super school sports teams. (E. Phelan)

This a great community resource that was a key place in my development. (J. Williams)

As a Rhondda Boy I believe we need to preserve and remember our heritage. (D. L. Davies)

Used it all the time as a kid, the history of the place is one to cherish, there's plenty of empty homes in the Rhondda. Houses are not needed. Facilities for all ages are though. (I. Thomas)

What an amazing place! I played lots of football up that field as a kid, and there was some good rugby games played on that field too. (B. Lloyd)

I grew up with this field at the end of my street. I spent so much time there as a child as there was nowhere else to go playing. In this era where playing spaces are vanishing it’s important to hold on to the few remaining. (S. Lewis)

Too many sports grounds are being lost. (D. Mumford)

Destroying the community does not equal rebuilding the community. Taking away vital amenities from a community and then increasing the population only divides communities and contributes to antisocial incidents and crime. (D. Harris)

We need to preserve health enhancing local facilities and resist the urge to replace them with houses. There’s plenty of land elsewhere to build. (G. Roberts)

Belongs to the community not the local Authority to sell for financial gain. Green space for Children sport and recreation not unneeded housing. (D. Jefford-Baker)

To support preservation of local history and land marks. (C. Keetch)

Field was to be used for educational purposes which could include community group usage, not for Local Authority profit. (W. Matthews)

We don't need more houses. We need green places. (V. Williams)

There are probably enough empty properties in the area which could be brought back into use for housing. Green open space is vitally important for physical and emotional wellbeing--"green-lungs"--coupled with indiginous deciduous trees for the future. (W. Morris)

I am fed up with houses springing up everywhere. Green spaces are ESSENTIAL to quality of life. (L. Shurey)

Green spaces are essential for quality of community life. There are enough houses being built already. (H. Shurey)

The Track is unique and was dedicated specifically for cultural and educational purposes. It is the lungs of the valley and must be protected. (B. Roberts)

Far to many green field site are being used for housing there are more than enough brown site for redevelopment. (R. Webber)

For another community resource to be taken from the Rhondda would be disastrous. (G. Todd-Jones)

Our heritage should be honoured and not used for council profits . . . (Phil Willams)

Born in Tonypandy and lived no more than a few yards from the 'Mid". It is a place of great history for the people of the Rhondda and should be preserved and developed - unlike many other historical sites that have been destroyed or left to rot. Save the 'Mid'! (Gordon Scammell)

I support the local effort. (Malcolm Evans)

I'm signing because this green space should not only be maintain but turned into an asset for the community. A tragic shame if it turns into yet another housing project! (Ian Martin)

Mid Rhondda was part of my childhood. (Neil Martin)

Concerned about proposed loss of historic and currently well used amenity. (David Lloyd)

I'm signing because I believe the 'mid' is a vital resource to the local residents in the form of an open green space that allows walking, dog walking, picnics and all other such activities that enhance wellbeing, physical & mental health. The space should be maintained and developed to ensure its primary purpose is to benefit the local community. (Tracey Martin)

I am signing this petition to add my support in saving this historical venue from housing development. (Mike Evans)

There is limited open spaces for children and adults in the area to enjoy. ( Laurence Matuszczyk)

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Friday 11 March 2022

Success!

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