Heath () is a district,

community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...

and coterminous electoral ward in the north of

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

, capital of

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. It is a predominantly affluent area with property prices being the third highest in the city. The area is known for its traditional 1930s detached and semi-detached properties with large south facing gardens. Roads are tree lined and large greeneries with the notable attraction of Heath Park and the joining of the University Hospital of Wales. The population of the ward and community taken at the 2011 census was 12,629.

Description

Heath was originally called the Great Heath and named as a result of the large park and woodland that it once contained. After the initial development of traditionally middle-classed semi-detached housing (1920s-1950s) and more recently the construction of the University Hospital of Wales on the site of the former Heath Wood (1960s), much of the greenery has been eradicated. It should be distinguished from the Little Heath () which lies to the south of the Great Heath, in the vicinity of Crwys Road. The 91 acre, (37 hectare) Heath Park forms the remainder of this area of grass and woodland. It includes attractions and facilities such as the George V Playing Fields, tennis courts, a miniature steam railway and refreshment facilities. Birchgrove is a busy shopping area that is part of the ward of Heath. It is composed mostly of more affordably priced housing, mainly terraced, and has taken on an identity of its own. The area around the University Hospital of Wales has been known as Saints Corner, due to the number of streets in the area named after well known saints.

The Welsh language

The number of Heath residents over three years old who speak Welsh increased from 1,378 in the 2001 UK Census to 1,422 in the 2011 UK Census. In percentage terms there was a slight decrease (from 12.1% to 11.7%). This was caused by a reduction in the number of speakers over the age of 65; the age groups 3–15 and 16—64 both showed increases.

Transport

Rail

The area is served by two railway stations. Heath Low Level is on the Coryton Line, linking Central and Coryton stations. Heath High Level is on the Rhymney Line, linking Central and Rhymney stations via Llanishen, Lisvane Thornhill and

Caerphilly Caerphilly (, ; , ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Wales. It is situated at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley and separated from the Cardiff suburbs of Lisvane and Rhiwbina by Caerphilly Mountain. It is north of Cardiff an ...

Bus

Cardiff Bus's routes 38 and 39 terminate at the University Hospital of Wales, originating from the City Centre. The 8 now operates between the City Centre and Grangetown, while the 9/9A operates from the City Centre to IKEA and

Cardiff Bay Cardiff Bay (; colloquially "The Bay") is an area and freshwater lake in Cardiff, Wales. The site of a former tidal bay and estuary, it is the river mouth of the River Taff and River Ely, Ely. The body of water was converted into a lake as part ...

, including the Sports Village. The 86 service runs to Lisvane via Heath. The following services run through west of Heath: *1/2 (City Circle) *21 (Central Stn) *23 (Whitchurch/Rhiwbina) *24 (Whitchurch/Llandaff/Canton) *25 (Central Stn) *27 Capital City Green (Thornhill/Birchgrove) *35 (Gabalfa or Cardiff Bay)

Walking and cycling

Cardiff Council have recently implemented a number of traffic calming measures on Allensbank Road / Heath Park Avenue with the aim of slowing traffic on the major thoroughfare and improving safety for pedestrians. The council also has plans for Cycleway 1 to run through the area, continuing on from Gabalfa to the neighbouring ward of Cyncoed.

Governance

Westminster: As part of Cardiff North, Heath has been represented at Westminster since 2017 by Anna McMorrin MP (Welsh Labour) Senedd: As part of Cardiff North, Heath has been represented in the Senedd since 2011 by Julie Morgan, MS (Labour) Cew heath

Heath is both an electoral ward, and a

of the City of Cardiff. There is no community council for the area. The electoral ward of Heath falls within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North. It is bounded by Rhiwbina and Llanishen to the north; Cyncoed to the east; Gabalfa and Cathays to the south; Llandaff North to the southwest; and Whitchurch & Tongwynlais to the west. Cardiff Council: Since May 2017 Heath is represented on Cardiff Council by three councillors, Lyn Hudson (

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

), Graham Hinchey (

Welsh Labour Welsh Labour (), formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales (), is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party (UK), Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a p ...

) and Fenella Bowden (Heath & Birchgrove Independents). Cllr Bowden had been a member of the Liberal Democrats but left, to sit as an Independent councillor, in November 2010. In the past it has been represented by a variety of political groups, moving from Labour in the 1990s, to all Liberal Democrat in May 2004 and, after the May 2008 election, a Conservative majority.

References

{{Politics and Government in Cardiff Communities in Cardiff