The Paddle Steamer has been a unique and essential Tiger Bay community facility for generations. But now, Cardiff Council plans to demolish this much loved community cafe in Butetown. 

The council wants to build social housing on the site, but without any business or community units on the ground floor. Everyone knows Cardiff needs more social housing, but small changes to the plans can save this precious community space.

We have days, not months to ask Huw Thomas, leader of the Council to stop these plans going to the Planning Committee.

The cafe is an important meeting place for Cardiff's long-established Somali and Yemeni communities It serves halal and culturally appropriate foods in an alcohol-free environment.  Community leaders and solicitors regularly use the cafe to meet vulnerable residents to support them with their complex needs, from state benefits advice to immigration and asylum guidance. 

Closing The Paddle will also deny young people an age-appropriate space to meet with friends and play pool, inevitably forcing them to spend more free time on the streets. Without the cafe, many elderly people living nearby would lose both regular hot food and the opportunity to socialise and meet other people. The café has also supported charity and disaster relief and has supplied free food during Ramadan.

Cardiff Council has thrown it's support behind Black Lives Matter, but will it take real action to support Cardiff's long-established black communities?

All that's needed to solve this is to modify the plans, adding ground floor space for the cafe to continue serving the community.

We call on Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff Council to stop this development until suitable changes have been agreed with the community.

You can find planning documents relating to the plans here