The Left Bank

I've often been struck by the stark contrast between the two banks of the Taff as it runs south through the city centre. I can't think of any British city where there's a similar dis-junction. Apart from the Nos Da hotel and the Riverside Farmer's Market there's no commercial or cultural activity on the embankments themselves while the Tudor Street shopping area is grubby and run-down.

Surely the fantastic Tramshed development allied with the redevelopment of Central Square should make this area a focus for regeneration yet as far as I can make out there's no strategic plan or even vague ideas about how this part of town should move forward.

It could be left to the market of course and the area is slowly gentrifying. A lot more could be done though - in terms of using the embankments for events like art markets and developing the 'Chinatown' element of Tudor street. It just seems like a missed opportunity.

I've often thought that with the Central Square developments bringing a few thousand office workers to just the other side of the bridge that Tudor Street would be a good place to open a few cafes, bars and restaurants chasing the lunchtime and after work trade.

Well as a 'left banker' myself, I have to agree with you! I think central square developments will be the start of 'left bank activity'. Tudor Street could see quite a transformation over the next 5-10 years. I still don't think that we appreciate that the Taff is a really nice river to run through (or indeed) to the side of our city centre. It's nice to see more river traffic but I don't think we've embraced the fact that the taff in the city centre is no longer tidal.

I've been saying the same thing for years! If you didn't know the area you'd be surpised by how cheap Riverside is when you consider its proximity to the city centre. Sadly, it's become a bit of a slum with run-down flats filled with low-paid migrants who are being exploited.

I went to view a flat along the river a couple of year ago, it was in one of the old Victoria houses opposite the stadium. I vividly remember the viewing, it was surprisingly busy with a few back-to-back appointments and I was waiting outside with a young English girl (a fresh student) and her mother. Whilst waiting, her mother turned and asked her "do you really want to live around here?". With that, they walked off and didn't even bother viewing the flat! Good thing they didn't waste any more of their time, I wouldn't have kept a dog in there, it was digusting!

It's a real shame, because it could be a lot more like Southville along the Avon New Cut in Bristol, which is really up-and-coming. I'm hoping the Dumballs Road development will change the way Cardiff views the Taff.

Apart from the Nos Da hotel and the Riverside Farmer's Market there's no commercial or cultural activity on the embankments themselves

You've ignored the very successful River House Backpackers' Hostel.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Rev ... Wales.html

I'm in this area very often and it is slowly improving. Tudor street is certainly quite vibrant.

I think there's plenty of potential for this side of the river - mind you I am biased The Tramshed is proving to be a great success and is not fully open yet. When the central square development is complete there will be perhaps as many as 5 or 6,000 people working no distance from the other side of the 'bridge over the taff'. It's difficult to see how this won't have a positive impact on the area.

I'm in this area very often and it is slowly improving. Tudor street is certainly quite vibrant.

Vibrant? Really? Have you counted the number of closed and boarded up shops? The block between the petrol station and Wood Street bridge is particularly bad - a mere hundred yards or so from the city centre.

The footfall is certainly there which is why it's surprising that it hasn't developed in the same way as City Road and Cowbridge Road East in terms of cheap eateries, ethnic food shops etc. It could be a case of critical mass, I guess, or maybe owners are land-banking properties until Central Square is complete.

I think that vibrant means "full of energy and life." So, yes, Tudor street is quite full of energy and life. I will check how many boarded up shops there are on the street later today and report back.

I think some riverside cafes/bars would be good, aside from the inevitable resident complaints, I think the grass bank is a wasted opportunity next to the river in the city centre.

I've always wondered why Riverside isn't more popular. There is some nice period housing, it's close to town and cheaper than Pontcanna. The buildings in Tudor Street only need a paint job for the most part. It could be a mini City Rd. Fitzhammon Embankment could be tarted up with some more hostels, b and b's, a few restaurants maybe.