> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.propercardiff.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cardiff set to lose £8m cancer facility - Your proper Cardiff briefing - URL: https://www.propercardiff.news/cardiff-set-to-lose-8m-cancer-facility-your-proper-cardiff-briefing/ - Published: 2026-11-03T12:53:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T15:31:30.000Z - Description: Plus: Chess in the city centre and questions over hospital smoking enforcement - Author: Conor Gogarty - Tags: Cardiff, News Hello! Welcome back to your Tuesday briefing. After a first week dominated by housing stories, today Conor has been looking at concerns that smoking restrictions are failing to be properly enforced at the Heath hospital as well further news on the loss of a key cancer diagnostic and treatment tool. We’ve also included a feature report from photojournalist Tom Wilkins. Over the past year and a half, Tom has become well known in Cardiff for his [unique brand of documentary street photography](https://www.instagram.com/tomwilkinsphotography/?ref=propercardiff.news). In only our second week as a local news publisher, we’re so pleased to see so many of you signing up. If you haven’t yet, please consider a paid subscription. You’ll gain access to all of our best reporting while supporting independent journalism for Cardiff. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) --- ## Heath hospital set to lose £8m tracer facility Earlier this year investigations editor Conor broke the news that a vital facility at Heath hospital looked set to be decommissioned. Now we can report that the cyclotron – a particle accelerator that produces radioactive tracers for cancer diagnosis and research – is definitely going to be shut down. Doing so will cost an estimated £2m. We’re working on a special report looking in further depth at the bleak background to this decision – and the wider problems facing the hospital – but for now here are a few key details. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/image-6.png) Around 15 jobs have been lost with the closure // Image: Cardiff University The cyclotron cost around £8m of public money to set up in 2011 and in the years since, it has been an immensely important tool for Wales in scanning for cancer and other illnesses, and in pioneering clinical trials. In order to keep operating, it needed a £7m refit, and Cardiff University (which owns the facility despite it being based at the hospital) didn’t want to cover the cost. A month before Plaid Cymru entered government last May, the party voiced strong opposition to the cyclotron’s closure. The party said it would be “a huge blow to the sector in Wales which has already lagged behind the rest of the UK under Labour's watch”. Now, though, Plaid is allowing the shutdown to go ahead, which will leave Wales as the only home nation without a facility of this kind. The scanning side of the operation will continue to run at the Heath, but tracers now have to be bought in from England. This disadvantages the people of Wales in ways we’ll dig into in a future report. --- ## **Family call for hospital smoking ban to be enforced** The family of a leukaemia patient have raised concerns that the Heath hospital’s smoking ban is not being properly enforced. In 2021, Wales became the first nation in the UK to outlaw smoking on hospital grounds, introducing a penalty of up to £100\. But Phillip Nifield, whose stepdaughter recently spent six weeks at the Heath for treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia, said walking through a haze of smoke at the main entrance was a daily occurrence. In the six months up to May this year, Cardiff and Vale health board worked with council officers to carry out patrols of its hospital sites, recording more than 1,300 incidents of people smoking. These included patients, visitors and staff. But the patrols have since ended and Mr Nifield said those flouting the ban seemed to be going unchallenged, metres away from prominent signs that warn of £100 fines. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/WhatsApp-Image-2026-11-03-at-10.14.42-1.jpeg) Cigarette butts litter areas of the site // Image: Phillip Nifield “We visited the hospital every day over six weeks and I don't think there was a single day that we didn't see someone smoking,” said the retired journalist, 75, who shared pictures of cigarette butts littered near the entrance. “The smoking ban is frankly a ban in name only if it is not enforced and there doesn't seem any prospect of this happening.” When Mr Nifield complained to the health board, he was told it was working to address the problem with measures like referring people to smoking cessation services. “\[Those measures are\] all very laudable, but that's long-term, and in the meantime are visitors and others expected to continue to walk past people smoking on a daily basis?” said Mr Nifield. The health board told us only Cardiff council has the power to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches of the ban. We’ve asked the council whether it has plans to bring back patrols of the Heath. Last year the same health board was ordered to pay £95,000 at Cardiff Crown Court after failing to adequately record how it was managing its smoking policy at Llandough hospital. This was in the context of the arson risk at its mental health unit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/WhatsApp-Image-2026-11-03-at-10.14.41-1.jpeg) Signs inform hospital visitors that smoking is prohibited // Image: Phillip Nifield Speaking about the situation at the Heath, the health board’s boss of public health Claire Beynon told us: “Smoke-free hospital sites help protect people’s health, reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and lower the risk of fire. Although the patrols have now ended, the information gathered has provided useful learning and will help shape our ongoing work. “This includes making hospital sites less attractive for smoking, improving communication with patients, visitors and staff, strengthening how we respond when the policy is not followed, and introducing a standard approach to ensure all patients who smoke are offered nicotine replacement therapy and referred to smoking cessation services for further support.” --- ## **Street chess brings Cardiff out on The Hayes** ***Words and images by Tom Wilkins*** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/387A3617-1.jpg) With ‘90s hip hop playing in the background and players lined up contemplating their next move, you would be forgiven for thinking you had been transported to a New York street corner. Every other Saturday a group of players has been bringing street chess culture to the Hayes. The group is called Chess Chess Y'all and it doesn't matter whether you've been playing for years or you don’t even know where to begin. While much of Cardiff was heading out for the night, games were underway beside Hayes Island Snack Bar. At one point, a group of passing lads were invited to sit down as they wandered between bars. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/387A3567-1-1.jpg) The man behind the group is Matthew. Originally from Lincolnshire, he moved to Cardiff four years ago. He became interested in street chess while in London and during visits to New York and Paris. “There is always a great atmosphere, and I really like the idea of playing chess in non-traditional environments, and the communities that form around those events,” he said. Having settled in Cardiff, Matthew decided to see whether he could create something similar here. His original plan was to set up chessboards beside nearby St John the Baptist Church. But after someone mentioned the chess tables outside Hayes Island Snack Bar, he realised the perfect location was already here. During the hour I spent with them, it became clear Chess Chess Y'all is different from the more traditional chess clubs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/387A3637-1.jpg) Matthew explained: "We have a bunch of regulars who turn up each time we run a session, and we often get people just walking past who are surprised to see people playing chess, who will stop for a game or two either on the way home from shopping or while on a night out." Chess can have a reputation for being serious, and a little intimidating if you're new to it. But that's not the atmosphere Matthew is trying to create. "The thing I like most about the sessions is that there are no egos involved. Everyone is really friendly and stronger players are often willing to give more junior players a few tips." Music is just as important as the chess. Having grown up listening to hip hop, Matthew makes sure every session has a soundtrack of ‘90s hip hop, which he describes as the perfect music for chess. "The plan for the future is just to keep it going. We had a really great summer, weather-wise. But this will be the first time we head into winter, so it will be interesting to see how many people are up for braving the cold for a few games." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/387A3626-1-1.jpg) In a city centre where most of us are usually rushing somewhere, it's refreshing to see people taking the time to stop, sit down and connect with someone new. Chess Chess Y'all meets at Hayes Island Snack Bar on alternate Saturdays. They welcome players of all abilities and can be found on Instagram [@chess\_chess\_yall](https://www.instagram.com/chess%5Fchess%5Fyall/?ref=propercardiff.news) --- ### **Is your street at risk of flooding?** In last week's midweek briefing [we looked at the recent floods](https://www.propercardiff.news/stolen-gold-and-the-citys-most-expensive-box-your-proper-cardiff-briefing/) in different parts of our city. With Cardiff expanding and the impact of climate change only getting worse, we are going to face increasing challenges from floods in the coming years. What many people don’t realise is that there are several different kinds of flooding which will impact different parts of the city. Natural Resources Wales has actually [mapped out the areas](https://flood-risk-maps.naturalresources.wales/?locale=en&ref=propercardiff.news) that are at risk so you can see the specific situation in your local area. The first type of flooding is from rivers. The map below shows the areas that are most at risk (the dark blue the higher the risk level). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/image-2.png) As you would expect, the closer you are to a river, the higher the risk. But the areas of Canton, Pontcanna, Riverside and Grangetown are particularly at risk from the Taff. Another risk comes from the sea, especially as sea levels rise. The map below shows the areas of the city most at risk of sea level rise (the areas around Waterloo Gardens in grey are currently under review). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/image-3.png) Coastal areas are most affected but some more inland areas could be at risk due to how low lying they are. The levels to the east of the city are particularly at risk. This final map shows the level of detail underpinning the data. It illustrates the parts of the city that are most at risk through either small watercourses or simply because they gather a lot of standing water. If you zoom in on the map ([the link is here](https://flood-risk-maps.naturalresources.wales/?locale=en&ref=propercardiff.news)) you can see that it has really strong levels of detail. Anyone who has ever tried to travel under the Lowther Road railway bridge (between Salisbury Road and Richmond Road) will know how often this floods. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/54/ff/54ff9d2b-26e3-4686-8ccb-8171bd843950/content/images/2026/11/image-4.png) --- ### **The week's recommendations** 🙏 The Royal British Legion Field of Remembrance will open at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday, and run until Tuesday, November 17\. More than 5,000 small crosses and tributes will be displayed in memory of the fallen. Everyone is welcome to visit to pay their respects and place their own tribute. 🙏 The National Service of Remembrance for Wales will take place at the Welsh National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park, on Sunday from 10.30am. A bugler from The Royal Welsh Regimental Band and Corps of Drums will sound the Last Post alongside a gun salute to mark the start of the two-minute silence at 11am. All are welcome to attend. 🔥 Wrap up warm for the single-figure temperatures and take your pick from the Bonfire Night displays this Thursday evening at Sophia Gardens, Rumney AFC, Trelai Park, Fairwater Cons and Whitchurch Golf Club. 🎇 Diwali, the multi-day festival of light, starts on Friday and runs until next Tuesday. To celebrate, Amgueddfa Cymru is partnering with the Hindu Cultural Association Wales India Centre to host a Diwali Mela at St Fagans National Museum of History on Saturday, November 14\. Expect food, music, dancing, yoga, plus arts & crafts at the free event between 10.30am and 3pm. 📚 The Hay Festival travels the short distance to Wales Millennium Centre for its ‘after-hours’ one-off show featuring Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood, musician Bob Stanley and singer Bethan. Enjoy their stories and songs from 7.30pm on November 12 in the Weston Studio. 📲 Let us know of other events/happenings in the city you want us to include. --- That’s all for now. Thanks again for your support. We’ll see you later this week. The Proper Cardiff News team --- ***Proper Cardiff News is part of the The Cymru News Network.*** ***© 2026 The Cymru News Network ltd.*** ***The Maltings, East Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF24 5EA.*** ***Company No. 17255235***