New railway connections for Wales

www.monbiot.com

There are plenty of lobbyists calling for new roads, but Father Deiniol’s plan is likely to be cheaper and more sustainable. His survey of the disused railway lines of Wales shows that there is one route - from Rhyl through Denbigh, Rhuthun, Corwen, Newtown, Llanidloes, Rhaeadr and Builth Road to Dowlais - which would require only two miles of new formation to link Holyhead to Cardiff(2). The rest of the way makes use of current and former railways. He proposes that short feeder lines also be built connecting this trunk route to Mold, Llangollen, Oswestry, Bala, Hay-on-Wye and Brecon(3).

The One-Wales Line could not only offer a much faster journey than the current long detour through England, it would also knit the other railways of Wales into a coherent network, as it uses the north coast railway and crosses the Cambrian line and the Shrewsbury to Swansea line. It would help to regenerate a desperately poor region in the south called the Heads of the Valleys. The project would look rather like the Western Railway Corridor in Ireland, which is reopening 184km of disused lines between Limerick and Sligo(4).

The least the Welsh Assembly Government should do is to commission a feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis of Father Deiniol’s plan. His railway would help Wales looks like a country again, rather than a depot for someone else’s empire.


References:

1. Eduardo Galeano, 1971. Originally published as Las Venas Abiertas de América Latina. Siglo XXI Editores.

2. Tad Deiniol, 3rd February 2008. Proposal for a Direct, All-Wales, Holyhead to Cardiff Fast Rail Link. Yn Ein Blaenau. If you would like a copy of this document, I can send it to you.

3. Tad Deiniol, 2008. Map of Proposed North South Rail Link and Feeder Lines. Yn Ein Blaenau. If you would like a copy of this document, I can send it to you.

4. See http://www.westontrack.com/

Monbiot's interview with CPRE

In today's Guardian comments on George Monbiot's Interview with CPRE's head re wind farms and Open cast mining. Here

Cardiff International Airport (Welsh: Maes Awyr Rhyngwladol Caerdydd) (IATA: CWL, ICAO: EGFF) is the main airport for Wales serving around 2 million people in Cardiff and the rest of South and West Wales.

It is located in the village of Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south-west of Cardiff, the country's largest city and capital.

Future ....Road access to the airport by way of the A48 trunk road was the subject of a public inquiry in 2006 but this is now superseded by needs of the forthcoming Defence Training Academy at RAF St Athan, the bid for which included plans for a direct St Athan and airport link to the M4 motorway. Really?
John Smith MP keen to get road built to airport - for more information
Campaign website http://www.bigfootcreative.co.uk/nevar/main/news.html

Airport road plan divides opinions Dec 5 2008 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

BATTLE lines have been drawn in an increasingly fierce debate on whether a multi-million pound access road to Cardiff International Airport should be built through the Vale of Glamorgan countryside.

The Welsh Assembly Government is expected to announce its preferred route early next year following extensive public consultation which has highlighted starkly differing opinions about the need for such a road and the environmental damage it could cause.

The Vale of Glamorgan-based Plaid AM, Chris Franks, today rejected all three alternative routes put forward by the Welsh Assembly Government, while Vale Labour MP John Smith called for an urgent start to work on the link.

Meanwhile, an action group opposed to what is regarded by many as the most likely option has criticised “deficiencies” in the study into the options and the public consultation on them.

Two of the three options centre on the A4232 from Junction 33 of the M4, while the third promotes a new road link south of J34 of the M4 with an eastern or western bypass at Pendoylan before linking with the A48 at Sycamore Cross.

Mr Franks said all three options should be dropped.

He said: “These options do not stack up economically, environmentally or financially.

“Pumping more than £100m into a scheme would have little benefit for the economy of Barry while causing a huge intrusion as a road is driven through countryside.

“If a scheme is being developed to tie in with the proposed Metrix defence academy scheme at St Athan, then I believe the money would be better put into improving both rail and bus services rather than building a road that is not needed.”

However, Mr Smith called on the Welsh Assembly Government to use some of the £140m provided by the Treasury to build the access road as soon as possible.

Mr Smith said: “The existing airport access road is a brake on the airport’s future growth. If Cardiff International Airport is to continue to be one of the fastest growing airports in the UK and to cope with the extra road traffic generated by the Defence Technical Academy and Aerospace Business Park in St Athan which are on the airport’s doorstep, the road system must be improved.

“I believe the road building will help stimulate the Welsh economy because it will create jobs for local people during the construction phase and inject money into the local economy as workers spend their money locally in our shops and businesses.”

Meanwhile, the NEVAR group (No Ely Valley Airport Road) has petitioned the Welsh Assembly Government on its handling of the consultation into the proposals.

The petition says: “We call upon the Welsh Assembly Government to consider the serious deficiencies in its study and public consultation exercise before making any decision as to road improvements or developments, other than those to reduce congestion at Culverhouse Cross.”

WAGs “New M4” proposal enormous threat to wildlife

GNo new M4!

The Welsh Assembly Government is planning a new M4 motorway around Newport which would slice through the Gwent Levels SSSI, devastating this wonderful wetland landscape. Find out more and get involved in the Campaign Against the Levels Motorway at www.savethelevels.org.uk

Sign the petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-new-m4 and tell your friends and family.

went Wildlife Trust sees the Welsh Assembly Government’s “New M4” proposal as an enormous threat to wildlife. This motorway would cut through the Gwent Levels SSSI – a nationally important wetland – wreaking five miles of destruction on grazing marsh and freshwater reens that teem with wildlife. I think there is every reason to hope that the Outline Business Case for the New M4 project (expected on the WAG Transport Minister’s desk in the New Year) will put the supposed benefits of the New M4 in doubt. In fact, I think it must do, given the relatively cheap and impact-free alternatives which exist to ease traffic problems and improve road safety in south Wales. And of course, the new road would be hugely expensive and deeply unaffordable, especially in the current economic climate.

Plaid Cymru’s national council voted unanimously to oppose the New M4 at the weekend – surely this is deeply significant given that Plaid Cymru’s Ieuan Wyn Jones is WAG Transport Minister. I would dearly love to know what the thinking is within the Labour Party right now. I think it is vital that Labour is encouraged to look at more sustainable alternatives – I suspect that now could be the vital time to make representations to Labour politicians. Please do what you can to encourage the powers that be to see sense. This scheme needs killed off forever, so we can concentrate on adapting Wales to a low-carbon economy, which will keep us economically vibrant into the long-term. The CALM website below gives more details of our concerns over this scheme, and links so you can find out how to contact your constituency Assembly Members, and the List assembly members for your region of Wales.

With regard to the Labour Party, surely there is no-one better to contact than First Minister, Rhodri Morgan. His e-mail address is: rhodri.morgan@wales.gov.uk. Here’s hoping that the One Wales Coalition government of Labour and Plaid Cymru will commit now to a sensible and value-for-money programme of transport investment, which doesn’t sacrifice the local and global environment. You may also wish to e-mail the Transport Minister, to welcome the clear commitment to sustainable development that has just been made by his party. His e-mail address is: ieuan.wynjones@wales.gov.uk www.gwentwildlife.org

Green Jobs for Wales consultation

Green Jobs for Wales

A consultation document has been drawn up outlining proposals and seeking your views on how the strategy will be formed.

This consultation will deal with how the Welsh Assembly Government can support organisations and employers in Wales to best improve their own environmental performance and take advantage of the new growth market in green products and services.

Your views on the proposals we describe in the document will be extremely important to us, and will guide us in deciding how the ultimate strategy is structured and targeted.

Anyone with an interest in this area is invited to respond and we are particularly keen to encourage responses from organisations such as small, medium and large enterprises, business representative organisations, community or voluntary groups, corporate social enterprises, community interest companies and public sector organisations.

The strategy, which will be drawn up following the consultation process, will play an important part in helping Wales reduce its carbon footprint.

In order to reduce the amount of paper used in this consultation exercise, please submit a response electronically wherever possible by completing and emailing the Word version of the consultation document to: businessandenvironment@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

Alternatively you can post your response to:

Sustainable Business Team
Department for Economy and Transport
Welsh Assembly Government
Plas Glyndŵr
Kingsway
Cardiff
CF10 3AH.

Responses should be received by 20 February 2009.

Please contact the team on 029 2036 8004 or email

Date consultation commenced: 18/11/2008
End of consultation: 20/02/2009

Cabinet Paper on the Green Jobs Strategy: consultation process and timing (Saesneg yn unig)

The Deputy First Minister and the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing have agreed a paper to be discussed at Cabinet regarding the production of a consultation document on a Green Jobs Strategy. here email
businessandenvironment@wales.gsi.gov.uk and ask for a copy!

Document Downloadlinks don't work so email

Green Jobs for Wales - Proforma for responses File Size: (83.5 KB)

Green Jobs for Wales - Consultation File Size: (240.62 KB)

WAG consultation on sustainable development

One Wales: One Planet: Consultation on a new sustainable development scheme for Wales

WAG are inviting your comments on their new sustainable development scheme.

'Welsh Ministers have a duty under the Government of Wales Act 2006 to have a Scheme that explains how they intend to promote sustainable development. Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing recently announced her decision to recreate this Scheme for Sustainable Development.

The Scheme aims to set out a way to improve the well-being of the people of Wales and move us to using only our fair share of the earth’s finite resources. The Scheme will identify a number of new commitments to promote sustainable development.

We would like your views on the new Scheme. Specific questions are outlined in the consultation document. '

Responses

Please send your responses to:

Jennifer Stimpson Sustainable Development Branch
Welsh Assembly Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ Tel: 029 2082 6769

Or e-mail: sustainable.development@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Responses should be received by 4 February 2009.

We intend to publish a summary of the responses to this document. Normally, the names and addresses (or part of them) of their authors are published along with the response. If you do not wish to be identified as the author of your response, please state this expressly in writing to us.

Welsh Assembly Government | One Wales: One Planet: A new ...

One Wales: One Planet: A new sustainable development scheme for Wales. Sustainable Development Scheme Consultation Events. Welsh Ministers have a duty under ...

Document Download

One Wales: One Planet: Consultation on a new Sustainable Development Scheme for Wales: Summary document File Size: (468.56 KB)

One Wales: One Planet: Consultation on a new Sustainable Development Scheme for Wales File Size: (625.89 KB)

Is there a business case for 24m Gwent levels motorway ?

The Welsh Assembly Government is proposing to build a new 24km toll motorway through the spectacular wildlife habitat of the Gwent Levels in SE Wales.

Case of the missing business case or HOW WE PLAN TO PAY FOR THIS...HOW?

The latest we have regarding the OBC (business case) is that it will be available 'early 2009'- probably March. Several CALM members and organisations have requested copies and been assured that this will be a public document.

The reason for the delays in producing the OBC (it was originally due March 08) is undoubtedly due to the current economic climate. The recession could well be enough to shelve these ridiculous plans, at least temporarily.

Save the Levels
CALM has a Facebook Group:
CALM is included in a Guardian article "A recession will give ecological development a new life":
WAG page
The Green Party oppose this.

Why is Cardiff Council cutting down so many trees?

Apparently with the approval of the Council, this weekend Cardiff University

felled several trees in the area
of the Parade between the North Building
and Trevithick. Staff working in these
buildings were given no notice of this
until 4pm on Friday and the work was
carried out on Saturday morning.

I am told anecdotally the Cardiff
City Council has destroyed many
urban trees on the pretext of
structural problems but
I don't know if there is any concrete
information on this. I seem to remember that false claims were
used by the Council in Bute Park to claim that trees had to be
felled because they were said to be rotten.

Cardiff Council's tree subcontractors appear to be very keen to chop down beautiful mature healthy trees without re-planting. I have lost count of the number locally - including Pontcanna Fields, Bute Park and in Canton, Riverside and Grangetown.

Malcolm Frazer (Arboricultural Officer) wrote:

Thank you for your E mail regarding tree felling in Cardiff.

It as to be appreciated that we have in excess of 1 million trees in the City which we are responsible for. A significant number are mature, aging trees with many affected by disease, old age and wind damage. The majority of removals are due to safety reasons having identified trees which have become unsound and liable to collapse such as the mature Beech in Bute Pk. With regards to the other locations you mention, we have not removed any trees from Pontcanna Fields this year although one of the mature Limes is diseased and will be removed. Re-planting will take place this winter filling in the gaps in the Lime Ave.

The tree removals in Llandaff Fields relates to the mature Chestnuts, unfortunately, several of these trees have become infected with this new bacterial disease and as a result are beginning to die back, in addition, it is hoped to reduce the spread of the disease by removal of the infected trees. Again re-planting of the Avenue will commence this winter. Of the 2.5 thousand trees in Bute Pk a small number have recently been removed again due to disease and old age. Over the last 12 years we have planted in excess of 700 trees around the park and more planting is scheduled as part of the Heritage lottery grant in the next few years.

The tree removals in Grangetown and Canton possible refers to the removal of highway trees. These are inspected on a three yearly cycle and only those which have inherent defects, posing a hazard to the highway are removed along with any which are becoming to large for their situation. A re-planting programme follows the maintenance work this winter with the numbers planted being dependant on available resources.

Whilst I appreciate it may appear we are removing healthy trees, we only remove trees due to safety and health reasons and we are constantly replanting trees through out the City ensuring a new generation of trees are developing for the future.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours,

Malcolm Frazer Arboricultural Officer

Danger trees to go - WalesOnline

Jun 27 2008 by Abby Alford, South Wales Echo

TWO decaying trees in the city centre will be removed on Sunday by Cardiff council. Hayes Island is home to six mature London plane trees and one flowering cherry tree. But one of the plane trees and the cherry tree have become a danger to the public. Both trees will be replaced by new plane trees in the winter.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/06/27/danger-trees-to-go-91466-21161183/

Tree felled for giant screen? - WalesOnline

WHEN I wrote to Viewpoints in May opposing the then proposed felling of two mature trees in The Hayes, I refrained from suggesting that behind the decision ...www.walesonline.co.uk/news/letters-to-the-editor/south-wales-echo-letters/2008/08/25/tree-felled-for-giant-screen-91466-21597433/

Tree felled for giant screen?

Aug 25 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

WHEN I wrote to Viewpoints in May opposing the then proposed felling of two mature trees in The Hayes, I refrained from suggesting that behind the decision lay a hidden agenda.

If I had done so this would appear to have been correct.

With the giant screen erected on the side of the St David’s Hall for the public to view the Olympics, it’s obvious that the cherry tree was directly in line with it and because it would have blocked the view it was felled.

In an act of opportunism at the same time the London plane which had been reprieved almost a decade earlier also fell because of its proximity to the snack bar counter.

After felling the stumps of both trees were removed in what must be record time compared with the many others which have been previously left standing around the city.

Also, it did not go unnoticed that the plane tree’s stump was sprouting around a score of healthy shoots in its last week. Bill JulianTrenchard Drive, Llanishen, Cardiff

Park’s trees are among the UK’s finest - WalesOnline

BUTE Park’s award-winning arboretum has 159 mature trees of 66 different varieties, from oaks, rowans, birches and sycamores to more exotic specimens such as a Chinese necklace poplar and a weeping hornbeam.

Around 50 of the park’s trees are designated as Champion trees and recognised as being among the finest examples of their type in the UK.

As part of the plans, between seven and 10 will have to be culled. This has been approved by a professional tree survey which concluded that the trees to be culled would have to be brought down anyway as they were “over mature” or diseased.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/09/04/park-s-trees-are-among-the-uk-s-finest-91466-21670405/

Games of conkers could be shattered by disease - WalesOnline Pauline Buchanan Blackcorr not Buchanan-Black, director general of charity the Tree Council, fears trees could be felled rather than treated by safety-conscious local authorities.

Ms Black said: “Unfortunately, some councils don’t have proactive tree policies and take a knee-jerk health and safety reaction.”

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/02/games-of-conkers-could-be-shattered-by-disease-91466-21946481/

Delay warning as emergency tree work forces road closure - WalesOnline

A BUSY road will be closed six hours a day for 25 days while overhanging trees are cut down – and it could lead to even heavier traffic on one of the area’s ...
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/17/delay-warning-as-emergency-tree-work-forces-road-closure-91466-22053046/
Delay warning as emergency tree work forces road closure

Oct 17 2008 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

A BUSY road will be closed six hours a day for 25 days while overhanging trees are cut down – and it could lead to even heavier traffic on one of the area’s most congested routes. Bus services and traffic will be diverted when the A469 Thornhill Road, in Thornhill, Cardiff, is closed from 9.30am until 3.30pm on weekdays for five weeks from Monday, October 27. The closures have been ordered by Cardiff council to make way for essential tree-felling work.

Police appeal for witnesses to car blaze
WalesOnline, United Kingdom - 11 Nov 2008
The A469 Thornhill Road from the city to Caerphilly had been scheduled to shut during the day for five weeks for the felling of 300 trees. ...

Guide warns on tree-felling law - WalesOnline A GUIDE to help people stay out of court and avoid being prosecuted for cutting down trees without permission was launched yesterday by Forestry Commission ...
www.walesonline.co.uk/countryside-farming-news/equestrian-news/2007/07/26/guide-warns-on-tree-felling-law-91466-19522812/

‘Why did council give trees the chop?’ - WalesOnline

LUKE Dibble could not believe his eyes when he woke up to find council workers chopping down a dozen conifer trees in the garden of his home.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/vale-glamorgan-news/2007/12/11/why-did-council-give-trees-the-chop-91466-20230677/

Trees to be felled - WalesOnline 18 Nov 2008 ... A COLLECTION of disease-ridden conker trees in Cardiff are to be felled.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/11/18/trees-to-be-felled-91466-22279532/

Trees in danger because of sign delay - WalesOnline 4 Nov 2008 ... SIGNS warning walkers of bio-security measures designed to stop the spread of a killer tree disease did not go up until FIVE days after the ...

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2008/11/04/trees-in-danger-because-of-sign-delay-91466-22175987/

Keep Cardiff grinding to a halt stategy

Keeping Cardiff Moving ???

Cardiff feeble efforts defeated by petrol head policies!
Roads top of the list - no surprise there then

'We are working towards improved road networks to carry traffic around Cardiff. The transport strategy includes building new roads, where necessary, and maintaining existing roads.'
There follows lots of reasons why they should build more roads???

The Council's Walking Strategy
This document sets out Cardiff’s Walking Strategy.... Read more

Cardiff Tranport Stategy

Car share to Cardiff

Carshare2 Cardiff Newsletter Autumn2007.pdf
We are supposed to be impressed by a picture of people crossing the road by THREE sets of traffic lights!

Traffic planing team to double in size!

Scary news - Wanted Traffic Signals Engineer - Cardiff Penguin recruitment
amazed there is a growing 'transport planning team in Cardiff ' and 'planned expansion' as ' part of an office of circa 100 staff to work on projects for local authorities in addition to private sector clients !'

Working as part of a traffic and transport planning team you will be responsible for carrying out traffic modelling, signals design and maintenance and work with Transport Planners on transport assessments and TA audits.
Note - Excellent career progression prospects in a team planned to double in size in the next 2 years...help!!!!
I dread to think what they will be doing...perhaps planning the traffic lights for Bute Park to allow articulated lorries in! They stick up traffic lights and islands with railings everywhere in Cardiff to suit the traffic and make life difficult for the pedestrian and they have been using the same design since the 60s! How much more clutter and posts can fit in? No imagination required obviously!

Green Party call for a Sustainable Communities Act for Wales

Sustainable Communities Act for Wales

The Sustainable Communities Act process has started! We can now drive the
actions of government to protect Post Offices, increase bus services, restrict
supermarkets, promote local renewable energy and much more.

 Why is this Act different? What makes it not just another consultation exercise?

This Act is not just consultation. It is governance by dialogue and

reaching agreement. Government has a legal duty to co-operate and reach

agreement on the proposals made by communities and their councils.

Councils also have a duty to reach agreement with communities regarding

the ideas they have for help and action from central government. This

is radical - 

we have never before had a law like this that creates a bottom-up way of doing government.

We need to urge all our AMs to call upon the Welsh Assembly to act on this.

 Sustainable Communities Act - Action and Update - your help needed

The Sustainable Communities Act process has started! You and your communities

can now drive the actions of government to protect Post Offices, increase bus

services, restrict supermarkets, promote local renewable energy and much more.

 But…

We can only use the Act’s process if the Welsh Assembly wants us to. Only then

can our principal authorities (i.e. County Councils) choose to use it too. If

they do not then we can not use the Act at all. So it is crucial that AMs hear

loud and clear from us and other local residents that they should choose to use

the Act.

Action: get involved

1. Write to Welsh Assembly Members asking them to “please support the submission

of a Legislative Competence Order to apply the powers in the Sustainable

Communities Act to Wales”. You can find out who your Welsh Assembly Members are

by going to www.assemblywales.org or calling the Assembly Information Line on

0845 010 5500.

 If the Welsh Assembly chooses to request to Westminster that the Act

applies to them it will also apply to all Local Authorities in Wales.

The Local Works coalition are campaigning for the Welsh Assembly to

choose to do this. Please write to your AMs if you are a Welsh citizen

(you can use this sample letter).

 2. Please sign up to Local Works by sending your contact details to the address

or email below so that we can keep you informed of the progress we are making in

applying the Act to Wales.

 Ask other local people to write too - the more letters that AMs receive the

better! So please forward this email to friends, family, neighbours, colleagues

etc.

Currently over 20 councils in England have already resolved to use the Act. This

is very good news given that the process has only just started. You can see the

full list on the front page of the website here: www.localworks.org.

SAMPLE LETTER

Below is a sample letter for Welsh citizens to use when writing to their Welsh Assembly Members asking them to support the Assembly ‘opting in’ to the Sustainable Communities Act.

The text below is a guide, please feel free to compose your own letters as they will be more effective. Also please other people to write too – the more the better!

Note: You can find out who your Welsh Assembly Members are by going to www.assemblywales.org or calling the Assembly Information Line on 0845 010 5500.

Find your assembly member here

http://www.assemblywales.org/memhome/member-search.htm

Dear [your Assembly Member’s name],

Re: the Welsh Assembly ‘opting in’ to the Sustainable Communities Act

In October 2007 the Sustainable Communities Act became an Act of the Westminster Parliament. It provides fantastic new opportunities for local communities and their councils to drive government policies to reverse community decline and promote sustainable communities.

However the Act does not currently apply to Wales. In order to make it apply to Wales the Welsh Assembly needs to apply to Westminster to be granted the powers in the Act. To do this the Welsh Assembly must submit something called a Legislative Competence Order to Westminster.

I am therefore writing to you to ask you to please support the submission of a Legislative Competence Order to apply the powers in the Sustainable Communities Act to Wales.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

[your name]

[your address]

Please send copies of any replies you receive to Local Works Campaign Co-ordinator, Steve Shaw, at steve@localworks.org or Local Works

c/o Unlock Democracy

6 Cynthia St

London N1 9JF

MP calls for new road accident laws

MP calls for new road accident laws

A Labour MP has called for legislation to ensure that people involved in road traffic accidents are eligible for compensation even when liability can not be established.

WAG doesn't know how M4 across Gwent levels is to be funded!

Questions asked of WAG and reply by
Smith, Wayne (DE&T - RNR8) Wayne.Smith@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK

Re a new toll road across the Gwent Levels

Please can you tell me how this is going to be funded. Is it a PFI or PPP?

The WAG page on this http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads2/M4/?lang=en
Studies will now be carried out to investigate funding and procurement methods for the new M4. These studies will include an analysis of private/public funding partnerships.
Have these studies been carried out and what was the conclusion?
Please can you send me a copy.

The reply - does this answer the question?

The Outline Business Case for the project is presently being prepared. This will primarily consider how the project could be funded, financed and procured, tolling is considered as one of the options within this case.

This Business Case for the project is due to be submitted to the Minister shortly as Ministerial approval will be necessary to decide if the project should proceed to the necessary statutory procedures to provide the powers to construct the scheme.

After the Minister has considered the document and a decision has been made, the details therein will be available to the public, which is anticipated for 2009.

Help prevent a a terrible Government decision

Campaign for better transport

Climate change is such a threat that I believe expanding Heathrow would be a huge step in the wrong direction, especially when there are alternatives. As we showed in a recent report, if the Government made train travel faster, cheaper and more pleasant many short-haul flights wouldn't be needed.

The Government says Heathrow needs to grow, but a massive number of people disagree, from local residents blighted by aircraft noise to businesses that want real alternatives to aviation. The Conservatives recently announced that they would scrap the third runway and build a high-speed rail line instead. And recently over 50 rebel Labour MPs signed a parliamentary petition against Heathrow expansion. Has your MP signed yet? The Government will make a decision in the next few weeks and this petition could make all the difference.

Ask your MP to sign the petition against Heathrow expansion

http://www.writetothem.com/

Cardiff University is Rubbish

People and the Planet and Cardiff University
"Cardiff has been awarded a third for environmental
performance after coming 84th in The Green League"
Read all about it here. 
On facebook there is an event at the university
coming up - details here

School of regional planning Kevin Morgan slams Bute Park Scheme

Professor denounces Bute Park road access scheme - WalesOnline13 Nov 2008 ... Kevin Morgan, a professor in the school of City and Regional ... Bute Park was landscaped in the late 18th century by Capability Brown and ... Nov 13 2008 by Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo

ONE of Wales’ leading academics has passionately denounced a scheme to build a new road access for lorries into Bute Park in Cardiff.

Kevin Morgan, a professor in the school of City and Regional Planning at Cardiff University, believes the scheme amounts to a desecration of one of the city’s greatest assets.

The scheme was passed by councillors on October 15 after they were told that articulated lorries needed to deliver plants to a centre inside the park.

More than 1,000 residents objected to the scheme, which will also make it easier for big events to be staged in the park.

Bute Park was landscaped in the late 18th century by Capability Brown and had alterations in the late 19th century by the third Marquess of Bute. In 1947, the fourth Marquess of Bute presented the park to Cardiff council. It has grade one listed status.

A road bridge costing £1.4m is due to be built at the North Gate, with a new road access. One rare tree is due to be felled and the council acknowledges that a tranquil part of the park will be disturbed. But it maintains the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

A spokeswoman for Cardiff council said: “A permission for development notice in this case was issued on October 17. The only way this scheme will not proceed is if there is a judicial review on legal grounds or if the council revokes the consent, which is highly unlikely.”

What Professor Morgan says about the development:

I AM furious about this. I find it astonishing that the council, which is supposed to safeguard the interests of Cardiff, could be so arrogant and foolish as to go ahead with such a scheme.

I am trying to organise a debate here in the university about this. It’s a big issue. Cardiff likes to project itself as one of the leading cities in Britain in terms of sustainability, husbanding its resources, and caring for the well-being of its citizens. To build a road into Bute Park, Cardiff’s greatest asset, to facilitate the entry of articulated lorries is the complete antithesis of that philosophy.

Old ways of measuring cities like GDP and population size are from another century. Nowadays, people think in terms of quality of life, and having green spaces is an absolutely vital element of that. Yet there are still those in senior positions who think solely in terms of the commercial elements of a city. Not long ago a planning director came to give a talk at the university. He never once mentioned sustainability.

But in terms of making a city attractive and a desirable place to be, you can’t trump Mother Nature. All right, with urban parks like Bute Park you are talking about cultivated nature, but what we have in Cardiff is a great asset to be nurtured, not something to be jettisoned or messed with.

We get a lot of students from overseas in the department, mainly from China and India. Every year I ask them at the end of their time here what are the best and the worst things about Cardiff. Every year, they speak very positively about our urban parks, by which they mainly mean Bute Park. It’s the number one comment they make. They greatly appreciate it as a place of tranquillity, where they can get away from the busy life of the city streets.

We are told that building the road will make it easier for big events to be organised in the park. It seems the park is being seen primarily as a venue for visitor attractions. But the main point of Bute Park is its value in the lives of the people of Cardiff. If visitors appreciate it too, that’s fine, but it mustn’t become simply a tourist attraction. Every encroachment on to the park is a blow to the quality of life of the people who live here. It is astonishing that the guardians of our civic heritage could even contemplate doing what they have done.

I don’t think the councillors who decided to approve this scheme have thought the matter through properly at all. I know that planning permission has been granted, but I would like them to think again. I intend to invite the council cabinet member responsible, Nigel Howells, to take part in a public debate. So far as I’m concerned, this isn’t over yet. It won’t be over until it’s over.

NEW CAR PARK or the VULCAN?

KEEP THE VULCAN NO CAR PARK!

Built in 1853 - Save the Vulcan! - due for demolition to make way for a multi storey car park and flats! Surely they can build flats around it - what a wonderful community resource! The car park is uneccessary!

"ONE of Cardiff's oldest pubs is being forced to shut down to make way for the new St David’s 2 development click here to tell them what you think?

Address: Southgate House, 9th Floor, Wood Street, Cardiff. CF10 1EW. Hotline Number: 0800 345 7547
Email: information@stdavids2.com

Built in 1853, The Vulcan is a favourite of rock group the Manic Street Preachers as well as hundreds of other regulars.

But after first being earmarked for closure because of the new development three years ago, owners Brain’s Beer have confirmed the pub, on Adam Street, Adamsdown, will finally stop pulling pints in June next year after being handed a compulsory purchase order from ...Cardiff Council???

Despite booming business, landlady Liz Smart and husband Brian were told by contractors the pub would be pulled down to make way for a 3,000-space car park for the new shopping centre." story here
The St Davids 2 project manager is Pat Thompson - email and tell him your thoughts! pthompson@cardiff.gov.uk This is the same man who wants to build a new bridge and road into listed Bute Park! Still he works for Cardiff council so let them know what you think! Try the council leader! rberman@cardiff.gov.uk
Ask him why they are making a compulsory purchase order!

The credit crunch has taken its effect on St David 2 so what is happening here- is it still necessary to demolish it?

Save the Vulcan on facbook groups here and here

***** WRITE TO THE HERITAGE MINISTER *****
Write or email the Heritage Minister (details below). It’s essential to stress in your letter that we want to keep the Vulcan where it is – right in the heart
of Cardiff. Tell the Minister that the building should be listed: built in 1853,the Vulcan’s role in Cardiff’s history and heritage must be preserved for futuregenerations – not demolished for a car park!!
Alun Ffred Jones AM – Heritage Minister National Assembly for Wales Cardiff BayCardiff CF99 1NA alunffred.jones@wales.gov.uk

***** WRITE TO THE PRESS *****
Keep writing to The Echo, The Western Mail, The Metro,and any other media outlet – we have to ensure The Vulcan’s name remains in the spotlight.
South Wales Echo Fax: 02920243640 Email: ecletters@mediawales.co.uk
Text: 07781482332 – start your message with the word echo.

Western Mail readers@mediawales.co.uk

***** PETITION *****
Keep encouraging people to sign the petition at
or if you want to sign on a paper copy, there’s copies in the
Vulcan.
The online petition

Cardiff Council also wanting to sell off rare books collection http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7593883.stm

St Davids 2 enquiry congestion and danger for cyclists

Cardiff sustainable city greenwash

Poll says Cardiff’s a green giant Nov 10 2008 by Abby Alford, South Wales Echo

Pictures of Cardiff City Hall recently showing mostly councillors cars. Nice view of the fountain between the cars before it gets covered up for a fairground ride. Listed Bute Park damage before planning permission or as the council tells me "just necessary felling of one tree"!?

As Forum for the Future unveils its latest Index of Sustainable Cities, Roger East asks just what makes a city sustainable "It’s about cutting carbon emissions, improving air and water quality, shifting to renewable energy, boosting green business, growing more local food, reducing waste, providing sufficient and efficient housing, green space, good public transport and access to services!" Well he can't have been to Cardiff.

From the Forum for the future report.

Waste collected per head: Cardiff was unable to provide data and so an average was taken from the other 19 cities.

Biodiversity: data was not available for Cardiff so an average was calculated from the other cities.

ranking for future proofing climate change strategy Cardiff 4 (very Low...4 out 0f 20)

vi) resident satisfaction with green space
Per cent of residents who think that for their local area, over the past three years, that parks and opens spaces have got better or stayed the same. Source: England – Audit Commission
2003/2004 data, Wales – Cardiff City Council service questionnaire, July 2006 data,

vii) resident satisfaction with local bus service England and Wales: percentage of residents satisfied with the local bus service, taken from two different sources: in England
this is a BVPI; the data for Cardiff was taken from the 2006 Cardiff City Council service questionnaire.
Sustainable cities

I am amazed that Cardiff has scored so highly This award is seriously unbalanced and flawed!

The bus service is random and the last bus into the city centre from where I live is 7pm! Very often buses can't pull in to bus stops because of people parking at them and very little parking enforcement happens as the promised deregulation hasn't happened.

Presently the council is promoting Project Green or rather planning to build an incinerator at Cardiff Bay - Over-sized – 2.5 times the amount of residual waste Cardiff produces and will have to bring rubbish in from all over South Wales in a 100 trucks a day! 120,000 tonnes of waste ash per year to be transported to a hazardous waste site in Cheltenham.
http://cardiffincinerator.blogspot.com/

We are also campaigning against a new bridge and road for articulated lorries into city centre grade 1 listed Bute Park! Commercialisation of parks is not a sustainable strategy.

This award makes our campaign against this and an incinerator more difficult.

There has also been concern about the new food waste collection being taken all the way to Derby.

There is way too much parking capacity and the council gave into the motoring lobby and reduced higher parking charges. Congestion is appalling. Cars come first. Pedestrians have to put up with 70s style traffic pens in the middle of the road, or lengthy underground tunnels and crossings on one or 2 sides of a crossroads. There are cars parked on cycle lanes everywhere and on pavements. See the pictures here
http://inconsiderateparking.blogspot.com/
The traffic noise is high as the road surfaces are rough. Traffic thunders through built up areas at 40mph. Street clutter is everywhere.

Cardiff is far from a shining example. The built environment is a shambles! This does not come out in the survey.
A five minute walk around Cardiff would tell you that. I invite you to join me for a street audit walk from the station to the castle and then to city hall .

The figures are skewed by the quality of education and 'green' businesses! You are misleading potential visitors and making life so difficult for those of us trying to improve the environment when we are told that Cardiff is one of the most sustainable cities in UK.
************************************
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/node/10000

I made a comment and this is the reply.....
Shining examples?

Hi Anne

Thanks a lot for your comment, the points you raise are really interesting.

With the Index you have to remember that all these positions are relative to one another, so we're not saying that any of these cities are doing fantastically well, just which cities are doing better than others. As I said in my blog post "it doesn’t mean that Bristol is a genuinely sustainable city, it’s just faring better across the board than others in the UK", and in some of the press we've done, our chief executive is quoted as saying that we desperately need shining examples in the UK as we really lack them.

All the best examples of sustainable cities are outside the UK: San Francisco & Portland in the US, Curitiba in Brazil, Vaxjo in Sweden are the best places to look for what can be achieved. We don't think that anywhere in the UK is up to those standards.

So rest assured this isn't an award, it's a report on how cities are currently faring in relation to one another and hopefully a prompt and a reminder that we've got a long way to go.

Good luck with your campaign!
***********************************************************************************

Indicators used - something wrong with the environmental impact and the quality of life is worse with congestion and the difficulty of getting around on public transport or by foot ot cycle.

environmental impact: air pollution by nitrogen oxides, river water quality, ecological footprint (resource use), household waste collected per head

quality of life: Life expectancy from birth, resident satisfaction with green space, satisfaction with local bus services, unemployment, education (% of working age population with NVQ2 or equivalent)

future-proofing: council’s commitment to preparing for climate change, number of local green businesses, percentage of land favouring biodiversity, level of household waste recycling and composting

To download a copy of the report, visit: www.forumforthefuture.org/sustainable-cities08

Cardiff City Centre

Pedestrian danger!

People ignore the lights and the central 'pen' where there isn't enough space. More people than cars....so put people first.

People change politics - the inside story of the Climate Change Law

Green Party call for 20mph streets

‘All of Wales should have a 20mph speed limit’ Oct 28 2008 by Steffan Rhys, Western Mail

ALL of Wales’ residential areas should have 20mph speed limits, it was claimed yesterday.

The Wales Green Party also said speed limits on town and city arterial roads should be reduced to just 30mph, as it claimed that new accident figures show England has cut accidents involving children far more than Wales.

New analysis of road casualty figures from the Department of Transport showed a 49% reduction in children killed or seriously injured in Wales between 1994 and 2007. However, this is compared to a much bigger reduction of 68% in England.

The Green Party analysis of the pedestrian casualties also shows they are much higher for areas with high levels of deprivation, many of which are urban areas with low levels of car ownership.

The UK wide statistics, analysed by deprivation score, show that the number of pedestrians killed or injured on the roads rises from 21 casualties per 100,000 people in the least deprived areas to 70 casualties per 100,000 people in the most deprived areas, more than a threefold increase for the poorest neighbourhoods.

Green Party supporters, Green councillors and campaign groups around Wales and the UK are now campaigning for 20 mph to become the default speed limit on residential roads in urban areas to reduce the number of deaths and injuries.

Wales Green Party european candidate, Cardiff- based Jake Griffiths, said Cardiff was an ideal candidate for 20mph zones followed by other towns and cities across Wales.

Swansea has pioneered the use of 20mph zones in Wales with dozens of roads outside schools having the 20mph limit but there are no blanket limits in Wales at the moment.

Mr Griffiths said: “Places in England and countries like Holland are showing that these zones work and people accept the limits, with police not having to have much intervention.”

A new survey by the Cardiff Green Party taking in the views of 300 residents in Canton, found 80% support for the introduction of 20mph speed limits in all residential areas.

Mr Griffiths, an environmental consultant, said : “The figures show that this is a social justice issue as well as a safety and environmental issue and that Wales is improving at a slower rate than England or Scotland.

“It is shocking that the number of pedestrians killed or injured is so much higher for the most deprived areas.

“The Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones is currently consulting on guidance on the implementation of slower speeds and could really make a difference by encouraging the introduction of 20mph in all residential areas – we urge him to take this opportunity.

“With a default 20mph speed limit, fewer road humps are needed than with limited ‘home zones’, and it is easier to communicate the message that 20mph is the appropriate speed on residential roads where children and people of all ages need to be able to walk about safely.

“Lower speed limits don’t just create safer streets for everyone, they also mean better air quality and lower carbon emissions as they encourage more people to walk and cycle.”

However, the RAC Foundation has called for caution over 20mph blanket zones.

Research development manager, Elizabeth Dainton, said recently that more research was needed before 20mph zones were comprehensively rolled out across the country. She said policy development should not speed ahead of understanding, local considerations and public acceptance.

The RAC Foundation’s paper she presented at a recent conference found that 95% of all pedestrian casualties and 92% of cyclist casualties were killed or injured on built up roads with speed limits under 40mph.

She said: “Speed is not the only factor which leads to these accidents as driver behaviour, which includes speed, is a factor in 26% of all accidents, whereas failing to look is the biggest cause of collisions [at 68%]. I therefore argue that driver training and education are as important as reducing speed when it comes to improving UK casualty figures.”

20’s Plenty For Us

20’s Plenty

For Us welcomes Transport Committee support for increased use of 20 mph limits

The full report with submissions from all parties may be downloaded from http://www.p

ublications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtran.htm

The latest Road Safety Report from the House of Commons Transport Committee calls for “Ending the scandal of Complacency” associated with road casualties.

It notes that whilst UK had a good international record up to the year 2000 this has been tarnished by lack of progress in death on our roads since then. Road accidents are the largest single cause of death for people between the ages of 5 and 35.

Key points that 20’s Plenty for Us noted in the report were :-

· It both recognised the demand from communities for safer stre

ets and the role that 20 mph for urban and residential streets plays in delivering that safety. Para 60.· It recognises the need to differentiate between casualty reduction and danger reduction. Other countries have gone much further than the UK in adapting their urban areas for safer walking and cycling. Para 87.· It notes that local traffic authorities have been successful at treating accident black spots, but as there are consequently fewer treatable sites there is the need to move toward improving the safety of our infrastructure in a broader and more systematic manner. Para 57.· It calls for a new vision for road safety in Britain, and recognises how casualty reduction, danger reduction, sustainable transport, economic efficiency, climate change, social inclusion and physical health should all be integrated. Para 136.

· It points out the initiative of towns like Portsmouth who have recently set all residential streets to a speed limit of 20 mph at minimal cost. Para 58.

Rod King, Founder of 20’s Plenty For Us said :- “This report reinforces much that has been recognised by road danger reduction campaigners. There is too much complacency in the UK regarding road deaths. We still have the view that they are inevitable, yet other countries are proving far more effective at ensuring that their chil

dren live longer, have more independent mobility and quality of life.

At 20 mph our streets become community public spaces where all road users can bene

fit from equitably interacting and sharing the road.

Most people support 20 mph f

or residential streets and we

now need local authorities to respond to that demand and changing culture to provide a safe environment for their chil

dren and adults to walk and

cycle as well as drive.”

For more information about 20’

s Plenty For Us, including info

rmation on the “Streets Ahead” conference exploring how we can create safer streets for

walking and cycling see www.20splentyforus.org.uk and www.streets-ahead.org

Local Authorities now committed to 20 mph for residential streets with po

pulations:-

Leicester 292,600 Portsmouth 197,000 Oxford 151,000 Norwich 132,200

20’s Plenty For Us campaigns for a 20mph default speed limits in residential streets without physical calming.

mail rodk@20splentyforus.org.uk Website www.20splentyforus.org.uk Conference www.streets-ahead.org

20's Plenty For Us www.20splentyforus.org.uk