Green Cardiff - Pedestrians First

We want a say on the New Bus Station

2011-05-07T04:18:00.000-07:00

The new bus station construction is due to start in Jan next year reports Cardiff Council newspaper Capital Times as part of the 'new central business development' recently proposed just before the election. But when is the consultation? We as *bus users demand to see the plans for the new bus station immediately. The bus box imposed on us was useless so we must be consulted on the position and design of the new bus station. We don't know when it will be going to the planning committee.
*not bus users uk who fail to represent and press the views of bus users in cardiff to cardiff council
See also Cardiff Civic Society website
CCS Press release on its vision and transport proposals for Cardiffhttp://ow.ly/d/ewt - a zero carbon, connected city-region

Bus Lane Parkers

2010-06-02T03:10:00.000-07:00

Cars Vans feel free to stop anywhere in spite of inconvenience caused to motorists and that iti is unlawful!

New - back of St Davids

Albany Road - this happens all the time!!
Cars parking on bus stops. ...................................................and in Cathays Park where parking on double yellow lines is a matter of course and even the police walk by and ignore it!!

Albany Road illiegal parking

2010-03-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

The bus can not pull in and the 4x4 driver justs ignores the situation!

Why close footway to Cathays station (College Lane)

2010-02-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

What is the reason for completely closing a much used footway to

Cathays station (College Lane) for theconvenience of University contractors?

There could have been a space left open as it is quite wide.

Have you been inconvenienced by this?

Blind man arrested over protest of pavement parkers

2009-09-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Living Streets

Blind man arrested over protest..

....To Ieuan Wyn Jones AM Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport this is disgraceful!! Pavement parking is a serious problem which the police are not not dealing with adequately. I am writing to you on behalf of living streets and asking that AMs to take action and stop pavement parking. The House of Commons Transport Committee has slammed the Government for not tackling pavement parking. It said, "Parking on the pavement is likely to cause a grave danger to pedestrians. In particular, it creates hazards for people with disabilities and visual impairments, older people, and those with prams or pushchairs." Please can you tell me what is being done to tackle this issue in Wales and what action the minister is going to take over this case in Wales. Will he make a statement condemning the police for arresting a blind man who was justified in protesting against dangerous pavement parking and outlining action to stop this dangerous practice of pavement parking?

Did you see this story..you can hear him tell his story on the web page. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8225778.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8225778.stm Daniel Duckfield on his frustrations over the parking problems and his arrest A blind man who complained to police about cars parking on a pavement was arrested when he threatened to let down the vehicles' tyres. Daniel Duckfield, from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, said he and his guide dog had to walk in the road when paths were blocked by illegally-parked cars. He has complained about being cautioned and put in a cell after his arrest. Dyfed-Powys Police said it was investigating Mr Duckfield's complaints. Mr Duckfield, who became blind in December 1999, claimed police were not doing enough to tackle motorists parking illegally on pavements near his home. He said he had repeatedly complained to officers about cars blocking his path when he went out of his house, forcing him and his guide dog to walk on a main road. Last week, after phoning officers and feeling he was getting no help, he went a step further. He said: "I said all right, if you're not going to do anything I'll do something myself, I'll let the tyres down and I'll write 'no parking' on the windscreen. "I went to the door [and] locked the door. By the time I got 50 yards down my street there was a policeman running towards me. "He told me he was going to arrest me because I had threatened to let tyres down and threatened to write on windscreens." Mr Duckfield said he was taken to a police station and held in a cell before being cautioned. He said: "I thought it was absolutely disgusting. I came back here and I sat down and I almost cried but I thought, no, the temper took over me." Mr Duckfield said the arrest meant he would no longer be asked to visit schools with his guide dog. Dyfed-Powys Police said the force had held a crackdown on illegal parking in Narberth last month. A spokesperson added: "It is unfortunate Mr Duckfield decided to take matters into his own hands on this occasion." The spokesperson added Mr Duckfield's complaints would be fully investigated.

Blind man wants action over illegal town parking

Tenby Observer - ‎Aug 28, 2009‎

A man who lost his eyesight 10 years ago has hit out at the local authorities for turning a blind eye to illegal parking issues in Narberth. ...

Blind man lodges complaint

TeleText - ‎Aug 27, 2009‎

A blind man from West Wales has lodged an official complaint after being arrested for threatening to let down the tyres of illegally parked cars. ...

Secret judge saga - Protestors "refused to listen to what we have told them"!

2009-08-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/green_flag_award_meetings_and_co#incoming-40045

What do you think of this?

I cannot understand this. Why judges for a park award should be kept secret?

Cover up so there must be

something to hide ?

And accusing protester's of

misinformation is appalling, the

judges should have arranged to

meet them and not excepted that

as true. Judges told ...Protesters

"refused to listen to what we

have told them"! And the judges

asking for advice...!!!

One of the judges says "having a

wobble about whether of not to

enter the fray! I would be grateful

if you could give me a bit of a

steer about how delicate the

situation is or not.. as i don't want

to get embroiled in a political

muddle. Is this a big issue for you

and your team?

I like a challenge but would

appreciate a heads up so I can

make a more informed decision

about whether to come to Bute

or not. Are we likely to be lobbied

on the day? A girl needs to know.

Any help or advice advice you can

offer will be much appreciated.

so the judges are Wined and

dined by the parks department!

My Ref: MAT(P)/SD/2059/CLP0012 G00158

14 August, 2009

Anne Greagsby

[FOI #16595 email]

My Ref: MAT(P)/SD/2059/CLP0012 G00158

14 August, 2009

Anne Greagsby

[FOI #16595 email]

Dear Ms Greagsby

ELECTORAL DIVISION: CATHAYS

GREEN FLAG JUDGING OF

BUTE PARK

Thank you for your request under

the Freedom of Information Act

2000
about correspondence relating

to the Green Flag judging of

Bute Park in
2009 received on 7th August 2009.

We have considered your request and enclose the following information:

Various emails between Council officers and the judging team, and the
itinerary for the judging visit.

Most of the documents that we

provide in response to

Environmental
Information Regulations 2004

requests will be subject to

cases the copyright will be owned

by Cardiff Council.

The copyright in some documents

may be owned by another person
or organisation, as indicated on the

documents themselves.

You are free to use any documents

supplied for your own use,

including
for non-commercial research

purposes. The documents may

also be used for
news reporting. However, any

other type of re-use, for example

by
publishing the documents

or issuing copies to the public

will require
the permission of the copyright

owner.

Details of the arrangements for

reusing the material owned by

Cardiff Council can be found on

our website at or by contacting the

Information
Manager, Room 111,

County Hall, Cardiff

CF10 4UW (Phone 029 2087 3346).

For documents where the

Council, you
would need to apply to the

permission for re-use.

We supply this information based

on your original request. If this
information does not answer your

enquiry or if you feel we have not
fully understood your request,

please contact me to clarify your

exact
requirements.

If you have any queries or concerns

or are in any way dissatisfied with
the handling of your request please

do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jon Maidment

Operational Manager

Parks

show quoted sections

Dear Ms Greagsby

ELECTORAL DIVISION: CATHAYS

GREEN FLAG JUDGING OF BUTE PARK

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
about correspondence relating to the Green Flag judging of Bute Park in
2009 received on 7th August 2009.

We have considered your request and enclose the following information:

Various emails between Council officers and the judging team, and the
itinerary for the judging visit.

Most of the documents that we provide in response to Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 requests will be subject to copyright
protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Cardiff
Council. The copyright in some documents may be owned by another person
or organisation, as indicated on the documents themselves.

You are free to use any documents supplied for your own use, including
for non-commercial research purposes. The documents may also be used for
news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example by
publishing the documents or issuing copies to the public will require
the permission of the copyright owner.

Details of the arrangements for reusing the material owned by Cardiff
Council can be found on our website at or by contacting the Information
Manager, Room 111, County Hall, Cardiff CF10 4UW (Phone 029 2087 3346).

For documents where the copyright is not owned by Cardiff Council, you
would need to apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission
for re-use.

We supply this information based on your original request. If this
information does not answer your enquiry or if you feel we have not
fully understood your request, please contact me to clarify your exact
requirements.

If you have any queries or concerns or are in any way dissatisfied with
the handling of your request please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jon Maidment

Operational Manager

Parks

show quoted sections

bike-lane-parking violations

2009-07-21T03:35:00.001-07:00

New website lets you post pics of bike-lane-parking violations: London, UK, world http://london.mybikelane.com/

Photograph a street you love and you could win a £50 voucher

2009-07-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Photograph a street you love and you could win a £50 voucher from @livingstreets: http://bit.ly/2Z2R6

More information
http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/cms/downloads/0-photo_competition_flyer.pdf

Cardiff First Welsh Sustainable Travel Town

2009-04-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

Cardiff First Welsh Sustainable Travel Town
Cardiff has been selected to become Wales' first "Sustainable Travel
Town" by the assembly government. The scheme worth UK £28.5 million aims to
provide free cycle hire, bus travel around the city centre, and improved bike and walking routes. The council hopes extend the project to other areas of Wales once an initial two-year plan is complete. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7936127.stm

I wonder where lorries in the park fits into a sustainable travel! Time for a new look at how the roads are laid out or more pedestrians will be injured or killed in Cardiff - who would risk cycling at present with the city a petrol head dream with petrol head clllrs who park right outside the city hall!

Time for Cardiff to go green!

2009-04-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

From Tuesday the South Wales Echo will feature two pages of Go Green news and features every week, and its sister papers The Western Mail and the Celtic weekly newspapers will also have regular features.There will also be pull-out supplements and a section on our website, www.walesonline.co.uk

Go Green team battles for a brighter future Apr 24 2009

SUPPORTERS of the Echo’s Go Green initiative turned out in force to help Cardiff council bring a splash of colour to one of the city’s most popular parks. Read Lets hope this isnt green wash!

Perhaps the Echo will support a campaign to make Cardiff greener and protest about the rise in bus fares from £1.20 to £1.50 overnight! This wont encourage people who use cars most often for short journeys to use the bus!

The parks department should use their vehicles less and Cllrs shouldn't park in front of the city
Hall. Even worse build on our green spaces!

Bute park news

http://no2lorriesinbutepark.blogspot.com/ -

Council leader Rodney Berman is und er fire Apr 24 2009

PUBLIC anger at Cardiff’s schools reorganisation and council proposals to build on green spaces across the city erupted in the face of councillors yesterday. Read

Look what has happened to our beautiful park

WalesOnline - ‎Apr 23, 2009‎

CAMPAIGNERS against further development within Bute Park have accused Cardiff Council of planning to erect a horticultural building that will look like a ...

Nature Not Roads in Bute Park

2009-04-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

Upcoming events:

18th/19th April - RHS Show

23rd April - Full council meeting - an opportunity to pose questions to the Council re. green spaces

As the RHS is supportive of the building of the bridge and road in Bute Park we have decided to set up an info stand and banners to inform visitors of our views on these developments.

Banners and a small number of placards have been made.

Please feel free to make some more!

We will be setting up near the entrance on North Road

10am - 2pm Saturday 18th April

10am - 2pm Sunday 19th April

Hopefully see you there!

-------------------------------

At the next Full Council meeting on the 23rd April there will be a discussion on the issue of green spaces.

Members of the public can submit questions to the Council which if selected will be answered at the meeting.

A question has to be in no later than 5.00pm five working days before the meeting. It must give your name and address and say which member of the Council Executive the question is to be put to.

You can e-mail the question to Jeff Parry, Committee Services Manager:j.parry@cardiff.gov.uk

You sit in the Council chamber to hear the reply, which you will get in writing just before the meeting, after you get your answer you can ask one supplementary question.

(see attached for more info)

We will be staging a small demo outside County Hall prior to the meeting and then as many of us as possible will sit in the meeting.

Again feel free to make more placards and banners!

e-Petition: Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market

2009-03-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

e-Petition: Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market

"We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to preserve Abergavenny's historic character as a market town by not repealing or amending the Abergavenny Improvement Acts 1854 to 1871, thereby preserving all the associated economic, social and cultural benefits of a market town."

The battle to save Abergavenny has been raging for over 4 years.

The Council has signed a deal with a developer to turn the historic livestock
market into a retail park including a very large Asda supermarket. Many believe this will
destroy the town centre, harming the local economy, and cause enormous hardship in
the farming community.

For some of us this is a battle for localisation over the forcesof globalisation, one
of the major sustainability issues of our age, though this is not the place to argue it.
A new campaign under the banner Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market (KALM) is
going strong and,among other things, has submitted a petition to the National Assembly
for Wales for putting on their new online petition website.

You can help the campaign by signing this petition online.? Click on link above

Age of Stupid John Smith MP drummer boy for airport road

2009-02-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.antimetrix.org/

Stop the Airport Road - write to your AM, MP and tell them we don't need it and don't want it.
John smith belongs to the age of stupid.

Age of Stupid John SmithVale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the annual Welsh affairs debate. We do not have many opportunities in the House nowadays to discuss Welsh issues exclusively, so the debate is welcome.

As previous speakers have said, our debate today takes place against the backdrop of a serious global economic crisis—possibly the worst international financial crisis in the past 100 years. I would therefore like to take the short time available to me to refer to three projects in my constituency, but not parochially, because they all have valuable strategic Welsh importance. I want to use today's opportunity to draw the House's attention to several issues surrounding the projects.

The Conservative spokesperson has already mentioned the first project. It will come as no surprise to hon. Members when I refer to the defence technical academy in St. Athan in my constituency. It is progressing well. It was recently announced that Sodexho is to be the equity partner, replacing Land Securities Trillium, which had to withdraw because—let us make no bones about it—of the financial crisis. However, in many respects, Sodexho is a better fit. Unlike its predecessors, its core activity is facilities management, and it has been involved in the scheme from day one. It was always involved, but it has just become a 50:50 equity partner.

The Minister for the Armed Forces made a statement in the House, saying that the negotiations were progressing well and were on track. A clear timetable is developing. A detailed planning application for the scheme will be submitted in May this year and construction will commence around August next year. That timetable is important, because we have lost time in the past two years, mainly because the project is so large and complex. It is the biggest single Ministry of Defence investment and its importance for Wales cannot b e overestimated.

The project will provide 5,000 direct jobs and train annually 25,000 service personnel from all three services. It will provide a defence training strategy in some of the most sought-after skills in the world—technical, engineering and information technology skills. I have always argued that the real value to Wales as a whole—not only to my constituency—is not the 5,000 jobs or the £12 billion private finance initiative investment over 25 to 30 years, or even the revenue, which runs to tens of millions of pounds, that will go directly to the local economy, but the transformation of Wales's reputation to that of a country that has a centre of technical and skills excellence. Our reputation for being dominated—still—by metal manufacture and mineral extraction can be transformed into a reputation for high value-added technology. That is the benefit: a change of reputation and an ability to attract inward investment.

I am delighted that a Command Paper was put before the House on Tuesday, offering a contingent liability of £40 million to prepare the plans for this year and the design to get on with the construction next year.

David Jones (Shadow Minister, Wales; Clwyd West, Conservative) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

As the hon. Gentleman will know, we on the Conservative Benches also strongly support the St. Athan project. Does he agree that one of the key benefits of St. Athan will be to improve the perception of the military as a career for young people, with the high-quality jobs that if offers, and in particular as a career for Welsh young people? Does he agree that, today more than ever, going into the military is a good, attractive career for young Welsh people?

Age of stupid John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

I agree with every word that the hon. Gentleman just said. Indeed, he should forgive me if I have not referred to that point, because the overriding benefit of the project will be to improve training in the military. Perhaps I should remind the House that, unlike now, every technical20qualification that will be achieved at the new academy will be a civilian-recognised qualification. We will be producing engineers for the future, including civilian engineers, so I accept the hon. Gentleman's remarks. We also had all-party support, which in my view is one of the reasons why we won the bid in the first place.

Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire, Liberal Democrat) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

I applaud the cross-party work that the hon. Gentleman has done to secure those jobs. Does he agree that one of the opportunities for Wales will be not to repeat the errors at Deepcut Army barracks—I understand that they are being shut down, with some of the work perhaps coming to Wales—where Cheryl James, the daughter of one my constituents, was, I believe, murdered?

John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

Of course I agree with that.

St. Athan has been a huge success story for Wales and for Welsh politics. We won the bid because we were united across the parties and because—let us be clear about this—ours was the best bid. However, I must sound a rather disconcerting note this afternoon. The Command Paper was presented to the House on Tuesday, but—I have given notice of this to the hon. Gentleman involved—it was blocked. An obscure procedural motion was used on Tuesday on a point of order to block the contingent liability of £40 million. The process cannot be stopped, but the effect of what was done on Tuesday could be to delay a recession-busting project that is vital for our country.

I am sure that every Welsh Member of this House will condemn Mark Pritchard. I understand why he objects to the scheme: because he lost the bid. His bid did not win. I understand his protesting, but what is reckless and unacceptable is his bid to block the progress of the scheme. It is important that we move ahead with the planning in May. I call on all hon. Members to condemn his action. I am afraid that I must say to Conservative Members in particular: for goodness' sake, bring some influence to bear on him, because he is delaying a vital project.

Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire, Conservative) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

I understand the hon. Gentleman's passion and commitment to the St. Athan project. We would all recognise and applaud that. However, it is deeply unfair of him to talk in such terms about my hon. Friend Mark Pritchard, who is not here and who does not have an opportunity to defend himself.

Age of stupid John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

I gave notice—I have been in the House long enough to realise that I should do that. What I am doing today I do with a heavy heart. I have never done it before, but the project is too vital to play silly political games with it. The future of Wales is at risk.

Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham, Conservative) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

As the neighbour of my hon. Friend Mark Pritchard, may I say that he is an assiduous constituency MP and works extremely hard? As Opposition MPs, it is the responsibility of us all to scrutinise Government decisions.

John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan, Labour) Link to this | Hansard source | Video match this

We have an overriding responsibility to behave responsibly. I will leave it at that, because I gain no personal benefit from making such comments, but it is important that I should make them today.

The second, related issue that I wish to raise is about an important piece of transport infrastructure: the M4 link road to Cardiff international airport—that is, to Wales's international airport. That has a bearing on the technical academy, because although we will not lose the academy if we do not get the timing for that road right, we might lose some of the benefits that could come to Wales. The onus is on us to maximise all the benefits from the investment, to ensure that Welsh people and Welsh businesses benefit first from the huge opportunity that is coming our way.

We must get the transport links. Businesses in Pembrokeshire and west Wales will benefit, as will businesses in Monmouth and mid-Wales. We must get the transport infrastructure right and the M4 airport link road is a crucial factor in it, because it will serve the defence technical academy, and it will serve Barry—the second largest town in Wales—as well as providing a link to the airport.

A decision is imminent. We have had the public consultation and the Welsh Assembly Government's Deputy First Minister will take a decision shortly. The biggest decision to date has been about which route to choose. It is controversial—it will affect local people, so there is a lot of local concern about the impact on people's quality of life—but the decision on the route of the direct link to the airport is crucial. I call on the Minister to use all his influence with the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that the decision is taken, and taken quickly.

I am deeply concerned that there may be prevarication and second thoughts about the strategic importance of this road; we should be in no doubt that this link road is crucial. We will never have a country seriously recognised throughout the world unless we have a serious international airport that provides comprehensive scheduled flights across the world. Air travel is still the cutting edge of business communication, even in comparison with broadband—I accept everything said about it earlier—and Wales must have a proper international airport. What we have now is a holiday charter airport; it is growing and doing well, but as the aviation White Paper said, it has a long way to go. This road is an absolutely necessary condition for the growth and expansion of Cardiff international airport. It may not be a sufficient factor, but as I say, it is absolutely necessary.

I flag up that issue because I hope that we will not make the mistakes of the past by thinking that some funding for a few extra routes or a few extra slots to European cities will provide us with the strategic advances that we need for the airport's future. The entire business community supports the road: the CBI in Wales, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Cardiff business club. Indeed, there is not a business in Wales that fails to recognise the importance of strategic access to the airport. It is supported by the planning authorities and it has been supported by every management of every company that has owned the airport over the past three decades.

It is a crucial issue—one of the most important road transport issues in Wales. We are really at the cusp, right on the edge, of making a decision on a matter that will drive the Wales international airport forward. The decision must be taken quickly and the right decision must be taken—that is, identifying what route to take, not having second20thoughts about whether we need such access to the airport.

Age of Stupid

2009-02-26T09:06:00.000-08:00

The Age of Stupid: final trailer, Feb 2009 HD from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

six key barriers to walking - the state of our streets

2009-02-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Cardiff is worse - Walk from the Hilton Hotel and
you want to go across the road to the castle - well this is what we see - as we go down the pedestrain tunnel - it is disgraceful. Time to do away with the tunnels and let pedestrians cross the road safely by the shortest route by a pedestrain crossing.

Tell us about the 'State of our Streets' today

[b]August 2009 marks the 80th anniversary of the formation of Living Streets. Ahead of our big day we want to find out what is important to you about your streets now. Join our survey by following the link below, and help guide our work for the next 80 years!
Read the full articleTuesday 3 February 2009

Living Streets release a joint report with London Councils and Walk London on 'Breaking Down Barriers to Walking in London'
Living Streets collaborated with London Councils and Walk London to produce a report on the primary barriers to walking in London. This report identified six key barriers to walking in the capital that need to be addressed to make it a world class walking city.

Walking accounts for 31 per cent of week day trips in the capital, but Living Streets believe that this modal share could be so much more. This report, produced in conjunction with London Councils and Walk London, identifies six key barriers to walking in London that need to be addressed for walking levels to increase in the capital.

The six barriers identified in the report are as follows: - Giving walking sufficient priority institutionally; - Obtaining integrated funding for walking improvements; - Safety concerns; - Misperceptions of walking speeds and distances; - Unattractive walking environment; - Overcoming existing travel habits.

To read the full report you can download it as a PDF here:
Download w alking report Breaking Down Barriers to Walking in London PDF (871Kb)

In cardiff the walk takes you past some very dodgy loking filthy toilets.

don't try crossing the road in Penarth!

2009-01-27T13:06:00.000-08:00

Photograph taken today in Penarth where 4 pedestrian crossings are currently closed. One has a fence around it as there is a hole, but the other three have been closed simply to ensure that more cars can pass through the roadworks... Car culture.

According to the DfT report Inclusive Mobility:
If street works mean that a pedestrian crossing cannot be used, the following should be done:

𐂄 put barriers across pedestrian accesses to the crossing.

𐂄 use signs showing Zebra, Pelican etc crossing not in use. Place them so that they face pedestrians on both sides of the road.

𐂄 extinguish or cover Zebra crossing globes, switch off the lights on Pelican, Puffin or Toucan crossings.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/259428/inclusivemobility

Clearly there should be barriers on the crossings, which are missing.

I believe that there is a health and safety issue here as a partially sighted person (or a person unable to read English or Welsh) may continue to use the crossing - as most people do anyway, or even trip over the sign which is less than the 1m required for a barrier to prevent this occurrence.

Further, the DfT does say that "IF the pedestrian crossing cannot be used"... Clearly it can and has been closed for one reason - speeding motorists through the road works. This is clearly not moral or necessary.

The pedestrian crossing continues to function despite the sign, cones and covering of the beacons no significant delay for motorists - and avoiding considerable delay, inconvenience and exposure to the elements for pedestrians. Further, with Bradenham Place and Albert Road both closed, traffic is light and there is an opportunity to install a one-way system on Windsor Terrace and Stanwell Road - or simply close Windsor Road and divert traffic onto Hickman Raod and/or Albert Road and Plassy Street.

The crossing closure is not about pedestrian safety, but for motorist convenience. Is this legal, though totally unethical? As this is a zebra crossing, not a pelican, does this make a difference, as pedestrians only gain right of way once they have stepped out... where as, with a pelican crossing, the light phases may cause problems, and cause confusion.

In my search for answers, I have discovered that whilst using a crossing, pedestrians have to walk on the right hand side of the crossing. Is this the craziest rule? Alas...

Given that there are no barriers, are the free standing signs pictured actually legal?

All answers and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Ian

Join the plot!

2009-01-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

TV impressionist Alistair McGowan has bought a piece of the Heathrow third runway site along with Emma Thompson, Zac Goldsmith and Greenpeace.

It started like most good ideas around here, with a conversation down at the pub. And there have been many times over the last few months when I wasn't sure we were going to pull it off, but we're now the proud owners of a small piece of land within the site of the proposed third runway at Heathrow.

We're expecting the government will announce that they're going ahead with expansion at Heathrow this week and we now need you to join us. Sign up now to get your own piece of the plot. It's not a financial thing, but you will be included as an owner on the legal deed of trust.

Join the plot!

Heathrow expansion isn't only an issue for those of us unfortunate enough to live on the flight path. If expansion goes ahead Heathrow will become the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the whole country. And the government's plans to expand airports across the UK will make it impossible for us to meet our commitment to reduce emissions and stop runaway climate change.

As legal owners of this plot we will take the opportunity to oppose airport expansion at every stage in the planning process. We're joined on the deeds by Oscar winning actress Emma Thompson, comedian Alistair McGowan and prospective Tory parliamentary candidate Zac Goldsmith. Along with Greenpeace UK, that's the maximum number of owners we can put on the deed, but you can sign up to add your name and stand beside us to resist all attempts of a compulsory purchase of the land.

You'll be joining beneficial owners who've already signed-up including local Labour MP John McDonnell, Tory frontbench spokeswoman Justine Greening, Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer, environmentalist George Monbiot and acclaimed climate scientist and Royal Society Research Fellow Dr Simon Lewis.

The runway is by no means inevitable. BAA now faces a long process to get its tarmac laid. So there will be many ways you can get involved in the years it will take to get the runway through the planning process, and we will need your creativity and energy to make sure the runway never gets built. In the coming months and years we will need the help of thousands of people like you to put pressure on your MP, write letters to your local media, join us at events, tell your own community, and much more.

We'll let you know more about that shortly, we only got the final papers for the land through the end of last week, so the first step is to sign up and let us know you want to be part of the plot over the coming years.

If all our attempts to stop the runway fail, we will stand with the people from the community whose homes will be demolished to build the third runway and block the bulldozers. There will be many ways you can support the blockade even if you don't fancy joining us on the plot.

We are not going to let this new runway be built to make sure we have a healthy climate and environment for all of us and future generations. Sign up today to join the plot. If we're serious about tackling climate change, we have to stop airport expansion.

Find out more about Airplot »
Invite your friends to join »
See where our plot is on the map »
Legal and beneficial owners »
The case against Heathrow expansion (pdf) »

Cllr Petrol Head Howells rubbished criticisms of lorry road into Bute Park

2009-01-11T01:53:00.000-08:00

Bute Park – Echo 10th Jan 2009

Cllr Petrol Head Howells rubbished criticisms of plans for Victorian parklands

Plans in best interest of city” says leisure chief! Coun Howells “What we are doing is in the best interests of Bute Park and will preserve what is one of the best examples of Victorian Parkland in the UK”.

Despite a letter from an assembly civil servant from writing on behalf of heritage minister heritage Alun Ffred Jones and calling for more consultation Coun Howells said that the council had no plans for further consultation nad the heritage lottery fund was not taking any interest in the work to the road or the lorry bridge.

We challenge Cllr Howells to attend a public meeting. Give us a chance to discuss it with you, he couldn't find the time to attend the last public meeting.

It will be over our dead bodies that Cllr Howells scars and destroys Bute Park and its landscape by building this ugly raised 4 metre wide roads with dangerous 2 metre long 1 in 5 slopes on either sidethrough Bute Park. It is extremely arrogant of Cllr Howells to state that he knows best. He has been corrupt in

1. Failing to ensure that the Bute Park new development was properly assessed for sustainability prior to implementation as in the Park & Green Space Strategy

2. Failing to consider a decision to limit the size of lorries in the Park as requested from Cllr Simon Wakefield).
3. Speaking at the planning meeting purely advocating the project without claiming to representing his electors’ views, and did not declare a prejudicial ‘interest’.

Cllr Nigel Howells, Exec member has the scheme in his portfolio
4. Reports from council officers were 'sexed down' to minimise the impact.
The Highways “Options Appraisal” was altered (between the January and August versions) to support the Parks’ claim of the present situation being ‘unsafe’ and the Project being ‘essential

There must be a comprehensive programme of public consultation on the proposed plans to restore the Park and I challenge Cllr Howells to give us a time he can attend a public meeting to give people the chance to answer these question and others.

More information here No lorries in Bute Park

Tell him what you think! NHowells@cardiff.gov.uk,
journalist who wrote the article david.james@mediawales.co.uk,
write to echo ecletters@mediawales.co.uk
write to the Heritage lottery fund jennifers@hlf.org.uk,

New nuclear plant mooted for North Wales

2009-01-09T04:11:00.001-08:00

New nuclear plant mooted for North Wales »

New nuclear plant mooted for North Wales

RWE Npower has acquired land and grid connections at Wylfa, Anglesey, and signalled proposals for a new nuclear power station next to the existing Magnox nuclear plant.

The energy company said it had acquired the right to connect up to 3,600MW of nuclear generation to the national grid. It has acquired options to buy farmland at Wylfa close to the existing nuclear station, but said it would consult with local people before making any firm plans for a new nuclear plant in North Wales.

Andrew Duff, chief executive of RWE npower, the UK subsidiary of the German energy giant, said: "We are serious and committed to progressing new nuclear options."

The local planning authority is currently supportive of new nuclear capacity on the island because new-build would maintain existing nuclear power employment and provide a fillip for the local economy.

Phil Fowlie, leader of Anglesey County Council, said: "Ensuring energy generation remains at Wylfa for future generations is a major priority for the county council, and we are eager to work in partnership with all potential private sector companies to ensure our 'Energy Island' aspirations are realised."

Local support for nuclear around Wylfa, where one nuclear power station is in operation but is due to shut down in the next few years, is high. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which owns the existing Magnox nuclear station, recently put some of its land up for sale to help potential nuclear new-build.

Read the RWE npower press release.

Roger Milne 8 January 2009

Libs Climate Change Brief

2009-01-09T02:57:00.000-08:00

Nick Clegg has ousted Steve Webb from his post as the Liberal Democrats' energy and climate change spokesman, in a reshuffle aimed at sharpening the party's performance. The climate change brief, an important one in a party with strong environmental credentials, was handed to Simon Hughes, the former Liberal Democrat president.

Independent 9th Jan 2009

Political Lobbying Greasy palms

2009-01-06T02:06:00.000-08:00

Political Lobbying

Former ministers are being allowed to cash in with impunity on their contacts and insider knowledge, a damning report from MPs warns today. They called for strict new rules to curb the 'revolving door' that has seen a string of politicians walk straight into highly-paid jobs linked to their old areas of responsibility. The committee also drew attention to the number of former MPs and ministers employed by the nuclear industry, including Jack Cunningham, Ian McCartney, Richard Caborn, Brian Wilson and Alan Donnelly. Saying self-regulation had entirely failed, the committee called for all lobbying activity to be registered and monitored by a tough watchdog.

Daily Mail 5th Jan 2009

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1105269/Ex-ministers-cashing-insider-knowledge-leaving-Westminster.html

Green New Deal?

2009-01-04T02:37:00.000-08:00

Green New Deal or more greenwash?

Gordon Brown today unveils ambitious plans for a 1930s American-style programme of public works to ease the pain of recession by creating up to 100,000 jobs. School repairs, new rail links, hospital projects and plans to usher in a new digital age by investing in superfast broadband will be used to keep unemployment down. The plans will also be used to tackle climate change, by means of investments in eco-friendly projects such as electric cars and wind and wave power that would also create jobs.
Observer 4th Jan 2009

New railway connections for Wales

2008-12-31T08:30:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T05:33:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T06:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-29T06:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-26T02:42:00.000-08:00

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 ?

2008-11-24T04:11:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-11-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-22T02:20:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-22T01:52:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-20T23:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-19T10:32:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-11-19T03:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-18T09:09:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-16T03:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-11-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

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: eclett ers@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

2008-11-11T01:14:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-10T02:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-29T06:06:00.001-07:00

Green Party call for 20mph streets

2008-10-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

‘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

2008-10-29T02:33:00.000-07:00

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

way road traffic injuries are recorded is "flawed".

2008-10-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

A new report from MPs suggests there is strong evidence that the way road traffic injuries are recorded is "flawed".

The transport select committee also said that the current drink-drive limit should be lowered, roadside breath test devices should be approved and there should be tougher penalties for alcohol-related offences.

In addition the committee also repeated its call for restrictions on young drivers carrying teenage passengers between 11pm and 5am and added that there should be more 20mph speed limits.

The death toll on the roads should be seen as "the major public health problem of our age", said the committee's chairman, Louise Ellman.

Calling for a review of the gathering of road casualty statistics, the report said: "There is a significant body of evidence that the current methods for recording road traffic injuries are flawed."

MPs also said that there should be new road death reduction targets separate from those set for serious and slight injuries. Ellman said: "The number of deaths and injuries on our roads far outweighs the deaths and injuries in other transport modes or in other work-related accidents.

"We need to start seeing this not only as a collection of individual tragedies but also as the major public health problem of our age. The deaths of 3,000 people and injuries to a quarter of a million are a staggering annual toll to pay for mobility."

Although 2007 saw a seven per cent fall in road user deaths, the committee pointed out that overall progress since 2000 has been disappointing.

Little progress has been made in reducing deaths among car users and there has been a significant rise in motorcyclist deaths, which rose by 26 per cent between 1994-1998 and 2007.

The report said: "It is imperative that the Home Office gives much higher priority to enforcement of drink-drive and drug-drive offences.

"This should include the type approval of roadside evidential breath-testing devices and development of equipment to assist the police to identify and prosecute drug-impaired drivers."

poor transport threatens growth

2008-10-14T01:32:00.000-07:00

Public Transport in Wales in random. In Cardiff - lakeside - the last city centre bus into the cuity centre is at 7.05 ...yes....

An underfunded transport network is threatening Wales' ability to sustain economic growth, a report says.

The Institution of Civil Engineers Wales (ICE) report said the transport network was deteriorating and more money would have to be found.

Keith Jones, the director of ICE Wales, said the current levels of transport investment were "inadequate to meet the needs of modern Wales".

For the full report, visit: www.ice.org.uk/stateofthenation

CALM

2008-08-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

YOU CAN HELP!
CONTACT DECISION-MAKERS:

Tell your AM about the motorway proposal and the potential destruction of protected sites. Ask your AM to contact Ieuan Wyn Jones (Deputy First Minister of the Assembly and Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Economic Development and Transport) and inform him of the alternatives and the problems with this proposal. Find your local AM on www.writetothem.com and send an email or letter. Tell Ieuan Wyn Jones that this motorway must not destroy protected sites and point out the alternatives. Send it either by post to National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA or by email to ieuan.wynjones@wales.gov.uk

Letter template for Ieuan Wyn Jones

Letter template for your AM

Campaign against the motorway!! Take Action today

SPREAD THE WORD:

Tell your friends and family about the motorway proposal and the sites it will destroy. The more people that support the campaign the better. Invite one our speakers along to speak for your local group. Borrow a display or put out some posters and leaflets.

Contact savethelevels@yahoo.com for these resources.

Wear a CALM t-shirt or badge or put up a CALM window or car sticker to show your support.

To order yours, contact savethelevels@yahoo.com

LOOK AT THE CALM Facebook Group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26900967173

DONATE TO CALM:

We need continued financial support.

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN:

Become a supporter of CALM. You will receive a regular newsletter with the latest campaign news and invitations to our events. Just email savethelevels@yahoo.com or call 029 2035 3000. We need continued financial support as we commission research into the potential impacts of the motorway and possible alternatives.

Please make cheques payable to 'CALM' and post to: CALM, c/o Gwent Wildlife Trust, Seddon House, Dingestow, Monmouth NP25 4DY

Petition for better cycling

2008-06-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.wyfsd.org/cms/index.php?&lan=en

We the people of Wales, would like to see better provision for bikes, on trains, buses and roads in Wales.This would mean fitting more bike racks on buses and insuring them adequately so they can be used; it means more space on train carriages for bikes to be parked; it means more cycle lanes, especially in town centres; and it means helping to change the aggressive attitudes of cars on the road.

Hoffem ni, pobl Cymru, weld gwell ddarpariaeth ar gyfer beiciau ar drenau, bysiau a ffyrdd yng Nghymru.
Byddai hyn yn cynnwys gosod mwy o raciau beiciau ar fysiau a sicrhau y gellid eu defnyddio; mwy o le ar gyfer beiciau ar gerbydau trenau; mwy o lonydd beicio, yn enwedig yng nghanol trefi; a chymorth i newid agweddau ymosodol gyrrwyr ceir.

How many drivers will new car tax rules affect?

2008-05-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Fact check from Channel 4 !!!

http://tinyurl.com/4kv2gr

How many drivers will new car tax rules affect? Labour says the majority will be no worse off; the Tories say otherwise.

The claim

"Nearly 18 million motorists will be hit with above-inflation increases in their annual road tax ... the changes to the vehicle excise duty will affect nearly seven in 10 of the country's 26 million drivers."
Daily Telegraph, 27 May 2008, based on figures provided by the Conservative party

The verdict

There's no denying the new measures will pull some of the most polluting cars into a higher tax band - to the tune of a couple of hundred pounds in just one year, in some cases.

But it's also worth noting that many of the "rises" are actually only to the tune of a fiver. Not necessarily even a rise in real terms, once inflation is taken into account.

Based on treasury figures, in 2009-10 FactCheck reckons around 9.73 million of the 17.67 million post-2001 cars on the road will be the same, less, or just £5 more in car tax than this year.

The sources

The Telegraph, 18m face above inflation increases in car taxes
Budget 2008
Conservatives
Hansard, 14 May 2008

Are livable cities just a dream?

2008-05-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

Are livable cities just a dream?
By Dave Holmes
When one sees a modern city from the air, especially at night, it is a truly awe-inspiring spectacle. What always strikes me is the immensity of the project, a testimony to the power and creativity of human beings. However, on the ground and actually living and working in this wonder, things are quite different and the social and ecological problems crowd in and fill one’s view. The truth is that our cities have always been dominated by the rich and powerful and built and operated to serve their needs — not those of the mass of working people who live and toil in them.
* * *
This article is based on a talk presented at the Climate Change Social Change Conference in Sydney, April 2008. The conference was organised by Green Left Weekly. For more articles, audio and video from the conference, click here.
* * *
read more

No to Ffos-y-fran - protest Sat 5th April - New Labour/Plaid greenwash

2008-03-28T05:21:00.000-07:00

The politicans in the Welsh Assembly allowed this to happen. Then they make out they are 'green'
TIME TO SAY NO! Wrecking lives
speakers George Monbiot, Jill Evans, Gordon James, Terry Evans.

Sat 5th April
2pm March from Twyn y Rodyn nursery school, Parfitt Terrace.
3.15pm In front of the Civic Centre, speakers George Monbiot, Jill Evans, Gordon James, Terry Evans.
4-6pm Public meeting St David’s Church Hall.
8pm Music: Tracey Curtis and guests at The Great Escape.

Ffos-y-fran is the biggest open-cast mining scheme in the UK, and it looms over the town of Merthyr Tydfil. The edge of the pit will be just 36 metres from the nearest homes and close to a primary school nursery. Merthyr already has the worst health in Wales: the dust, smoke and noise will exacerbate it. The digging will last from 7am until 11pm, six days a week, for 17 years. Digging ourselves into a hole Coal produces more carbon dioxide when it burns than any other fuel, and the coal in Ffos-y-Fran will be responsible for almost 30 million tonnes of it. This is a disaster for the global climate and for our children’s future. We should be investing instead in offshore wind, tidal and wave energy schemes: the potential in Wales is tremendous. Let’s pull ourselves out of this hole. Let’s stop the digging at Ffos-y-Fran.“Reclamation scheme”Miller Argent, the consortium digging the pit, calls Ffos-y-fran a “land reclamation scheme”. This is a bad joke: you don’t need to dig a 1000-acre hole to clean up the site. The scheme will create some employment, but will also blight the area, keeping good jobs away.

No to Ffos-y-fran and open cast mining! A filthy business. Around 10,000 people in Merthyr signed petitions opposing it. But the council, the Labour assembly member and the Welsh Assembly have all failed the local people and backed big business before their constituents.http://www.stopffosyfran.co.uk/

Greenwash!!! from New Labour and Plaid
The 'New' Labour Party supported this crazy mining scheme and there they are fingerwagging dinosaurs hectoring children on how to behave!!!
Labour launches antisocial behaviour pledge about antisocial behaviour - seems to me it should be Rhodri Morgan getting an asbo for this anti social behaviour which is rather more serious!!
And Plaid jump on the green bandwagon.... Now Plaid tells voters to get on their bikes - icWales
...great but there is more to it than that............Call for a stop to this mining!!

Want to help email RAFF_Group@stopffosyfran.co.uk

AMSER DWEUD NA!
Na i fwyngloddio brig yn Ffos-y-Frân!
Dinistrio bywydau
Ffos-y-Frân yw’r cynllun mwyngloddio brig mwyaf ym Mhrydain, ac mae’n ffinio â Merthyr Tudful. Bydd y mwyn dim ond 36m o’r tai agosaf ac yn agos at ysgol feithrin. Mae gan Ferthyr eisoes yr ystadegau iechyd gwaethaf yng Nghymru: dim ond gwaethygu y gwnaiff y sefyllfa gyda’r holl sŵn a’r llwch. Bydd y cloddio yn digwydd o 7 y.b tan 11 y.h, 6 diwrnod yr wythnos, am 17 mlynedd.
Mewn twll
Mae glo yn cynhyrchu mwy o garbon deiocsid nag unrhyw danwydd arall, a bydd y glo yn Ffos-y-Frân yn gyfrifol am bron i 30 miliwn tunnell ohono. Mae hwn yn drychineb i’r hinsawdd ac i ddyfodol ein plant. Dylem fuddsoddi yn lle mewn cynlluniau egni adnewyddol: mae’r potensial yng Nghymru yn anferth.
"Cynllun adennill tir"
Mae Miller Argent, y cwmni mwngloddiol, yn galw Ffos-y-Frân yn ‘’gynllun adennill tir". Mae hwn yn chwerthinllyd: does dim angen cloddio twll 1000 o aceri er mwyn clirio’r safle. Bydd y cynllun yn creu rhai swyddi, ond bydd hefyd yn difetha’r ardal, gan fygwth swyddi lleol.
Chwarae budr
Mae tua 10,000 o bobl wedi arwyddo deisebau yn gwrthwynebu Ffos-y-Frân. Ond mae’r cyngor, aelod cynulliad o’r blaid Lafur a Llywodraeth y Cynulliad wedi bradychu’r boblogaeth leol ac wedi cefnogi byd masnach cyn eu hetholwyr.
2y.p Gorymdaith o feithrinfa Twyn y Rodyn, Parfitt Terrace (llai na 500m o safle mwynglawdd brig Ffos-y-Frân)
3.15y.p O flaen y Ganolfan Ddinesig: siaradwyr yn cynnwys George Monbiot, Jill Evans, Gordon James a Terry Evans
4-6y.p Cyfarfod cyhoeddus yn neuadd Eglwys St David’s. Dewch i drafod

New Labour emissions higher!!!

2008-03-17T07:43:00.001-07:00

Britain's climate change emissions may be 12% higher than officially stated, according to a National Audit Office investigation which has strongly criticised the government for using two different carbon accounting systems. There is "insufficient consistency and coordination" in the government's approach, the NAO said.
Guardian 17th March 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/17/climatechange.carbonemissions

The truth about CO2 !Guardian, UK - It is nonsense to suggest the government is trying to mislead the public in the way we report greenhouse gas emissions (Government figures hide scale of CO2 ...
Government figures hide scale of CO2 emissions, says report Guardian

National Audit Office Report
Report: UK Has Two Carbon Accounting Systems AHN
Carry on polluting Guardian
Times Online
all 13 news articles »

Election time for Cllrs - Pedestrian Rights

2008-03-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

What hope for pedestrians here!!! in Whitchurch Cardiff....do our councillors take the issues seriously enough??

1. Ask politicians if they are willing to adopt a hierarchy of road users. If such a hierarchy was policy then decision making should improve. ..more info below

2. Ask politicans to have a design contest for St Mary St..Annual street conversion design contest - see http://www.worldcarfree.net/contest/ car free areas http://www.worldcarfree.net/projects/ links

3. Will they commission a street audit at the very least? http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/what_living_streets_do/cs_community_street_audits.php

4. Policy Briefing: Manual for Streets The Manual for Streets was launched by the government on 29 March 2007. It gives guidance on the way streets should be designed. Living Streets has broadly welcomed the Manual and its emphasis on the needs of pedestrians. Click on the pdf logo to read the full briefing. Policy Briefing: Manual for Streets PDF (56Kb) It introduces a user hierarchy where pedestrians are considered first in the design process

5. Will you put pedestrian crossings where people cross not several hundred yards away from the end of the street. Will you organise consultation with street audits?

6. Will you plan out pedestrian tunnels or underpasses ... tunnels - longer - for disabled and elderly .. dangerous for women especially and lead to young people and others trying to cross above with out a crossing...remember our hierarchy...

7. Will you have training for transport planners as they continue to use same old designs time and time again for crossings which are designed to facilitate CAR traffic FLOW. At UHW a new crossing has been installed on a narrow stretch if road which has a 'pen' in the middle! to make crossing longer and more difficult.. but watch people walk round it! HIERARCHY!!!

8. How much has been spent on making pavements disabled friendly and including dropped kerbs? When will Cardiff pavements be disabled friendly by? (hierarchies) Per ward figures even better and excluding improvements to underpasses/tunnels which should be eliminated.

9. When will the promised decriminalisation of traffic offences happen?

10. When are the council going to enforce measues to stop PAVEMENT Parking?

Still too many accidents which involve pedestrians - old people and children in particular. Not good enough to say accidents are falling as less people are pedestrians than EVER before especially children because our streets are too dangerous!! People are trapped in there homes which affects their mental health, play for children, obesity ... see for accidents and stats http://inconsiderateparking.blogspot.com/

1. What is a Transport Hierarchy?

A hierarchy helps planners decide who has priority when the interests of users of the various different transport modes conflict.

Designing cities around people, not cars

http://www.york.gov.uk/content/45053/64877/64891/Local_transport_plan/Local_transport_plan_summary.pdf.

The City of York has won numerous awards for developing an integrated transport network that does not rely on private cars and meets local air quality objectives. An integral part of that strategy promotes sustainable active alternatives to the private car that are both convenient and reliable by using public transport, walking and cycling. York was one of the first local authorities to adopt a hierarchy of transport users when making decisions related to land use and transport and in implementing transport measures.

The order of priority is:

1. Pedestrians

2. People with mobility problems

3. Cyclists

4. Public transport users (includes bus,

coach, water, taxi and rail

5. Powered two-wheelers

6. Commercial or business users

(includes deliveries and heavy goods

vehicles)

7. Carborne shoppers and visitors)

8. Carborne commuters

Another example here http://cuttingyourcaruse.co.uk/index.htm

Pedestrians & wheelchair users
Mobility impaired cyclists
Pedal cyclists & human powered vehicles including electric bikes
Equestrians
Public transport users (bus, rail, coach, tram & taxis)
People with mobility problems using motorised modes
Zero emission motor vehicles
Mopeds and scooters
Commercial/business users
Private-hire coach borne visitors
Rail freight
High vehicle occupancy cars with 3+ people
Short-stay car borne shoppers
Car borne commuters, visitors, escort and leisure trips
HGVs over 7.5 tonnes
Powerful motorbikes
Air borne traffic

Accidents

Designing cities around people, not cars

network that does not rely on private cars and meets local air quality objectives. An

integral part of that strategy promotes sustainable active alternatives to the private

car that are both convenient and reliable by using public transport, walking and

cycling. York was one of the first local authorities to adopt a hierarchy of transport

users when making decisions related to land use and transport and in implementing

transport measures. The order of priority is:

1. Pedestrians

5. Powered two-wheelers

2. People with mobility problems

Commercial or business users

(includes deliveries and heavy goods

vehicles)

3. Cyclists

7. Carborne shoppers and visitors

4. Public transport users (includes bus,

coach, water, taxi and rail)

8. Carborne commu

Designing cities around people, not cars

The City of York has won numerous awards for developing an integrated transport

network that does not rely on private cars and meets local air quality objectives. An

integral part of that strategy promotes sustainable active alternatives to the private

car that are both convenient and reliable by using public transport, walking and

cycling. York was one of the first local authorities to adopt a hierarchy of transport

users when making decisions related to land use and transport and in implementing

transport measures. The order of priority is:

1. Pedestrians

5. Powered two-wheelers

2. People with mobility problems

Commercial or business users

(includes deliveries and heavy goods

vehicles)

3. Cyclists

7. Carborne shoppers and visitors

4. Public transport users (includes bus,

coach, water, taxi and rail)

8. Carborne commuters

I am a careful driver, says death crash accused

One of two motorists accused of causing the death of an 83-year-old man by dangerous driving today told a court he was a careful driver. Read

83 year old man killed by dangerous driving

2008-03-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

I am a careful driver, says death crash accused

One of two motorists accused of causing the death of an 83-year-old man by dangerous driving today told a court he was a careful driver. Read

Re. Don’t attack the 1967 Abortion Act – defend a woman’s right to choose

2008-03-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Julie Morgan

Although your office manager Peyer Howe told me that women have got more than enough rights already I would ask you to personally respond to this letter.

Re. Don’t attack the 1967 Abortion Act – defend a woman’s right to choose

I am concerned that some MPs opposed to abortion are seeking to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to restrict women’s access to abortion, particularly by lowering the legal limit for abortion from 24 weeks.

This would have a devastating impact on the small number of women who need later abortion. These are often vulnerable women facing unusual and difficult circumstances such as late diagnosis of pregnancy, rape or domestic abuse or NHS delays. No-one involved makes the decision lightly. Women must be entitled to the right to choose on the most fundamental decisions over their own bodies.

Forty years since the Abortion Act in Britain, an overwhelming majority of people, 83 per cent, support a woman’s right to choose. There is broad opposition to any lowering of the abortion time limit from MPs across the three main parties, from medical professional organisations – the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, from the Commons Science and Technology Committee and the Department of Health and from women’s, trade union and student groups.

I urge you to vote against any damaging amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would roll back women’s crucial abortion rights.

As a constituent, I would be grateful if you could let me know your views on these matters. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely,

Hummer

2008-02-19T01:36:00.000-08:00

Climate Change Bill shunned by Cardiff MPs.

2008-01-31T04:55:00.000-08:00

Although these MPs have all had hundreds of letters from constituents NONE of the Cardiff MPs have signed this EDM, nor have John Smith MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, or Julie Morgan MP for Cardiff North, or Kim Howells MP for Pontypridd. Plaid Cymru Williams, Hywel has signed.

You can check if your MP has signed using the link below.
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34898&SESSION=891

Please contact your MP today using the link below asking him/her to sign the EDM to give us a bigger safety margin.
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/email_mp/index.html

Early Day Motion

EDM 736

CLIMATE CHANGE BILL

21.01.2008

Griffiths, Nigel

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Climate Change Bill to Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP's) recent Human Development Report which described the Bill as a bold and innovative proposal to create a national carbon budget; notes however that the UNDP also warned that the Bill needed improving as its targets were not ambitious enough, and international aviation emissions were excluded, meaning that even if the Bill were applied to every developed country, global temperature would rise well beyond the two degrees Celsius limit and perhaps as high as four or five degrees; congratulates the Prime Minister on his speech on 19th November 2007, when he acknowledged the evidence now suggests that as part of an international agreement developed countries may have to reduce their emissions by up to 80 per cent.; and urges the Government to support amendments to the Bill during its passage through Parliament to address the UNDP concerns, making it an unequivocally world-leading response to climate change.

Save the St Mary Street road system

2008-01-12T03:06:00.001-08:00

Call is made to shelve St Mary Street road system
A TORY councillor has called for the controversial traffic shake-up in Cardiff’s St Mary Street to be shelved until after the St David’s 2 development is complete.more

Lets control the petrol heads and give a voice to others like pedestrians, envoironmentalists, the elderly and disabled people.

Save our parks

2008-01-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

This application involves a 2 lane access road into the arboretum area from North Road to allow articulated lorries to enter the park to service events in Coopers Field (the Council’s aim is to maximally commercially exploit this area of the park) and the nursery (which is to be expanded). Needless to say this will radically affect the character of this area of the park (see Max letter below). The modified proposal I doubt will differ much in substance, since the site for the access road had already been cleared.

Both the Bridge and the roadways are quite out-of-scale and will significantly damage the Park this quite and sensitive part of Bute Park. Vehicles/traffic through it will be intrusive. The loop by the Nursery will ruin that corner and will become used for parking.

The arboretum has many special trees, including memorial trees and plaques; some may be damaged directly, but their setting moreso.

The uses as access to Coopers Field and to the Nursery study centre can be provided in alternative ways that avoid impact on this sensitive area of the historic park.

Alternatives

Access to Coopers Field is only occasional and hardly a problem. 'Do minimum' and access via the south side of the Music College (by the tennis courts) should be considered. The latter would be direct onto Coopers Field, with a new bridge, still intrusive but at a less sensitive and less frequented point.

Access to the Nursery study centre should have been considered under that planning application. We are told the Ambulance station route cannot be used, but access for occasional vehicles could be achieved with benefits for access to the playing fields (for events like Race-for-Life) round the north of the changing room building. School buses/minibuses would park outside (in public car park or take over the haphazard uncontrolled parking area to the north of the carpark entrance); construct a separate new footbridge for children to walk through.

Bridge - the Bridge design should be minimal, taking vehicles one-way with a waiting area in the woodland for the very infrequent occasions when vehicles meet.

Roadway - 4 metre roadway is over-wide. It will encourage two-way traffic, and vehicles will go over the edge onto the grassland in practice. This is especially true of wider vehicles (HGVs etc.). As rising bollards controlled from the Nursery are proposed at the North Rd entrance, similar bollards could be placed at the exit from Coopers Field and controlled to ensure vehicles do not meet.

The black tarmac used two years ago to surface the old park track is unnecessarily intrusive; the brown surface of the other roadways was and is preferable.

In summary, I argue for rejecting the whole scheme for its severe impacts on the Park. The present application says too little of impact on trees and nothing on alternatives or balancing impacts against 'benefits'. A scaled down project, with minimal bridge and roadway, excluding the whole loop to the Nursery, would have much less impact but should be compared with alternative options as above, and these put out for public consideration.

Greenwash New Year

2007-12-31T11:47:00.000-08:00

Happy new year!

Did you see the echo tonight talking about the battle for cardiff council and the parties manifestos.... how green are they ...plenty of greenwash there. Where are the Green party?

Battle to stop incinerator is stepped up but not in Cardiff - A PUBLIC meeting has been organised by residents fighting plans to build a massive £140 million waste incinerator. Viridor Waste Management is set to submit ...

www.climatechangewales.org.uk Wow!! No mention of open cast mining at Ffos y Fran, East Merthyr on the Go green online A CLIMATE change website for Welsh people launched by Environment Minister Jane Davidson. Read
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/31/go-green-online-91466-20298932/

Ffos-y-Fran Wales Dirty Deal

2007-12-19T10:50:00.001-08:00

MERTHYR’S MONSTER MINE OCCUPIED
In the early hours of 5th December over 30 activists from around Wales joined local residents to occupy the site of the open cast mine at Ffos-y-Frân, near Merthyr Climbing on & chaining themselves to bulldozers & heavy machinery they’ve stopped excavation work on what is an extremely environmentally damaging project. As one of those involved said: “Coal is the filthiestfuel known to man & projects like this mine could destroy all our chances of tacklingglobal warming. The battle over this hilltop in Wales is a fight for the stability of the global climate & it epitomises this government’s hypocrisy on climate change.” Campaigners have stated they intend to do everything they can to stop this project.
Read Monbiot and how the Welsh government and Rhodri Morgan sold out

World's greenest cities

2007-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

Way to go Cardiff!!!

Do You Live in One of the World's 15 Greenest Cities? by Grist Magazine

Here's the top 15 cities and few runners up who have made the most impressive strides toward eco-friendliness and sustainability.

City Hall protest - Elgan we came to support you!

2007-12-14T02:30:00.000-08:00

A few turned out (see above) but I fear they were drowned out by the schools protests and insole court protest. In the end Elgan resigned rather than sit through an hours character assassination so the motion was withdrawn. Labour did raise the issue of reopening Wood St/St Mary's to private vehicles immediately following the vote a few months ago however. Senior Officers advise against it on safety grounds so that looks set to be the 'battle' for the next few months."

Improve cycling for commuters in Cardiff, keep Bute Park open later
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/butepark/

Transport councillor quits

2007-12-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

'I tried my best’ says transport chaos councillor

THE senior councillor who presided over a series of transport blunders today sensationally quit Cardiff council’s executive -– just 24 hours before he faced a motion of no confidence. Read

on: Sustrans Connect2 and Pont y Werin have won the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest!

2007-12-12T07:07:00.000-08:00


Name:	Connect2 Pont y Werin
Type:	Common Interest - Travel
Description:	Sustrans Connect2 and Pont y Werin have won the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest! The proposed cycle and footbridge over the River Ely will improve sustainable access for commuters, residents and tourists travelling between Cardiff and Penarth. The link will also provide a sustainable transport route to and from the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay which will become an increasingly popular destination as the Ice Rink, Swimming pool and other leisure facilities are due to open over the next few years. The 140 metre bridge will also link up to cycle routes throughout the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff. The Connect2 UK-wide project will now improve local travel for everyday journeys in 79 communities across the UK. Pont y Werin is now set to receive £1.15m towards it becoming a reality. Thank you for supporting and voting Connect2 and Pont y Werin!

Rhodri Morgan Greenwash

2007-12-12T05:56:00.000-08:00

Monbiot.com

Rigged

Posted: 11 Dec 2007 01:36 AM CST

The climate talks are a stitch-up, as no one is talking about supply

Welsh Green Wash - Rhodri Morgan Shame as Welsh assembly give go ahead for the biggest blot on the landscape in modern times. How could they?

"The pit at Ffos-y-fran received planning permission after two ministers in the Westminster government jumped up and down on Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister in Wales. Stephen Timms at the department of trade and industry listed the benefits of the scheme and demanded that the application “hodriis resolved with the minimum of further delay” His successor, Mike O’Brien, warned of dire consequences if the pit was not granted permission. The coal extracted from Ffos-y-fran alone will produce 29.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide: equivalent, according to the latest figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to the sustainable emissions of 55m people for one year.

Last year British planning authorities considered twelve new applications for opencast coal mines. They approved all but two of them. Two weeks ago Hazel Blears, the secretary of state in charge of planning, overruled Northumberland County Council to grant permission for an opencast mine at Shotton, on the grounds that the scheme (which will produce 9.3m tonnes of CO2(6)) is “environmentally acceptable”

vote to support St Mary street Pedestranisation!!!

2007-12-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

Well have you ever heard of a scheme to pedestranise not being successful? However the echo has a question- has st mary st pedestranisation been a sucess? YES

Give us a chance ....hardly finished yet!

ring to say YES 08716 930013
facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17842248648

Traffic trial’s cost is £580k – so far

Dec 10 2007 by Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

TAX-PAYERS have forked out almost £600,000 on the controversial trial traffic shake-up in Cardiff’s St Mary Street, it has been revealed.

Figures released by Cardiff council show that an initial £400,000 was initially spent on changes which led to the banning of private vehicles from the street in August.

Since October another £180,000 has been forked out to alter the two-way traffic system, which has included removing a concrete barrier in part of the street and giving more room to pedestrians.

If the part-pedestrian scheme is made permanent, the final £3.25m bill to transform the environment of the street will come from Welsh Assembly Government and council funds.

This will include putting trees, shrubs and seating in the street and extending pavements permanently, opening the way for street cafes.

The details of the bill were released just three days before Councillor Elgan Morgan, the Liberal Democrats’ executive member for transport, faces a no confidence motion from Labour over the handling of his portfolio, including the St Mary Street experiment.

Cardiff’s council executive is to be given a detailed report early in January on the St Mary Street scheme. This will include recommendations on whether to open the lower end of the street to restore the link between the city centre and Cardiff Bay.

John Adams, of Ashtons fishmonger’s in Cardiff Market, attacked the cost, declaring: “We all assumed that the experiment was going to be a simple low-cost one. The figure of £580,000 is nothing more than gross extravagance of ratepayers’ money.”

John Munton, deputy chairman of Cardiff East Neighbourhood Watch, said he was concerned about the amount of traffic congestion on the reduced lanes.

“My concern is that in the event of an emergency it could be difficult for an ambulance to get through St Mary Street.”

But support for the scheme came from Julie Eynon, of Canton, who said: “I love the changes in St Mary Street. There has been a big improvement in the street for pedestrians and it is easier to cross the road.”

Cardiff council said much of the money spent so far would not be abortive whether the scheme was made permanent or not. Much of the work, such as road signs, would be recycled.

A council spokeswoman added: “The St Mary Street and High Street improvement works are experimental and have required the council to seek the views of the public and key stakeholders on the various options for moving forward. Often these differ and as a result different areas of the scheme are altered as an experiment, to see if such changes could become features if the permanent scheme goes ahead.”

phillip.nifield@mediawales.co.uk

Keep up to date with the news. Receive our free E-Newsletters

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http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/10/traffic-trial-s-cost-is-580k-so-far-91466-20229436/

more greenwash- UK CO2 emissions UP not down

2007-12-10T02:47:00.000-08:00

Not in the least surprising as those of us campaigning for environmentally friendly policy are aware..So what has Julie morgan MP to say to this and is she still boasting about Browns actions on CO2?

Britain is responsible for hundreds of millions more tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions than official figures admit, according to a new report that undermines UK claims to lead the world on action against global warming. The analysis says pollution from aviation, shipping, overseas trade and tourism, which are not measured in the official figures, means that UK carbon consumption has risen significantly over the past decade, and that the government's claims to have tackled global warming are an "illusion".

Guardian 10th Dec 2007

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/10/carbonemissions.climatechange

Times 10th Dec 2007

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3025988.ece

Climate news

2007-12-09T04:31:00.000-08:00

Climate
An innovative new campaign is to be launched in Scotland this week to help communities take action to cut the pollution that causes global warming. Scottish Education for Action and Development (SEAD), a campaign group based in Edinburgh, will be unveiling ‘Switch on to Climate Change’, a grassroots programme encouraging people to combat global warming in their areas. Instead of urging a series of individual actions like fitting low-energy light bulbs, the campaign will back collective action, and warn against “false solutions” like carbon trading and offsetting.Sunday Herald 9th Dec 2007http://www.robedwards.com/2007/12/community-actio.html

Britain is running out of renewable energy as a surge in demand from businesses has outstripped electricity by wind farms, hydropower and waste gas burning. Interest in cutting carbon has far exceeded new supplies of zero-carbon power - creating a potential headache for companies which have pledged to become 'carbon neutral'. Observer 9th Dec 2007 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/09/renewableenergy.windpower

Britain is to embark on a wind power revolution that will produce enough electricity to power every home in the country, ministers will reveal tomorrow. The Independent on Sunday has learnt that, in an astonishing U-turn, the Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, will announce that he is opening up the seas around Britain to wind farms in the biggest ever renewable energy initiative. Only weeks ago he was resisting a major expansion of renewable sources, on the grounds that it would interfere with plans to build new nuclear power stations.

Independent on Sunday 9th Dec 2007 http://environment.independent.co.uk/green_living/article3236132.ece

Nothing in this sorry story has been so shameful as Britain's failure to exploit renewable energy. Its winds, waves and tides make up the richest resource of non-polluting power in Europe, yet we are second to bottom of the continental league table in expoliting it. For decades a recalcitrant, blindly pro-nuclear treacle layer in the old Department of Tade and Industy frustrated all attempts to expand it properly. Just weeks ago they were at it again - reincarnated in John Hutton's department- lobbying to scrap European targets for renewables on the grounds that they would impede the advance of the atom. Gordon Brown did well to face them down and insist that Britain retained and met the targets.He has done even better in following through, first with plans to exploit all forms of tidal energy - announced in last month's green speech - and now with setting in motion this expansion of offshore wind. This is more like the Gordon Brown w! e thought we were getting this summer, before this autumn's wobbles and weaknesses.

Independent on Sunday 9th Dec 2007
http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article3236068.ece

Cardiff Council shame as they move dormice to build a car park!

2007-12-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

Can anyone explain to me how Cardiff Council can move these dormice?
Park-Ride Plan to Be Not So Dormouse Friendly - Science - RedOrbit

A 1,000-space park-and-ride site proposed alongside Cardiff's Eastern Avenue is set to be given the backing of planners - although protected dormice will not be disturbed. (really ...not until they wake up!!!) Work on the Llanrumney side of the A48 near the Pentwyn Interchange is not due to start until the second half of next year because the dormice on the land are hibernating.
A council spokeswoman said there were plans to make alternative space available for the rodents, a European-protected species, including the planting of so-called "dormice-friendly" vegetation
A council spokeswoman said there were plans to make alternative space available for the rodents, a European-protected species, including the planting of so-called "dormice-friendly" vegetation...

Previously this story Park-and-ride plans held up by dormice! looked good for the dormice...
Sep 11 2007 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo
A 1,500-SPACE park-and-ride scheme has been delayed after environmental experts discovered rare dormice. The Echo revealed plans for the £4.1m project off the A48 Eastern Avenue at the Pentwyn Interchange on the outskirts of Cardiff in January, but the proposals have suffered a setback thanks to the little rodents.
Cardiff council hoped the giant car park, on the Llanrumney side of Eastern Avenue, would be ready by April and slash the volume of cars pouring into the city centre.

http://www.welshwildlife.org/SouthWalesDormouseSurvey_en.link
South Wales Dormouse Survey

Bridgend Council faces a court hearing over clearance work on a protected site for dormice, police confirm.Url/Source: : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7069714.stm
A friend tells me "I have been told seem to remember reading a story recently about a road development in N.Ireland that was going to disturb some protected bats. What they did was build a de-luxe new specially heated synthetic bat-home for the bats at a significant cost (tens of thousands of pounds)The problem was, no-one consulted the bats who decided to find new nesting sites in completely different places in derelict buildings so the bat home was a complete waste of money in every sense except that it meant the development could go ahead .....This idea of buliding what is perceived as a dormice friendly area may parralel the above i.e. the development is allowed to go ahead but the dormice just scatter to different areas entirely where they may or may not survive. Likely Outcome : money wasted and species diminished

Cardiff Greens - If this saves just one childs life it will be worth it!

2007-12-04T07:12:00.000-08:00

‘If this saves just one child’s life then it will be worth it...’

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2007/11/30/if-this-saves-just-one-child-s-life-then-it-will-be-worth-it-91466-20183897/

Nov 30 2007 by Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

GREEN campaigners have launched a drive for 20mph speed limits to be introduced across Cardiff.

Cardiff Green Party’s “20’s Plenty” campaign is aimed at persuading the city’s council to follow the lead of authorities such as Portsmouth, where 85 per cent of its residential roads will have the reduced speed limit by the end of this year.

Parents living in the Canton area have given their support to efforts to slow down traffic on residential streets.

Jake Griffiths, secretary of Cardiff Green Party, said: “Most of us want to live in a quiet, pleasant street, a safe street in which children can play out alone.

“Nobody wants to live in a hostile street which you cannot walk across thanks to fast-moving traffic or one that is an occasional racetrack.

“When traffic is slowed, existing 20mph zones show that people begin to enjoy their environments and use local amenities more.

“If this campaign results in the saving of child’s life or from having a serious accident in Cardiff it will have been worth it.

“It could also significantly improve the prospect of Cardiff being able to achieve its target of increasing people cycling in the city and reducing the levels of childhood obesity.”

Mum Sarah Manners, who has boys aged three and eight and lives in Canton, said: “I think it is long overdue and would support it.

“Child safety is really important. Certainly vehicles speeding through residential streets does not encourage parents to let their children walk to school, although I do.

“We need tightening up on speed limits and stiffer penalties for those who break them.”

Fellow Canton mum Eirian Rees, who also has two children, added: “I live in a block end street, but we still get motorists reversing down at high speed in frustration when they find they cannot get through. Action is needed to slow down traffic.”

phillip.nifield@mediawales.co.uk

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/

Green wash from Julie Morgan

2007-12-04T03:19:00.000-08:00

I couldn't see any support from Julie Morgan MP there at all even if you presume she wrote it herself. Patronising twaddle!

Why can't she say I support all those who wrote to me concerned about our planet and what exactly she supports and what ACTION she is going to take. You could fall into the trap of wishful thinking and falling for politicians spin - she has responded in this way to the huge number of cards/letters from constituents and I dare say this is much the same as the letter she send them individually and so she appears to commiserate without commmitting to anything and leaving out those vital ACTION points?!

She does slag off lib dems in Cardiff for the lowest rates of recycling when the labour party were in power for many years before and are working with the lib dems ...it is only under the lib dems that we get recycling bins for garden rubbish so they have done something. The new labour party in Cardiff was opposing reorganising High Street - St Mary Street and higher parking charges. It costs £3.00 for a day BUS ticket in Cardiff - more from outside Cardiff and they reduce the day parking charge from £5.00 down to £3.00 making it cheaper to drive in and park! What sort of policy is that?

Note that the NEW LABOUR group on Cardiff council demanded immediate changes to the “ill-thought-out” St Mary Street traffic ban. Cardiff council’s New Labour leader, John Sheppard, said the ban was “badly-timed, ill-thought-out and has been the subject o

http://inconsiderateparking.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-labour-turn-its-back-on-cleaner-and.html

Ask what she drives?Does her office recycle anything as I know for a fact they didn't - She could recycle the large number of newspapers and magazines that she gets - shred paper - use recycled paper in the office, not use plastic bags etc so why not visit her office with an environmental audit and check out her green credentials? Perhaps she will invite you to her home to view her green life style!?

Julie praises gordon browns leadership on environmental policy? Is this the same person who because more people want to use the railway supports charges going up and if more people want to fly we should be building and expanding Heathrow? Not to mention suporting building more roads and nuclear power stations? What sort of leadership is that?

After all as she quoted Ghandi ..SHE should be the change in her own world e.g at home and at the office.

The new labour party is responsible for appalling huge open cast mining in Merthyr yards from peoples homes, as they supported and lobbied for it.

New Labour, New Environment? -report slams Labour’s green claims 20.07.07 New Labour New Environment?

Outdated figures have been hiding the full extent of climate change. But I am still advocating action, and not despair George Monbiot Tuesday December 4, 2007 The Guardian

The government proposes to cut the UK's carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. This target is based on a report published in 2000. That report was based on an assessment published in 1995, which drew on scientific papers published a few years earlier. The UK's policy, in other words, is based on papers some 15 years old.www.monbiot.com

British Energy draws up new reactor plans Guardian Unlimited, Wednesday November 28 2007 Terry Macalister

British Energy is looking at building four nuclear power plants at its sites in the south of England. But it admitted flood defences would be needed to protect them from rising sea levels. Sizewell in Suffolk, Dungeness in Kent, Hinkley Point in Somerset and Bradwell in Essex are the preferred sites for the new reactors. British Energy said it had already reached agreement (...)

(...) own carbon reduction targets". The report comes barely a week after Gordon Brown said Britain was committed to the European Union target of (...)

Goron brown as Chancellor failed to make any significant contribution to reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions.

In the eight years before Labour came to power green taxes (as a percentage of overall taxes) rose from 7.8% to 9.4 %. But by 2005 (the latest year which information is available) Gordon Brown had let this percentage fall to 7.7 %.
The Chancellor abandoned the Fuel Price Escalator (an above inflation increase in fuel tax) and has frequently frozen duty on fuel. In December last year, the Government admitted that the cost of motoring has fallen in real terms by over 8% since it came to power. Meanwhile the cost of public transport has risen: bus fares by 14 % and rail fares by 5 %.
Meanwhile carbon dioxide emissions have risen under Labour, despite repeated manifesto promises of substantial cuts. The Government's target of a 20 per cent cut in carbon dioxide (based on 1990 levels) by 2010, will not be met.

FOE ..He must demonstrate that he has the political courage to lead the UK towards a low carbon economy. And he can start by making it cheaper and easier for people to cut their emissions. This must include cutting road tax for more of the most fuel efficient cars and substantially increasing it for gas-guzzlers, and a package of measures that provides strong financial incentives for householders to save energy and cut emissions. We need action not words."

Stop Heathrow Expansion - Take Action

2007-11-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

Support our Stop Heathrow Expansion campaign. Last week the government launched its consultation into plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow. Already the busiest airport in Europe, the plan would mean a 70 per cent increase in flight numbers and a corresponding rise in climate change pollution. It's crazy to be paving the way for such big increases in greenhouse gases when we should be doing all we can to reduce emissions.

What's particularly shortsighted about this proposal is that a third runway at Heathrow really isn't
needed. Well over a fifth of flights from Heathrow are to short-haul destinations such as Edinburgh,
Paris, Manchester and Newcastle - already well served by trains which cause ten times less damage to
the climate than flying. The real reason BAA wants a third runway is to increase its profits.
Given Gordon Brown's widely publicised speech last week about his determination to take climate change
seriously, it's hard to see how he can possibly justify a third Heathrow runway. Yet the indications
are that the government has been planning for some time to do exactly that.

Documents recently obtained by Greenpeace under the Freedom of Information Act
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/ybpvdpm_fffvjqrf.html) show that airports operator BAA and the Department
for Transport have been working closely together to ensure that the third runway gets built - so
closely that they've even set up a joint body - the Heathrow Delivery Group - to steer the plan
through the consultation process. All the calculations relating to noise and pollution in the
consultation document have been supplied by BAA - data no opposition groups have been allowed to
challenge.

One further piece of evidence about where the government's sympathies really lie - the DfT and BAA
have drawn up a 'risk list' of threats to the building of the third runway. The list includes the 2M
campaign, the group comprising local London councils representing 2 million people opposed to the
plans.

Flying is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, responsible for 13 per
cent of our climate inpact. Unless we bring it under control we'll stand no chance of meeting the
ambitious CO2 reduction targets that the PM only last week pledged to reach, or even exceed. And
Heathrow is only one of more than 20 airports around the country in the process of submitting
expansion plans. The Tyndall climate research centre has calculated that if aviation continues to
expand as projected, Britain will have to totally decarbonise the rest of its economy by 2050 to
effectively tackle climate change. And we all know that just isn't going to happen.

What you can do

Let Gordon Brown know that he's a public servant and that we expect him to act in our interests, not
help big business maximise its profits. There are two ways you can do this - send him a video message
or write him a letter. In fact, to ram the point home why not do both? It shouldn't take you more than
a few minutes.
* Join the thousands who want to stop Heathrow expansion by adding your comments to our video
wall. Make your voice heard!
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/aojuvjj_fffvjqrf.html)

* Write to Gordon Brown and tell him that minimising the effects of climate change is more
important than increasing British Airways' profits!
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/xwacbac_fffvjqrf.html)

* Watch last week's Newsnight debate about Heathrow between Greenpeace's John Sauven and energy
minister Malcolm Wickes.
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/euhbrhm_fffvjqrf.html)

You can find out more about the Heathrow campaign at http://www.email.greenpeace.org/nopdrph_fffvjqrf.html
As always, thanks for your support! Joss Cope 27 November 2007

Vote for Pont y Werin NOW!!!

2007-11-26T01:37:00.001-08:00

Please vote for Connect2 and Pont y Werin to win the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.

You can vote online now at http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/home
Vote Connect2 today!

£50 million for walking and cycling is up for grabs from the Big Lottery Fund but only if you vote for Sustrans' Connect2 at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk.

The foot and cycle bridge earmarked for Cardiff and Penarth is one of 79 projects across the UK that make up the Connect2 lottery bid. If Connect2 wins, Pont y Werin will receive £1.15 towards it being built.

The 140 metre bridge would enable pedestrians and cyclists to cross between Penarth at Cogan and the International Sports Village at Cardiff Bay. It would also open to allow the passage of river traffic.

Cardiff: the Ely River Connection

Project photograph

Cardiff - This proposal to open a bridge over the Ely River will complete a 6.5 mile (10.5 Kilometres) circuit around Cardiff Bay. It will make for a glorious walk or cycle ride and become a favourite promenade for residents and visitors alike. At present there are two breaks in the circuit – the Roath Basin link and the crossing of the Ely River. Cardiff has been waiting for this bridge, which will serve as an excellent leisure and commuter route.

Everyone must vote for Connect2 to win!

You can vote online now at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk

Or text Connect2 to 80010 or register online at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk so we can remind you when to vote by telephone as part of the live vote on ITV1 in December.

For more information about Connect2 and Pont y Werin please visit www.sustransconnect2.org.uk

Want to campaign locally for your environment? Join your local Friends of the Earth group - for Cardiff go to www.foecardiff.co.uk

CHANGE THE WORLD!

2007-11-19T02:36:00.001-08:00

Speaker - JONATHAN NEALE, Author and activist
National Secretary of UK Campaign against Climate Change
Monday 26 November at 7.30 pm
Main Building
Cardiff University
Park Place
(opp. Student Union)
Born in New York City and active in the US Civil Rights movement & anti-Vietnam War movement, Jonathan is the acclaimed author of "They are G8: We are 6 Billion","What's wrong with America?" and a higly praised history of the Vietnam War: "The American War: Vietnam 1965-1975". His latest book, "Stop Global Warming - Change the World" is due to be published in the new year.
GLOBAL DAY OF CLIMATE PROTEST
Saturday 8 December
Coaches to the march to the US Embassy in London are leaving Cardiff at 8 am from the Museum Steps (and stopping in Caerphilly and Newport). Tickets cost £16 waged / £8 concession. If you are interested in reserving a seat or for more information e-mail this adress!
This march is one of a series of global demonstrations to co-incide with the international talks on Climate Change in Bali.
www.campaigncc.org

New Road to the airport?

2007-11-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

Now what is this about - improve access for who? The Metrix Consortium?
The road from St Athan to the airport maybe?

Improving access to Cardiff International Airport
Following the public exhibitions held in early October 2007 the Welsh Assembly Government has decided to hold two additional exhibitions.

Improving Access to Cardiff International Airport
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads3/ImprovingAccessToCardiffAirport/?lang=en

Newsletter No.1 – Autumn 2007 2007 Public Exhibition

Board 1 = Welcome Board
Board 2 = Previous Studies
Board 3 = Trunk Road Forward Programme
Board 4 = Recent Announcements
Board 5 = Context Plan
Board 6 = Aerial Photograph – M4 south to A48
Board 7 = Aerial Photograph – A48 south to coast
Board 8 = Environment
Board 9 = Transport
Board 10 = Issues Identified so Far
Board 11 = Potential Options
Board 12 = Thank you and What Happens Next

Public Exhibition Comment Form

Department for Transport - Chapter 6 - Wales

Cardiff International Airport is the largest airport in Wales; ... there will be a need to improve access to Cardiff International Airport. ...
www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/air/chapter6wales - 19k

Grid lock Cardiff

2007-10-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Clodien Avenue parking - Lib Dems seek answers to congestion crisis - you can say that again as this city is in crisis - gridlocked at rush hour and speeding traffic and roads you can't cross the rest of the time.

Cllr. Ed Bridges wants the council to make it harder for Allensbank House residents to park illegally on Clodien Ave. He is quite right - get on with it. Too many
people flaunt parking regulatins in Cardiff. I recall the lib dems promise to introduce more parking wardens. Give them a ticket ...

Wales ' Wet Summer: Bad Luck or Climate Change?

2007-10-04T11:33:00.001-07:00

2007 saw the wettest summer in England and Wales since 1912, according to the MET Office, which begs the question: are we just unlucky or is this a symptom of a changing climate?

Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales is holding 3 regional events on 2 November in Newport , 9 November in Wrexham and 13 November in Carmarthen to debate this question and many other issues that are important to you.

We'd like people from all backgrounds from across your region to join us. Stimulate a lively debate by putting some challenging questions to the panel on the issues that really matter to you!

Panels will feature political figures, community and business leaders as well as local and national experts, ready to take your questions.

Please see attached invitation and booking form.

Send completed booking forms to events@cynnalcymru.org by Monday 22nd October. Please book early to avoid disappointment!

Haf Gwlyb Cymru: Anlwc neu Newid Hinsawdd?

Haf 2007 oedd y gwlypaf yng Nghymru a Lloegr ers 1912, yn ôl y Swyddfa Dywydd, sy'n arwain at y cwestiwn: ydyn ni ond yn anlwcus neu ydy hyn yn arwydd o newid hinsawdd?

Mae Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales yn cynnal 3 digwyddiad rhanbarthol 2 Tachwedd yng Nghasnewydd, 9 Tachwedd yn Wrecsam a 13 Tachwedd yng Nghaerfyrddin i drafod y cwestiwn yma a nifer o faterion eraill sydd o bwys i chi.

Hoffem i bobl o bob cefndir ar draws eich rhanbarth i ymuno a ni. Ysgogwch drafodaeth fywiog drwy ofyn cwestiynau sy'n herio'r panel ar y materion sydd wir o bwys i chi!

Ar y panel bydd ffigurau gwleidyddol, cymunedol ac arweinwyr busnes yn ogystal ag arbenigwyr lleol a chenedlaethol, yn barod i ateb eich cwestiynau.

Gwelch yn atodol wahoddiad a ffurflen gofrestru.

Anfonwch ffurflen cofrestru wedi ei chwblhau at events@cynnalcymru.org erbyn Dydd Llun 22ain Hydref. Cofrestrwch yn gynnar i osgoi cael siom!

Bikes in the city

2007-10-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the Cycle Cardiff report of the 'Bikes in the City' ride with lots of pictures
http://www.cyclecardiff.org.uk/textfiles/bikesinthecity2007.html

Echo poll are youi in favour of congestion charging?

2007-09-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

YES.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/southwalesecho/
The poll follows the story that even the Chamber of Commerce has come out in favour of charging...

Stockholm 'world's most livable city'

2007-09-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

No surprise there then ..wonder where Cardiff came? Pretty low I would guess ..being a car orientated city ..

Stockholm is the world's greenest, most livable city, according to a survey carried out by the Reader's Digest magazine.

Using a range of sources, environmental economist Matthew Kahn, from UCLA's Institute of the Environment, ranked 72 major international in terms of how 'green and livable' they are.

Environmental legislation, energy prices, waste production and disposal and available parkland were among the factors considered.

Stockholm was ranked number one, followed by Oslo in second place.

http://www.thelocal.se/8578/
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/8578/
"You shouldn't boast, but Stockholm is the world's most beautiful city," said mayor Kristina Axén Olin .

"I get happy every time I come back to Stockholm after being away. We probably don't realise what a unique environment we have," she told Aftonbladet.

A third Scandinavian city, Copenhagen, was ranked tenth, but the top ten was dominated by German and French cities.

Munich was third, with Frankfurt (5th), Stuttgart (6th) and Dusseldorf (8th) completing a German quadruple. Paris was rated the fourth most livable city in the world, with Lyon and Nantes in 7th and 9th places respectively.

The first American city to make an appearance was New York, in 15th spot, while London only managed 27th place.

Reader's Digest also ranked countries and, as is usually the case with these kinds of surveys, the Nordic nations grabbed the top spots. Finland was top, given high marks "for air and water quality, a low incidence of infant disease, and how well it protects citizens from water pollution and natural disasters".

Iceland came second, with Norway and Sweden in third and fourth places.

The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

Living Green
http://www.rd.com/content/greenest-locations-on-the-globe/3/;jsessionid=84A6BE610B0479316CD56C8026A2FD3F.app2_rd1
Ranking the best (and worst) countries.
By Matthew E. Kahn, PhD, and Fran Lostys
From Reader's Digest October 2007

How Countries Rate
Top 5

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Norway

4. Sweden

5. Austria

Bottom 5

137. Chad

138. Burkina Faso

139. Sierra Leone

140. Niger

141. Ethiopia

Air Quality
Rates concentration of several pollutants in urban areas

1. Moldova

8. Finland

63. United States

126. Ethiopia

141. Guatemala

The World's Greenest, Most Livable Cities
Using different data, we analyzed 72 major international cities and ranked them in terms of being green and livable. The sources included The Millennium Cities Database for Sustainable Transport (2001) by Jeff Kenworthy and Felix Laube of Australia's Murdoch University, the World Bank's Development Economic Research Group Estimates, and our own reporting on local environmental laws, energy prices, garbage production and disposal, and parkland.

5 Best

1. Stockholm

2. Oslo

3. Munich

4. Paris

5. Frankfurt

5 Worst

68. Bangkok

69. Guangzhou

70. Mumbai

71. Shanghai

72. Beijing

How U.S. Cities Rate

15. New York

22. Washington, D.C.

23. Chicago

26. San Francisco

36. Atlanta

43. Denver

46. Houston

55. San Diego

57. Los Angeles

60. Phoenix

Water Quality
Rates pollutant levels as well as other factors that affect water purity

1. Norway

2. Finland

22. United States

127. Ethiopia

141. Morocco

Greenhouse Gases
Rates carbon emissions per capita and by GDP

1. Chad

18. Ethiopia

75. Finland

107. United States

141. Turkmenistan

Energy Efficiency
Rates conservation efforts and use of renewables such as hydropower

1. D.R. Congo

17. Ethiopia

66. Finland

106. United States

141. Trinidad & Tobago

Environmental Health
Rates childhood mortality, disease; deaths from intestinal infections

1. Austria

8. Finland

125. Ethiopia

16. United States

141. Turkmenistan

MEPs 2 major votes on climate change

2007-09-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Climate change is the biggest environmental threat facing our planet. Over the summer, we have seen widespread flooding in the UK and in Africa and heat waves and forest fires in Southern Europe. Transport accounts for over a quarter of Europe’s carbon dioxide emissions and they continue to rise placing the European Union’s emission reduction targets in jeopardy.

Your MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) have a golden opportunity to make a real difference on climate change. You can help to persuade them to vote to tackle transport’s effect on the climate.There are two major votes on climate change coming up in the European Parliament:
• Aviation and Emissions Trading. This is the EU’s response to the growing emissions from air travel. Research from the Tyndall Centre shows that it needs to be strengthened if it is going to have any impact.

• Cars and carbon dioxide emissions. The car industry promised to cut emissions but instead continue to produce big, gas-guzzling vehicles including 4x4s. Proposals are being made to make these cuts legally binding.

Go to http://www.transportactioneurope.org and ask your MEP to take action on climate change.Then help spread the word by sending this to your friends, family and fellow campaigners. You could also use web networks like Facebook to ask others to take action.

Thank you!
Simon Transport and Climate Campaign Friends of the Earth

Sign the petition to keep St Mary Street pedestrianised

2007-09-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/631673943

Haven't you signed it yet?

Paved with gold: the real value of street design

2007-09-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

This report presents new research that shows how good street design contributes both economic benefits and public value. It shows that investment in design quality brings quantifiable financial returns and that people value improvements to their streets. It is intended for local authorities, regional government, business, developers and investors. For the first time we can see that the best streets really are paved with gold.

Paved with gold is part of a wider CABE programme that provides research, guidance and case studies aimed at promoting high-quality street design. For more information see www.cabe.org.uk/streets

Date: 25 June 2007

Download the briefing document (919KB)

Download the full publication (3MB)

To view PDF files you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Read this publication? Tell us what you think

cardiff planners could learn a thing or two!

Look at Birmingham change to pedestrianisation and beauty

Manual for Streets

Park-and-ride plans held up by dormice!

2007-09-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Sep 11 2007 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

A 1,500-SPACE park-and-ride scheme has been delayed after environmental experts discovered rare dormice.

The Echo revealed plans for the £4.1m project off the A48 Eastern Avenue at the Pentwyn Interchange on the outskirts of Cardiff in January, but the proposals have suffered a setback thanks to the little rodents.

Cardiff council hoped the giant car park, on the Llanrumney side of Eastern Avenue, would be ready by April and slash the volume of cars pouring into the city centre.

But the authority must now work with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) to decide how to deal with the dormice.

Dormice they are so cute!! Such a shame to destroy their habitat. Why concrete over so much land - every thing in moderation evan moderation.

View Larger Map

Get behind city trial!

2007-09-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Get behind this city traffic trial Sep 11 2007 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

I AM concerned at the Echo campaigning for Cardiff's St Mary Street to be reopened for car traffic.

The people of Cardiff are quite capable of seeing that the change has made shopping in the city centre a more pleasant experience, increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists and reduced the extremely high levels of air pollution.

Once the pavement widening and other improvements are carried out this will improve things further.

I frequently walk down St Mary Street and have seen no sign that the
ban has succeeded in turning St Mary Street into a bus racing track,
as the article of September 3 alleges.

There is also little evidence that traffic levels increased in either Grangetown or Riverside when the ban came into force.

The Echo should thank the council for taking this sensible and popular step to make Cardiff a better city.

Chris Brown

Janet Street, Splott, Cardiff

Welsh man fined after getting run over - you couldn't make it up!

2007-09-08T03:47:00.000-07:00

Man fined after getting run over - Metro

Is this really true? Unbelieveable!!

Daniel Horne of Llanharry, Glamorgan

When a police car swerved off the road and ran over Daniel Horne's foot, he thought he was owed an apology. But instead he was landed with an £80 fine – for denting the car.
Mr Horne, 28, said he was 'speechless' when the PC who had been at the wheel wrote in the fine notice: 'You ran into the nearside front wing of a marked police vehicle causing a dent.'
He said: 'I was in agony, with my foot broken in bits, and I end up being fined for my body damaging the police car.'

The businessman was on his way home from a night out with friends when he was rammed from behind, knocked over and had his foot crushed under the wheels of the patrol car.
The group had pulled over when their own car had a flat tyre, leaving the vehicle with the hazard warning lights flashing to walk to the nearest village to find help.
But a passer-by thought they were dumping the car and called the police. Mr Horne said: 'I was just walking along the pavement and heard the police car siren coming behind us.

'The next thing I knew was that the police car came on to the pavement to stop us.
'The car hit my right leg and I fell over – with my foot being crushed under the front wheel.'
Mr Horne said the police soon accepted they had done nothing wrong and Mr Horne was driven to hospital after the accident in Beddau, near Pontypridd, South Wales.

He added: 'The copper was very helpful and was there with me for about three hours while the doctors examined me.

'He gave me a lift back but then he told me, “Sorry but I've got to do this to cover myself”.'
Doctors have told Mr Horne, of Llanharry, Glamorgan, that he will need to wear a cast for nine weeks. He has been unable to work at the courier company he runs and plans to sue the police for compensation. He added: 'There is no way I'm going to pay the fixed penalty fine. I've spoken to my solicitor and I'm going to fight it all the way.'

A South Wales Police spokeswoman confirmed that a fixed penalty was issued for criminal damage, adding: 'We have received a complaint from Mr Horne and are looking into it.'

Monday, September 3, 2007

Cardiff Bus sellout by LIb Dems

2007-09-06T09:00:00.002-07:00

Bus service could go privatePLANS have been unveiled which could lead to a sell-off of a slice of Cardiff Bus, netting tens of millions of pounds. more We want better services not worse!what next .. this is a big mistake - perhaps the councillors who are on the board could have resisted this? Cllr Neale?

Are they skint or what is going on? They are trying to sell of Whichurch Highschool grounds for housing! Is this property developers world or what?

Cardiff Bus Contact Details:
David BrownManaging DirectorLeckwith DepotSloper RoadCardiffCF1 8AFTelephone: 029 2078 7704 email: headoffice@cardiffbus.com
Website: http://www.cardiffbus.com/
Council Representation:
Councillor Joe Carter
Councillor Gareth Neale
Councillor John Dixon
Councillor Steve Pantak
Councillor Cathy Pearcy
Councillor Christine Priday
Councillor John Sheppard

"Mr Davies ..whos he?.. is also looking at a major rationalising of the council’s land and buildings. That could even mean proposals being looked at to sell County Hall and move office staff to a site on the outskirts of the capital. He is looking closely at non-operational buildings and whether a partnership with the private sector could bring in funding in a so-called equity release scheme.
The shake-up could also see several sections of the council becoming “arm’s-length” companies along the lines of the marketing company, Cardiff & Co, but with staff pay and conditions protected.
A report on Mr Davies’ review of the council’s operations will go to the council’s executive on Tuesday. Mr Pantak said: “While I understand a minority shareholding would be involved, I believe this would be the thin edge of the wedge and will open the door to full privatisation of Cardiff Bus which will gradually reduce the service to customers."

Silly enough at present when we have stagecoach buses in cardiff from for wxample Caerphilly and we get a day ticket from Cardiff Bus but can't use it on those buses! Is this why the fares keep going up. People scream about parking prices but for adults going to work it is £3 or to go shopping with the kids?

St Mary's Street petition

2007-09-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

A petition has been started re St Mary's street - please go to the link to sign

http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/view?pid=631673943

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-st-marys-street-in-cardiff-pedestrianised

Sign petition to save Penylan trees

2007-09-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

31 July residents of Penylan were sent a letter from Cardiff Council informing them without consultation about their plans to remove 8 Crab-apple trees. The trees in question are in fact actually cherry trees and the beautiful blossom in Spring calls into question how 'diseased' as claimed by the Council they really are.

With each tree being 50 years old the felling would mean the destruction in one year of 400 years of tree growth. Please sign our petition and send the link to anyone you may think would beinterested in supporting a worthy cause
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/penylan-trees

Further information on new website http://www.penylan-trees.co.uk/

Facebook group (you need to have a Facebook account to access this)http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5136685997

Background - Friday August 24IC Wales features the article 'Trees are healthy, so please don’t fell them'.find out more at IC Wales

87% say Pedestrianisation of Cardiff's St Mary Street IS working

2007-09-04T03:05:00.000-07:00

The Echos Poll

Is the pedestrianisation of Cardiff's St Mary's Street working? The results so far show..it is..

Yes
86.67%

No
13.33%