Time for Cardiff to go green!

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 ...

six key barriers to walking - the state of our streets

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 walking report Breaking Down Barriers to Walking in London PDF (871Kb)


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

City Hall protest - Elgan we came to support you!

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/

vote to support St Mary street Pedestranisation!!!

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

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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/

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

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

Bikes in the city

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

Shed some Green Light on parking charges!

Time for Cardiff Drivers to see Green Light.

The city centre of Cardiff should be readily accessed by all sections of the community. It should not be dominated by the car, but offer safe, attractive, pedestrian-friendly environments.

Increased parking charges should be re-cycled to provide better public transport, walking and cycling facilities at all location levels.
The local bus service fails to meet peoples needs for travel to the city centre. Almost all households in Wales - 90% say that the bus service does not meet the need either for travel at night or travel on Sunday

City centre retailers underestimate the number of their customers arriving by bus, walk and cycle and their spend profile and overestimate the number and effect of car borne customers.

A commission for integrated transport study revealed that public transport users do not spend significantly less than car users in city centre, particularly once income bias is eliminated. Therefore, any reduction of existing car shoppers should not result in significantly less retail spend. People travelling by bus, cycling and walking are more likely to support their city centre, visiting it more frequently than car users.

It is a myth that reducing traffic will harm the economy.

Research carried out by the German Institute for Urban Research6 indicates that a sustainable transport approach benefits trade in German towns. It says: "Retail trade in central city districts increases with policies that encourage environmentally friendly transport
Modes” Another German study showed there was no relationship between the amount of car parking provision and the amount of money people spent in shops.

Half of lone parents lack a car and two thirds of single pensioners. The great majority of these groups are women. Women are the primary users of bus services. The cost of bus fares has gone up considerably. Recently bus fares went up in Cardiff from £2.60 to £3.00. therefore it would cost £6.00 for two adults to go to the city centre for any length of time. Is it right that it has been cheaper to go by car? Since 1974 bus fares have increased by 87 per cent in real terms. Between 1997 and 2005 motoring costs fell by 9 per cent!
Buses are late or cancelled because of traffic congestion. Transport policicy in Cardiff discriminates, passively or actively, in favour of cars and against buses and cycling. In Cardiff where parking is plentiful and has been free or cheap, there is no bus priority and no enforcement, so buses are very unattractive option compared with cars.

A 'Green' parking charge should vary depending on the amount of pollution they create. Cars should be banded depending on how many grams of CO2 they emit per km. By implementing schemes that reduce carbon dioxide emissions we could make a positive impact on climate change nationally and globally .


Time for everyone in Cardiff and our council to catch up with other local authorities and see Green light!!!




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Transport link environment fears for the sports village

How do we get to the sports village?

Apr 18 2007 Gerry Holt, South Wales Echo A Cardiff conservation group is calling on the council to radically reassess plans for the International Sports Village. Cardiff Friends of the Earth is warning the village in Cardiff Bay will fail unless it has adequate transport links, particularly for those without cars.

The group claim proposals for alternative transport plans have been rejected or shelved, including a new railway station at Cogan linked to a pedestrian or cycle bridge and cycle lanes on the Cogan Spur. Marc Buehner, of the group, said: 'It is completely unacceptable for a modern development to be so reliant on the car. As well as negative health and environmental effects, congestion on approach roads will make the village less appealing, leading to some facilities becoming less viable.'

The group is organising a cycle-ride demonstration to press for a bridge over the River Ely at 11am on Sunday, starting at Cogan station.

CPZ - Cardiff Bus boss warns of anarchy

Cardiff Bus managing director is quite right that we must have enforcement of parking controls. It is a disgrace that this has to be argued for. Parking at bus stops means that the bus can't pull in and elderly and disabled passengers can't board the bus. Whitchurch Village Cardiff is an example of the thoughtlessness of motorists and an example of the blatent disregard for the parking laws. But they know they will not be punished or even retrimanded. Time for a change. Picture from Whitchurch Village bus stop. Why are are local politicians not doung something to stop this? Are they afraid of the MOTORISTS? See the Living Streets parking policy.

Plans for Cardiff council to take over enforcement of parking controls from the police must carry on if the capital is to kept moving. That is the claim of Cardiff Bus' managing director David Brown. Mr Brown believes the abandonment of controlled parking zones should not stop a city-wide 'decriminalised' scheme because it could lead to anarchy as motorists continue to ignore traffic regulations.
Mr Brown went on: 'I don't think the benefits of CPZs were fully understood. That decision has now been taken so we have to move on. 'But there is still clearly unanimous support for enforcement of parking controls and tackling illegal parking.
'That will benefit residents but also the bus company because discourteous drivers parking at junctions or on double yellow lines do slow buses through traffic.

'Funding sources need to be found to ensure decriminalised parking can go ahead.
'Proper enforcement is recognised as critical to keeping the city moving and open for business and illegal parking affects everyone.

'The best way forward for the council is to keep the programme of decriminalised parking so we avoid the city descending into anarchy.'
Mar 20 2007 Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

Have your say on the city's parking problems at forums.icwales.co.uk
Look at the album of parking on double yellow lines here.

Caerphilly Road Verges chewed up so what are the council doing to stop this?

What are the council doing? Nothing.

Parking on the newly grass verge!

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How could you? These grass verges on Caerphilly Road have just been relaid - the environment is ruined and is so unneccessary and should not be allowed.

Parking on double yellow lines routine in Whitchurch

Bad parking led to mobility scooter toppling off the pavement

Illegal parking row as woman, 87, breaks hip in scooter crash
AN elderly woman from Chard was left with a broken hip on Thursday after bad parking led to her mobility scooter toppling off a pavement.This is The West Country Somerset News - http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk

This shows the what can happen when cars park in an inconsiderate manner!

Car lobby says boo and cardiff county council gives in!

Not environmentally friendly Cardiff! Car first capital

Cardiff parking zone plan changes

Plans for controlled parking zones (CPZ) in some of Cardiff's suburbs have been altered by the city council after objections were raised.

Munich cycle lanes

Munich cycle lanes are well marked as Cambridge cycling campaign points out.

e-petition Tony Blair .on 4x4s scourge of 21srcentury urban environment

from the BBC politics website

One of Tony Blair's latest wheezes to engage directly with the public is to ask them to send e-petitions to the Downing Street website. A personal favourite, however, suggests Tony Blair should "stand on his head and juggle ice cream" on the basis that, "if he is not going to resign, the least he can do is provide us with some entertainment". All very funny. But the most surprising thing is that this particular petition has received so many backers that only the first 500 names have been published on the site. I wonder how long this particular initiative will last?

The 4x4 is the scourge of the 21st century urban environment. Uneconomic, gas-guzzling and downright dangerous, they prowl the streets outside our cities' primary schools, seeking whom they may knock down and seriously injure. The average 4x4 appears to be driven by harrassed parents with a back seat full of screaming kids in areas with many children engaged in the risky activity of crossing roads. They are accidents waiting to happen. We would be better off with them removed from our streets. Please sign up and beseech our government to rid us of this modern pest. Or at least make them pay heavily for their continued existence.

Do something about these wet crossings!

Crossing the road in wet wheather is challenging!