M4 Widening Folly

Cardiff M4 widening start

Unecessary - a new bottle neck! A separate cycle lane would have been more useful and cheaper! Many homes will be affected by the increase in noise and pollution!

Work will start at the end of May on the M4 motorway widening scheme from junction 29 Castleton to junction 32 Coryton, north of Cardiff.
Contractor Alfred McAlpine Project Services will be widening this 13.5km (eight mile) section of existing dual two-lane motorway to dual three-lane motorway.The M4 Widening scheme starting at the end of May 2007 is expected to be complete by December 2009, and will significantly ease congestion particularly at peak periods.Further information can be obtained from the M4 Widening Public Liaison facilities:Tel: 07805 619615 E-mail: M4liaison@alfredmcalpineplc.com or visit the M4 web page http://www.m4widening29to32.com

More injury on the road - next child going to get killed

The Echo reports that 10-year-old son Jonathan Sullivan’s lower left leg was broken by a car in Grand Avenue, Ely, Cardiff. The keen footballer, now has pins in his leg and a leg brace for the next six weeks.

I agree with his mum who said “It’s a big road and there are not enough pedestrian crossings. There are no speed cameras or speed bumps. The next child is going to get killed.”

Murder by Car -new feature

A new feature to highlight DEATH and injury on our roads. How many more people have to die before pedestrian rights are put before vechicles and crossing provided?

Man, 38, fights for his life after being hit by car
May 21 2007 by Laura Wright, South Wales Echo

A PEDESTRIAN is fighting for his life after a collision with a car on a busy city road.The 38-year-old was crossing the Gabalfa Interchange, Cardiff, when he was hit by a Ford Mondeo.

The man, from Canton, Cardiff, is in a critical condition at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. The crash happened just after 9.30pm on Saturday.

Police are asking for any witnesses to the crash, or who saw the pedestrian on the roundabout beforehand, to come forward.

Police also want to speak with the occupants of a black American 4x4 stretch limousine and a silver Renault Megane Scenic which were pictured on CCTV footage at the time of the accident.
Call the Roads Policing Unit on 029 20222111.

ID card 'police' to levy £2,000 fines

ID Card police
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2562741.ece

Celebrate Architecture week

Living Streets launches an early celebration of Architecture Week: 15-24 June
How to boost tourism by creating visitor friendly public spaces

13 June 2007 - Visitor Economy and the Public Realm
Visitor Economy and the Public Realm Conference Flyer PDF (279Kb)

This one day conference will consider how an attractive public realm can boost the visitor economy. The conference will look at how much does the public realm support tourism; what visitors want from the public realm; how street events can improve the attractiveness of an area and how to collaborate with other parties that have a vested interest in your area.

The conference will take place at the newly designed headquarters of Visit London and there will be an optional 30 minute tour of the new public space at Queens Walk on the Thames Walkway. Place your bookings now! Living Streets
For more information - Architecture Week

Greenpeace News Energy review and a welcome for the SNP-Green Alliance

Energy Review

As a result of Greenpeace’s successful legal challenge to the 2006 energy review consultation process, the government has been forced back to the drawing board to conduct what should be a comprehensive and necessarily lengthy review on whether to support new nuclear plants. This short paper sets out some of the key questions which must be addressed as part of this consultation, and some of the information requirements to support a proper consultation on a new build nuclear programme.
Greenpeace UK website 9th May 2007

Greenpeace welcomes SNP-Green Alliance as end to Blair's nuclear plan for Scotland.
Greenpeace Press Release 11th May 2007

Rethink Draft Biofuels Policy

Good intentions lain to waste:-
The Governments draft biofuels policy, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), could see businesses producing biofuels by destroying rainforests and wetlands.
This dash for biofuels:
Is poorly thought out
Lacks appropriate safeguards
Could create more problems than it solves
Greenpeace, RSPB, WWF and Friends of the Earth are all demanding that the RTFO is strengthened so that it truely benefits the environment.Tell the Minister of State for Transport to choose the right biofuel.

New nukes, roads, bigger airports

Proposed planning reforms, say critics, will enable ministers to sidestep public opposition and smooth the way for bigger airports, roads, power stations and other major building projects.
Guardian 9th May 2007

Living Streets on Prosecuting Bad Driving

Living Streets Response to the Crown Prosecution Service consulted on its advice on prosecuting bad driving in the light of changes resulting from the Road Safety Act 2006. You can download the response from Living Streets below (pdf, 133kb).

'Six Degrees' book launch with author Mark Lynas

SIX DEGREES -

OUR FUTURE ON A

WARMER PLANET

SLIDESHOW & DISCUSSION WITH MARK LYNAS

Mark Lynas, Journalist & Author of the bestseller "High Tide"

launches his latest book "Six Degrees" in Cardiff!

Thursday 17 May at 7pm
Main Building
Cardiff University
Park Place
(opposite Student Union)

By the end of the century, the Earth could be more than 6C hotter than it is today. We know that would be bad news - but just how bad? How big a rise will it take for the Alps to melt, the oceans to die and desert to conquer Europe and the Americas? Mark Lynas sifted through thousands of scientific papers for his new book on global warming. This is what the research told him . . .

'An apocalyptic primer of what to expect as the world heats up...it's sobering stuff and shaming too.' Financial Times

'Buy this book for everyone you know...it might just save their lives.' New Stateman

Copies of Mark Lynas's critically acclaimed new book will be on sale after the meeting and Mark will be available to sign copies.

Organised by Cardiff Campaign against Climate Change
www.campaigncc.org

For more info. email - CardiffCCC@hotmail.co.uk

Never ending story of anti-social behaviour that no one will tackle!

Rhiwbina Village - people park where suits them best with no regard for others.

Same on Beulah Road - white lorry man obstructs the pavement and White Van man at it as usual!

Shock tactics

Shock tactics in TV anti-speeding driveBelfast Telegraph - Some of the most horrifying images of road carnage ever filmed will be broadcast on television tonight, as the DoE's latest anti-speeding campaign gets under way - and the commercial is so graphic it cannot be shown until after the 9pm watershed.

Police chief resorts to traffic shock tactics Apr 26 2007 icWales
Controversial police chief Richard Brunstrom used a photograph of a decapitated motorcyclist today to drive home his anti-speeding message.

One image showed the man’s head, with the eyes still open, on a grass verge. It was still cased in a red and white helmet, with the visor raised. Laura Wright, South Wales Echo

It would be more useful to half more humps and less moaning about them - only the other night in the echo we had 'Bumps are a waste of £22,500!' in other places there has been calls for action and nothing happens as in this story 'Horrible accident was waiting to happen'
Mar 15 2007 Staff Reporter, Pontypridd Observer .............."Just how many casualties are acceptable before action is taken?" Is this a reasonable question? Why are there no traffic calming measures here?

Perhaps our engineers and councillors responsible for traffic calming could visit other places for examples of good practice such as York. Pleas alone, however horrific won't stop speeding.

More thought needed for passenger Transport

In the Western Mail Professor Stuart Cole, director of the Wales Transport Research Centre at the University of Glamorgan, says that much thought must be put into passenger transport director of the Wales Transport Research Centre at the University of Glamorgan, says that much thought must be put into passenger transport....

too true......try tackling the routes too.. try getting from Cardiff to Brecon..not possible except on sunday and as soon as you get there its time to go back..... Cardiff to Abergavenny then Service X43 leave Cardiff at 10.45 and arrive Abergavenny at 13.15! TWO hours and 30 mins later! If you want to get home the same day you would have to leave at 13.20..FIVE minutes if you are lucky in ..can't spend much in that time..quicker by train but no public transport link to the centre... Abergavenny

Nick Jones New traffic commissioner for Wales

The Secretary of State has appointed two new traffic commissioners. Sarah Bell has been appointed as traffic commissioner for the Western Area with effect from 12 June 2007. Nick Jones has been appointed as traffic commissioner for the West Midlands and Welsh traffic areas with effect from 1 May 2007. Media-Newswire.com -

Sarah Bell will replace Philip Brown who transfers to the South Eastern and Metropolitan Area from 1 May 2007, replacing Christopher Heaps who will be retiring on 30 April. Nick Jones replaces David Dixon who retired on 31 March.

Geoffrey Simms retired as traffic commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area on 31 March. This post is currently vacant and will be readvertised shortly.

1. Traffic commissioners are responsible for regulation of the road haulage and passenger transport industries. They administer the licensing system for operators of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles. They determine the fitness of drivers of these vehicles to hold vocational licences. They administer the bus registration system for local bus services and can take action against operators who fail to run services in accordance with registered particulars. They also hear appeals against impounding of illegally used heavy goods vehicles.

2. Traffic commissioners are appointed to one of eight traffic areas - six in England and one each in Wales and Scotland. Nick Jones will act as commissioner for two areas ( West Midlands and Welsh ) in continuation of an established practice.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Bus Users UK

I have just read with great sadness about the sudden death of BUS USERS UK’s Officer in Wales Leo Markham. Leo, who was 59, was taken ill with heart trouble on 4 April on the return journey from a Bus Users’ Surgery in Wrexham and died in hospital on Easter Monday, 9 April. Leo had headed BUS USERS UK in Wales for the last six years and since August 2005 had been co-ordinator of the TrawsCambria inter-urban bus network as well as project managing the Beacons bus network.

Road to nowhere

Road to nowhere ic Wales -
Business traffic is often snared up by individuals using their cars for short journeys. More than 60% of trips taken in Wales are shorter than five miles. These short hops are clogging our town centres and motorway junctions, and there is a strong ...

Lisvane inconsiderate parking

icWales - Highest profile crime in Lisvane... poor parking
At this week's PACT meeting, the police said that Lisvane, in Cardiff, had reported ... After complaints of inconsiderate parking near schools by parents, ...
After complaints of inconsiderate parking near schools by parents, children have been brought on board to help enforce the law.

Llysfaen Primary pupils will become young traffic wardens to confront parents parking illegally and are having a competition to write a letter to send home to say what dangers the dangers are. Residents didn't understand why parents couldn't walk their children to school and criticised why they came so early to get a parking spot close to the school gates.PC Rogers suggested that parents could park a bit further away to make sure they don't become hazards.
Walk to school campaign

MORE than 50 per cent of children do not walk to school regularly and
as the number of children being driven to school increases, childhood
obesity, air pollution and road danger also increase. The Walk to School
campaign aims to encourage parents, pupils and teachers to think about
how they travel to school and increase the number of people making
the school journey on foot. The campaign now has the support of more
than 65 per cent of local authorities.
This year National Walk to School Week takes place from 21 to 25
May. The theme is ‘Strider Saves the Planet’ and focuses on reducing
the pollution caused by driving to school.You can find more information
about organising events duringat:
www.walktoschool.org.uk Walk to School week
or by contacting Andrew Fielding at Living
Streets on 0207 820 1010.

Wales to become car park

Wales to become car park!
The Spoof (satire) - 20 Apr 2007Some of the best specialists in this field feel that this is the only way forward to resolve traffic congestion over the next century".

Transport Minister, Douglas Alexander, has unveiled radical plans to tackle the UK's congestion problems. This plan has been heralded as a new dawn in car parking and could arguably be the largest "Park and Ride" project on the face of the planet.

SWANSEA ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN ZIGZAGS ITS WAY TO TOP

Story by JASON.EVANS@SWWMEDIA.CO.UK
A Hard-hitting Swansea road safety campaign for schools has been named the best in Britain. Swansea Council's campaign features children dressed in high-visibility clothing laying in the road to form human zigzags.Pictures of the striking image have been made into banners and distributed to schools across the county.Council safety bosses hope the banners will help drive home the message to motorists about the dangers of parking outside schools.

Jeff Green, Swansea Council's road safety officer, said: "We are delighted to have been recognised by our colleagues in local authorities throughout the UK."This very worthwhile road safety scheme helps highlight the dangers schoolchildren face as a result of thoughtless parking on yellow zigzag lines outside schools."

Mr Green said it was a message that some parents were still failing to learn."Many parents continue to park directly outside schools when they are dropping off their children," he said."What we hope to do is to highlight the danger that can be caused by vehicles obstructing the entrance to schools."One of the schools backing the publicity campaign is Gwyrosydd Primary School in Treboeth.Head teacher Jonathan Atter said: "I hope this important campaign will help raise the issue of inconsiderate parking outside schools."Many parents attempt to park directly outside the school gates and either don't realise the dangers they are causing or simply don't care."

Getting away with speeding - no surprise there then! Actually 20 is PLENTY

Less than half of speeders prosecuted Autocar, UK - A BBC radio programme will tonight reveal that more than half of speeding drivers caught by speed camera in London get away without any kind of prosecution ...

Speed cameras miss half of speeders Auto Trader UK, UK - Stuart Milne. Less than half of motorists caught on camera speeding or jumping traffic lights are being prosecuted. Cameras in London photograph half a ...

Speeding: getting away with it News - What Car?, UK - Many drivers who are caught speeding or going through red lights are not being prosecuted, according to a new investigation. ... Perhaps we need to thing of more original ideas for traffic calming? See Living Streets and 20 is PLENTY campaign