Green Granny

Leaked master plans for Cardiff Bus Station?

2012-02-14T08:15:00.004-08:00

Cardiff Bus Station: the draft Masterplan presented this week to DCfW (Design Commission for Wales) contains 5 draft options. See pic of masterplan option 3 below.

None of the 5 masterplan options shows an adequate size bus station, nor integration with the railway station, nor fulfil the remit: “Public realm and road infrastructure improvements to create a new high quality environment in front of Cardiff Central train station”.

Key Public Transport Issues

Since buildings adjacent to the Central Square bus station are due for demolition/replacement, there is plenty of space and a unique opportunity for a top class integrated transport interchange with space for the Millenium Stadium event crowds using rail and bus. The plans, however, prioritise new offices/development sites and squeeze the bus station into inadequate space. Despite previous intentions, this Bus Station is not integrated with the Rail Station and could not operate on event days, when its access streets are closed.

Secondly, Cardiff's plan is to close the Bus Station prematurely, dispensing with a bus-station for 18 months by using stops around the bus box and temporary arrangements for National Express etc. coaches. They admit services would worsen with interchange difficulties and bus-on-bus congestion, but give priority to selling bus station land for private office development due to start building in October.

Public consultation has been inadequate. The Stakeholder meeting of 20 January was critical of early closure, and given only the earlier version with larger bus station and told it was to be integrated with rail. Public transport users said a year ago we wanted a new bus station, but have not been consulted on these badly inadequate proposals. The WG says public consultation under WelTAG should be reopened on the changed proposal. Can the PTUC stress this point.

There is no protection of future options for public transport in the capital. Cardiff has removed the protection for a rail/LRT link from Central station to Cardiff Bay. No consideration or space is given for enhancing the rail station for the Cardiff & Valleys Metro proposal.

As Cardiff depend on funding approval from the WG (£17M from the obligation to widen the Herbert St bridge, plus 2 x £2M tranches from Sustainable Travel City funding), can the PTUC make representations that approval be withheld on the basis of these inadequate plans?

Details on the Masterplan – draft option 3 is attached, but all five are similar

The bus/coach station is shown squeezed on the east side with only 13/14 stands and blocked on event-days, as the previous plan to exit via the S-E corner has been ditched.

Three of the options cite 'conflict between significant pedestrian movement across and buses at the entrance to the bus station' and all have 'Ownership issues arise in the masterplan implementation as several development plots span different existing landlords'

All 5 masterplans state 'clear link between bus and train facilities, with potential for covered connection between them ' - they site this as an advantage where it is clearly a major flaw in the plan - a canopy or whatever is NOT an integrated transport Interchange.

Policy and assurance of an “integrated transport interchange” are not delivered - just sight-lines and potential for covered facilities over a linking walkway.

No regard is paid to facilities that could be shared between rail, coach and bus, particularly in the late evening and Sundays, specifically cafe, seating, toilets, TV/information display, security/supervision.

The bus/coach station shown in all options has only13/14 bays, not the 19 in the Dec.2011 draft Masterplan (accepted by Cardiff Exec) and far fewer than the 30 or more needed to accommodate coach services (unmentioned) and ‘sustainable travel’ expansion of bus services.

Dropping the exit for buses via Saunders Rd (instead used for taxis and personal drop-off) means both increased conflict with pedestrians at the north (Wood St) access, and continuing to block use of the Bus station on Stadium Event days and Fri/Sat evenings.

Nothing in the plans on a more civilised way to manage Event crowds, just a diagram of the cattle-pens used current-day for rail services and nothing about accessing buses.

No consideration of milling/meeting spaces with refreshment stalls - just of removable canopies to shelter the queues.

No integration of the riverside environment with the Square giving quality space for tourists and Event visitors - the demise of the 'needle' on the Wood St corner (opposite Cinema) allows this, as the replacement hotel site is negotiable.

There's no reference to most recent policy in Cardiff City Centre Public Realm Manual 2009 The Millennium Stadium forms a major visitor attraction… high levels of pedestrian footfall throughout the week and at weekends… public realm enhancements should seek to define the area as a major gateway to the city, create a memorable public space and consist of suitably high quality natural paving materials that enhance the setting of the Grade ll Listed Central Railway Station building and are suitable for associated levels of pedestrian movement.
All masterplan options show the west end of the current Bus Station site for offices for Legal&General and Hugh James.
Legal&General’s plan is known to be a 10-12 storey office block, which will dominate the public space to its east, casting strong shadows and causing strong gusts/eddies during westerly winds.

The previous plan for Wood St to be pedestrianised has gone, to provide high car and service vehicle access to the planned offices etc. An expensive underground car park is to be accessed from Penarth Rd (behind the hotels).

Finally, contrary to adopted plans allocating areas to the south of the rail station (Callaghan Sq to Dumballs Rd) for financial service offices, the masterplan options show these and other office developments drive the Central Sq plan – as Stuart Cole wrote, it’s development-led, not transport-led.

goodbye bus station hello Legal & General & Hugh James office blocks

2012-02-13T01:08:00.002-08:00

Central Sq Masterplan with five options

None of the 5 masterplan options prioritises the bus station and integration with the railway station and none sticks to the remit:

“Public realm and road infrastructure improvements to create a new high quality environment in front of Cardiff Central train station”

The bus/coach station is shown squeezed on the east side with only 13/14 stands and blocked on event-days, as the previous plan to exit via the S-E corner has been ditched.

Three of the options site

'conflict between significant pedestrian movement across and buses at the entrance to the bus station' and all have

'Ownership issues arise in the masterplan implementation as several development plots span different existing landlords'

All 5 masterplans state

'clear link between bus and train facilities, with potential for covered facilities between them ' - they site this as an advantage where it is clearly a major flaw in the plan - a canopy or whatever is not good enough

REMIT

a new efficient station,
central square as a gateway to capital ,
if sufficient space give it over to commercial

Priority now given to building offices

Kevin Doyle Cardiff council "time is an issue - delivery of office blocks by 2014!

There's no reference to Cardiff City Centre Public Realm Manual 2009 :

The Millennium Stadium forms a major visitor attraction… high levels of pedestrian footfall throughout the week and at weekends… public realm enhancements should seek to define the area as a major gateway to the city, create a memorable public space and consist of suitably high quality natural paving materials that enhance the setting of the Grade ll Listed Central Railway Station building and are suitable for associated levels of pedestrian movement.

Policy and assurance of an “integrated transport interchange” are not delivered - just sight-lines and potential for covered facilities over a linking walkway. No regard is paid to facilities that could be shared between rail, coach and bus, particularly in the late evening and Sundays, specifically cafe, seating, toilets, TV/information display, security/supervision.

The bus/coach station shown in all options has only 13/14 bays, not the 19 in the Dec.2011 draft Masterplan (accepted by the Exec) and far fewer than the 30 or more needed to accommodate coach services (unmentioned) and ‘sustainable travel’ expansion of bus services.

Dropping the exit for buses via Saunders Rd (instead use for taxis and drop-off) means both increased conflict with pedestrians at the north (Wood St) access, and continuing to block use of the Bus station on Stadium Event days and Fri/Sat evenings.

Nothing in the plans on a more civilised way to manage Event crowds, just a diagram of the cattle-pens used current-day for rail services and nothing about accessing buses.

No consideration of milling/meeting spaces with refreshment stalls - just of removable canopies to shelter the queues.

The previous plan for Wood St to be pedestrianised has gone, to provide high car and service vehicle access to the planned offices etc. An expensive underground car park is to be accessed from Penarth Rd (behind the hotels).

All options have the west end of the Bus Station for offices for Legal&General and Hugh James. Legal&General’s plan is known to be a 10-12 storey office block, which will dominate the public space to its east, casting strong shadows and causing strong gusts/eddies during westerly winds.

Contrary to adopted plans allocating areas to the south of the rail station (Callaghan Sq to Dumballs Rd) for financial service offices, the masterplan options show the driver is these and other office developments – as Stuart Cole wrote, it’s development-led, not transport-led.

CADW opposes signs in Bute Park

2012-02-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

I thought you would be interested to know that CADW, unfortunately, has not been consulted re the proposed unnecessary signage for listed Bute Park.

Secondly I would draw your attention to the the huge extra subsidy needed for the commercialisation so called 'restoration' of Bute Park in this time of austerity and cuts.

Email from CADW . Dear .....

Thank you for your e-mail. Cadw has not been consulted on possible proposals for signage within Bute Park and we will raise this with the Council, although I would imagine that it may be permitted development and not require formal planning permission. I think we would accept that there is a need to ensure that the safety of all park users but would agree with you that this should be accomplished in a way that seeks to minimise any visual intrusion or clutter within the historic park.

Richard W Kevern
Arweinydd Tîm Gwaith Achosion / Casework Team Leader
Diogelu a Pholisi / Protection and Policy
Amgylchedd Hanesyddol / Historic Environment Cadw
Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government

This is the proposal to erect signs in Bute Park as 'trialled' in Hailey park. Are you are aware that the manual for streets and even the 2007 version presumes against signs and clutter as Signs in themselves present a hazard.

2. 23. Bute Park Restoration Provision to cover a shortfall in resources allowing completion of the restoration scheme £1,370,000 this year and next ..£135,000 From Draft Corporate Plan 2012-2015 and 2012-13 Draft Budget Proposals - report attached

Description: Environmental Scrutiny Committee Location: Committee Room 4 County Hall

Date: 10/02/2012 Start: 03:00 PM

you might ask how much did the new 'friends of the commercialisation/restoration of Bute Park' logo cost?

NO Signs

We would be opposed to any erection of signs in listed Bute Park.

no signs on poles elsewhere within the Park (consistent with general policy on street clutter with signs and poles)
no signs within the park to be painted on the path
minimal use of cyclists bells (and non-agressive)
dogs that approach unknown walkers and cyclists (whether playfully or aggressively) to be kept on the lead.

Re examine the decision to sell of Cardiff bus station land

2012-02-07T03:10:00.000-08:00

I have written to the environmental scrutiny committee saying ...

Please will you demand that the sale of council owned land in Central square as in the Executive Business report of 30th January be called in for scrutiny at relevant committees for the following reasons

Question why the 30th January Executive report considered dispensing with a bus station for 18 months or more is adequately justified to meet the purchasers' lease dates and their desire to start on building their new office block in October.
As it's feasible to build the new bus station while keeping the current one operating (unlike Swansea's rebuilt on the same site), question whether the Executive has fulfilled the Constitutional requirement (4.73) on disposal of assets..
Question why the Executive gives priority to an office building of doubtful acceptability in urban planning and design terms, lacking planning consent and not obviously consistent with the declared purpose for Central Square: “Public realm and road infrastructure improvements to create a new high quality environment in front of Cardiff Central train station” (City Centre Strategy and Executive Business Meeting: 30 March 2011)
Question the lack of transparency of changes in plans since March 30^th 2011, with the officers briefing the Western Mail of an intention to attract a 'blue chip' company from outside (without success) and now allocating the 'prestigious' site to firms moving from other offices in Cardiff (Legal & General and partner).
Question briefing the press that proceeds of the sale are needed 'to help', while stating to the Env Scrutiny Committee there are sufficient funds to proceed (£21 million of which £10m for the new bus station).

Question the lack of transparency and lack of written reports from Stakeholders (including rail station), in particular no report of the criticisms of the 20^th January stakeholders meeting re. early closure of the bus station and detrimental interim arrangements
Question the lack of consultation with ward councillors and with councillors and residents generally, as disrespectful as well as contrary to the Constitution.
Question the lack of regard to the requirement under WelTAG to assess and consult on the impact on bus passengers and operators, and the particular view of the WG's Transport Planning unit: “Council's proposals have now changed. As such, we are continuing to press the Council on the need to revisit the WelTAG work, including appropriate engagement with the public and other key stakeholders“ (Corinna James to A Greagsby 27 Jan).
Consider if the decision being outside the council's policy framework needs to be referred for decision to the Council as a whole.

Block Enterprise Zone hopping in Cardiff

2012-02-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

Block Enterprise Zone hopping in Cardiff

Questioned on local relocations into the new Enterprise Zones, the Minister replied they don't want “enterprises hopping” to gain zone kick-backs (Assembly Plenary session, Tuesday 31 Jan). So will she block any Enterprise Zone benefits for Cardiff's finance companies that the Council wants to hop into Central Square straight in front of the listed rail station?

The Council doesn't want to reveal that it's Legal & General insurance, who might otherwise expand in Newport or Swansea. No difference for the Welsh economy, but why give benefits in Cardiff with its increasing areas of vacant offices?

This Central Square is a key city site for transport interchange and operation of the Millenium stadium. There are no sensible criteria for it being within the Financial sector Enterprise Zone, which covers Callaghan Square and a huge area of derelict sites to the south. Indeed, the Council is planning a samller cramped new bus station to give space to the Legal & General office block, without regard to how this will dominate the view of this key civic space.

As the Cardiff zone boundaries are provisional only, let Edwina Hart exclude the Rail station, Millenium Stadium and Central Square and put a stop to sweetheart deals with local companies hopping into the zone to get relief from rates and planning obligations.

See map here which includes Millineum stadium

Enterprise zones = device to allow companies to excape normal planning laws

2012-01-31T05:08:00.000-08:00

Libdem Eluned Parrott AM has called on the Business Minister to use her statement later today to end uncertainty over Enterprise Zones. I can tell her what enterprise zone means

Enterprise zones = device to allow companies to excape normal planning laws with contributions to public realm infrastructure including cycleways, bus facillities and public open space.

As shown by Legal & General's attempt to get new offices in Cardiff' Central Square, it's already led to planning for an over-cramped bus station in order to give the company prime position at minimal cost thanks to Cardiff lib dems Rodney Berman and Plaid Neil McEvoy So a subsidy for the financial services sector and cuts for the public sector?
Oh and an enterprise zone for Anglesey = subsidy for nuclear industry

GreenGran chucked out of bus sale council meeting

2012-01-30T08:49:00.000-08:00

So disappointed the Echo printed an article with pictures hastily supplied by the council but not available to the Councillors or the public first for consultation

Echo should give the other side of the story too. As Professor Punter says

"What we have is town centre management not an approach to strategic planning; a failure

to plan positively; opportunism rules."

"The rise of pseudo (managed) consultation." Indeed

Yes this is all propaganda - fiction released to the press before any proper plans or consultation with the Councillors or the public.

It is completely impossible for any concerned citizen to engage and keep up in any meaningful way with developments just a continual desperate search for any sort of development - no sense of any planning framework.

Impossible to determine as Fibdem Berman said the effect on match days without any real plans? Where is the voice of reason in this city?

So I got thrown out of the meeting for laughing at the preposterous statements made by Rodney Berman who cares nothing for the bus user or the inconvenience he has presided over already by the demolition and general decay at the bus station and the availability to only 40% of buses.

Picture shows an elderly person being harangued by staff at county Hall and refused permission to enter the meeting.

The bus station will be closed from Sept / Oct 2012 for a period between 18 months to 3 years.

This is driven by Rodney Berman Fib Dem Neil McEvoy Plaid et al. aim to give the bus station site for a 10-12 story office block, despite the detriment and limitations on future decisions (public space and integrated transport interchange), let's oppose it. Ask WAG to block any Sustainable Travel City funding for this development (they expect 2 tranches of £2million).

Note the Enterprise Zone/CBD boundries etc haven't yet been agreed by the WG.

Rush Plan to build an office block on Cardiff Bus station

2012-01-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

I wrote here about the secret plans for Cardiff Bus station the other day and to the echo***.

Now I am even more dismayed as lib dems leader of Cardiff council Rodney Bermans plan to sell off the land the bus station stands on at a meeting on Monday? Why all the rush?

To build an office block for the financial sector. Objective to regenerate Central Square as the "gateway" to Cardiff dumped Hello more ‘clandestine’ planning as day-to-day practice.

To be discussed and decided on the 30 Jan. Get your complaints in!

Executive Business Meeting Committee Room 2 County Hall: 30/01/2012 02:00 PM

The Council claim it's "necessary" to close down the existing bus station before building the new?

# Cardiff Bus's MD has not been supplied detail, knows of no agreement to it by Cdf Bus (contrary to the AECOM report).

# he thought the new development would 'encroach' on the operating area of the bus station

# Bus Users UK/Cymru (at the 20 Jan event) have no information justifying early closure of the bus station and there has been no technical assessment of the "need" to close it.

# the council assure us of minimising detriment to passengers and services - but don't detail the detriment nor assess what would be the difficulties of demolishing Marland House and building new while retaining use of the bus station.

#council held a stakeholders meeting on 20th Jan They had a long discussion on the necessity to close the station and the maximum period of closure - However, the council reiterated the priority was to build the office block - never mind WelTAG or the Cardiff corporate consultation strategy

Not even pseudo (managed) consultation this time.

The bus station will be closed from Sept / Oct 2012 for a period between 18 months to 3 years.

This is driven by Rodney Berman Neil McEvoy et al. aim to give the bus station site for a 10-12 story office block, despite the detriment and limitations on future decisions (public space and integrated transport interchange), let's oppose it. Ask WAG to block any Sustainable Travel City funding for this development (they expect 2 tranches of £2million).

Note the Enterprise Zone/CBD boundries etc haven't yet been agreed by the WG.

This is too big a issue for Cardiff and indeed Wales - Developing central square and replacing the bus station is massive and must have full and proper consultation not least with the public and rail and bus users. All we have is a hastily commissioned secret report! This is a disgrace coming months before the local elections and after postponing the local plan. now they are talking about development of a new bus station at the preferred location?? The only acceptable location is where is now next to the railway station!

To be discussed and decided on the 30 Jan. Get your complaints in!

Executive Business Meeting Committee Room 2 County Hall: 30/01/2012 02:00 PM

1. This report seeks delegated authority to negotiate sale terms for the disposal of a plot of Council owned land in Central Square called plot 2 and shown edged red on the plan attached at Appendix 1 to secure two major local employers.

2. The proposed development would secure jobs in Cardiff and would anchor the redevelopment..

9. In order to progress the sale of land occupied by the existing bus station to secure jobs for the city and to kick-start the Central Business District project, it is incumbent on the Council to demonstrate that it has the ability to deliver a new replacement bus station...

7. In order to safeguard the existing jobs for Cardiff and to secure the potential expansions, the Council needs to progress a sale as a matter of urgency and is therefore not able to carry out a market exercise. While
the retention and creation of jobs is relevant to the recommendation to proceed with a sole bidder, there is still a requirement to demonstrate best consideration. External professional advice has been taken as to costs and values, which is set out in the indicative appraisal attached at Appendix 3. Such advice will continue to be taken as negotiations on the disposal progress to ensure that the Council obtains value for money.

8. In tandem with the development proposed by the two parties, it is anticipated that the Council will deliver the adjacent public realm. The

cost of this is accounted for in the indicative appraisal attached at Appendix 3.

Appendix 3 is not for publication as it contains exempt information of the

description in paragraphs 14 to 21 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

12. The development of a new bus station at the preferred location will

require acquisition of Marland House and the existing Wood Street NCP car park. Officers have commenced discussions with owners of both properties and both owners have indicated their willingness to sell. The cost of the proposed acquisitions will be the subject of a further report following negotiations.

13. Before concluding the release of the land which is the subject of this report there will need to be a detailed solution for the delivery of the replacement bus station.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Executive is recommended to:

(1) Approve the proposed disposal of land (as outlined on the plan at Appendix 1) in principle to the sole bidder at market value taking account of the urgent need to retain and create employment.

(2) Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Executive Member for Finance and Service Delivery, the Corporate Chief Officer & Section 151 Officer and the Chief Legal &

Democratic Services Officer to negotiate terms of sale for the plot of land in Central Square and to conduct negotiations with land owners to enable the assembly of the land needed for the proposed new bus station.
(3) Agree that a report be brought back to the Executive with details of negotiations for land acquisitions, together with a firm plan for delivery of

the new bus station and public realm works.

***Letter to the Echo Cruel Trick over Bus Station***

Last february, cardiff people gave a resounding Yes! to the Council poll on do we want a new bus station. But their plans for Central Square met a snag – it takes time to fix terms for demolishing Marland House and the car park to build the new bus station.

So keen are they to develop offices on the bus station site in Central Square that they propose to close the bus station by September, 18 months or more till the promised new one is ready. Yet why should bus services be disrupted and passengers given further difficulties and shoddy bus shelters for the benefit of Legal & General insurance new offices?

The Council were due to consult us on the proposals from 9^th December. Now we understand why they cancelled public consultation. They knew us long-suffering bus users would rise up against this unfairness.

Hence, the officers decided to assert there's no alternative (S&E Scrutiny Committee last week), commission AECOM consultants to say the buses can still be run with no bus station by using the abominable bus box, and rush the proposals through Cabinet on 30 January without any public consultation.

And they have the cheek to proclaim Cardiff is a Sustainable Travel City.

Cardiff Council to demolish the bus station 4 secret deal with Legal and General

2012-01-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Cardiff Bus station Councillors seem to know and officers don't care over the rotten shelters open to rain, lack of seats, poor information and long distances to change buses.

What's the real reason for the urgent need to make decisions on central square half baked plans before consulting anybody. It's Legal & General, tied in with some making secret a deals with the council to build on central square now hastily being identified as an enterprise zone I expect with £sweeteners. These offices and jobs could be located more sustainably elsewhere on brownfield sites, or moved into some of the many empty offices. Building a tower block in front of central station is quite the wrong use of this crucial urban space. Central square is at the heart of the city and should be a beautiful space - for the people of Cardiff and indeed Wales who deserve a real say in its future.

Yes this is the real reason for closing down the bus station in October and leaving us with none for 18 months (probably longer, as new building won't start immediately).

No one mentioned at last Tuesdays Environmental Scrutiny Cttee's further public consultation although previously they had promised to follow WelTAG: participation "at all stages, from the development of TPOs, through consideration and sifting of options to the appraisal and refinement of a preferred scheme"?

Bus Users UK that there was supposed to be consultation over the new bus station, starting early December. Kevin Doyle is the Project manager for the Bus Station/Central Sq who failed to raise public consultation.

We say

too little space for bus station compared with other cities

allow for growth; dispersed stops on bus box mean poor waiting facilities and walking distances difficult for less able.

abandoned the public consultation on bus station plans that was due for 7 December.

attempt to rush development outline through Cabinet, for planning application in April and building start in October

close down the bus station before the new one is ready in the interests of the huge new office development

claim it's practical to operate services without the bus station, for at least 1.5 yrs, without considering the detriment to services and passengers and without consulting (only 'communications strategy')

Even Hull has a better bigger bus station/railway station There are 30 bus and four coach bays.see here

Hull could find £18 million and Cardiff? £10m for a new central bus station and how many bays ...we don't know ..maybe 18?

Defend the Right to Peaceful Protest: Drop the case against the CardiffCastle2

2012-01-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Petition: Defend the Right to Peaceful Protest: Drop the case against the CardiffCastle2

We Support the Right to Peaceful Protest - Drop the charges against the Cardiff Castle Two!

On 11 November 2011 the police violently broke up a completely peaceful protest on the green outside Cardiff Castle by Occupy Cardiff (part of the world-wide Occupy movement against inequality and injustice in the financial system). They ‘kettled’ the demonstrators in a subway and arrested six people.

Eric Jinks and Jason Simons were charged under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act with “failing to leave the land, namely CARDIFF CASTLE, as soon as reasonably practical”. They are due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on Wednesday February 8th 2012 and if convicted face a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment.

The police action is an assault on everyone’s rights to express ourselves publicly and peacefully protest and is therefore a threat to the democratic rights of everyone in Wales. We call for the charges against Eric and Jason to be dropped, and for the Police to cease to use this legislation to restrict democratic protest

And I would add that the cardiff council leaders, Cllr Neil McEvoy Plaid Cymru and Rodney Berman Lib dem encouraged and maybe even initiated this police response and should be ashamed.

Join us at the demo at the courts on the day.

AMs want more taxis not 21stC bus station and bus lanes

2012-01-18T04:16:00.000-08:00

AMs want to lift bus lane ban for all taxis

"After a meeting between Cardiff AMs Vaughan Gething and Julie Morgan and Neil McEvoy, the council’s executive member for transport, it has been confirmed the authority will be seeking to remove the ban."

Last night Cardiff council environmental scrutiny committee meet at county hall tio discuss the.Executive Response to Environmental Scrutiny Reports on Bus Station Modernisation & Central Business District – Phase One - Councillor Neil McEvoy – Executive Member Economic Development will be in attendance but he wasn't nor was Rodney Berman.Councillor Lisa Ford who has been Executive Member for Highways was there and just about managed to read out a prepared statement.

So Neil McEvoy who has time to meet with AMs about taxis in the city cant find time to turn up to discuss the new plans for central square and more importantly the hastily hatched new plans for a small new bus station hardly worthy of a capital city. no details plans are yet avail;able and we are supposed to trust our cllrs to produce the goods as they cant bring themselves to have a proper consultation with the people of Cardiff about the design of a new bus station and central square. Perhaps they should look at humble Hull which has managed to have an integrated bus and train station. HULL - 263,900 population 2010 - ParagonInterchange 30 stands and 4 more for coaches - travellers to and around Hull now benefit from having trains, buses and coaches together under one roof. Visually, The Interchange is a very exciting building with state-of-the-art facilities that are truly 21st century, yet the innovative design preserves the graceful Victorian façade of the original Paragon Station building, and enhances it with the addition of an elegant glass canopy. CARDIFF 341,100 population Only 40% of buses can now use Cardiff bus station following the Libdem Cardiff council leaders Rodney Berman and Plaid Neil McEvoys new scheme rerouting the buses much to the disamy of bus users who weren't asked their opinion. Cardiff bus station has now only 22 stands down from 34 and we are being told we only need 19 at the last vague plan published in the Echo. Swansea has 24 stands. The people of Cardiff must SEE and have a say in the design of the bus station.

AMs who never use a bus should do some research before they stick their oar in. In 2010 the coucil had a report on the huge increase in the number of hackney carriage licences in the city from 480 in 2002. In 2010 there were 875 hackney carriages operating in the city, alongside 865 private hire licensed vehicles. The population of Cardiff was last reported at 305,000 people (2001 census), which equates to one hackney carriage per 359 people. Bigger cities like Birmingham have one hackney carriage per 726 people – which means there are a lot more carriages in Cardiff than there needs to be.The study also found taxis on Saunders Road outside Cardiff Central Station often had to wait 48 minutes at weekends to pick up a new passenger. In general, people were satisfied with taxi services in the city, and were unaware there was a problem with surplus numbers of taxis in the city. AMs should be campaigning for a truly sustainable travel city which is the norm now in most European and UK cities. We should adopt the York hierarchy of road users. The AMs should read the governments excellant guidelines in the manual for streets. We were promised a pedestrianised St Mary Street as in the picture with the trees! But what we got was taxis no trees.

that never should have been there given priority over pedestrians and taxis not keeping to the delegated area they have been allocated with the side streets blocked and obstructed by waiting taxis. Buses were moved to Westgate street prior to any preparation and passengers have to wait on dark dirty uneven flooded pavements with few and smaller bus stops. Predictably Westgate Street is subsiding and the main sewer is collapsing under the weight of every bus in the city going along it with cars and taxis. Can AMs Julie Morgan and Vaughan Gething do something about that. Traffic wardens don't have the power to do anything about cars and vehicles parking on pavements so sort that out. City centre bus lanes are few and don't give priority to buses as they should so don't need a doubling of taxis using them and stopping in them. If we are truly concerned about the start of the 2012 Olympics and our capital city’s image then we should give some thought to the visitors being inconvenienced by the eyesore of a bus station which is the first impression many will have of Cardiff described in one review as "godforsaken hellhole that squats in the centre of our fair city attracting the buzzing nuisances of cosmopolitan life like a giant, dead raccoon."

Paragon Interchange - bus stops and routes (size: 224.4 Kb)

AMs want more taxis not 21stC bus station and bus lanes

2012-01-18T04:13:00.000-08:00

AMs want to lift bus lane ban for all taxis

Paragon Interchange - bus stops and routes (size: 224.4 Kb)

Cardiff's New Years Eve bus service information was a disgrace.

2012-01-01T09:28:00.004-08:00

Cardiff's New Years Eve bus service information was a disgrace. The so-called 'real time' display at bus stops after 6.30pm showed the bus service was running as normal. Passengers were misled to wait in pouring rain for buses that did not run. There were no notices at the bus stops or even at Cardiff Bus office to say that instead a night-time service was running from different stops.
Why didn't the electronic displays instead direct passengers to stops for the alternative sponsored buses?
Why does the Council continue to tell us that the bus information at stops accurately predicts bus times when that has proved blatantly untrue, on other days too? Times continue to show after buses have been cancelled, only to disappear after the time the bus should have arrived.
Why is the public paying through Cardiff Council for the defective Omnibus System that was never upgraded as promised. And why when the Council has known its failures from previous holiday rearrangements, do they cover this up and do nothing to display printed information at bus stops?

NOTE Cardiff council claims ..Empowering the public with accurate real-time information
"Welcome! From this site you can locate real-time bus departure information quickly and easily.No more waiting around for late buses; by using GPS technology to monitor the movement of our vehicles, we can accurately predict the arrival of buses at our stops for several hours into the future. Its cold, you should not be waiting for a bus for more than five minutes. We can help!" ???

Bus stop Real-time Travel Information

There are over 300 passenger information panels located at bus stops and shelters throughout Cardiff. These display the predicted arrival times of bus services.

False information on Wikipedia re Cardiff Bus

Scania OmniCity operating service 27, theCapital City Green route, from Thornhill

Free b city centre shuttle

Cardiff Bus is the dominant bus operator in Cardiff and also serves Penarth, Sully, Barry and Llantwit Major. Its network consists of 64 routes^[15] using Scania OmniCity, Scania N230UD, East Lancs Olympus and bendy buses. Cardiff Bus carries 100,000 passengers daily, has a turnover of £27million and employs around 720 people.^[16] The fleet and drivers are managed against a timetable using software systems supplied by UK based software supplier Omnibus Systems,^[17] which allows the real-time digital information displays positioned at many stops around the city, to inform people when the next bus is due and alerting waiting passengers of any delays. Raised kerbs have been installed at the majority of stops.

free bus service dumped months ago!

Toxic waste dumps planned for south wales

2011-12-18T03:40:00.000-08:00

I asked for clarification on this worrying reply from the Prosiect Gwyrdd/Incinerator team on 5th Dec but have had no reply

It is a disgrace that this information has just come to light. Where are these facilites planned? Why have the local residents and the wider community not been told?

Q Why has PG IGNORED THE PROXIMITY PRINCIPLE requirement for the hazardous flyash and other hazardous ash to be disposed of in SE Wales,

where no disposal ‘facility’ exists.

A. Prosiect Gwyrdd has not ignored the proximity principle; we are developing facilities locally, close to where the waste is being generated.

The proposed residual waste facilities are located within the Prosiect Gwyrdd area with the fly ash being treated at facilities where the bidders have existing arrangements for the treatment of this product. The Project is actively encouraging bidders to find a reuse for fly ash to avoid this waste going to landfill

What is FLY ASH 5-7% of the mass of incinerated waste becomes “fly ash” (also known as APC). The fly ash is trapped by filters, and is classed as hazardous waste. Because fly ash is strongly alkaline and also high in dioxins and heavy metals, it has to be transferred to landfill. The Bishops Cleeve hazardous landfill site in Gloucestershire takes fly ash from many incinerators; the residents see the ash literally blowing around. UKWIN believe residents are fully justified in fearing the health impacts. Indeed, the health risks have been shown as significant by an official study (Duarte-Davidson et al.).

Grate-ash (bottom ash) forms another fraction, 25-30% of the mass of incinerated waste. This ash also contains levels of dioxins and metals. Because of their commitment to incineration, the authorities are encouraging the use of bottom ash as construction fill and as an aggregate substitute. But some of this ash spreads around during construction, and the toxins leach into groundwater. During new construction, in decades to come, the metals and dioxins will get into the environment.

Berman bus station lies

2011-12-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

New bus station for Cardiff to open in 2014 at heart of new financial services district

Is this after consultation with bus users? Not likely, given Cardiff councils record. How many bus stands fib Dem Rodney Berman? Is it more than 8? How many buses will go in the station? I want all buses to go to the station. Will the bus station be integrated with the railway station and enclosed? £660 000 spent by Cdf fibdems last year on improving bus facilities and pedestrian access to the station rodneys coucil claim!
Given the Cardiff is among the most car dependant in Europe, pedestrianisation means making a road through for vehicles and taxis then filling the remaining space with clutter so now Cardiff is the bollard capital of the world, the bus box doesn't work ...you put turnstyles on the park that I dont reckon I could get through!
The bike schemess bust..You're still concreting over the Bute park..ignoring others like Trelai Park ..
We haven't any faith in Rodneys plans..why don't you ever listen?
A reminder of a previous post ..
At the Bus Users UK 'surgery' today, I heard that current plans for Cardifff mean the end of the Bus Station and the plan is to have just 8 stands for buses and 3 for coaches.
This compares with the 18 bus stands in March which were admitted to be too few, but all there was space for, and 11 bus stands officer from Cardiff Council.
Cdf had followed WelTAG on public consultation (as Delme Bowens officers pompously boasted) but only as concerns initial views ('majority wants a new modern bus station') and are now ignoring WelTAG in not consulting further and not being transparent over details of size, design etc.
The Project manager for the Bus Station/Central Sq is Kevin Doyle*(supercedes Pat thompson). Consultants are modelling the need for bus stands etc., presumably justifying the 8 stands - Cardiff Bus have not seen their modelling and know they need many more bays for themselves, never mind the other bus companies. The officers' motivation is to create 'public space', all to be taken from the buses, rather than from the business development or eg. integrating Wood St. So they're paying 'consultants' to come up with the arguments.
[Image]They are not trying a design to allow operation on Event days - just say the Police require closure. Access/egress would be possible from Saunders Rd. Some story about the taxi rank area franchised to ArrivaTrains, but no attrempt to deal with Railtrack over developing the rear entrance to the station. No thought of bringing in WAG, who now have a say on Railtrack spending in Wales.

The Bus Users UK say they opposed the Bus Box and public complaints has borne them out. But they are not representing bus users (their remit) by publicly criticising it or detailing its failures/inadequacies. Eg. on bus shelters/seating, the police has opposed one, Greyfriars road is too narrow to allow new shelters, Westgate St may not be too narrow (are only just coming to consider proper provision), by John Lewis+Library the Planners oppose as 'spoiling the urban design' (!).

No-one could explain the £660 000 spent by Cdf fibdems last year on improving bus facilities and pedestrian access - for the arches carrying stand codes and gaps/dropped kerbs, while pedestrian access has been blocked from the West and diverted around 3 caged road crossings from Wood St north side stops. A rip-off of Sustainable Travel City funds, it seems.
[Image]*Kevin Doyle was previously manager of the Sports Scrubland development

An artists impression of new central square as in the Echo recently but where is the Bus Station?

We want a say in what kind of bus station Cardiff will have. The secret plans are being shown to some stake holders but no copies released to them or the public.

Bute Park turnstile keeps out cyclists

2011-12-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

It was reported in October that Cardiff cyclists were celebrating after a successful campaign to keep one of the capital’s best-loved parks open after dark in the winter. The opening hours at Bute Park were extended during October, November and December to allow commuters to walk and cycle through the park until 7pm but Cardiff council has since installed a turnstile near the entrance/exit by the college of music on North road which effectively stops cyclists and all but the slimiest and fittest to enter/leave the park after the main gates are shut. Once again Cardiff council lib dem/plaid coalition has lied and deceived the public.

Perhaps Lib Dem Cllr Cathy Pearcy might like to try it?

Helena Kennedy supports the occupy movement

2011-11-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

At Helena Kennedy's lecture in Cardiff University last Tuesday, I reported that Cardiff Council had used an ancient bylaw to close down the 'Occupy Cardiff' camp and asked her what's happened to our right to protest.

Her answer was forthright: I support the Occupy movement and if I was a young lawyer I would be out there. The silence of the political class over the government selling Northern Rock at a loss is worrying. Young people are right to ask “what is happening?” and call us to account.

In her lecture, she said the contemporary crisis is about power. Politicians are subordinate to business - an “invisible layer of corporate interests” is running things. Young people see a “moral disconnect”.

So let us all visit the Occupy Cardiff camp at the Cathedral Road corner and make clear our support. Many will support the two arrested outside the Castle last Thursday when they appear in Court on Monday morning. More here on that - Defend the arrested Cardiff Occupiers

Monday 28th Nov 8:00am until 11:00am

Six people were arrested and two were charged in Cardiff Council's and South Wales Police's break up of our first camp on November 11th, 2011. These people were arrested for peaceful protest and exercising free speech on public land; the Council's dragging up of an 1875 by-law that one councillor said "wasn't really a law" underscores their scramble for an excuse to stifle inconvenient political opinions
We stand in absolute solidarity with those facing trial and will peacefully demonstrate to support them on Monday the 28th.

Brakes put on bike hire scheme

2011-11-18T02:37:00.000-08:00

Brakes put on bike hire scheme Peter Law reports on WalesOnline Nov 16 2011

Julie Morgan is wrong - Cardiff’s has NOT got a reputation as a sustainable travel city. Quite the contrary, CARDIFF is among the most car dependant in Europe. If you want more cycling you have to reduce congestion. Look how other cities have done this! Cardiff's cycling targets are pathetic, increasing cycling from 2.7% to 3.0% in a year while its 12.2% in Bristol - 20% in York and 57% in Groningen! As for hire schemes try Dublin bikes - one of the most successful bike rental schemes in the world.

Your local council can help fight inequality

2011-11-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

The green party say a 10:1 maximum pay ratio would seriously reduce the pay gap in our city. It is unacceptable to use the economic crisis to defend paying workers less than the amount needed to support a family at the same as paying out colossal salaries to chief executives.

The equality trust are calling on local councils to help reduce the pay gap. Please email your local councillors using the form on our website. Cardiff Council chief executive. Byron Davies, who has since retired, earned a basic salary of £179,526 in his last year in the job. With extras such as pay renegotiation and money he got as returning officer in the local elections, his total salary was £208,515.

Cardiff council social work assistant Salary: £15,725

Cardiff council Housing & Benefit Enquiry Officer £14,733...not the lowest?

Nationally Govt plans to introduce a maximum pay difference ratio of 20:1 will have very little impact on senior civil service pay. For example, in DWP the lowest pay is £13,110 and the highest paid IT Director is on £249,999. Less than 20 times the lowest.

McEvoy calls Occupy Cardiff all UK nats and trots

2011-11-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

I wrote to Neil McEvoy re the occupation
Cardiff Council expected our action and were clearly prepared with this ancient byelaw argument.The forced removal and deployment of hundreds of police officers to enforce a byelaw and intolerance of the right of assembly is tracked back to you as deputy leader of Cardiff Council.The police in Cardiff and at ACPO level should be told to allow protest unless it specifically involves criminal offences.

Reply from Cllr Neil McEvoy Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Cardiff Council

"You were offered a site we could all support. Could have had an interesting dynamic then, with the whole city supporting the action. You were not interested. You blew a good opportunity. The castle is not at all appropriate. I would suggest outside the Senedd.

You have no interest in politics though, do you? Its all about a kick and a bit of bother for you. UK nats and trots. What a combination."
Didn't he see representatives of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg there with a large banner.

Cardiff Lib Dems deny right of assembly

2011-11-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

Green party members Yvan and Anne joined the peaceful occupy Cardiff movement on the 11th Nov 2011 when around a hundred activists set up camp out side Cardiff Castle. Caroline Lucas spoke out in support of the “real politics” of protest at the ‘We are the 99%’ rally taking place outside St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 5 November.

Caroline Lucas said: "As the public becomes more aware of the injustice and unsustainability of our economic system, more and more people are taking to the streets to fight for a different kind of society – one which puts the interests of the many before those of a powerful minority.

"That the leaders of the mainstream political parties have completely failed to engage with what is happening down at St Paul’s and at protests across the country shows just how painfully out of touch they are with the public mood for change.

“This is real politics in action – and the voices of those ordinary and extraordinary people who want a fairer, greener system to replace the stocks-and-shares house of sand that sustains corporate capitalism must now be heard.

“The global financial crisis and billion-pound bailouts have exposed the plain truth that the entire economic system is rigged against the hard working majority. As a first step towards mending the damage wreaked on our society by reckless financial gambling, the Government must back a Robin Hood Taxat the G20 Summit in Cannes – with the revenue ear-marked to address sustainable development and the growing climate crisis.”

But not in Cardiff where Cardiff Council expected our action and were clearly prepared with this ancient byelaw argument. The forced removal and deployment of hundreds of police officers to enforce a byelaw and intolerance of the right of assembly is to be traced back to Rodney Berman the Lib Dem Leader of Cardiff Council. rberman@cardiff.gov.uk;

The Council Executive who ordered protesters to leave was Neil Hamilton, the Chief officer for

City Centre Management - his number is 02920 872298 mobile 07974974371. Email

mhamilton@cardiff.gov.uk.

Police made six arrests as they broke up the Occupy Cardiff rally. South Wales Police said the arrests were for the offence "of failing to adhere to a direction to leave land" when ordered to do so. A 'section 61' was read out and the police came in and smashed the tents, pushed people out, and threatened people with arrest if they entered the castle grounds. Tents and other personal belongings were seized by the police.

Neil McAvoy, the Deputy Council Leader of Cardiff council told us to go vacate outside the City Centre nmcevoy@cardiff.gov.uk;

Green Gran at Occupy Cardiff

2011-11-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

Haapy start - Cardiff Council are evoking an 1875 bye law they have broken themselves to allow the police to say they can remove protesters.

‘LSX PROTEST IS REAL POLITICS IN ACTION’:

2011-11-05T04:32:00.000-07:00

Delighted to see this - This is why I joined the Green Party - I hope many of you will join the Cardiff protest.

‘LSX PROTEST IS REAL POLITICS IN ACTION’: GREEN MP TO SPEAK AT OCCUPY LSX RALLY, SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER

The UK’s only Green MP Caroline Lucas will speak out in support of the “real politics” of protest at the ‘We are the 99%’ rally taking place outside St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 5 November.

The MP for Brighton Pavilion, who pressed David Cameron to support a ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on financial trading during Prime Minister’s Questions earlier this week, will join with protesters to show support for the Occupy movement against economic injustice.

Saturday’s rally, taking place from 2pm, will be followed by a march on Parliament from St Paul’s.

Caroline Lucas, one of the only MPs to have visited the Occupy LSX encampment, said:

"As the public becomes more aware of the injustice and unsustainability of our economic system, more and more people are taking to the streets to fight for a different kind of society – one which puts the interests of the many before those of a powerful minority.

Cardiff Council’s appalling record on consultation

2011-11-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

Giving power back to the people
Democracy is important – yet the current Lib Dem/Plaid Cymru run Council continue to indulge in phoney consultations and refuse to engage or listen to the communities they serve.
They refused to consult and wouldn't listen to people and built a bridge for lorries into Bute Park substantially increasing the number of vehicles in the Park.
They refuse to share plans for a promised new bus station
They refused to consult on St Mary Street plans and we end up with a street full of clutter and taxis
They refused to consult properly on building an incinerator in Splott and Prosiect Gwyrdd and tried to stifle debate.
Give the people of Splott a say in their future
They ignore and neglect communities like Caerau
Green priorities include:
• Improving the Council’s appalling record on consultation
• Introducing a Charter of Citizen’s Rights giving people more of a say
• Introduce Area Committees and return power to communities

Cardiff Lib Dems to impose rules and signs on Bute Park

2011-10-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Cardiff lib dem/pliad council have decided to impose rules on park users. Pedestrians are being instructed to walk on the left.

The new proposed signs for pedestrians - cyclists - dogs

A new rule for your toddlers to learn! No more pottering or running about on the park paths. Want to avoid all that dreadful street clutter- traffic noise - signs - which is so bad in Cardiff city centre and go to the park for peace and tranquillity...Cardiff council will put an end to that! They have invented a code of conduct which they claim to be consulting on but in the usual style of the Lib Dems/Plaid Cymru council they have already started putting up signs - Pedestrians walk on the left! Cyclists ring your bell! Dog owners control your dog!
What do you think of them? These will have to erected on poles so so we will have a listed park full of poles and signs!

And as for the trial on late opening and cyclists well they have already decided and workmen have started to build a turnstile bedside the school of music to keep bikes out after dark.
Cardiff council A code of conduct, which is currently being 'trialed' in Hailey Park, will also be extended to Bute Park with additional signage being installed along the route.

The Code of Conduct encourages a better sharing of space by requesting all users to keep left and pass right. The code also asks cyclists to cycle slowly and be heard by ringing their bells; and for dog walkers to keep their dogs under control.

Putting up rules before the consultation finishes.

You might well ask where the code of conduct for vehicles is. Why is there so many staff drive in and around the park as well as parking there free of charge. What moves are they taking to reduce vehicle movements in Bute park in a 'sustainable city' ? Answer none - well if you build a £1.4 million bridge into the park for trasffic they it will get used.
Cardiff Council 'Trial' of extended opening hours at Bute Park
Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Lisa Ford, said: "As a sustainable travel city it is a priority for us to offer residents as many suitable forms of travelling around the city. I am delighted that the team at Bute Park are running this ~~trial~~ phoney consultation to establish whether the extension can be permanent." so I will be writing about this to Lisa Ford and her brother Neil Mc Evoy. Lisa and Neil just don't get the meaning of 'Sustainable Travel City'
Did you notice that Cardiff is one of the most car dependant cities in Europe and you are making it worse. Council leader Rodney Berman said the other day that the council was looking into options at freeing up short-stay parking spaces on Albany Road, perhaps by moving bus stops to free up space. Hands off our bus stops which many elderly people and disabled people use. How dare he suggest moving them to allow more selfish car owners to drive rather than walk, cycle or take the bus. Already he has decided with out consultation to have a bus station in the city centre with only 8 stands.
Has CADW been consulted on erection of these signs in listed Bute Park?

£920,000 Cafe for Bute Park by lib dem jokers

2011-10-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

£920,000 Cafe for Bute Park

SAVE BUTE PARK

No support for the opening of this Overblown ~~EDUCATION CENTRE~~ - Big Cafe

the star in Cardiff council’s grandiose attempt to ~~restore~~ commercialise the Park.

… funded from the Lottery at a massive £920 000

… uses the old plant nursery that they closed in favour of importing plants from outside nurseries, including Dutch ones, and ferried in by juggernaut lorries.

The EDUCATION CENTRE is aimed for

· Horticulture in-house training

· school groups

· family/tourist information and

· cafe + toilets

It was intended for community use, then evening use was ruled out. It was originally to be an “academy for horticultural training”. Tourist information and ice creams etc. are now to be provided at West Lodge and the Summerhouse ‘kiosk’ cafe is fully running. Let’s predict that the new Centre will be a commercial failure, destined to be closed under a future round of cuts.

What a blow for Lib Dem Cllr Nigel Howells, following the defeat as MP for Cardiff Central!

… a loss-making centre costing £920 000, instead restoring a previous unique feature – the Swiss Bridge over the Castle Moat – at half the cost.

… looks like misappropriating Restoration Grant funding on a grand scale.

£286,000 Cardiff lib dem council kiosk in Bute park!

2011-10-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

Not £165,778 kiosk for listed Bute Park...a whopping £286,000

As part of the Bute Park 'Restoration' Project/concreting over Bute Park the Cardiff Libdem council built a new refreshment kiosk, claiming it echoed the echoing the style of the former Bute Summerhouse!
Rodney Bermans Lib Dems refused to listen to the people of Cardiff and call for a Campaign for a moratorium on development in Cardiff's registered heritage.
So how much did this folly cost?? £165,778.20 Who are they kidding??
Whoops! My mistake ..Having gone to city hallt look at the budget item no. K18.00039.902 Summer House Kiosk £165,778.20 and asked -Is this the total – how does it compare with budget?
The answer came back as Expenditure on the main contract is £286K in total, and the overall scheme expenditure is within the agreed budget.

Summer House

The little Summer house was built around 1880 and came from the grounds of Cardiff Castle .
It was built around the same time that the 3rd Marquis of Bute was undergoing his massive building and restoration programs on Cardiff Castle and Castle Coch transforming them into extravagent romantic follies.
It is thought that this small summer house could have been designed by The Marquis's Architect William Burges or by his assistant William Frame.

So now it has been moved to St Fagans and the replacement is nothing like...CADW is the most useless protector of our heritage

Caroline Lucas MP backs OccupyLSX protest at St Paul’s

2011-10-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

Caroline Lucas MP backs OccupyLSX protest at St Paul’s

October 17, 2011

111Share

Green MP Caroline Lucas has added her support to the OccupyLSX action at St Paul’s Cathedral, which is now in its third day:

“As awareness increases of the injustice and unsustainability of the global economic system, more and more people are taking to the streets in opposition. The camp that has been set up a stone’s throw from London Stock Exchange is an opportunity to explore a different kind of future to the one the mainstream political parties have constructed.
“The authorities must respect the right to peaceful protest. If they have any sense, they will also start to listen to the voices of those ordinary – and extraordinary people – who want to invest in a greener, fairer future rather than the stocks-and-shares house of sand that sustains corporate capitalism.”

Lorries in Bute park

2011-10-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

Somebody tell Cardiffs lib Dem Council that People go the park to RELAX. The most important component of an urban park is - its greenery. The improvements users would like to see in urban parks include good design and management.

Vehicles parking at pedestrian and cycle route

Lib Dems in Cardiff say that there is a Bute Park £5.6 million restoration project supported by £3.1 million from Lottery Fund. But how much of that has spent on building a massive bridge to bring articulated lorries into the park or building better roads for traffic- a new kiosk at the cost of £165,778 - And a new free car park for staff next to the castle! No chance of relaxing in Bute Park as you are always being harassed by traffic..disgrace. And the latest spending spree is to 'restore' West Lodge so now we have a hard standing built to park cars on? What about spending the money on the wilderness at the side of the castle?
Cardiff Lib Dems said the new bridge was to move cars/lorries away from the castle and make a safe entrance and path for pedestrians and cyclists.
They just don't get it.
The history Bute Parks: from 1939 to 2009

West Lodge new parking area

CLLR HOWELLS DIRTY TRICKS The last 70 years have seen massive incremental damage to Bute Parks. You can download here the leaflet showing the degree destruction and privatisation that has been allowed in that time and which has escalated over the last few years.

Will there be any money left to restore this area ?

This was supposed to allow lorries to pass not a parking area

Fib Dems Cardiff Bus Station plan for 8 buses

2011-09-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

At the Bus Users UK 'surgery' today, I heard that current plans for Cardifff mean the end of the Bus Station and the plabn is to have just 8 stands for buses and 3 for coaches.

This compares with the 18 bus stands in March which were admitted to be too few, but all there was space for, and 11 bus stands officer from Cardiff Council.

Cdf had followed WelTAG on public consultation (as Delme Bowens officers pompously boasted) but only as concerns initial views ('majority wants a new modern bus station') and are now ignoring WelTAG in not consulting further and not being transparent over details of size, design etc.

The Project manager for the Bus Station/Central Sq is Kevin Doyle*(supercedes Pat thompson). Consultants are modelling the need for bus stands etc., presumably justifying the 8 stands - Cardiff Bus have not seen their modelling and know they need many more bays for themselves, never mind the other bus companies.

The officers' motivation is to create 'public space', all to be taken from the buses, rather than from the business development or eg. integrating Wood St. So they're paying 'consultants' to come up with the arguments.
They are not trying a design to allow operation on Event days - just say the Police require closure. Access/egress would be possible from Saunders Rd. Some story about the taxi rank area franchised to ArrivaTrains, but no attrempt to deal with Railtrack over developing the rear entrance to the station. No thought of bringing in WAG, who now have a say on Railtrack spending in Wales.

The Bus Users UK say they opposed the Bus Box and public complaints has borne them out. But they are not representing bus users (their remit) by publicly criticising it or detailing its failures/inadequacies. Eg. on bus shelters/seating, the police has opposed one, Greyfriars road is too narrow to allow new shelters, Westgate St may not be too narrow (are only just coming to consider proper provision), by John Lewis+Library the Planners oppose as 'spoiling the urban design' (!).

No-one could explain the £660 000 spent by Cdf fibdems last year on improving bus facilities and pedestrian access - for the arches carrying stand codes and gaps/dropped kerbs, while pedestrian access has been blocked from the West and diverted around 3 caged road crossings from Wood St north side stops. A rip-off of Sustainable Travel City funds, it seems.

*Kevin Doyle was previously manager of the Sports Scrubland development

An artists impression of new central square as in the Echo recently but where is the Bus Station?

We want a say in what kind of bus station Cardiff will have. The secret plans are being shown to some stake holders but no copies released to them or the public.

Pro-Fracking trickery in the Vale

2011-09-24T05:03:00.000-07:00

Vale Council officers in collusion with the company intervened to stop the E&E Scrutiny Committee considering "fracking" – they planned to take evidence from the company and anti-fracking campaigners – as the Echo reported 23 Sept “Legal Advice halts meeting over fracking”.
The "legal" frightener originated from the company Coastal Oil and Gas; Chair of Scrutiny, Cllr Chris Williams has been called a 'pillock' for going along with Jeff James and failing to insist on independent legal advice. Plaid Cymru is reportedly furious with him, as 'semi-detached' from their Councillor group.

The Vale Cabinet's Cllr Jeff James has also brought forward the borehole testing application for determination by the planning committee this Thursday. Once the borehole testing application is approved, it would be difficult to refuse any subsequent application.

The Planning Officers' report and Agenda for the 29 Sept. planning Committee should have been posted on the VoG website on Friday

but they did not go up, so the law for 3 days Notice for public comments prior to the meeting appears to be breached. On past experience, Jeff James will ignore this - it will take some serious interventions to halt the VoG leadership's machinations.

Councillor Judith Woodman war on beggars

2011-09-22T03:15:00.000-07:00

Can Cardiff ever be beggar-free?

ON September 10, Councillor Judith Woodman, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, wrote to the Echo in reply to my letter of September 8.

She is now claiming one-off action against a single beggar, no longer boasting of the four ASBOs on others as she wants to make Cardiff free of beggars.

Perhaps she should check the LibDem website where Tom Brake MP and co-chair of the LibDem Parliamentary Policy Committee, calls ASBOs a “failed policy”.

Or has she not noticed that the ConDem government plans to scrap ASBOs? They do plan to introduce Crime Prevention Injunctions, but these won’t cover begging and people on the street needing help.

The Green Party is the only political party against ASBOs from the start, though now the LibDems and Tories have come round.

Only Labour sticks with them – is the council’s Deputy Leader a Blairite claiming to be LibDem, within a council leadership deficient in liberal values?

Anne Greagsby

Caerau, Cardiff

Saturday, 10 September, 2011 - South Wales Echo Letters - Letters ...

10 Sep 2011 ... If Ms Greagsby feels Asbos don't work or they are used inappropriately, may Isuggest she contacts her MP. Councillor Judith Woodman ...
www.walesonline.co.uk/.../saturday-10-september-2011-91466-29394246/

winning female votes - condems gov leaked memo

2011-09-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

Thefword blog looks at the ConDems rather feeble memo listing potential ways to win more female votes was leaked yesterday – see Guardian Tues 13^thSept 'Leaked memo on support from women for the coalition government document, marked 'restricted-policy', on how to get more support from women was written by officials in Number 10 and circulated to government departments' and asks if you have any suggestions. I am sure we could add to the list.

Cardiff Lib Dems war on beggars

2011-09-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

On the 10th Sept Councillor Judith Woodman Deputy Leader, Cardiff council wrote to the Echo in reply to my letter in the Echo on the 8th Sept in which she is now claiming one-off action against a single beggar, no longer boasting of the 4 ASBOs on others as she wants to make Cardiff free of beggars.

Perhaps she's should check the LibDem website where Tom Brake MPCo chair of the LibDem Parliamentary Policy Cmtee calls

ASBOs a "failed policy". Or has she not noticed that the ConDem government plans to scrap ASBOs? They do plan to introduce Crime Prevention Injunctions, but these won't cover begging and people on the street needing help.

The Green Party is the only political party against ASBOs from the start, though now the LibDems and Tories have come round. Only Labour sticks with them - is the Council's Deputy Leader a Blairite claiming to be LibDem, within a Council leadership deficient in liberal values?

NOTE

LIB DEMS Spring Conference 2011

Motion carried with amendment: Taking Responsibility (Youth Justice Policy Paper)

8. In addition, conference is concerned about the introduction of Labour’s so called ‘Gangbo’ as a civil Order and notes the proposals for a new Criminal Behaviour Order. Whilst welcoming the coalition government’s abolition of ineffective ASBOs, conference further calls on Liberal Democrats in government to ensure that the new Order is not a mere change of label, and that no Order shall be granted without the rigorous application, as the name implies, both of the criminal rules of evidence and procedure and the criminal standards of proof.

St Mary Street confusion

2011-09-03T03:22:00.000-07:00

What is going on in St Mary Street? Cardiff Fib Dems council with Plaid promised to pedestrianise it.
Cardiff council boasts Following the successful completion of the works to transform High Street into an area of pedestrian priority...so who are they kidding
St Mary Street is pedestrianised ...then not pedestrianised with deliveries and taxis and car parking then pedestrainised then its all traffic.. how confusing is that. Even worse they then have filled it with expensive street clutter, hundreds of bollards, benches with a lamp post view. A proper consultation of the plans would have made this a street we could have been proud of. We are now left with a very expensive mess. I looked up pe·des·tri·an·ize (p-dstr--nz)

tr.v. pe·des·tri·an·ized, pe·des·tri·an·iz·ing, pe·des·tri·an·iz·es

To convert (a street) into a mall or pedestrian walkway. which thios street is clearly NOT.

Cardiffs own guidelines ignored on Reducing Clutter

Unnecessary or redundant signage and street furniture should be removed in order to avoid cluttered streets. The siting and location of

traffic signage should consider the potential impact on the public realm, including ease of pedestrian movement and views along streets

and of key buildings.

[PDF]

Cardiff City Centre Public Realm Manual - Cardiff Council

www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?object_id=14193

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
11 Jun 2009 – The City Centre Improvement Group be given the remit to monitor the ...

Bin the Bus box Give us a proper Bus Station

2011-09-01T03:35:00.001-07:00

greengranma Anne

Bin the Bus Box - Give Cardiff a proper bus station Petition: out in Cardiff today talking to bus users Westgate Street

askibng them to sign our petition.

binthebusbox.blogspot.com

Lib Dems ASBO war on Cardiff beggars

2011-08-30T02:20:00.000-07:00

I am, horrified that a new war appears to be starting on beggars in Cardiff. The Lib Dem/Plaid council has lost it! Social cohesiveness is vital in a country which has just seen riots. When was this new policy of getting beggars out of the city with ASBOs decided on?

A 74 year old woman given an asbo for begging.

The three-year order bans her from begging anywhere within the City and County of Cardiff and also entering the city centre between 8am and 8pm see the report on Our 'Bobby website'

Acting Sergeant Geraint White said: “This is the fourth anti social behaviour order the city centre policing team have obtained in recent months as we continue to ensure that those visiting, working or living in the city centre can do so free from being harassed by beggars.

Shame on Lib Dem Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Judith Woodman who said: “People have the right to go about their business in Cardiff City Centre without being harassed in this distressing manner.
“ Cardiff has a vibrant city centre to be proud of and attracts significant amounts of visitors every year. “It is unacceptable for people to behave in this manner and I’m pleased a partnership approach involving Cardiff Council, South Wales Police and the CPS has led to this individual being banned from begging and entering the city centre at times when she can become a nuisance to others.” The public is urged to continue reporting all incidents of anti-social behaviour and if they believe the terms of an ASBO are being broken, they should contact the police on 101 - How might we be able to tell if an ASBO is being broken ...is there an ASBO badge?

A look back...Antisocial Behaviour Orders – Is This Really What We Want?

Where did the idea come from?

According to Will McMahon of the Crime and Society Foundation, Asbos were first touted by right-wing criminology think-tanks in the mid-1990s as a way of modernising an arcane and cumbersome body of statutes regulating housing law and neighbourly disputes. Though rejected by the Major government as unworkable, they found favour with New Labour.

So, what is an ASBO? It is a civil order made by the court in order to protect the community from “behaviour which causes harassment, alarm or distress.” But why is the definition of "antisocial behaviour" so broad? Behaviour likely to cause "harassment, alarm or distress" seems capable of including everyone from serious criminals to people whose appearance makes us feel uneasy.

It may be applied to anyone over the age of ten, and involves the court making an open-ended restriction on the actions of the individual in order to prevent further antisocial behaviour. Although the order is a civil one, its breach is considered a criminal offence which may attract a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. The ASBO, was first legislated for in England and Wales in 1999 and then in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

There are two main reasons why Asbos are so radical.

First, a wide range of state and quasi-state bodies are empowered to collate evidence in order to obtain them. These include local authorities and housing associations, and, more disconcertingly, private arms-length management companies of the type increasingly favoured to run former council housing estates. Collecting evidence is, of course, normally the job of the police.

The second innovative thing about Asbos is that while they are civil measures they can be backed up by the full weight of the criminal law. This means that to obtain order legal niceties like a defense counsel can be done away with. It also means that the evidence necessary for an Asbo to be granted is tested not under the beyond reasonable doubt criteria that apply in criminal law but the far less exacting calculus of the civil law. Effectively, something as flimsy as hearsay evidence, or gossip, will suffice. Yet if an order were to be breached the offender could face a possible jail sentence, even if the act that constituted the breach would not normally be classified as criminal.

The antisocial behaviour laws are badly framed, and often implemented by individuals with little or no knowledge of what makes a community socially sustainable. There are usually two sides to every story, you have to listen carefully, listen to both of them before you can decide what course of action best suits the interests of everyone concerned. Antisocial behaviour is frequently tackled in a clumsy, ham-fisted fashion that favours one side over the other and does far more harm than good?

Historical equivalents of 'anti-social behaviour' Rising fear of youth crime saw 'ungovernable' or 'incorrigible' children ordered into a reform programme as far back as 1806, according to archive material made available by the young people's charity Rainer.

The historical equivalent of 'anti-social behaviour' saw children as young as nine referred to the Philanthropic Society in an attempt to reform them before they became involved in crime.Will McMahon, acting director of think-tank the Crime and Society Foundation, says that government is moving social policy backwards in two ways: first, through the re-emergence of the “problem family”, a concept stemming from the 1950s which blames families themselves for their social problems; second, by the sense of déjà vu that long-serving social care professionals will feel as a result of the government’s approach. “The government is repeating the cycle of analysis by Sir Keith Joseph, Conservative social services minister in the 1970s, which is that problem families are the source of all our problems,” McMahon says.
How much do they cost ? ASBOs cost an average of £2500 to administer and if an order is breached and the person ends up in custody, it costs a minimum of £4450 a month to keep them there – an expensive process set against a current re-offending rate for young people released from custody fluctuating around the 80 per cent mark. (4) Money would be better spent on cost effective schemes that have a proven track record of tackling and reducing antisocial behaviour. (NACRO)

A Home office report states that estimates of costs of ASBOs were wide-ranging in both the 2002 and 2004 surveys. In 2004, the minimum estimated cost was £150 (for an ASBO on conviction). The maximum estimated cost was £10,250, which was the first ASBO issued by one CDRP. ASBOs on conviction were generally cheaper to administer than other types of ASBOs, costing on average £900 compared with over £3,000 for stand-alone orders.

What evidence is there? "Dodgy Dossier" claims Government policies on antisocial behaviour “are working”The minimum cost for a stand alone Asbo was £150 and the maximum £8,350.The Government claims that new research vindicates its hard line approach to dealing with antisocial behaviour. ‘Ain’t misbehaving’ campaigners say that it comes as no surprise that the very same politicians, who laud the "success" of asbos despite a 40% plus breach rate and criminalization of vulnerable children with learning difficulties, should be tempted to bend the truth.
The government's favoured measure of anti-social behaviour ignores those problems that the public tell them are of most concern. A Home Office study (5) published last year found that the public ranked 'speeding traffic' (43% ‘very big’ or ‘fairly big’ problem) and 'cars parked inconveniently' (31%) as the two biggest 'anti-social' problems in their area. 'Teenagers hanging around' (28%) was ranked only the sixth most significant problem and 'noisy neighbours' (9%) was twelfth.
Naming and shaming What the research does show is that for a few cherry-picked offences - in "trailblazer" areas where it has pumped in a lot of money - crime and the perception of crime has gone down a tiny amount. These recorded falls in perceived anti-social behaviour are unlikely to be due to the 'Action Areas', because these were only set up last year.

The naming and shaming of children under Asbos no doubt plays well in the tabloids but can lead to the Asbo becoming a perverse badge of pride. In other cases we have seen it lead to vigilantism, including threats, intimidation and violence towards other family members. Not a world away from the mob justice of the medieval stocks says Shami Chakrabarti (director Liberty) ‘Combine this with curfew powers allowing the police to pick up young people who aren't even suspected of antisocial behaviour and you have a recipe for the stigmatisation and alienation of a generation of deprived kids. How will this strengthen communities?’ The Howard League's report this week supports her fears.

The children’s commissioner for Wales is concerned about the negative effect on children self esteem. Professor Rod Morgan, chairman of the Youth Justice Board, has criticized the naming and shaming of youngsters subjected to antisocial behaviour orders as “not the sort of thing that would be tolerated in most countries.”

(Guardian, Saturday 25 February 2006, page 12)

Fear of crime and other crucial elements of personal securityASBOs do not level down people’s fear of ‘anti-social behaviour’; they exacerbate it. The more ASBOs are issued, the more the supposedly

imminent threat ‘anti-social behaviour’ poses is in the news and the more obsessed with it people become. To this extent ASBOs are a self-fulfilling

Memorandum from the Crime and Society Foundation (13) for the Home Affairs Committee Inquiry into anti-social behaviour, September 2004, argued that:

The current definition of anti-social behaviour does not provide a sound basis for effective policy.
The government's anti-social behaviour strategy has in practice drawn many vulnerable people into the criminal justice system. In other words it has widened the net.
The current anti-social behaviour strategy, which places so much of an emphasis on the imposition of the ASBO, should be rethought

Research by the consortium Emerging Role of Sheltered Housing (EROSH) points to an increase in the use of ASBOs to evict pensioners from sheltered housing. According to Meic Phillips, the chair of EROSH's good practice group, the behaviours giving rise to these evictions are the result of diminishing health, such as the onset of dementia or other mental health problems associated with the aging process. This can then be exacerbated by communication breakdowns between agencies.

The 1996 Housing Act brought 'antisocial behaviour' within the remit of housing legislation for the first time. Council tenants are the poorest section of society; in 1995/96, 69 per cent were either unemployed, retired or economically inactive compared to six per cent of those buying their home with a mortgage (HMSO, 1991). Government therefore, has targeted council tenants as a particular source of antisocial behaviour and strengthened the powers of housing professionals to define and control such behaviour. The legislation is increasing the powers of the professional classes over the working class who are living in council housing.

What in the past would have been managed as health-care problems are in some cases now being redefined as problems of anti-social behaviour.

It is not only the elderly who are liable to being considered anti-social rather than needy. Research by Caroline Hunter and Judy Nixon into ASB and social housing indicates that two thirds of those described as being involved in ASB have some form of vulnerability. These include those who are victims of sexual and physical abuse (18%), those with mental disability (18%), those with drug and alcohol addictions (23%), those with a physical disability (9%) and households with children who were out of control (15%) and combinations thereof (2001a).

There is also an absence of joint working between housing providers and social services. According to their research 'housing agencies are more readily resorting to eviction, boosting the numbers of families in temporary accommodation.

Lone mothers are not being treated fairly under ASB legislation. Analysis by Judy Nixon and Caroline Hunter (1) shows that in 66% of cases of evictions of women as tenants the cases focused on the behaviour of a violent or disruptive partner or a teenage child (usually male) and that these women were three times more likely to have been subject to sexual or physical abuse. In 66% of cases with women as tenants there had been no visit made before legal action was taken. It is very likely that women who are the victims of domestic violence will be evicted as a result of the behaviour the abuser (2001b)

Research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (16) has found that only 20% of adults think tough action against people accused of antisocial behaviour is a good way of solving the problem. The majority of people favoured preventative action, particularly when dealing with young people.

The report highlights the need for strengthened communities and criticises the government’s ‘oversimplified’ antisocial behaviour strategy as fuelling public anxiety. It concludes that both national and local strategies should aim for a balance between enforcement and prevention and that more care is needed in defining antisocial behaviour and determining limits of civil law remedies.

We must highlight the importance of adequate community mental health and related social services and the need for more research into the common pathways into and out of the criminal justice system. Police should be given improved training on how to deal sensitively and appropriately with people suffering from mental illness.

It is time to have an evidence based public debate regarding their appropriateness and effectiveness to launch a truly effective attack on the causes of crime

failure to create more sustainable neighbourhoods

2011-08-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

Wales 'must tackle social problems to avoid riots'
Study after study shows that greener urban spaces help promote health and well-being, the failure to create more sustainable neighbourhoods has contributed to the deprivation and alienation that resulted in hundreds of young people burning their own communities to the ground. The solutions require ongoing investment and commitment that we don't get from Cardiff Lib Dem/Plaid council who continue to get their priorities wrong by closing a youth club in Splott, introducing charges for young people to use sports pitches and have not invested in areas such as in Caerau where Trelai Park benches are left to rot, the playground neglected but can spend £165,778.20 on building a kiosk in Bute Parkand and £181,957.39 on a Roath Park Loo.
Now if we could have a greener economy - an economy, which through the delivery of enhanced stability, greater sustainability, increased employment and improved living standards, would help make the kind of devastating riots we have seen in recent weeks a thing of the past so vote green next time.

£165,778 kiosk for listed Bute Park

2011-07-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

So now it has been moved to St Fagans and the replacement is nothing like...CADW is the most useless protector of our heritage.

France became the first nation to ban fracking

2011-07-23T03:53:00.000-07:00

France became the first nation to ban the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking in drilling for natural gas and oil on June 30 when French senators voted to ban the practice. Oil and gas companies operating in France with fracking permits will have them revoked according to the legislation passed by a 176 to 151 vote. The bill passed the National Assembly on June 21.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/france-becomes-first-nation-to-ban-fracking.html#ixzz1Sv83volH

Max and I talked with French campaigners on the square in Montpellier - many licenses granted by the French government including in the source area of the local drinking water are revoked by this decision - unlike in Britain where the authorities insist licenses have greater status than parliament/assembly decisions. An international conference on Fracking etc. is being preparednear Montpellier for Sept.

In February 2011 a planning application was submitted on our doorstep in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales to test drill for gas. After a very short, sharp campaign we succeeded in getting the planning applicants to withdraw their application – albeit temporarily. More here

And Green Party slams plan for fracking in Vale of Glamorgan Read more here

Cardiff Lib Dem Greenwash and bullshit

2011-06-14T01:50:00.000-07:00

People in Cardiff have a clean, attractive and sustainable environment boasts a paper to be considered at Cardiffs Environmental Scrutiny Committee today Committee Room 4 County Hall
14/06/2011 Start: 04:30 PM

'This will include the development of a sustainable

transport infrastructure and progressing city wide carbon reduction initiatives.

most concern to them. The continued regeneration of Cardiff and coordinated efforts'

This from the Lib Dem Cardiff council that brought you the 'Bus Box' that doesn't work - doesn't go to the bus or rail station! And now they plan to build a new smaller bus station for Cardiff without consulting residents of the city on the design! There is strong public support for scrapping the recently introduced 'bus box' and restoring a full bus station...more below

The green-wash fiction continues...

'The council is already making an important contribution to addressing climate

change. We are working with partners to implement the agreed Carbon Lite Action

Plan which includes both mitigation and adaptation measures, and is based on

initiatives like energy efficiency, the encouragement of green industries and securing

energy from renewable sources. '

this is from the Lib Dem council that approves the building of an incinerator in Splott and associated hundreds of lorries in and out of Cardiff adding to congestion and pollution and of course the Lib Dem Council that supoorts and leads Prosiect 'Gwyrdd' £1.1 billion incinerator PFI

committee working with 6 Tories...no surprise there then!

NEW SMALL BUS STATION

Lib Dem Cardiff Council are proposers of site no.70 (Central Square) yet the LDP team had not yet considered asking them to give the detailed information required by their form and said to be following nomination of the site. While not excluding it for lack of information, they refuse to explain the process by which they'll exempt the Council-proposers from supplying full information. The lack of a transparent process means that the public will naturally suspect the LDP team of giving the Council proposers an easy ride, so cannot trust the LDP process.

This is particularly evident in the case of nominating this site for a bus station when the Council's own documented considerations show

1. the site allocated has insufficient space for a bus station befitting and catering for the needs of a capital city – one which has special WAG funding for sustainable transport

2. adjacent sites which could provide for a properly-sized bus station are under the full or partial control of the Council.

3. the nominated site does not allow plans for integrating passenger facilities with Central rail station, which some addition to it would permit

4. the Council plans for a bus station envisage it continuing to be closed during major events in the Millennium Stadium.

The present situation whereby the bus station is closed on event days causes significant loss to bus users, contravenes policies of priority for public transport and is highly detrimental to operation of buses and rail services. As operation of a new bus station every day is of highest priority, this site (on its own) appears unsuitable for it.

There is strong public support for scrapping the recently introduced 'bus box' and restoring a full bus station. The dispersed bus-interchange facilities around the bus box are poor quality, difficult to find and reach, disliked by bus users and have caused loss of passengers. This needs proper assessment to be produced as evidence for the LDP, in view of LDP/transport policies for an increasing role for public transport.

As the LDOP team has failed to supply full information from the Council as proposers in order to assess independently whether to accept this site, we asked they allow us – and the public in general – to submit comment on any new information they do receive. Again no answer, so we insist on our rights to submit further information later.

We pointed out there are further sites around Central Square and Callaghan Square which the Council itself intends to develop but has not nominated in the LDP. We asked how was the decision to nominate or nominate made, and does the absence of nomination allow the Council to proceed outside and in advance of LDP processes? Again no answer. We are gravely concerned at this corruption of the LDP planning process. We demand that the LDP team stop giving preferential treatment to the developer parts of Cardiff Council and take action to compel the Council to put all their current proposals on the table. And give the public the opportunity to comment on all of them within the LDP process.

Admiral HQ Cardiff council arrogance bordering on maladministration.

2011-06-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

How can the Lib Dem coucil permit officers to formulate their recommendation before considering all public representations submitted within the 3-week statutory minimum. It shows arrogance bordering on maladministration. In view of the importance of this development, the report should be amended and the recommendation reconsidered.

The screening decision was based on a decision of no “significant” environmental impact. Who are they kidding? The report shows the officers do not confirm that, but on the contrary admit several significant environmental impacts. I detail below how the EIA screening Regulations have not been adhered to, and the Screening decision was defective informal and material respects. It follows the decision should be reversed.

Since this changes the application to an EIA-development, further specific procedures must be gone through prior to approval. Hence the issue needs to be considered by the full planning committee.

The Screening Decision

Environmental screening opinion on the Admiral application in Bridge Street square (app. ref. 11/546/DCI).

The chief officer, Lawrence Dowdell informed me he was solely responsible for the screening report issued 11 February 2011 under the name of Phil Williams, after consulting no specialists. He wrote (after being prompted, by e-mail of 2nd June)

There are no other office notes phone or email records relating to the decision; it was taken on the basis of my assessment of the request letter and the Nov 2010 proposals and a brief informal discussion with Nigel Hanson, my Operational Manager. No specialists were consulted.

Since he could provide no checklist nor even a record of his decision, s.1.19 of the report presumably relies on memory. This does not meet transparency and auditability requirements for such a decision.

The applicants’ letter fails to outline “possible effects on the environment” (EIA Reg. 5 2(b)), nor did the officer ask for this information under Reg. 5(3). Mr Dowdell wrote (2 June e-mail)

No other specific information was taken into account when reaching our decision.

The 11 Feb. screening report does not specify the environmental sensitivity of the location and the characteristics of the potential impacts.

Reg. 4(5) requires the authority to take into account …such of the selection criteria set out in Schedule 3 as are relevant to the development. The (lack of) evidence on file and in the report shows this was not done. Para.s 1.19-1.20 of the report show inadequacies. In dismissing ‘noise’ on a comparison with the previous carpark, para. 1.19 disregards current-day sensitive receptors. It dismisses visual impact on the skyline as “unlikely” (1.19) without any aid from photomontages, arguing visual impacts have “local significance only” (1.20).

The statement that “that any effects would be of local significance only” (1.20) does justify the conclusion “therefore did not warrant the submission of an Environmental Statement”. Under the EIR Regulations (1999, as amended) Sch 3(3), not only the geographical area and population affected but also the

(c) the magnitude and complexity of the impact;

(d) the probability of the impact;

(e) the duration, frequency and reversibility of the impact

have to be taken into account.

The report shows significant impacts in shading, loss of amenity space and winds, as well as visual changes in the square and in certain viewing directions. These show the screening decision was defective in material respects, as well as proceeding from inadequate information and being over restrictive in its interpretation of the Regulations.

Loss of Public amenity spaceThe report admits (8.6) that the site is a “popular piece of informal open space with amenity value” and that (8.5) Policy 7 of the Local Plan applies. This states thatdevelopment proposals involving the loss of open space will only be permitted where: i) They would not cause or exacerbate a local or city-wide deficiency of recreational open space and the open space has no amenity

This condition applies, indeed the city’s central core is sorely lacking in green spaces. The officers give no evidence otherwise and the report is wrong to disregard Policy 7 on the argument (8.8) 'the current open space was always intended to be temporary”.

Wind Effects

Winds are very significant for cyclists in certain street canyons and exposed corners during strong winds, particularly south-westerlies. The buildings create strong gusts and eddies, showing inadequate attention in the central developments. This building would create a new canyon and generate eddies driven by S and SW winds. Desk studies cannot be relied on. In any case the applicants’ study shows “conditions would be uncomfortable for cyclists” (8.56).

The mitigation of this problem is proposed via a canopy (8.57). This has not been shown to be effective, moreover EIA Regulations require this information to be available in advance of a planning decision.

Pedestrians including bus users also suffer from the gusts of wind, especially during rainy conditions when umbrellas are difficult to control and subject to damage. The report is defective in failing to consider whether walking routes and bus shelters could be designed to mitigate the problems.

Overshadowing of amenity spaces:T he report admits significant shadowing (8.58-9) but omits to mention the public realm areas to the north and east that would be shadowed much of the day. This is a significant impact that the report should admit – the failure to do so reflect an unprofessional advocacy standpoint.

Generation of extra city centre traffic

The area is already congested, with routes deterring for cyclists and pedestrians. Any developments should include measures to reduce car traffic overall, via improvements topublic transport, walking and cycling with restrictions via taking out road space, as advocated in principle by Cardiff Civic Society

Admiral awful HQ given the green light
no “significant” environmental impact. Who are they kidding?