Cardiff Cross Challenge Returns to the City for the Sixteenth Year

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 29, 2013

Cardiff has successfully hosted the 16th annual McCain Cross Challenge this month.

Cardiff Council Leisure Services are one of the main sponsors for the event which saw 1400 athletes as well as primary school children compete in one of 12 races throughout the day.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “The Cardiff Cross Challenge is one of the most high-calibre events on the calendar and boasts an impressive number of different race events throughout the day.

“We are thrilled it was hosted here successfully for the 16th year despite the cold weather. Cardiff Council recognises the importance it has for the sport as it appeals to experienced runners as well as encouraging grass roots talent which leads to healthy and active lifestyles in young people”.

The event attracts competitors of all levels and ages from across the UK and takes place in the centre of Cardiff within the beautiful grounds of Cardiff Castle, Bute Park along the River Taff and leads into Blackweir fields.

The event is organised by Graham Finlayson BEM from Cardiff Cross Country and Road Events with the support of UK Athletics and Welsh Athletics.

Cardiff was the fourth fixture in the 2012 and 2013 series, which includes races in Bristol, Liverpool, Antrim and Birmingham.

The Cardiff Cross Challenge was founded in 1997 and has since become one of the most prestigious events in the UK.

The high-class competition incorporates a full range of men’s, women’s and young persons races for age groups including Seniors, Under 20s, Under 17s, Under 15s and Under 13’s.

The course is marked up to national standards and incorporates a mixture of flat fast running with interesting woodland and riverside sections.

Cardiff council worker wins national award

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 29, 2013

A Cardiff Council employee who helped to establish a scheme in Cardiff to keep vulnerable children and young people safe has won a national award for her efforts.

Sarah-Jane Bailey, a team manager in the Council’s Youth Offending Team, has won a Butler Trust Award for her work on StaySafe.

StaySafe is a joint initiative run between South Wales Police and Cardiff Council and is aimed at engaging with vulnerable children and young people who may be at risk of becoming a victim of crime or involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Richard Cook, Cardiff Council’s Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “To have your efforts recognised at a national level is a great achievement and I am delighted for Sarah-Jane.

“We take the health and wellbeing of young people in Cardiff very seriously and Staysafe is a great example of how we are working with our partners to help keep vulnerable children safe.

“I’d like to thank Sarah-Jane for all her efforts in helping to make the scheme such a success.”

The Awards, which were established in 1985 in memory of the former Home Secretary RAB Butler, are the most prestigious of their kind in the country.

They were set up to formerly recognise and celebrate outstanding dedication, skill and creativity by people working in prisons, probation and youth justice settings across the UK.

There were 250 entrants into this year’s competition and the winners were selected by a panel of judges.

Sarah-Jane will be officially presented with her award by the Trust’s Royal Patron, The Princess Royal, at a special ceremony being held at Buckingham Palace on 11 March.

Overnight road closures on the A48 Eastern Avenue

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 25, 2013

Essential road resurfacing works are set to take place on the A48 Eastern Avenue, which will need overnight road closures.

The resurfacing, which is vital to maintain safety for high speed traffic, will start on Monday (January 28) and will last for five days, subject to extreme weather conditions.

The work will be carried out in stages

from 7.30pm to 6am each night, working eastwards from the Gabalfa Interchange to Junction 29A .
The schedule is as follows:

• Monday, January 28 from 7.30pm to 6am closing the A48 eastbound carriageway
• from Gabalfa to Llanedeyrn Interchanges, and from 10pm from Llanedeyrn to Gabalfa westbound.
• Tuesday, January 29 from 7.30pm to 6am from Llanedeyrn to Gabalfa, closure westbound.
• Wednesday, January 30 from 7.30pm to 6am from Llanedeyrn to Pentwyn, closure north eastbound
• Thursday, January 31 from 7.30pm to 6am from Pentwyn to Pontprennau, closure north eastbound
• Friday, February 1 from 7.30pm to 6am from the eastbound A48 turnoff at junction 29A to the Cypress Drive/Newport Road roundabout which will be closed for resurfacing;

 

Additional closures will also take place on Thursday, January 31 from 7.30 pm to 6am of the A48 south westbound off slip road at Llanedeyrn/Southern Way and on Friday, February 1 from

7.30pm to 6am of the A48 south westbound off slip road at Pentwyn.

Councillor Ralph Cook, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Highways, Traffic and Transportation, said: "This resurfacing work is vitally important to maintain one of the busiest roads in the city.  By carrying out this work at night we have taken great care to minimise disruption and ensure that this work can be completed as quickly as possible.”

Cardiff Council’s electronic signage will provide diversion information and advance warning of all the overnight closures.

Keeping Cardiff moving through the winter

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 22, 2013

Cardiff Council has plans in place to ensure the city is kept moving during severe winter weather such as tomorrow’s predicted snow.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning‚ Highways & Transportation, Councillor Ralph Cook said: ““A robust plan has been put together to make sure we do everything possible to keep Cardiff moving through the predicted snow tomorrow and through the winter. The winter maintenance plan has been in place since the start of November and will run until the beginning of March, or longer depending on weather conditions.

“You can help the Council by being public spirited, for instance assisting any vulnerable neighbours you are aware of and by doing your bit to help your community if we experience heavy snowfalls. Information is readily available on the Council website which gives the advice you need, with the Snow Code providing step-by-step guidance on what to do when you are clearing snow from pavements and other public areas.”

As one of several measures to improve the Council’s resilience during a future snow event, a salt barn has been built and by the end of November, Cardiff will have approximately 6,000 tonnes of salt available.  This is approximately 50% more than the amount of salt that it used during the winter period two years ago and is greater than the Welsh Local Government Association recommendation.”

Resources are on stand-by 24 hours a day during the winter period (between November and March inclusive) to ensure that salting can be undertaken promptly once it is needed. The Council uses a fleet of 12 vehicles to spread salt on the roads following prescribed routes and vehicles are also fitted with ploughs to help with clearing snow from roads if needed. The pre-salting operation usually starts within one hour of the decision being taken to start salting and takes approximately four hours to complete.

Out of more that 600 miles of roads across Cardiff, a priority network of routes have been identified following a consultation with transport providers, the police and emergency services and will be salted when freezing conditions are forecast.

This network is a little under half of the total adopted highway within Cardiff and comprises Principal Roads, B Roads, some C Roads, and other non-classified roads [namely Bus Routes].

A list of roads that will   be   pre-salted   can be found on the Council’s website: www.cardiff.gov.uk/winterweather

Several cycle routes will be treated where they form part of the carriageway which is part of a designated salting route. In situations where the forecast conditions do not require all of the prescribed network to be salted, only the Principal Roads, roads identified as colder than average and known wet areas will be treated. This will be just over a quarter of the adopted highway across Cardiff. It is important that all road users take extra care at times when winter weather conditions are being experienced.

A limited network of footways will be salted when ice or snow is forecast.   A priority list of footways has been developed in accordance with guidance from the Institute of Highways & Transportation. The highest priority, which is based on footfall, are the main pedestrianised areas within the city centre.  These will be pre-treated when local surface temperatures are forecast to fall below zero. Further details on footway salting can be found on the Council’s website: www.cardiff.gov.uk/winterweather

Following a snow event, the Council’s objective will be to restore its Principal Roads and remainder of the treated network, and also the priority footway areas in the city centre to a serviceable condition as soon as practically possible.

The Council’s priority will be the Principal Roads and core bus routes throughout the city. Once the Principal Roads and core bus routes are returned to a serviceable state, the remainder of the pre-treated network will be tackled.

More than 500 Salt containers are provided across Cardiff where a need has been identified on routes that are not located along the pre-salting network. These salt containers are provided for use by members of the public and also the emergency services on the adopted highway.

The locations can be found on the Council’s website www.cardiff.gov.uk/winterweather. Each container is checked and refilled prior to the start of the winter season and any that are found to be damaged are replaced as necessary.

As well as keeping the website up to date with the latest service information during severe weather, the Council has also provided snow information and tips to help keep members of the public and their family safe during periods of bad weather. For more information including the Welsh Governments Snow Code, please visit at www.cardiff.gov.uk/winterweather,

TAXI DRIVER PROSECUTED FOR REFUSING A FARE

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 22, 2013

Cardiff Council has successfully prosecuted a taxi driver who refused to take a fare to the Tremorfa area of Cardiff.

During a hearing at Cardiff Magistrates Court yesterday (January 15, 2013), Mohammed Nabi was found guilty of refusing to take a fare to Tremorfa on April 7, 2012. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay court costs of £525.

Under the Town and Police Clauses Act 1847, it is an offence for a Hackney Carriage driver (black and white taxi) to refuse a fare that starts and ends within the city boundary without reasonable excuse.

Mr Nabi’s defence was that he refused the fare because there had been a number of violent incidents against taxis in the Tremorfa area.

After hearing all the evidence, the Magistrates decided that it was only reasonable to refuse a fare if the circumstances of that particular fare were such that the driver could be in danger. It was not considered reasonable to refuse a fare on the off-chance that there could be a problem.

As such, the Magistrates deemed that it would be unlawful to operate a blanket ban on a whole area.

Councillor Derrick Morgan, Chair of Cardiff Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “The council is supportive of any measures that protect the health and safety of drivers and passengers, including the installation of CCTV systems and radios in taxis and private hire vehicles. Indeed, such systems have already been approved for use by the Council’s Public Protection Committee.

“Other measures the Council has implemented to help enhance safety and protect drivers  include the City Centre Ambassador scheme and taxi marshalling system, which operate in the city centre over busy weekend periods and at major events.

“However, the law is the law and the Council has a legal duty to ensure that drivers of licensed vehicles do not breach the regulations. We will therefore initiate legal proceedings against any hackney carriage driver that refuses a fare without reasonable grounds.”

Cllr Morgan added: “Drivers must weigh up their own perception of health and safety risks associated with each job. It is reasonable for drivers to refuse a fare in circumstances such as where the passenger is drunk or acting aggressively. However, it is not lawful for drivers to place a blanket ban on a particular area of the city.”