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.”

Disused railway bridge to link communities and Taff trail

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 9, 2012

Cardiff Council is bringing an old disused railway bridge back to life with a scheme that will link Llandaff North to Radyr and significantly increase accessibility to the Taff Trail.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Highways, Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Ralph Cook said, “This is an excellent scheme that will link the footways in Hailey Park with those running west of the river to link with the Taff Trail.  Access to and from Radyr and Llandaff North will also be greatly enhanced for residents in this area.”

The work is scheduled to commence on 15th October and will take around 16 weeks depending on the weather and will be financed largely by Section 106 funds generated from the development at Radyr sidings.

Cllr Cook added, “The work will consist of the refurbishment of the bridge deck; the removal of the existing cantilevered walkways, parapets and stone ballast; steelwork repair; surface preparation; repainting and a new bridge deck surface and drainage system.  This is a substantial project that will breathe new life into an old bridge and make an already popular part of Cardiff even more attractive for residents and the many visitors who use the Taff Trail.”

Education news: huge boost to school funding

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 4, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Julia Magill has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement to invest millions in the 21st Century Schools programme in 2013-14 which will contribute £1.75m towards developing secondary education in the East of the city.

The funding of £1.75m has been allocated to Cardiff as part of the project to develop of a secondary school in the East of the city and comes on the back of the Council’s recent decision to consult on establishing the first Education Improvement Partnership (EIP) in Wales in the area to drive up standards.

Cllr Magill said, “I am absolutely thrilled that this extra investment will be directed towards such an important project, and will support us in providing a high quality learning environment for future generations of children in the east of Cardiff. The 21st Century Schools Programme is a chance for us to take another stride forward towards improving education standards for children and young people, while offering them the best possible opportunities.”

The Council’s own consultation is already underway on the establishment of the EIP in the east, which will cover the schools’ catchment areas there and will be made up of representatives from the school, local authority, and the community as well as key partners.

The focus is on improving quality in leadership, teaching and learning with clear emphasis on addressing the causes of under performance, so that pupils have the best possible chances to achieve their potential.

Cllr Magill said: “Work has to begin now to raise school standards and performance, including improvements in attendance and ethos, for young people in the area.  Previous plans to address the issues in the east have all fallen by the wayside but the time to act is now, which is why this additional funding is so important to help us to move forward with plans to establish an EIP and build a brand new, modern high school, with provision for academic and vocational courses for students over 16.

“This is great news; this type of investment is going to make a real difference to the lives of many pupils.”

Cardiff Council launch doorstep crime hotline

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 1, 2012

A new rapid response hotline has been launched in Cardiff as part of the Council’s pledge to clamp down on doorstep crime and rogue trader activity.

The helpline has been specifically designed to provide support and reassurance to victims and potential victims of door step crimes and to make it easier for residents to report issues and concerns to Cardiff Council.

It follows last month’s announcement that the council is getting tough on this type of criminality through a range of enforcement and awareness raising activities.

Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Ashley Govier, said: “A key reason why we started our campaign was to help raise awareness about door step crimes and to inform residents about how we can help because we know that for various reasons these crimes continue to go unreported.

“Now that we have launched a dedicated rapid response helpline we hope that this will encourage people to come forward and report issues to us, however insignificant they may seem.

“Put simply, the more information we have to go on, the better we can target our resources to put a stop to this type of criminality once and for all and support those who have been affected by it.

Keen to point out that the campaign is already proving effective, Councillor Lynda Thorne, who is responsible for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, added: “Within 48 hours of us launching our campaign, one Cardiff resident got in touch after seeing a feature about it in the local paper. Thanks to their information we have now been able to launch an investigation and provide support and advice to the victim.

“For me, this underlines the importance of why this helpline is so important because it sometimes takes courage and strength and to stand up to criminals like these so the least we can do it make it as easy as possible for residents to report matters to us.”

Cardiff Council’s Rapid Response Door Step Crime Helpline can be contacted on 0845 601 2 600. Calls are charged at local rate.

Please call this number if:

• If you feel pressurised, worried or concerned;
• You feel you have been or may have been a victim of door step crime – or feel that somebody else might have been:
• Or if you notice suspicious activity in your area.

Fairwater Leisure Centre opens its doors after refurbishment project

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 21, 2012

Following the refurbishment of Fairwater Leisure Centre, customers are invited to attend a free open weekend to view the new modern facility.

On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23, September between 11.30am and 4pm customers can come along and try out the new leisure facilities as well as learn what activities and classes are now on offer at the centre.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “Fairwater Leisure Centre is almost 30 years old and is at the heart of the local community.

“This refurbishment has improved  the facility extensively not only demonstrating the Council’s commitment to providing facilities which match the standard of the private sector, but also making leisure and sporting activities more accessible to everyone.

“The open day is a great opportunity for families in the area and local community to come along and enjoy what is on offer at this excellent, new facility.”

The renovated leisure centre now boasts a state-of-the-art air conditioned fitness room with approximately 30 new exercise stations including a variety of cardio vascular machines, power plates and load and loose weight equipment.

There is also a new licensed coffee shop, a dance studio and a multi purpose activity room.

There will be free fitness sessions for the adults including step, circuits, boxercise, zumba, pilates, yoga, spin, line dancing and kettlebells.

Mums-to-be can enjoy free Bump into Action anti natal sessions and there will be fun activities provided for children on Sunday, 23 September.

Visitors over 18 attending the open weekend can enter a competition to win six months free membership with full access to the new leisure facilities.

The Fairwater Leisure Centre refurbishment is one of a number of improvements to leisure centres to be carried out across the city over the next year.

This includes the refurbishment of Eastern Leisure Centre and additional improvements to be carried out on Pentwyn and Llanishen Leisure Centres.

Times of classes can be found on the facility programme at the leisure centre or at www.cardiff.gov.uk/leisure or call 029 2055 2210.