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.

Cardiff takeaway operator gets a custodial sentence for food hygiene offences

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 14, 2013

A local food business operator who was successfully prosecuted by Cardiff Council last month for a range of food hygiene offences linked to an outbreak of E.coli O157 in August 2011 has today been sentenced to an eight months custodial sentence with immediate effect by Newport Crown Court.

The sentencing follows a previous hearing held at Cardiff Magistrates Court on December 21, 2012, where Mr Diar Wali Ali, the registered food business operator at the Adonis Kebab House, City Road, Cardiff – pleaded guilty to all charges Cardiff Council brought against him.

In total there were 23 charges brought against Mr Ali for various food hygiene offences that were committed at the Adonis Kebab House. An E-coli outbreak in early August 2011 was traced to the Adonis Kebab House and the premises were closed by the Council on August 12 2011, on the grounds of health concerns following an unsatisfactory inspection by Environmental Health Officers.

Councillor Derek Morgan, Chair of Cardiff Council’s Public Protection Committee, said: “Local people and visitors to Cardiff have a right to expect that food served in Cardiff’s food businesses is safe to eat and has been prepared in hygienic conditions.

“However, where poor hygiene practices and substandard conditions are found, we take immediate action to safeguard public health.

“I hope this case helps to show how seriously we take this commitment and demonstrate that, where appropriate, we will use the full force of the law to ensure food safety regulations are met.”

Mr Ali will serve four months in custody and four months in the community.

This case relates to an outbreak of E.coli O157 that occurred in South East Wales in August 2011.

An Outbreak Control Team was set up in light of the incidents, which was made up of representatives from Public Health Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Food Standards Agency and Environmental Officers from Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taff Councils.

In total, the Outbreak Control Team investigated nine microbiologically confirmed cases of E.coli O157. One of the cases involved the young victim being hospitalised and having to undergo dialysis as a result of the poisoning.

E.coli O157 is a serious bacterial infection that causes abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The symptoms of E.coli O157 range from mild diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever to bloody diarrhoea. Most people recover without complications, but the most severe cases can develop kidney failure.

Cardiff’s horticultural apprentices showcase gardening skills learnt in France

Posted by Now Cardiff on Dec 18, 2012

Three young horticultural apprentices, who travelled to Cardiff’s twin city of Nantes in France to gain new skills and experiences, have presented their findings to project partners.

Anthony Davies, Joshua Thatcher and Magdalena Szczerbinska spent three weeks with the Nantes Parks Department Beaujoire as part of the Cardiff Council Parks and Gardens Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme, funded by the European Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “We are extremely proud of the Council’s horticultural apprenticeship scheme which continues to provide young people with opportunity to learn valuable skills in an outdoor environment, utilising the city’s excellent parks and green spaces.

“This event will showcase what they have learnt and how the scheme has benefitted their studies as well as demonstrating how positive and credible the scheme is, having been awarded European funding.”

The event which took place on Wednesday 12, December at the Bute Park Education Centre also gave family members of the apprentices and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the major funder of heritage skills in Wales, the opportunity to discover what the group learnt during the work experience placement, including looking at the various differences and similarities between the two cities Councils and parks departments, vehicles and mechanisation, organisation and horticultural methods. They will also demonstrate some ideas that Cardiff could possibly implement here.

The apprentices undertook several French language tutorials in preparation for the placement improving language skills in addition to horticulture.

They worked with gardeners in the Jardin des Plantes, the Grand Blottereau park and the Beaujoire flower gardens.

Cardiff Council was successful in securing over 12,500 Euros from the Leonardo da Vinci Programme to develop the exchange programme for the Parks Services horticultural apprentices.

The Nantes exchange scheme has been a highly valuable part of the horticultural apprenticeship training programme which has the benefits of improving their horticultural skills and assisting in contributing to the apprentice’s curriculum for their studies in horticulture.

Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales which is supporting a range of heritage skills work based placements, said: “This scheme has provided invaluable experiences and opportunities for the apprentices. It’s great to see Anthony, Joshua and Magdalena so passionate about developing the skills they need to take Wales’ heritage forward.

“In a tough job market it’s more important than ever that we invest in training placements to provide job-seekers or career changers with the practical skills and confidence they need to get jobs within the heritage sector. Such is the demand for these opportunities we have invested further in our Skills for the Future programme which is now open to new applicants until 31 January 2013.”

The Leonardo da Vinci Programme is part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme which supports education and training across Europe. It also provides opportunities for UK vocational education and training.

Cardiff Council’s horticultural apprenticeship scheme aims to develop skills through an in-house programme of practical training, combined with day release study. The scheme addresses the current skills gap in the industry and contributes to promoting career development and retaining a highly skilled workforce in the Parks Service.

As part of the programme, the apprentices benefit from a diverse range of activities and operations associated with horticulture including plant production and propagation, plant identification, conservation and tree management and fine turf.