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.”

Literacy levels raised with the help of local businesses

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 19, 2012

Literacy levels have shot up in a number of schools across the city as a result of a successful Council reading scheme.

The Reading Power business volunteer’s initiative is an innovative scheme where volunteers from local businesses visit schools to read with students.

It is part of the Council’s literacy strategy which was launched in 2010 to help improve standards in reading and writing across schools in the city.

The campaign has seen impressive results, with standards of literacy rising at all the schools where the volunteers are involved.

One of the schools involved in the scheme is Glyn Derw High School, which has been supported by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and has seen dramatic improvements. In some cases pupils have increased their reading age by more than three and a half years in just one year.

For example an 11 year old who was previously assessed to have a reading age of an eight year old has, in just one year, caught up to the reading age they should have as a result of the scheme.

Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Julia Magill said, “I am delighted and encouraged by these results. Literacy plays a fundamental role in people’s lives and as a Council we recognise the importance of raising standards so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

“Poor literacy has a dramatic effect on both an individual’s life and wider society. Our schools are working hard to tackle the issue of poor literacy, and have embraced this campaign. We want to help parents and carers understand the importance of good reading and writing skills to help children succeed in the future, and the business volunteers are providing vital support with that message.”

More than 160 volunteers from local businesses and organisations have given time and support to 14 schools in the city, spending an hour a week in a school reading with pupils.

The feedback from volunteers based in secondary schools is that they have noticed clear progress in the students they read with, especially in terms of reading fluency and comprehension, concentration, confidence and enthusiasm.

Another example at one our excellent primary schools St Mary the Virgin Primary School, supported by Admiral, achieved 100 per cent functional literacy this year for their Year 6s.

Ten local Cardiff businesses, who have expressed an interest in signing up to the scheme, are set to attend a function tonight with the Council Leader Heather Joyce, who is strongly supporting the initiative and Cllr McGill.

It is hoped that the recruitment of more businesses will enable the initiative to expand into more schools in the city.

Cardiff Council Chief Executive Jon House, who helped to establish support for the scheme through his meetings with businesses, added: “The support and commitment from Head-teachers, local businesses and organisations working closely in partnership has had an extremely positive impact on students taking part. The excellent work the teachers and volunteers do is key to the good progress we are making and hope to continue.”

Cardiff company fined after flouting planning rules

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 4, 2012

A company that built and rented out six flats in Cathays has been sentenced today at Cardiff Crown Court after failing to comply with certain conditions.

Cadogan House Ltd had been given planning consent to construct six flats in Minny Street, subject to conditions which sought to protect the amenities of the building’s tenants and neighbouring residents.

The company failed to comply with some of the conditions but went on to rent out the flats anyway, in breach of the original consent.

Despite previously being prosecuted for the same offence, the company still failed to comply with the planning conditions, so a second prosecution was brought.

Cadogan House Ltd was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £3,370 for non-compliance with a Breach of Condition Notice.

An application for a Confiscation Order was also made to the court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on the basis that the company had benefited from letting the six flats.

The Court made a Confiscation Order in the sum of £18,820, which was the value of the rent the company had received whilst the flats were being occupied in breach of the original planning consent.

Councillor Ralph Cook, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Highways, Traffic and Transportation, said: “It is hoped that the case will serve as a deterrent to other developers who avoid complying with the requirements of planning control.

“There are a small number of habitual offenders within Cardiff who appear intent to breach planning requirements imposed to protect the public.

“Breaches continue despite prosecutions proceeding against them as these developers are apparently comfortable in the knowledge that the levels of fine the Court may impose are a fraction of the income they will receive.

“As a result the Council will be looking to apply for Orders again in the future to ensure that illegally gained assets are confiscated.”

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.”