Greenwash New Year

Happy new year!

Did you see the echo tonight talking about the battle for cardiff council and the parties manifestos.... how green are they ...plenty of greenwash there. Where are the Green party?

Battle to stop incinerator is stepped up but not in Cardiff - A PUBLIC meeting has been organised by residents fighting plans to build a massive £140 million waste incinerator. Viridor Waste Management is set to submit ...

www.climatechangewales.org.uk Wow!! No mention of open cast mining at Ffos y Fran, East Merthyr on the Go green online A CLIMATE change website for Welsh people launched by Environment Minister Jane Davidson. Read
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/31/go-green-online-91466-20298932/

Ffos-y-Fran Wales Dirty Deal

MERTHYR’S MONSTER MINE OCCUPIED
In the early hours of 5th December over 30 activists from around Wales joined local residents to occupy the site of the open cast mine at Ffos-y-Frân, near Merthyr Climbing on & chaining themselves to bulldozers & heavy machinery they’ve stopped excavation work on what is an extremely environmentally damaging project. As one of those involved said: “Coal is the filthiestfuel known to man & projects like this mine could destroy all our chances of tacklingglobal warming. The battle over this hilltop in Wales is a fight for the stability of the global climate & it epitomises this government’s hypocrisy on climate change.” Campaigners have stated they intend to do everything they can to stop this project.
Read Monbiot and how the Welsh government and Rhodri Morgan sold out

World's greenest cities

Way to go Cardiff!!!

Do You Live in One of the World's 15 Greenest Cities? by Grist Magazine

Here's the top 15 cities and few runners up who have made the most impressive strides toward eco-friendliness and sustainability.

City Hall protest - Elgan we came to support you!

A few turned out (see above) but I fear they were drowned out by the schools protests and insole court protest. In the end Elgan resigned rather than sit through an hours character assassination so the motion was withdrawn. Labour did raise the issue of reopening Wood St/St Mary's to private vehicles immediately following the vote a few months ago however. Senior Officers advise against it on safety grounds so that looks set to be the 'battle' for the next few months."

Improve cycling for commuters in Cardiff, keep Bute Park open later
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/butepark/

Transport councillor quits

'I tried my best’ says transport chaos councillor

THE senior councillor who presided over a series of transport blunders today sensationally quit Cardiff council’s executive -– just 24 hours before he faced a motion of no confidence. Read

on: Sustrans Connect2 and Pont y Werin have won the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest!

Name:	Connect2 Pont y Werin
Type:	Common Interest - Travel
Description:	Sustrans Connect2 and Pont y Werin have won the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest! The proposed cycle and footbridge over the River Ely will improve sustainable access for commuters, residents and tourists travelling between Cardiff and Penarth. The link will also provide a sustainable transport route to and from the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay which will become an increasingly popular destination as the Ice Rink, Swimming pool and other leisure facilities are due to open over the next few years. The 140 metre bridge will also link up to cycle routes throughout the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff. The Connect2 UK-wide project will now improve local travel for everyday journeys in 79 communities across the UK. Pont y Werin is now set to receive £1.15m towards it becoming a reality. Thank you for supporting and voting Connect2 and Pont y Werin!

Rhodri Morgan Greenwash

Monbiot.com

Rigged Posted: 11 Dec 2007 01:36 AM CST The climate talks are a stitch-up, as no one is talking about supply

Welsh Green Wash - Rhodri Morgan Shame as Welsh assembly give go ahead for the biggest blot on the landscape in modern times. How could they?

"The pit at Ffos-y-fran received planning permission after two ministers in the Westminster government jumped up and down on Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister in Wales. Stephen Timms at the department of trade and industry listed the benefits of the scheme and demanded that the application “hodriis resolved with the minimum of further delay” His successor, Mike O’Brien, warned of dire consequences if the pit was not granted permission. The coal extracted from Ffos-y-fran alone will produce 29.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide: equivalent, according to the latest figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to the sustainable emissions of 55m people for one year.

Last year British planning authorities considered twelve new applications for opencast coal mines. They approved all but two of them. Two weeks ago Hazel Blears, the secretary of state in charge of planning, overruled Northumberland County Council to grant permission for an opencast mine at Shotton, on the grounds that the scheme (which will produce 9.3m tonnes of CO2(6)) is “environmentally acceptable”

vote to support St Mary street Pedestranisation!!!

Well have you ever heard of a scheme to pedestranise not being successful? However the echo has a question- has st mary st pedestranisation been a sucess? YES

Give us a chance ....hardly finished yet!

ring to say YES 08716 930013
facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17842248648

Traffic trial’s cost is £580k – so far

Dec 10 2007 by Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

TAX-PAYERS have forked out almost £600,000 on the controversial trial traffic shake-up in Cardiff’s St Mary Street, it has been revealed.

Figures released by Cardiff council show that an initial £400,000 was initially spent on changes which led to the banning of private vehicles from the street in August.

Since October another £180,000 has been forked out to alter the two-way traffic system, which has included removing a concrete barrier in part of the street and giving more room to pedestrians.

If the part-pedestrian scheme is made permanent, the final £3.25m bill to transform the environment of the street will come from Welsh Assembly Government and council funds.

This will include putting trees, shrubs and seating in the street and extending pavements permanently, opening the way for street cafes.

The details of the bill were released just three days before Councillor Elgan Morgan, the Liberal Democrats’ executive member for transport, faces a no confidence motion from Labour over the handling of his portfolio, including the St Mary Street experiment.

Cardiff’s council executive is to be given a detailed report early in January on the St Mary Street scheme. This will include recommendations on whether to open the lower end of the street to restore the link between the city centre and Cardiff Bay.

John Adams, of Ashtons fishmonger’s in Cardiff Market, attacked the cost, declaring: “We all assumed that the experiment was going to be a simple low-cost one. The figure of £580,000 is nothing more than gross extravagance of ratepayers’ money.”

John Munton, deputy chairman of Cardiff East Neighbourhood Watch, said he was concerned about the amount of traffic congestion on the reduced lanes.

“My concern is that in the event of an emergency it could be difficult for an ambulance to get through St Mary Street.”

But support for the scheme came from Julie Eynon, of Canton, who said: “I love the changes in St Mary Street. There has been a big improvement in the street for pedestrians and it is easier to cross the road.”

Cardiff council said much of the money spent so far would not be abortive whether the scheme was made permanent or not. Much of the work, such as road signs, would be recycled.

A council spokeswoman added: “The St Mary Street and High Street improvement works are experimental and have required the council to seek the views of the public and key stakeholders on the various options for moving forward. Often these differ and as a result different areas of the scheme are altered as an experiment, to see if such changes could become features if the permanent scheme goes ahead.”

phillip.nifield@mediawales.co.uk

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http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/10/traffic-trial-s-cost-is-580k-so-far-91466-20229436/

more greenwash- UK CO2 emissions UP not down

Not in the least surprising as those of us campaigning for environmentally friendly policy are aware..So what has Julie morgan MP to say to this and is she still boasting about Browns actions on CO2?

Britain is responsible for hundreds of millions more tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions than official figures admit, according to a new report that undermines UK claims to lead the world on action against global warming. The analysis says pollution from aviation, shipping, overseas trade and tourism, which are not measured in the official figures, means that UK carbon consumption has risen significantly over the past decade, and that the government's claims to have tackled global warming are an "illusion".

Guardian 10th Dec 2007

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/10/carbonemissions.climatechange

Times 10th Dec 2007

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3025988.ece

Climate news

Climate
An innovative new campaign is to be launched in Scotland this week to help communities take action to cut the pollution that causes global warming. Scottish Education for Action and Development (SEAD), a campaign group based in Edinburgh, will be unveiling ‘Switch on to Climate Change’, a grassroots programme encouraging people to combat global warming in their areas. Instead of urging a series of individual actions like fitting low-energy light bulbs, the campaign will back collective action, and warn against “false solutions” like carbon trading and offsetting.Sunday Herald 9th Dec 2007http://www.robedwards.com/2007/12/community-actio.html

Britain is running out of renewable energy as a surge in demand from businesses has outstripped electricity by wind farms, hydropower and waste gas burning. Interest in cutting carbon has far exceeded new supplies of zero-carbon power - creating a potential headache for companies which have pledged to become 'carbon neutral'. Observer 9th Dec 2007 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/09/renewableenergy.windpower

Britain is to embark on a wind power revolution that will produce enough electricity to power every home in the country, ministers will reveal tomorrow. The Independent on Sunday has learnt that, in an astonishing U-turn, the Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, will announce that he is opening up the seas around Britain to wind farms in the biggest ever renewable energy initiative. Only weeks ago he was resisting a major expansion of renewable sources, on the grounds that it would interfere with plans to build new nuclear power stations.

Independent on Sunday 9th Dec 2007 http://environment.independent.co.uk/green_living/article3236132.ece

Nothing in this sorry story has been so shameful as Britain's failure to exploit renewable energy. Its winds, waves and tides make up the richest resource of non-polluting power in Europe, yet we are second to bottom of the continental league table in expoliting it. For decades a recalcitrant, blindly pro-nuclear treacle layer in the old Department of Tade and Industy frustrated all attempts to expand it properly. Just weeks ago they were at it again - reincarnated in John Hutton's department- lobbying to scrap European targets for renewables on the grounds that they would impede the advance of the atom. Gordon Brown did well to face them down and insist that Britain retained and met the targets.He has done even better in following through, first with plans to exploit all forms of tidal energy - announced in last month's green speech - and now with setting in motion this expansion of offshore wind. This is more like the Gordon Brown w! e thought we were getting this summer, before this autumn's wobbles and weaknesses.

Independent on Sunday 9th Dec 2007
http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article3236068.ece

Cardiff Council shame as they move dormice to build a car park!

Can anyone explain to me how Cardiff Council can move these dormice?
Park-Ride Plan to Be Not So Dormouse Friendly - Science - RedOrbit

A 1,000-space park-and-ride site proposed alongside Cardiff's Eastern Avenue is set to be given the backing of planners - although protected dormice will not be disturbed. (really ...not until they wake up!!!) Work on the Llanrumney side of the A48 near the Pentwyn Interchange is not due to start until the second half of next year because the dormice on the land are hibernating.
A council spokeswoman said there were plans to make alternative space available for the rodents, a European-protected species, including the planting of so-called "dormice-friendly" vegetation
A council spokeswoman said there were plans to make alternative space available for the rodents, a European-protected species, including the planting of so-called "dormice-friendly" vegetation...

Previously this story Park-and-ride plans held up by dormice! looked good for the dormice...
Sep 11 2007 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo
A 1,500-SPACE park-and-ride scheme has been delayed after environmental experts discovered rare dormice. The Echo revealed plans for the £4.1m project off the A48 Eastern Avenue at the Pentwyn Interchange on the outskirts of Cardiff in January, but the proposals have suffered a setback thanks to the little rodents.
Cardiff council hoped the giant car park, on the Llanrumney side of Eastern Avenue, would be ready by April and slash the volume of cars pouring into the city centre.

http://www.welshwildlife.org/SouthWalesDormouseSurvey_en.link
South Wales Dormouse Survey

Bridgend Council faces a court hearing over clearance work on a protected site for dormice, police confirm.Url/Source: : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7069714.stm
A friend tells me "I have been told seem to remember reading a story recently about a road development in N.Ireland that was going to disturb some protected bats. What they did was build a de-luxe new specially heated synthetic bat-home for the bats at a significant cost (tens of thousands of pounds)The problem was, no-one consulted the bats who decided to find new nesting sites in completely different places in derelict buildings so the bat home was a complete waste of money in every sense except that it meant the development could go ahead .....This idea of buliding what is perceived as a dormice friendly area may parralel the above i.e. the development is allowed to go ahead but the dormice just scatter to different areas entirely where they may or may not survive. Likely Outcome : money wasted and species diminished

Cardiff Greens - If this saves just one childs life it will be worth it!

‘If this saves just one child’s life then it will be worth it...’

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2007/11/30/if-this-saves-just-one-child-s-life-then-it-will-be-worth-it-91466-20183897/

Nov 30 2007 by Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

GREEN campaigners have launched a drive for 20mph speed limits to be introduced across Cardiff.

Cardiff Green Party’s “20’s Plenty” campaign is aimed at persuading the city’s council to follow the lead of authorities such as Portsmouth, where 85 per cent of its residential roads will have the reduced speed limit by the end of this year.

Parents living in the Canton area have given their support to efforts to slow down traffic on residential streets.

Jake Griffiths, secretary of Cardiff Green Party, said: “Most of us want to live in a quiet, pleasant street, a safe street in which children can play out alone.

“Nobody wants to live in a hostile street which you cannot walk across thanks to fast-moving traffic or one that is an occasional racetrack.

“When traffic is slowed, existing 20mph zones show that people begin to enjoy their environments and use local amenities more.

“If this campaign results in the saving of child’s life or from having a serious accident in Cardiff it will have been worth it.

“It could also significantly improve the prospect of Cardiff being able to achieve its target of increasing people cycling in the city and reducing the levels of childhood obesity.”

Mum Sarah Manners, who has boys aged three and eight and lives in Canton, said: “I think it is long overdue and would support it.

“Child safety is really important. Certainly vehicles speeding through residential streets does not encourage parents to let their children walk to school, although I do.

“We need tightening up on speed limits and stiffer penalties for those who break them.”

Fellow Canton mum Eirian Rees, who also has two children, added: “I live in a block end street, but we still get motorists reversing down at high speed in frustration when they find they cannot get through. Action is needed to slow down traffic.”

phillip.nifield@mediawales.co.uk

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/

Green wash from Julie Morgan

I couldn't see any support from Julie Morgan MP there at all even if you presume she wrote it herself. Patronising twaddle!

Why can't she say I support all those who wrote to me concerned about our planet and what exactly she supports and what ACTION she is going to take. You could fall into the trap of wishful thinking and falling for politicians spin - she has responded in this way to the huge number of cards/letters from constituents and I dare say this is much the same as the letter she send them individually and so she appears to commiserate without commmitting to anything and leaving out those vital ACTION points?!

She does slag off lib dems in Cardiff for the lowest rates of recycling when the labour party were in power for many years before and are working with the lib dems ...it is only under the lib dems that we get recycling bins for garden rubbish so they have done something. The new labour party in Cardiff was opposing reorganising High Street - St Mary Street and higher parking charges. It costs £3.00 for a day BUS ticket in Cardiff - more from outside Cardiff and they reduce the day parking charge from £5.00 down to £3.00 making it cheaper to drive in and park! What sort of policy is that?

Note that the NEW LABOUR group on Cardiff council demanded immediate changes to the “ill-thought-out” St Mary Street traffic ban. Cardiff council’s New Labour leader, John Sheppard, said the ban was “badly-timed, ill-thought-out and has been the subject o

http://inconsiderateparking.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-labour-turn-its-back-on-cleaner-and.html

Ask what she drives?Does her office recycle anything as I know for a fact they didn't - She could recycle the large number of newspapers and magazines that she gets - shred paper - use recycled paper in the office, not use plastic bags etc so why not visit her office with an environmental audit and check out her green credentials? Perhaps she will invite you to her home to view her green life style!?

Julie praises gordon browns leadership on environmental policy? Is this the same person who because more people want to use the railway supports charges going up and if more people want to fly we should be building and expanding Heathrow? Not to mention suporting building more roads and nuclear power stations? What sort of leadership is that?

After all as she quoted Ghandi ..SHE should be the change in her own world e.g at home and at the office.

The new labour party is responsible for appalling huge open cast mining in Merthyr yards from peoples homes, as they supported and lobbied for it.

New Labour, New Environment? -report slams Labour’s green claims 20.07.07 New Labour New Environment?

Outdated figures have been hiding the full extent of climate change. But I am still advocating action, and not despair George Monbiot Tuesday December 4, 2007 The Guardian

The government proposes to cut the UK's carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. This target is based on a report published in 2000. That report was based on an assessment published in 1995, which drew on scientific papers published a few years earlier. The UK's policy, in other words, is based on papers some 15 years old.www.monbiot.com

British Energy draws up new reactor plans Guardian Unlimited, Wednesday November 28 2007 Terry Macalister

British Energy is looking at building four nuclear power plants at its sites in the south of England. But it admitted flood defences would be needed to protect them from rising sea levels. Sizewell in Suffolk, Dungeness in Kent, Hinkley Point in Somerset and Bradwell in Essex are the preferred sites for the new reactors. British Energy said it had already reached agreement (...)

(...) own carbon reduction targets". The report comes barely a week after Gordon Brown said Britain was committed to the European Union target of (...)

Goron brown as Chancellor failed to make any significant contribution to reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions.

• In the eight years before Labour came to power green taxes (as a percentage of overall taxes) rose from 7.8% to 9.4 %. But by 2005 (the latest year which information is available) Gordon Brown had let this percentage fall to 7.7 %.
• The Chancellor abandoned the Fuel Price Escalator (an above inflation increase in fuel tax) and has frequently frozen duty on fuel. In December last year, the Government admitted that the cost of motoring has fallen in real terms by over 8% since it came to power. Meanwhile the cost of public transport has risen: bus fares by 14 % and rail fares by 5 %.
• Meanwhile carbon dioxide emissions have risen under Labour, despite repeated manifesto promises of substantial cuts. The Government's target of a 20 per cent cut in carbon dioxide (based on 1990 levels) by 2010, will not be met.

FOE ..He must demonstrate that he has the political courage to lead the UK towards a low carbon economy. And he can start by making it cheaper and easier for people to cut their emissions. This must include cutting road tax for more of the most fuel efficient cars and substantially increasing it for gas-guzzlers, and a package of measures that provides strong financial incentives for householders to save energy and cut emissions. We need action not words."

Stop Heathrow Expansion - Take Action

Support our Stop Heathrow Expansion campaign. Last week the government launched its consultation into plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow. Already the busiest airport in Europe, the plan would mean a 70 per cent increase in flight numbers and a corresponding rise in climate change pollution. It's crazy to be paving the way for such big increases in greenhouse gases when we should be doing all we can to reduce emissions.

What's particularly shortsighted about this proposal is that a third runway at Heathrow really isn't
needed. Well over a fifth of flights from Heathrow are to short-haul destinations such as Edinburgh,
Paris, Manchester and Newcastle - already well served by trains which cause ten times less damage to
the climate than flying. The real reason BAA wants a third runway is to increase its profits.
Given Gordon Brown's widely publicised speech last week about his determination to take climate change
seriously, it's hard to see how he can possibly justify a third Heathrow runway. Yet the indications
are that the government has been planning for some time to do exactly that.

Documents recently obtained by Greenpeace under the Freedom of Information Act
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/ybpvdpm_fffvjqrf.html) show that airports operator BAA and the Department
for Transport have been working closely together to ensure that the third runway gets built - so
closely that they've even set up a joint body - the Heathrow Delivery Group - to steer the plan
through the consultation process. All the calculations relating to noise and pollution in the
consultation document have been supplied by BAA - data no opposition groups have been allowed to
challenge.

One further piece of evidence about where the government's sympathies really lie - the DfT and BAA
have drawn up a 'risk list' of threats to the building of the third runway. The list includes the 2M
campaign, the group comprising local London councils representing 2 million people opposed to the
plans.

Flying is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, responsible for 13 per
cent of our climate inpact. Unless we bring it under control we'll stand no chance of meeting the
ambitious CO2 reduction targets that the PM only last week pledged to reach, or even exceed. And
Heathrow is only one of more than 20 airports around the country in the process of submitting
expansion plans. The Tyndall climate research centre has calculated that if aviation continues to
expand as projected, Britain will have to totally decarbonise the rest of its economy by 2050 to
effectively tackle climate change. And we all know that just isn't going to happen.

What you can do

Let Gordon Brown know that he's a public servant and that we expect him to act in our interests, not
help big business maximise its profits. There are two ways you can do this - send him a video message
or write him a letter. In fact, to ram the point home why not do both? It shouldn't take you more than
a few minutes.
* Join the thousands who want to stop Heathrow expansion by adding your comments to our video
wall. Make your voice heard!
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/aojuvjj_fffvjqrf.html)

* Write to Gordon Brown and tell him that minimising the effects of climate change is more
important than increasing British Airways' profits!
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/xwacbac_fffvjqrf.html)

* Watch last week's Newsnight debate about Heathrow between Greenpeace's John Sauven and energy
minister Malcolm Wickes.
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/euhbrhm_fffvjqrf.html)

You can find out more about the Heathrow campaign at http://www.email.greenpeace.org/nopdrph_fffvjqrf.html
As always, thanks for your support! Joss Cope 27 November 2007

Vote for Pont y Werin NOW!!!

Please vote for Connect2 and Pont y Werin to win the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.

You can vote online now at http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/home
Vote Connect2 today!

£50 million for walking and cycling is up for grabs from the Big Lottery Fund but only if you vote for Sustrans' Connect2 at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk.

The foot and cycle bridge earmarked for Cardiff and Penarth is one of 79 projects across the UK that make up the Connect2 lottery bid. If Connect2 wins, Pont y Werin will receive £1.15 towards it being built.

The 140 metre bridge would enable pedestrians and cyclists to cross between Penarth at Cogan and the International Sports Village at Cardiff Bay. It would also open to allow the passage of river traffic.

Cardiff: the Ely River Connection

Project photograph

Cardiff - This proposal to open a bridge over the Ely River will complete a 6.5 mile (10.5 Kilometres) circuit around Cardiff Bay. It will make for a glorious walk or cycle ride and become a favourite promenade for residents and visitors alike. At present there are two breaks in the circuit – the Roath Basin link and the crossing of the Ely River. Cardiff has been waiting for this bridge, which will serve as an excellent leisure and commuter route.

Everyone must vote for Connect2 to win!

You can vote online now at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk

Or text Connect2 to 80010 or register online at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk so we can remind you when to vote by telephone as part of the live vote on ITV1 in December.

For more information about Connect2 and Pont y Werin please visit www.sustransconnect2.org.uk

Want to campaign locally for your environment? Join your local Friends of the Earth group - for Cardiff go to www.foecardiff.co.uk

CHANGE THE WORLD!

Speaker - JONATHAN NEALE, Author and activist
National Secretary of UK Campaign against Climate Change
Monday 26 November at 7.30 pm
Main Building
Cardiff University
Park Place
(opp. Student Union)
Born in New York City and active in the US Civil Rights movement & anti-Vietnam War movement, Jonathan is the acclaimed author of "They are G8: We are 6 Billion","What's wrong with America?" and a higly praised history of the Vietnam War: "The American War: Vietnam 1965-1975". His latest book, "Stop Global Warming - Change the World" is due to be published in the new year.
GLOBAL DAY OF CLIMATE PROTEST
Saturday 8 December
Coaches to the march to the US Embassy in London are leaving Cardiff at 8 am from the Museum Steps (and stopping in Caerphilly and Newport). Tickets cost £16 waged / £8 concession. If you are interested in reserving a seat or for more information e-mail this adress!
This march is one of a series of global demonstrations to co-incide with the international talks on Climate Change in Bali.
www.campaigncc.org

New Road to the airport?

Now what is this about - improve access for who? The Metrix Consortium?
The road from St Athan to the airport maybe?

Improving access to Cardiff International Airport
Following the public exhibitions held in early October 2007 the Welsh Assembly Government has decided to hold two additional exhibitions.

Improving Access to Cardiff International Airport
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads3/ImprovingAccessToCardiffAirport/?lang=en

Newsletter No.1 – Autumn 2007 2007 Public Exhibition

Board 1 = Welcome Board
Board 2 = Previous Studies
Board 3 = Trunk Road Forward Programme
Board 4 = Recent Announcements
Board 5 = Context Plan
Board 6 = Aerial Photograph – M4 south to A48
Board 7 = Aerial Photograph – A48 south to coast
Board 8 = Environment
Board 9 = Transport
Board 10 = Issues Identified so Far
Board 11 = Potential Options
Board 12 = Thank you and What Happens Next

Public Exhibition Comment Form

Department for Transport - Chapter 6 - Wales

Cardiff International Airport is the largest airport in Wales; ... there will be a need to improve access to Cardiff International Airport. ...
www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/air/chapter6wales - 19k

Grid lock Cardiff

Clodien Avenue parking - Lib Dems seek answers to congestion crisis - you can say that again as this city is in crisis - gridlocked at rush hour and speeding traffic and roads you can't cross the rest of the time.

Cllr. Ed Bridges wants the council to make it harder for Allensbank House residents to park illegally on Clodien Ave. He is quite right - get on with it. Too many
people flaunt parking regulatins in Cardiff. I recall the lib dems promise to introduce more parking wardens. Give them a ticket ...

Wales ' Wet Summer: Bad Luck or Climate Change?

2007 saw the wettest summer in England and Wales since 1912, according to the MET Office, which begs the question: are we just unlucky or is this a symptom of a changing climate?

Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales is holding 3 regional events on 2 November in Newport , 9 November in Wrexham and 13 November in Carmarthen to debate this question and many other issues that are important to you.

We'd like people from all backgrounds from across your region to join us. Stimulate a lively debate by putting some challenging questions to the panel on the issues that really matter to you!

Panels will feature political figures, community and business leaders as well as local and national experts, ready to take your questions.

Please see attached invitation and booking form.

Send completed booking forms to events@cynnalcymru.org by Monday 22nd October. Please book early to avoid disappointment!

Haf Gwlyb Cymru: Anlwc neu Newid Hinsawdd?

Haf 2007 oedd y gwlypaf yng Nghymru a Lloegr ers 1912, yn ôl y Swyddfa Dywydd, sy'n arwain at y cwestiwn: ydyn ni ond yn anlwcus neu ydy hyn yn arwydd o newid hinsawdd?

Mae Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales yn cynnal 3 digwyddiad rhanbarthol 2 Tachwedd yng Nghasnewydd, 9 Tachwedd yn Wrecsam a 13 Tachwedd yng Nghaerfyrddin i drafod y cwestiwn yma a nifer o faterion eraill sydd o bwys i chi.

Hoffem i bobl o bob cefndir ar draws eich rhanbarth i ymuno a ni. Ysgogwch drafodaeth fywiog drwy ofyn cwestiynau sy'n herio'r panel ar y materion sydd wir o bwys i chi!

Ar y panel bydd ffigurau gwleidyddol, cymunedol ac arweinwyr busnes yn ogystal ag arbenigwyr lleol a chenedlaethol, yn barod i ateb eich cwestiynau.

Gwelch yn atodol wahoddiad a ffurflen gofrestru.

Anfonwch ffurflen cofrestru wedi ei chwblhau at events@cynnalcymru.org erbyn Dydd Llun 22ain Hydref. Cofrestrwch yn gynnar i osgoi cael siom!

Bikes in the city

Here is a link to the Cycle Cardiff report of the 'Bikes in the City' ride with lots of pictures
http://www.cyclecardiff.org.uk/textfiles/bikesinthecity2007.html

Echo poll are youi in favour of congestion charging?

YES.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/southwalesecho/
The poll follows the story that even the Chamber of Commerce has come out in favour of charging...

Stockholm 'world's most livable city'

No surprise there then ..wonder where Cardiff came? Pretty low I would guess ..being a car orientated city ..

Stockholm is the world's greenest, most livable city, according to a survey carried out by the Reader's Digest magazine.

Using a range of sources, environmental economist Matthew Kahn, from UCLA's Institute of the Environment, ranked 72 major international in terms of how 'green and livable' they are.

Environmental legislation, energy prices, waste production and disposal and available parkland were among the factors considered.

Stockholm was ranked number one, followed by Oslo in second place.

http://www.thelocal.se/8578/
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/8578/
"You shouldn't boast, but Stockholm is the world's most beautiful city," said mayor Kristina Axén Olin .

"I get happy every time I come back to Stockholm after being away. We probably don't realise what a unique environment we have," she told Aftonbladet.

A third Scandinavian city, Copenhagen, was ranked tenth, but the top ten was dominated by German and French cities.

Munich was third, with Frankfurt (5th), Stuttgart (6th) and Dusseldorf (8th) completing a German quadruple. Paris was rated the fourth most livable city in the world, with Lyon and Nantes in 7th and 9th places respectively.

The first American city to make an appearance was New York, in 15th spot, while London only managed 27th place.

Reader's Digest also ranked countries and, as is usually the case with these kinds of surveys, the Nordic nations grabbed the top spots. Finland was top, given high marks "for air and water quality, a low incidence of infant disease, and how well it protects citizens from water pollution and natural disasters".

Iceland came second, with Norway and Sweden in third and fourth places.

The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)



Living Green
http://www.rd.com/content/greenest-locations-on-the-globe/3/;jsessionid=84A6BE610B0479316CD56C8026A2FD3F.app2_rd1
Ranking the best (and worst) countries.
By Matthew E. Kahn, PhD, and Fran Lostys
From Reader's Digest October 2007

How Countries Rate
Top 5

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Norway

4. Sweden

5. Austria

Bottom 5

137. Chad

138. Burkina Faso

139. Sierra Leone

140. Niger

141. Ethiopia

Air Quality
Rates concentration of several pollutants in urban areas

1. Moldova

8. Finland

63. United States

126. Ethiopia

141. Guatemala

The World's Greenest, Most Livable Cities
Using different data, we analyzed 72 major international cities and ranked them in terms of being green and livable. The sources included The Millennium Cities Database for Sustainable Transport (2001) by Jeff Kenworthy and Felix Laube of Australia's Murdoch University, the World Bank's Development Economic Research Group Estimates, and our own reporting on local environmental laws, energy prices, garbage production and disposal, and parkland.

5 Best

1. Stockholm

2. Oslo

3. Munich

4. Paris

5. Frankfurt

5 Worst

68. Bangkok

69. Guangzhou

70. Mumbai

71. Shanghai

72. Beijing

How U.S. Cities Rate

15. New York

22. Washington, D.C.

23. Chicago

26. San Francisco

36. Atlanta

43. Denver

46. Houston

55. San Diego

57. Los Angeles

60. Phoenix

Water Quality
Rates pollutant levels as well as other factors that affect water purity

1. Norway

2. Finland

22. United States

127. Ethiopia

141. Morocco

Greenhouse Gases
Rates carbon emissions per capita and by GDP

1. Chad

18. Ethiopia

75. Finland

107. United States

141. Turkmenistan

Energy Efficiency
Rates conservation efforts and use of renewables such as hydropower

1. D.R. Congo

17. Ethiopia

66. Finland

106. United States

141. Trinidad & Tobago

Environmental Health
Rates childhood mortality, disease; deaths from intestinal infections

1. Austria

8. Finland

125. Ethiopia

16. United States

141. Turkmenistan

MEPs 2 major votes on climate change

Climate change is the biggest environmental threat facing our planet. Over the summer, we have seen widespread flooding in the UK and in Africa and heat waves and forest fires in Southern Europe. Transport accounts for over a quarter of Europe’s carbon dioxide emissions and they continue to rise placing the European Union’s emission reduction targets in jeopardy.

Your MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) have a golden opportunity to make a real difference on climate change. You can help to persuade them to vote to tackle transport’s effect on the climate.There are two major votes on climate change coming up in the European Parliament:
• Aviation and Emissions Trading. This is the EU’s response to the growing emissions from air travel. Research from the Tyndall Centre shows that it needs to be strengthened if it is going to have any impact.

• Cars and carbon dioxide emissions. The car industry promised to cut emissions but instead continue to produce big, gas-guzzling vehicles including 4x4s. Proposals are being made to make these cuts legally binding.

Go to http://www.transportactioneurope.org and ask your MEP to take action on climate change.Then help spread the word by sending this to your friends, family and fellow campaigners. You could also use web networks like Facebook to ask others to take action.

Thank you!
Simon Transport and Climate Campaign Friends of the Earth

Sign the petition to keep St Mary Street pedestrianised

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/631673943

Haven't you signed it yet?

Paved with gold: the real value of street design

This report presents new research that shows how good street design contributes both economic benefits and public value. It shows that investment in design quality brings quantifiable financial returns and that people value improvements to their streets. It is intended for local authorities, regional government, business, developers and investors. For the first time we can see that the best streets really are paved with gold.

Paved with gold is part of a wider CABE programme that provides research, guidance and case studies aimed at promoting high-quality street design. For more information see www.cabe.org.uk/streets

Date: 25 June 2007

Download the briefing document (919KB)

Download the full publication (3MB)

To view PDF files you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Read this publication? Tell us what you think

cardiff planners could learn a thing or two!

Look at Birmingham change to pedestrianisation and beauty

Manual for Streets

Park-and-ride plans held up by dormice!

Sep 11 2007 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

A 1,500-SPACE park-and-ride scheme has been delayed after environmental experts discovered rare dormice.

The Echo revealed plans for the £4.1m project off the A48 Eastern Avenue at the Pentwyn Interchange on the outskirts of Cardiff in January, but the proposals have suffered a setback thanks to the little rodents.

Cardiff council hoped the giant car park, on the Llanrumney side of Eastern Avenue, would be ready by April and slash the volume of cars pouring into the city centre.

But the authority must now work with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) to decide how to deal with the dormice.

Dormice they are so cute!! Such a shame to destroy their habitat. Why concrete over so much land - every thing in moderation evan moderation.

View Larger Map

Get behind city trial!

Get behind this city traffic trial Sep 11 2007 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

I AM concerned at the Echo campaigning for Cardiff's St Mary Street to be reopened for car traffic.

The people of Cardiff are quite capable of seeing that the change has made shopping in the city centre a more pleasant experience, increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists and reduced the extremely high levels of air pollution.

Once the pavement widening and other improvements are carried out this will improve things further.

I frequently walk down St Mary Street and have seen no sign that the
ban has succeeded in turning St Mary Street into a bus racing track,
as the article of September 3 alleges.

There is also little evidence that traffic levels increased in either Grangetown or Riverside when the ban came into force.

The Echo should thank the council for taking this sensible and popular step to make Cardiff a better city.

Chris Brown

Janet Street, Splott, Cardiff

Welsh man fined after getting run over - you couldn't make it up!

Man fined after getting run over - Metro

Is this really true? Unbelieveable!!

Daniel Horne of Llanharry, Glamorgan

When a police car swerved off the road and ran over Daniel Horne's foot, he thought he was owed an apology. But instead he was landed with an £80 fine – for denting the car.
Mr Horne, 28, said he was 'speechless' when the PC who had been at the wheel wrote in the fine notice: 'You ran into the nearside front wing of a marked police vehicle causing a dent.'
He said: 'I was in agony, with my foot broken in bits, and I end up being fined for my body damaging the police car.'

The businessman was on his way home from a night out with friends when he was rammed from behind, knocked over and had his foot crushed under the wheels of the patrol car.
The group had pulled over when their own car had a flat tyre, leaving the vehicle with the hazard warning lights flashing to walk to the nearest village to find help.
But a passer-by thought they were dumping the car and called the police. Mr Horne said: 'I was just walking along the pavement and heard the police car siren coming behind us.

'The next thing I knew was that the police car came on to the pavement to stop us.
'The car hit my right leg and I fell over – with my foot being crushed under the front wheel.'
Mr Horne said the police soon accepted they had done nothing wrong and Mr Horne was driven to hospital after the accident in Beddau, near Pontypridd, South Wales.

He added: 'The copper was very helpful and was there with me for about three hours while the doctors examined me.

'He gave me a lift back but then he told me, “Sorry but I've got to do this to cover myself”.'
Doctors have told Mr Horne, of Llanharry, Glamorgan, that he will need to wear a cast for nine weeks. He has been unable to work at the courier company he runs and plans to sue the police for compensation. He added: 'There is no way I'm going to pay the fixed penalty fine. I've spoken to my solicitor and I'm going to fight it all the way.'

A South Wales Police spokeswoman confirmed that a fixed penalty was issued for criminal damage, adding: 'We have received a complaint from Mr Horne and are looking into it.'

Monday, September 3, 2007

Cardiff Bus sellout by LIb Dems

Bus service could go privatePLANS have been unveiled which could lead to a sell-off of a slice of Cardiff Bus, netting tens of millions of pounds. more We want better services not worse!what next .. this is a big mistake - perhaps the councillors who are on the board could have resisted this? Cllr Neale?

Are they skint or what is going on? They are trying to sell of Whichurch Highschool grounds for housing! Is this property developers world or what?

Cardiff Bus Contact Details:
David BrownManaging DirectorLeckwith DepotSloper RoadCardiffCF1 8AFTelephone: 029 2078 7704 email: headoffice@cardiffbus.com
Website: http://www.cardiffbus.com/
Council Representation:
Councillor Joe Carter
Councillor Gareth Neale
Councillor John Dixon
Councillor Steve Pantak
Councillor Cathy Pearcy
Councillor Christine Priday
Councillor John Sheppard

"Mr Davies ..whos he?.. is also looking at a major rationalising of the council’s land and buildings. That could even mean proposals being looked at to sell County Hall and move office staff to a site on the outskirts of the capital. He is looking closely at non-operational buildings and whether a partnership with the private sector could bring in funding in a so-called equity release scheme.
The shake-up could also see several sections of the council becoming “arm’s-length” companies along the lines of the marketing company, Cardiff & Co, but with staff pay and conditions protected.
A report on Mr Davies’ review of the council’s operations will go to the council’s executive on Tuesday. Mr Pantak said: “While I understand a minority shareholding would be involved, I believe this would be the thin edge of the wedge and will open the door to full privatisation of Cardiff Bus which will gradually reduce the service to customers."

Silly enough at present when we have stagecoach buses in cardiff from for wxample Caerphilly and we get a day ticket from Cardiff Bus but can't use it on those buses! Is this why the fares keep going up. People scream about parking prices but for adults going to work it is £3 or to go shopping with the kids?

St Mary's Street petition

A petition has been started re St Mary's street - please go to the link to sign

http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/view?pid=631673943

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-st-marys-street-in-cardiff-pedestrianised

Sign petition to save Penylan trees

31 July residents of Penylan were sent a letter from Cardiff Council informing them without consultation about their plans to remove 8 Crab-apple trees. The trees in question are in fact actually cherry trees and the beautiful blossom in Spring calls into question how 'diseased' as claimed by the Council they really are.

With each tree being 50 years old the felling would mean the destruction in one year of 400 years of tree growth. Please sign our petition and send the link to anyone you may think would beinterested in supporting a worthy cause
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/penylan-trees

Further information on new website http://www.penylan-trees.co.uk/

Facebook group (you need to have a Facebook account to access this)http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5136685997

Background - Friday August 24IC Wales features the article 'Trees are healthy, so please don’t fell them'.find out more at IC Wales

87% say Pedestrianisation of Cardiff's St Mary Street IS working

The Echos Poll

Is the pedestrianisation of Cardiff's St Mary's Street working? The results so far show..it is..

Yes
86.67%

No
13.33%

Support a Greener Cardiff Echo

Unfortunately the Echo headlines say : Time to re-think traffic ban
THE Echo is today demanding an immediate re-think of the city’s controversial St Mary Street scheme.

Write to the journalist: phillip.nifield@wme.co.uk
and the Echo: ecletters@wme.co.uk

The Echo has a question - not entirely fair -
Is pedestrianisation working?
YES 090 12293013
NO 090 12293014

Welsh politicians need to make radical changes as people in Wales are becoming more environmentally aware and expect strong leadership from government to tackle the ongoing threats of climate change, waste mountains and traffic congestion to achieve cleaner more environmentally and pedestrian friendly city. For a greener Cardiff we need support from our local paper too.

Living Streets is a national charity established in 1929 as the Pedestrians’ Association. Cardiff Living Streets campaigns for better streets and public spaces in the Welsh capital, and for a higher priority for pedestrians. Cardiff Living Streets propose that a more appropriate solution would be to liberate St Mary Street from motor traffic all together and convert it into a fully pedestrianised zone. This would bring many benefits. It would much reduce pedestrian congestion on the pavements, eliminate contention between pedestrians and traffic and improve the associated problems of insecurity, noise and pollution - provide many more opportunities for improved pedestrian facilities such as seating, recreational areas, and outdoor eating.

Previously St Mary Street was performing poorly in attracting people aged over 45 and people with children, and probably people with mobility difficulties as well. We ask that you involve these groups closely in the development of plans and before giving up the pilot scheme. A better walking environment = good for local businesses = stronger communities.

Not only do people who walk to the shops spend more per week but overall, the nicer the environment for walking and enjoying, the more people spend.

We ask that Cardiff County Council
• increase the width of the pavements in St Mary Street
• provide cross-overs which carry pavements over side-streets
• create safer and more generous crossing opportunities
• reduce street clutter
• remove unnecessary barriers and railings including those at “cattle-pen” crossings
• prioritise pedestrian movement

High quality traffic calming is a crucial element in restoring peoples freedoms from speeding traffic, for buses too, merely by imposing speeds appropriate for the surroundings, 20 is enough in St Mary Street. But importantly it creates safety, equity and an enhanced environment. Traffic lights can be co-ordinated to encourage smoother driving at lower speeds. But it can not be done on the cheap!

A great deal is currently said about 'zero tolerance' of crime and anti-social activity. Yet motoring offences are dealt with as if they are somehow not as serious as others.

We have made the first step to a greener Cardiff so don't give up just yet, give the pilot a little longer, consult widely and look at ways to improve St Mary Street and meet the challenge to make Cardiff a greener city.

See also The Slower Speeds Initiative

New Labour turn its back on a cleaner and greener Wales

Forgotten what it was like?

Re-open St Mary St now, says opposition
Story in the Echo Sep 1 2007 by David James, South Wales Echo THE leading opposition group on Cardiff council today demanded immediate changes to the “ill-thought-out” St Mary Street traffic ban. Cardiff council’s New Labour leader, John Sheppard, said the ban was “badly-timed, ill-thought-out and has been the subject of inadequate consultation”.

Obviously this new labour dinosaur has forgotten his New Labour Manifesto
where NEW Labour talk about "A cleaner and greener Wales, safe, green transport system, a green Wales.......In our first and second

terms Labour pioneered action to promote sustainability and to make our communities greener and cleaner. In a third term we will implement practical policies to tackle climate change and improve the local environment. We are determined to leave a clean, green and sustainable Wales for future generations and not a legacy of pollution and non-sustainable Development... We will promote new opportunities for walking and cycling and provide public transport alternatives to the car. Whoops John Sheppard Leader of the New Labour group on the council has forgotten where he is with policy altogether ..New labour policy on Cars: Road pricing is a key Labour policy, with plans to charge motorists according to how much and where they drive. The party is also looking into introducing the congestion charge in major towns and cities across the country. Is he sure he knows what party he is in?

I recall the WWF calling for .."Better leadership is needed to reduce Wales' impact on the world - A major report launched 10 March revealed that Welsh politicians need radical changes to reduce the impact of Wales' population on the world. A WWF survey demonstrates that increasingly people in Wales are becoming more environmentally aware and expect strong leadership from Governments to tackle the ongoing threats of climate change, waste mountains and traffic congestion," said Stuart Bond, Sustainable Development Officer for WWF Cymru."

People in Wales and in Cardiff want a cleaner more environmentally friendly city.

Cardiff Council said in its in depth report in 2004 that it had recognised that to ensure that the City does not become grid locked in the future it must start planning now. To this end the Executive in February published a green paper on Transport, followed in May by a white paper entitled “Getting Cardiff Moving”.(Report of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee 2004) Where was Cllr John Sheppard then if he was on the council from 1995 - not a cheep until today and now he gets cold feet - this is the worst sort of political opportunism!!

Julie Morgan New Labour MP said "The first step to achieving a debate based on sound evidence is to try and see through local pilot schemes how road pricing can tackle local congestion."

City centre retailers underestimate the number of their customers arriving by bus, walk and cycle and their spend profile and overestimate the number and effect of car borne customers.

A commission for integrated transport study revealed that public transport users do not spend significantly less than car users in city centre, particularly once income bias is eliminated. Therefore, any reduction of existing car shoppers should not result in significantly less retail spend. People travelling by bus, cycling and walking are more likely to support their city centre, visiting it more frequently than car users.

It is a myth that reducing traffic will harm the economy.

Research carried out by the German Institute for Urban Research6 indicates that a sustainable transport approach benefits trade in German towns. It says: "Retail trade in central city districts increases with policies that encourage environmentally friendly transport
Modes” Another German study showed there was no relationship between the amount of car parking provision and the amount of money people spent in shops.

SHEPPARD. John B.A. Dip. Educ. MBA.11, Hardwicke Court Llandaff CARDIFF CF5 2LB
Tel: 0292 553810 Fax: 02920553810 feedback: Contact the Councillor (No Email required)
Portfolio:
Serving the Llandaff Electoral Division, elected on 10 June 2004 John was first elected on 04 May 1995. The Llandaff electoral division has an electorate of 7270 (1 December 2005) and has 2 seats.

Mass cycle in Cardiff to mark in Town without my car day!

There's a mass ride planned for car free day, if anyone fancies it, organised by Cycle Cardiff.

Cycle Cardiff are planning to mark In Town Without My Car Day with a tour around the city, ending with coffee/lunch at a cafe in the Bay. The purpose of the event is to draw attention to the growing number of cyclists and our needs. For more information, see Bike in the City.

The Echo have begun their cycling campaign this week. Here are links to articles appearing on icWales:
Give cyclists a fairer deal

Ridiculous Rachael Wood wants cars, congestion and choking in St Mary street!

Website boosts support for road ban protest The Echo reports on a group that has formed on the internet to protest against the traffic ban in Cardiff’s St Mary Street. (katie.norman@wme.co.uk)

There are groups that are campaigning to save our planet, reduce congestion, reduce pollution, make out cities more liveable and childfriendly, disabled friendly, people friendly and generally much more pleasant places to walk, cycle, shop and eat. This may come as a surprise to some 140 people ..mindless dinosaurs are the words that comes to mind. Here we have people protesting to put MORE cars on the road - to INCREASE congestion - make life difficult for shoppers, pedestrians, disabled people, elderly, - Voting for more pollution??? At least there are only 140 morons in Cardiff so far.
It is a myth that businesses suffer because of a reduction in access to cars. Europe.....London would shut down if that were the case. In fact the opposite is true. Business will be better off with a pedestrianised street and better again especially when it is cleaned up. Cardiff is way behind the times.

The story goes on ...They ask members to: “Help us stop this madness of congesting the surrounding areas of Cardiff by joining this group and showing your support to reopen St Mary Street! Messages in support of their plight have been left by group members including Rachel Wood. Who is she? She said: “I support anyone and everyone that continues to ignore the ridiculous ban.” Ridiculous Rachael! Obviously environmental issues aren't her strong point.

Have they heard of for example of Friends of the Earth, Transport 2000, Living Streets, Greenpeace, Green Party to name a few... which have thousands of supporters and support the St Mary Street enlightened scheme

WWF ad: if you think pollution doesn’t affect you…

Warning over adverse impact of development on children

Poorly designed road and housing developments are invading children's space, according to the government's "green" advisory body, the Sustainable Development Commission.
The commission has published a report which claimed that large building projects, aircraft flight paths and busy roads are causing excessive noise levels, increased pollution and safety fears and preventing children from enjoying their local parks and neighbourhoods.
Sustainable Development Commission website

Yellow line pests

Crackdown on yellow line pests
Northwich Guardian, - 22 Aug 2007 By Ian Ross
Clear Streets officers are due to go on patrol across the Moorlands to enforce yellow line parking regulations. The district council is working ...

Great news - I hope it happens here soon - see the picture gallery of offenders on the right.

Tory policy raises alarm bells for pedestrians

Conservative proposals raise concerns for pedestrians
Living Streets have looked at the the Conservative Party's Economic Competitiveness Policy Group report, with the aim of influencing future Conservative policy. 'Freeing Britain to Compete' includes a chapter on transport that raises some alarm bells for pedestrians, as well as highlighting some much needed changes.Read the full article
Tuesday 21 August 2007

Bus firm criticised at hearing

I am amazed this is the only service criticised as buses often don't arrive.

David James, South Wales Echo
TWO bus company chiefs who ignored critical timeliness reports and blanked complaining passengers were lambasted by a furious transport inspector. Deputy Transport Commissioner Roger Seymour told the two top men at budget South Wales bus provider EST he was “astonished” at their unconcerned approach to “the most serious issues”.
Two bus monitoring reports in 2006 and 2007 revealed around a quarter of their services in the Vale of Glamorgan – some of which were subsidised by the taxpayer – ran late, early or not at all.
Yet neither managing director Carl Hooking, of Barry, or operations manager Mark Harris, of Penarth, replied to the letters sent to the company. Under cross-examination during a three-hour hearing at Cardiff County Court yesterday, both were repeatedly forced to admit failings.
Their solicitor Paul Carliss said: “The company has been found wanting without a shadow of a doubt.
“There probably may have been complacency.”
Llandow-based EST hit the headlines in 2002 when Ystradowen teenager Stuart Cunningham Jones died in a crash on one of the school services it runs in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Mr Seymour said he was not considering that tragedy in his inquiry into the failings over time-keeping and customer service revealed yesterday. Bus monitor Michael Anderson told the hearing that of 166 services he checked in January and February this year, 14 did not run at all, 15 were early, 10 were late and six had the wrong signs on.
Among these, he highlighted one bus that parked up at Barry Library and missed two departure times before it left.
He said: “I don’t think it could have broken down.
“The driver left the vehicle, I presumed he left for lunch, and it started up again pretty quickly when he got back.”
Mr Carliss told the hearing that many of the services that left early did so by only two minutes and that only two were more than 10 minutes late.
And both Mr Harris and Mr Hooking blamed a former employee for failing to pass on or deal with the issues and promised that they would act on everything Mr Seymour raised.
A passenger, Howard Damm, 63, who lives in the west of Barry, told the hearing how he had complained after no bus turned up five times out of six when he went to get it earlier this year.
He said: “Every time I rang up a man or a woman promised that a manager would ring me back but no-one ever did.
“I would like them to get this sorted out. I don’t want to take the company down.
“If the bus services are pulled out, people like me suffer.”
Mr Seymour told the company he would deliver a written verdict within 28 days. Among the penalties at his disposal are stiff fines and the removal of bus routes from the company.
david.james@wme.co.uk

Road building in the news!

Road building has been in the news a lot recently. Firstly Transport 2000 tipped off the Guardian about the massive cost of the proposed M6 widening which at £2.9 billion works out to be £1,000 per inch! This was then picked up in the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail. Then the M1 came under the spotlight as the Guardian revealed that the Government was planning to add not two but four new lanes to the M1 – creating a 10-lane superhighway.

Next came the cover story of the New Statesman. The article exposed the flaws in the DfT’s decision-making structures that result in road schemes always being seen make economic sense. This is one of the strongest attacks on the DfT’s appraisal system ever written and is essential reading for roads campaigners.


BBC4 documentary on roads resistance

Next week (Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 August at 9pm) a three-part documentary will air on BBC4. ‘the Secret Life of the Motorway’ will chronicle the first years of motorway building, through the 1960s and ‘70s and then cover the rise of anti-road protests in the 80s and 90s. Transport 2000’s campaigns director and roads campaigner make an appearance because of their role in the Twyford Down protest.

Car use, climate change and obesity linked

A report published by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and Adrian Davis Associates highlights the car’s connection to obesity and climate change. The report finds that if we all walked just an hour more a week – what we did 30 years ago, when car ownership was less common – we could help save up to 11 MtCO2 (15.4% of total emissions from passenger cars) and drop almost three pounds each year to boot.

the report.

New guidance on DfT funding for local road schemes

The DfT has just published new guidance for local authorities seeking DfT funding for new roads. It is basically the ‘rule book’ for those of you opposing local council road schemes. It is very strict about the need to examine non-road building alternatives and requires authorities to consider “measures that reduce or influence the need to travel… and other alternatives to address the problems in the area, such as public transport provision, demand management policies, traffic management measures and strategies”.

It also requires local authorities to contribute at least 10% of the scheme costs, 50% of the preparatory costs (after the scheme has been entered into the programme), and 50% of any cost increases. The scheme must also have been prioritised by the region. The guidance will set the hurdles considerably higher for local authorities who wish to promote dead-end road schemes.


Transport 2000 slams the Planning White Paper

The consultation period closed on Friday for the Planning White Paper, whose proposals could make the planning system more unfair to objectors. We think thousands of people wrote in to oppose the proposals.


Free legal phone line for environmental groups

Friends of the Earth's Rights & Justice Centre offers free legal advice on environmental issues to anyone (not just FoE groups) concerned about the impact of public authority decisions; to people who don't feel they have been properly consulted; or to people who are simply unsure about their rights.

Contact FREEPHONE 0808 801 0405, 6.30-8.30pm on Wednesdays. The service is staffed by Friends of the Earth's legal staff and by volunteer lawyers. Individuals who contact the advice line will be given preliminary advice. Cases will then be either taken up by the Rights and Justice Centre or passed to an organisation that can help.

Is there a noisy road through countryside near you?

Transport for Quality of Life consultancy wants to talk to people about how traffic noise in a rural area has affected how they live their lives. By documenting their experiences they aim to show how noise from roads impacts those living in, working in and visiting the countryside. If you or your friends still have strong memories of how, for example, noise from a motorway built nearby in the 1980s has changed where you go to walk, ride, relax or how you can use your house or garden, please email Ian Taylor, Transport for Quality of Life, ian@transportforqualityoflife.com