New council initiative is a load of rubbish
Cathays’ residents have vented their anger at the local council after many were left with rubbish bags piling up outside their homes.
The local council last week announced that they would be introducing fortnightly refuge collections - in which many around the UK have now become accustomed to – which has left many from the Cathays area showing disgust at the idea.
The scheme, which Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman claimed would “take time to settle in” has left locals such as Michelle Ryan, 44, disgusted, “It’s bad enough having it once a week, especially when you walk around the corner and up past the student housing.
“When we had heavy snow last month it was clear to see that after two weeks of no collections it would cause problems for people in the area, even now I have bins stacking up outside the house as do many due to the backlog from the snow”.
It has been argued by Cardiff Council however that Cathays, as well as other areas in Cardiff, are simply catching up with the rest of the UK.
The new initiative was passed at the council’s meeting last week where it was claimed residents would welcome the changes. They also believed it would mean that Wales would achieve a zero-waste position by 2050, a target the council insist on meeting.
Time will tell whether the scheme will in fact take off, but for the majority of those in Cathays for the time being, they feel that the idea is a load of rubbish.
The local council last week announced that they would be introducing fortnightly refuge collections - in which many around the UK have now become accustomed to – which has left many from the Cathays area showing disgust at the idea.
The scheme, which Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman claimed would “take time to settle in” has left locals such as Michelle Ryan, 44, disgusted, “It’s bad enough having it once a week, especially when you walk around the corner and up past the student housing.
“When we had heavy snow last month it was clear to see that after two weeks of no collections it would cause problems for people in the area, even now I have bins stacking up outside the house as do many due to the backlog from the snow”.
It has been argued by Cardiff Council however that Cathays, as well as other areas in Cardiff, are simply catching up with the rest of the UK.
The new initiative was passed at the council’s meeting last week where it was claimed residents would welcome the changes. They also believed it would mean that Wales would achieve a zero-waste position by 2050, a target the council insist on meeting.
Time will tell whether the scheme will in fact take off, but for the majority of those in Cathays for the time being, they feel that the idea is a load of rubbish.
Student properties targeted
Over half of student homes targeted by burglars in Cathays took place in homes which had been left unlocked, South Wales Police have revealed.
Students living in the Cathays are of Cardiff have been urged to register all of their belongings on a free online property database as part of a new campaign.
The new scheme, launched by local police officers, has been titled ‘Lock it, Hide it, Keep it’, offering students advice on how to keep valuables safe when the home is left unattended.
Student liaison officer PC Tim Davies talking about the campaign said: “The latest Home Office figures show that overall burglary in Cardiff is down 3.1%, but Roath and Cathays, both densely populated by students in shared properties, tend to have higher rates of burglary than other areas of the city.
“Unfortunately, student homes provide rich pickings for criminals who know that most students will have valuables such as laptops, games consoles and iPods that can be easily carried and sold on.
“Since Christmas there have been 40 burglaries at student properties in Cardiff and 21 have been at insecure properties.
“This means doors and windows have been left open, which is perfect for burglars as they don’t need to smash glass, risk making a noise and being disturbed and possibly leave their DNA.
“The good news is that this is something students can easily address.”
Last month the Metropolitan Police launched an online map of trouble areas in Britain with Cathays coming up near the top of the list.
One of the students affected by this high crime rate was Jason McClelland, speaking to us, Jason told of how it affected his life: “Obviously it can make a difference to your life because you are always questioning yourself when you leave the house," he said.
“When you’re down the pub you start asking yourself if you’ve locked the bedroom windows, so it’s always playing on your mind”
Jason has himself registered personal items such as his lap-top and bike on this new website, which means the correct owners can be contacted if the items are found – the majority of which are usually sold on in and around the Cardiff area.
PC Davies will be in the Students’ union on the first Tuesday of every month if students which to get in touch with him.
Students living in the Cathays are of Cardiff have been urged to register all of their belongings on a free online property database as part of a new campaign.
The new scheme, launched by local police officers, has been titled ‘Lock it, Hide it, Keep it’, offering students advice on how to keep valuables safe when the home is left unattended.
Student liaison officer PC Tim Davies talking about the campaign said: “The latest Home Office figures show that overall burglary in Cardiff is down 3.1%, but Roath and Cathays, both densely populated by students in shared properties, tend to have higher rates of burglary than other areas of the city.
“Unfortunately, student homes provide rich pickings for criminals who know that most students will have valuables such as laptops, games consoles and iPods that can be easily carried and sold on.
“Since Christmas there have been 40 burglaries at student properties in Cardiff and 21 have been at insecure properties.
“This means doors and windows have been left open, which is perfect for burglars as they don’t need to smash glass, risk making a noise and being disturbed and possibly leave their DNA.
“The good news is that this is something students can easily address.”
Last month the Metropolitan Police launched an online map of trouble areas in Britain with Cathays coming up near the top of the list.
One of the students affected by this high crime rate was Jason McClelland, speaking to us, Jason told of how it affected his life: “Obviously it can make a difference to your life because you are always questioning yourself when you leave the house," he said.
“When you’re down the pub you start asking yourself if you’ve locked the bedroom windows, so it’s always playing on your mind”
Jason has himself registered personal items such as his lap-top and bike on this new website, which means the correct owners can be contacted if the items are found – the majority of which are usually sold on in and around the Cardiff area.
PC Davies will be in the Students’ union on the first Tuesday of every month if students which to get in touch with him.
independent retailers launch loyalty scheme
Independent retailers in Cardiff’s shopping arcades are set to hit back at high street giants after launching a new loyalty card scheme in a bid to win back customers.
The new scheme encourages shoppers, who have been lost to superstores such as John Lewis in recent years, to return to the arcades where they will receive certain rewards.
“What we are trying to do is encourage people to come and shop in the Arcades” claims Deina Price, who alongside her husband Steve, runs her own shop – Price’s Sweet Shop – in Cardiff’s High Street Arcade.
“You have to purchase a card, they cost £1 and last for a year, and what the card will entitle you too is various discounts and special offers in all three of the arcades, so that’s the Royal Arcade, Duke Street Arcade and the Castle Arcade.”
The 53 stores taking place in the scheme will each offer their own incentives for shoppers to use their stores.
“Each individual shop will offer you something different, for example here in the sweet shop we are offering 5% discount on pick ‘n’ mix. I know down in the New York Delhi, if you can prove you have shopped in another shop in the arcades on that day, they will give you 10% off on your food.”
“The biggest problem that the Arcades have got is footfall, people trying to walk through, so all we are trying to do is encourage people to come back and to use the Arcades with their loyalty cards.”
Earlier this month two of the three arcades taking part in the scheme become fully let for the first time in 4 years. It is encouraging news, something which the independent retailers need to take advantage of.
Mrs. Price, who has seen her store move all around the country, believes that these arcades are what make Cardiff unique.
“In these Arcades you get so much more, so much variety, in St Davids 2 you can be in any City in the country, down here these Arcades are unique to Cardiff, and that’s what we want to do, we want to bring people down here to spend their money”
The new scheme encourages shoppers, who have been lost to superstores such as John Lewis in recent years, to return to the arcades where they will receive certain rewards.
“What we are trying to do is encourage people to come and shop in the Arcades” claims Deina Price, who alongside her husband Steve, runs her own shop – Price’s Sweet Shop – in Cardiff’s High Street Arcade.
“You have to purchase a card, they cost £1 and last for a year, and what the card will entitle you too is various discounts and special offers in all three of the arcades, so that’s the Royal Arcade, Duke Street Arcade and the Castle Arcade.”
The 53 stores taking place in the scheme will each offer their own incentives for shoppers to use their stores.
“Each individual shop will offer you something different, for example here in the sweet shop we are offering 5% discount on pick ‘n’ mix. I know down in the New York Delhi, if you can prove you have shopped in another shop in the arcades on that day, they will give you 10% off on your food.”
“The biggest problem that the Arcades have got is footfall, people trying to walk through, so all we are trying to do is encourage people to come back and to use the Arcades with their loyalty cards.”
Earlier this month two of the three arcades taking part in the scheme become fully let for the first time in 4 years. It is encouraging news, something which the independent retailers need to take advantage of.
Mrs. Price, who has seen her store move all around the country, believes that these arcades are what make Cardiff unique.
“In these Arcades you get so much more, so much variety, in St Davids 2 you can be in any City in the country, down here these Arcades are unique to Cardiff, and that’s what we want to do, we want to bring people down here to spend their money”
nativity story boost
A church located in one of Cardiff’s busiest shopping areas has launched a campaign to keep alive the nativity story - after research showed that a third of young people do not know the festive story.
The play will run for free every day at Tabernacle Baptist Church in the Hayes, Cardiff up until December 18th. It offers members of the public a chance to watch the 20 minute nativity story acted out by a group of amateur actors from the church community.
The scheme, which relies purely on donations from the public and from funding from churches all across Cardiff, costs an estimated £28,000 to run.
Sally Humble-Jackson, 58, is the women behind the project; she is hoping that after a year of planning - alongside her full time job as a chiropodist – that the project will be a success and that she can take the play across the UK next year with special funding from the Bible Society.
Sally, from Penylan, came up with the idea to run the free nativity plays after coming across the “truly horrifying statistics” that 36% of 18-25 year olds in Britain have no idea where Jesus was born, claiming “If you don’t know that, you don’t know the story at all.”
“From a cultural point of view, it is something we have always shared for 2,000 years pretty much everybody has known the story, and this loss of the nativity from the public consciousness is very rapid and is rather shocking.
“It is an attempt to address that, to ensure that the rising generations know the story, it is not about what people believe, it is not about converting people to anything, it is about ensuring that because we are going to go on celebrating Christmas whether we like it or not, it doesn’t just become a cynical greed festival, but it has a heart which is a base for the future. “
Generous members of the public donate kindly after each performance, money which doesn’t go to Sally herself, but to the church.
“This is a living church and they do an awful lot of work for charity.
“They do a lot of work with homeless people, so we are hoping to contribute to their charities as compensation for all the disruption they have been put through by allowing us to use their space in the run up to Christmas”
The play, which has been running for over a week now, has so far been labelled a success by those involved, who claim that youngsters are beginning to get to grips with the nativity play.
If Sally gets her wish, then this new generation of youngsters will soon know the festive story, and they can tell their own children one day about the story of the birth of Jesus.
The play will run for free every day at Tabernacle Baptist Church in the Hayes, Cardiff up until December 18th. It offers members of the public a chance to watch the 20 minute nativity story acted out by a group of amateur actors from the church community.
The scheme, which relies purely on donations from the public and from funding from churches all across Cardiff, costs an estimated £28,000 to run.
Sally Humble-Jackson, 58, is the women behind the project; she is hoping that after a year of planning - alongside her full time job as a chiropodist – that the project will be a success and that she can take the play across the UK next year with special funding from the Bible Society.
Sally, from Penylan, came up with the idea to run the free nativity plays after coming across the “truly horrifying statistics” that 36% of 18-25 year olds in Britain have no idea where Jesus was born, claiming “If you don’t know that, you don’t know the story at all.”
“From a cultural point of view, it is something we have always shared for 2,000 years pretty much everybody has known the story, and this loss of the nativity from the public consciousness is very rapid and is rather shocking.
“It is an attempt to address that, to ensure that the rising generations know the story, it is not about what people believe, it is not about converting people to anything, it is about ensuring that because we are going to go on celebrating Christmas whether we like it or not, it doesn’t just become a cynical greed festival, but it has a heart which is a base for the future. “
Generous members of the public donate kindly after each performance, money which doesn’t go to Sally herself, but to the church.
“This is a living church and they do an awful lot of work for charity.
“They do a lot of work with homeless people, so we are hoping to contribute to their charities as compensation for all the disruption they have been put through by allowing us to use their space in the run up to Christmas”
The play, which has been running for over a week now, has so far been labelled a success by those involved, who claim that youngsters are beginning to get to grips with the nativity play.
If Sally gets her wish, then this new generation of youngsters will soon know the festive story, and they can tell their own children one day about the story of the birth of Jesus.
Electric Buggy Scheme
A new controversial ‘electric buggy’ scheme which transports the elderly and disabled around the Cardiff City Centre has been branded a success in its initial stages.
The new initiative - which was launched three weeks ago - has been at the centre of controversy from the public.
It has been heavily criticised by blind people, who claim that the silent nature of the buggies mean guide dogs cannot avoid them as they approach.
The scheme has also been attacked by many citizens around Cardiff who are facing financial cuts. With the project estimated to cost around £40,000 to run, it has left many unhappy.
“The public are obviously going to be a bit pessimistic at first because it is different, but with time they will grow to it” claimed Will Hughes, 22, Pontypridd, one of the buggy drivers.
“It’s going well at the moment and we are getting a lot of interest from people around the City, it is a success so far”
The scheme is on an initial three month trial, if all goes well after this time period then this could be a regular feature, not just on the streets of Cardiff, but also in other major UK Cities.
The new initiative - which was launched three weeks ago - has been at the centre of controversy from the public.
It has been heavily criticised by blind people, who claim that the silent nature of the buggies mean guide dogs cannot avoid them as they approach.
The scheme has also been attacked by many citizens around Cardiff who are facing financial cuts. With the project estimated to cost around £40,000 to run, it has left many unhappy.
“The public are obviously going to be a bit pessimistic at first because it is different, but with time they will grow to it” claimed Will Hughes, 22, Pontypridd, one of the buggy drivers.
“It’s going well at the moment and we are getting a lot of interest from people around the City, it is a success so far”
The scheme is on an initial three month trial, if all goes well after this time period then this could be a regular feature, not just on the streets of Cardiff, but also in other major UK Cities.
Football chant tops chart
After being sung around various football grounds for decades, the world’s oldest football chant yesterday topped Amazon's pre-order chart - in a move that has shocked the music industry.
The single, ‘I’ll be there’, was created by Welsh super group ‘The Stand’ - made up of Welsh icons such as Super Fury Animals’ guitarist Guto Pryce, and led by actor-come-songwriter Jonny Owen.
Lyrics for the song are well known to football fans, none more so than those of Cardiff City. The chant was thought to have originated from as early as the 1920’s, sung on the terraces by the miners amongst Ninian Park - Cardiff’s ground at the time.
“I never thought that it [the album] would sell quite as quickly as it had,” said Jonny Owen, leader of the band. Owen’s grandfather was amongst those to sing the original chant nearly 80 years ago.
Also speaking after performing the hit song at a local pub in Barry, was band drummer Ryan Richards, who replaced former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, who died in June. “It has been great fun – and the best thing is, it’s all for a good cause,” he said.
The album is available from today at HMV, Amazon and iTunes. All proceeds will go towards the ‘Fred Keenor Statue Fund’, which has been set up by Cardiff City Football Club.
The single, ‘I’ll be there’, was created by Welsh super group ‘The Stand’ - made up of Welsh icons such as Super Fury Animals’ guitarist Guto Pryce, and led by actor-come-songwriter Jonny Owen.
Lyrics for the song are well known to football fans, none more so than those of Cardiff City. The chant was thought to have originated from as early as the 1920’s, sung on the terraces by the miners amongst Ninian Park - Cardiff’s ground at the time.
“I never thought that it [the album] would sell quite as quickly as it had,” said Jonny Owen, leader of the band. Owen’s grandfather was amongst those to sing the original chant nearly 80 years ago.
Also speaking after performing the hit song at a local pub in Barry, was band drummer Ryan Richards, who replaced former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, who died in June. “It has been great fun – and the best thing is, it’s all for a good cause,” he said.
The album is available from today at HMV, Amazon and iTunes. All proceeds will go towards the ‘Fred Keenor Statue Fund’, which has been set up by Cardiff City Football Club.
proposed speed limit divides road users
A new proposed 20mph speed limit which is set to be introduced in certain areas of Cathays has divided the opinion of road users.
The new £180,000 initiative - which will make Cathays the city’s first 20mph zone - has left residents fearing interference with their everyday travel, due to substantial road work and traffic build-up.
The scheme - which is being developed by Cardiff Council as part of a new Strategic Cycle Network - will reduce the speed in certain areas of Cathays in hopes that more people opt for their bicycles rather than cars. The busy Crwys Road however, which runs through the main shopping district, will remain at its original speed limit of 30 miles-per-hour.
Cathays councillor Simon Pickard has dismissed these claims that this new initiative will bring more cyclists to the area however, “as a cyclist myself, it will take more than a 20mph zone to convert Cathays into a truly cycling-friendly area,” he said.
“We need to think about how cyclists are given their own designated space on the roads or alternative routes, as well as how bike theft can be reduced.”
Speaking to residents of Cathays, they have expressed mixed views regarding the scheme, Phillip James, 19 is a student living in the area, he told us how “traffic has been building-up throughout Cathays for a while”, leaving residents upset at the proposal.
The area has already undergone a lot of work lately with road works throughout, Monthermer Road (pictured) has already seen severe traffic build up’s, again leaving residents upset at the speed limit being reduced further.
However, James Lockwood, 45, a shop assistant in Cathays believes that the new scheme will have a positive impact on the area, “It will be good for people like me who cycle to work regularly, I’m glad to see changes being made”.
It’s fair to say that the views are so far mixed, if the responses are as positive as that from James however, then the members of the public could soon be set to see the whole of the Cardiff City centre introduce the new 20mph initiative.
The new £180,000 initiative - which will make Cathays the city’s first 20mph zone - has left residents fearing interference with their everyday travel, due to substantial road work and traffic build-up.
The scheme - which is being developed by Cardiff Council as part of a new Strategic Cycle Network - will reduce the speed in certain areas of Cathays in hopes that more people opt for their bicycles rather than cars. The busy Crwys Road however, which runs through the main shopping district, will remain at its original speed limit of 30 miles-per-hour.
Cathays councillor Simon Pickard has dismissed these claims that this new initiative will bring more cyclists to the area however, “as a cyclist myself, it will take more than a 20mph zone to convert Cathays into a truly cycling-friendly area,” he said.
“We need to think about how cyclists are given their own designated space on the roads or alternative routes, as well as how bike theft can be reduced.”
Speaking to residents of Cathays, they have expressed mixed views regarding the scheme, Phillip James, 19 is a student living in the area, he told us how “traffic has been building-up throughout Cathays for a while”, leaving residents upset at the proposal.
The area has already undergone a lot of work lately with road works throughout, Monthermer Road (pictured) has already seen severe traffic build up’s, again leaving residents upset at the speed limit being reduced further.
However, James Lockwood, 45, a shop assistant in Cathays believes that the new scheme will have a positive impact on the area, “It will be good for people like me who cycle to work regularly, I’m glad to see changes being made”.
It’s fair to say that the views are so far mixed, if the responses are as positive as that from James however, then the members of the public could soon be set to see the whole of the Cardiff City centre introduce the new 20mph initiative.
Cardiff girls tartiest in britain
Girls from Cardiff are the “tartiest” dressers in Britain, according to new research.
Forty-three-percent of those who took part in the survey – carried out by Vivastreet – believe that girls from the Welsh capital are more likely to slap on fake tan, attach fake eyelashes and parade in high heels during a night out than any other part of Britain.
These views have been largely taken with a pinch of salt, but student Jess Wilkes, 20, who has lived in the Cathay’s area of Cardiff all of her life, believes that “the survey is a little odd” due to the fact that “it was carried out unfairly.”
Wilkes continued, telling us: “You go out in any City in Cardiff on a weekend and it will be the same as Cardiff
“The City gets an unfair view because of stereotypes, at the end of the day; it’s the same as any other”
These views were shared by Jess Simms, 19, who moved to Cardiff last year, she believes that: “It’s orange wherever you go; girls are no different in Cardiff, it’s silly really”
The survey also concluded that 43% of girls in the Welsh capital admit to wearing fake eye-lashes, something Simms herself knows all about: “Yeah I wear fake eyelashes, I wear fake tan as well, I can look a lot different to what you see now.
“That’s what a night out is all about, dressing up, wearing fake eyelashes; it just seems Cardiff girls are more open about it.”
Despite the revelation, don’t expect to see any less glamour on a night out in Cardiff any time soon.
Forty-three-percent of those who took part in the survey – carried out by Vivastreet – believe that girls from the Welsh capital are more likely to slap on fake tan, attach fake eyelashes and parade in high heels during a night out than any other part of Britain.
These views have been largely taken with a pinch of salt, but student Jess Wilkes, 20, who has lived in the Cathay’s area of Cardiff all of her life, believes that “the survey is a little odd” due to the fact that “it was carried out unfairly.”
Wilkes continued, telling us: “You go out in any City in Cardiff on a weekend and it will be the same as Cardiff
“The City gets an unfair view because of stereotypes, at the end of the day; it’s the same as any other”
These views were shared by Jess Simms, 19, who moved to Cardiff last year, she believes that: “It’s orange wherever you go; girls are no different in Cardiff, it’s silly really”
The survey also concluded that 43% of girls in the Welsh capital admit to wearing fake eye-lashes, something Simms herself knows all about: “Yeah I wear fake eyelashes, I wear fake tan as well, I can look a lot different to what you see now.
“That’s what a night out is all about, dressing up, wearing fake eyelashes; it just seems Cardiff girls are more open about it.”
Despite the revelation, don’t expect to see any less glamour on a night out in Cardiff any time soon.