Vale commits initial funds of £200k to Pont y Werin

Last night the Vale of Glamorgan Council committed £200k of initial funds towards Pont y Werin.

This was very good news for us indeed, because just one week earlier, it looked as if the Vale would not provide any financial support: In response to an email from me asking for re-assurance that the Vale is financially committed to our bridge, the council leader explained that there was no money to spend. Penarth residents were up in arms at this news and put considerate pressure on their councillors to get the Council Executive to change. Our councillors did listed to our calls and managed to bring about a change.

In particular, Cllrs Lis Burnett and Mark Wilson have worked hard to secure funds, and especially Cllr Chris Williams, executive member for Transport (and vice-chair of the Pont y Werin steering group) has thrown his weight behind our cause.
Apparently Alun Michael, MP, and Lorraine Barrett, AM have also got involved.

It is reassuring to see that our representatives really did represent us and listened to our concerns.

£200k is of course a small sum and we have still some distance to go, but it's a good first step.

The steering group is working hard in getting together detailed costings, planning permissions, and tender processes for the design. Our goal is to start building in January 2009. Time to get busy!

We have won £50 million!!!

Congratulations to all of you!

Connect2 has won the People's Millions by a fantastic margin and with 42% of the total vote!

That's fantastic for us -- we should get our bridge now within the next 5 years -- and for the people in the 78 other communities who will see their lives improved by better walking and cycling facilities.

It also sends a really important message to the government: That people want to see big public spending directed towards sustainable transport. Let's hope the politicians hear it!

Thanks to all of you for your support to help Connect2 win.

Vote NOW

Phone voting is taking place this weekend only.
So please use all your available phones (mobile, landline, etc) to vote by calling
0870 24 24 602

You can still vote online by visiting:

www.thepeoples50million.org.uk

Note that online and phone votes are NOT mutually exclusive. The Lottery expects each person to cast 3 votes (online, mobile, landline)

Naked Bike Ride Documentary in Chapter

Johnny Zapatos's film about the 2005 World Naked Bike Ride in London will be one of two films shown in Cycle Cardiff's DVD night at Chapter Arts Centre,Market Road, Canton, at 7.00 p.m. on Monday, 3rd December. "World Naked Bike Ride - the Documentary" is narrated by Jon Snow and was a finalist at the Widescreen International Film Festival in 2006.

The film outlines the background to the ride's development, as a way of drawing vivid attention to the dangers of fuel dependency whilst celebrating the human body and human-powered transport. Nudity is a central feature, though not compulsory. Skaters are also welcome and wigs, body paint and other expressions of individuality are encouraged! In the film, the story is then told of planning to take the ride to the streets of central London, and of the epic first ride by 200+ riders.

Following the film there will be an update on subsequent rides - this year there were 1,000+ riders in London, with rides in a further four U.K. cities, and some sixty worldwide. There will time for discussion, and information on how to be part of the planning for a proposed ride in Cardiff in June 2008.

For more information about the World Naked Bike Ride in the UK visit:
http://nakedwiki.org/index.php?title=United_Kingdom

For discussion about planning a Cardiff ride join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wnbr-cardiff

Vote with your Bike !

To step up the campaign for Connect2 and the Ely Bridge, Cardiff Council and the Harbour Authority are putting on a promotional cycle ride across the Barrage on SUNDAY December 2nd. You can cycle or walk across the Barrage, and then cast your vote online in the Cardiff Bay visitor Centre (The Tube). Refreshments will be provided.

Key Dates are:

SUNDAY 2nd December

10:00 Assemble in Barrage Car Park (Penarth)
10:30 Depart over Barrage
10:45 Online Voting & Refreshments in Bay Visitor Centre

12:30 Last Return to Penarth over the Barrage from Bay Visitor Centre

All ages & abilities welcome!

Refreshments will be provided.
Please email mbuehner@mac.com to say if you plan to attend. The Council needs to plan for numbers (to make sure there's enough tea & biscuits...)

Of course you can also just join us from Cardiff, if you want to!

Online Voting has begun!

Cast your online vote for Connect2 by visiting www.thepeoples50million.org.uk.

It is still important that you also register with Sustrans by texting 'Connect2' to 80010. They will then send you the phone number for the phone vote.

You can vote online AND via phone, and you can vote once per phoneline, so use your landline, mobile, worknumber, and encourage all your family members and friends to do the same!

We are going to be on Telly!

18th October. Today the television company 422.com filmed us. They are preparing the TV presentation of all the lottery bids, and have chosen to feature our bridge for the Connect2 film. We spent all day down on the water, filiming us walking towards the Cogan Spur, looking puzzled at the NO PEDESTRIAN sign, cycling through traffic (with helmet cam!), and cheering "Please vote for Connect2!" The kids had time off school to participate in it as well, and loved being interviewed about how they get around, any how the bridge would affect them. Thanks to Holly, Nick & the team for a lovely day!

Connect2 Day revealed where Pont y Werin will go

Thursday 27th September was national Connect2 day. In Cardiff and Penarth, the day was celebrated by revealing the official name of the bridge -- Pont y Werin. Both council leaders Rodney Berman (Cardiff) and Margaret Alexander (Vale) came to the festivities. Sustrans organized a line of flags across the River Ely to mark the site of the bridge. The Harbour authority opened up the Barrage for the special occasion and cyclists and walkers could cross over to the Bay and return by boat.

Chloe, Ella, and Chloe are proudly displaying the collage they made with the Woodcraft Folk. The council leaders were very impressed.

The Bridge has a Name! Hooray for PONT Y WERIN

Pont y Werin is now the official name of our bridge. Cardiff Council ran a competition to name the bridge, and the Penarth Woodcraft Folk's suggestion won. In English, the name translates to "Bridge of the People". The kids are very happy that their name has won, not least because the Woodcraft Folk in Wales are called "Gwerin y Coed". The Woodcraft motto is 'span the world with friendship' -- and we are doing our bit to span the Ely for some Cardiff-Penarth friendship and co-operation between the two councils...

Woodcraft Folk promote Cycle Bridge

The Penarth Woodcraft Folk are doing their bit to support the Connect2 campaign for the pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Ely. The Elfin group of six to nine year olds made a collage to go on display when the Connect2 scheme is officially launched on September 27th. The youngsters talked about how the bridge would change their lives. For instance, the group planned a family bike ride along the Taff Trail later this month. If there were a safe cycle route already, they could cycle straight to the trail from Penarth, but for now, they have to take their bikes on a train and start from Cardiff Central. The swimming pool and ice rink featured prominently in the Elfin’s collage – two attractions which are currently out of reach for young people from Penarth, unless their parents drive them there.

The group also entered a suggestion for the competition to name the bridge: ‘Pont y Gwerin – the People’s Bridge’. Gwerin y Coed is also the name for the Woodcraft Folk in Wales.

The Woodcraft Folk is a progressive educational movement for children and young people, designed to develop self-confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, peace, social justice and co-operation. Young people interested in the group can contact Grant on 02920712203 to find out about activities for the Penarth group’s Pioneers (10-12 year olds) and Venturers (13-15 years).