Ely Bridge News

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

2008-02-22T00:21:00.002Z

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!!!

2007-12-12T17:29:00.001Z

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

2007-12-07T17:40:00.000Z

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

2007-12-01T22:06:00.000Z

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 !

2007-11-26T22:08:00.000Z

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!

2007-11-26T22:04:00.000Z

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!

2007-10-18T20:42:00.000Z

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

2007-10-18T20:31:00.000Z

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

2007-10-18T20:21:00.000Z

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

2007-09-19T10:23:00.000Z

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).

Connect2 Day : Ride across the Barrage

2007-09-15T07:09:00.001Z

Many of you have always wanted to cycle across the barrage. Well, now you have the opportunity: On Thursday, 27th September is Connect2 Day, where all Connect2 projects are launched. In Penarth and Cardiff a range of activities are planned to promote our bridge. A row of flags accross the water will mark where the bridge is supposed to go. Meeting point is the landing point on the Penarth side, 9am. We can then cycle across the barrage, where tea and biscuits await us on the Cardiff Bay side. The winner of the naming competition (see below) will then be announced. You then have the opportunity to get a free ride back to Penarth on the Flat Holm vessel, the Lewis Alexandra if you require.
Please confirm your attendance with Claudia Hamilton in the Cardiff Council Press Office: chamilton@cardiff.gov.uk

Bike Ride: Bikes in the City

2007-09-10T20:33:00.000Z

"In Town Without my Car Day" is coming up again. To mark the occasion, Cycle Cardiff have organized a bike ride on Saturday, 22nd September. The ride leaves Penarth at 10am from the Washington Gallery. Full details here

IMPORTANT: Pledge your support for Connect2

2007-09-10T20:14:00.000Z

Connect2 is a nationwide bid from sustainable transport charity SUSTRANS to obtain money from the Big Lottery funds to create practical and accessible cycling and walking routes. The Ely bridge is one of 79 projects included in the scheme. If Sustrans wins the bid, Cardiff Council will receive £1.15m towards the cost of the bridge -- roughly 1/3 of the cost.

We want to work as hard as we can to support the Connect2 bid. Sustrans is up against various other projects in the competition, and the outcome will be determined by public television vote sometime in the winter. Sustrans has set up a webpage where people can register to pledge their support. More importantly, you can leave your mobile number, and they will send you a text with the number to vote when it is announced. Most likely the programme which decides the vote will be aired on a late evening weekday, and we don't want you to miss it. So please visit the Connect2 page to register your support and leave your mobile number there.
Alternatively, you can also send a text message containing 'Connect2' to 80010.

Name that Bridge!

2007-09-10T15:23:00.000Z

I have been away for a month. In the meantime, the bridge campaign seems to have been happening at the speed of light.
A design has been drawm up, and Cardiff Council has now launched a competition to name the bridge. I have always called it the Ely Bridge, but apparently there is an Ely Bridge already in Ely, Cardiff, so they are looking for another name.

In any case, please visit Cardiff Council's website to enter your suggestion. Think of this not only as a competition to name the bridge, but also as an indicator of how many people care about the bridge.

Penarth commuters leave car at home to bike to work and beat the traffic

2007-06-20T09:14:00.000Z

A group of Penarthians celebrated national Bike to Work Week by cycling to work in Cardiff together. The theme was ‘safety in numbers’, and the 20-strong group ranged from regular bike commuters to those attempting it for the first time.
The cycle convoy set off from the town centre at 8am, and took the scenic route through the Marina, the Sports village and along the Taff, with people peeling off at various points to their work places.
Katherine Shelton was surprised how quickly she did the journey: “I don't usually cycle to work and I thought it would take the best part of an hour, but it was around half that. Apart from the Cogan Spur, which was a bit scary, it was a nice route to town”.
Cycle campaigner Marc Buehner, who asked people to join him on his cycle to work, hopes to make it a regular weekly event. “It’s fun cycling to work in a group: it’s safer and you can chat on your way in.”

Those interested in cycling to work en mass, please contact Marc Buehner on either mbuehner@mac.com or on 07968 225 328.

Bike Week: Organized Ride to Cardiff Weds 20th June

2007-06-14T13:51:00.000Z

National Bike Week is from 16th-24th June. To celebrate this and try to get more people cycling to work, we are organizing a ride from Penarth to Cardiff on Wednesday, 20th June.

Meeting point: Outside Oxfam on Windsor Road, Penarth
Time: 8am, Wednesday June 20th

We will cycle over the Cogan Spur, through the Sports Village, and then along a very pleasant and safe cycle route along the water until we reach the Taff Trail, which will take us to the City Centre. The ride will continue through Bute Park and will terminate in Cathays at Cardiff University. Depending on where you work, you can of course leave the route earlier, or continue beyond Cathays. For those of you who are members of Cardiff University: There will be a "Bike Breakfast" waiting for you in the Main Building.

Please come in great numbers. Even if you normally do not cycle to Cardiff because you are worried about the traffic -- this is your opportunity to do it with a group of experienced cyclists who know what they are doing, and the route we picked for you is by far the safest and most pleasant, though not neccessarily the quickest. The ride should last just under 30 minutes.

Got Questions?

Please also note that Cycle Cardiff have put together a fantastic programme for Bike Week in Cardiff, including Bike Doctor events, special screenings in Chapter, and other organized rides.

Our meeting with Rodney Berman

2007-06-14T13:35:00.000Z

Cardiff Friends of the Earth requested a meeting with Rodney Berman, leader of the Cardiff Council to talk about the Bridge. Today, a group of us met with him and Cllr. Elgan Morgan (Cabinet member for Transport), and two officers representing the Harbour Authority.

The meeting was very good. Rodney and Elgan are politically committed to delivering the bridge, and the Harbour Authority is keen to finish its business in providing this vital access point to the bay. Naturally, Cardiff's focus at the moment is to ensure that the Sustrans bid (See earlier post) for a Connect2 project is successful. They will mount a publicity campaign to make sure they can maximize the vote for the project in our area.

More importantly, though, it became clear in the course of the meeting that "the money is there", and that Rodney is willing to spend it. More specifically, we discussed S106 monies from various residential developments in the Cardiff Bay area, as well as money from the capital programme.

Things are moving. The tide has changed, thanks to all of you who keep up the pressure!

Vale Politicans fully behind the Bridge

2007-06-14T13:29:00.001Z

At yesterday's State of the Area Debate, Cllr. Chris Williams (Cabinet member for Transport) pubicly declared that the council is "fully behind" the Ely Bridge. Deputy Leader Neil Moore confirmed that the Vale authorities are actively working together with Cardiff Council and the Harbour Authority to get the bridge built. They also announced that £0.25m had been made available by the Harbour Authority to do a design for the bridge.

At the meeting, Neil Moore also revealed that the Headland Link Walkway will be "shelved" because the total cost of over £20m made it unaffordable at the moment. The Vale Council will try and lobby the Welsh Assembly Government to alllow them to retain the £7m they were awarded towards the Headland Link. If this money can stay with the Vale, then one obvious way to spend it would be on the bridge!

All in all, a very promising outlook from the Vale's side!

State of the Area Debate is coming up!

2007-06-07T21:20:00.000Z

The "State of the Area Debate" is to take place on Wednesday, 13th June, at 18hrs in the Paget Rooms, Penarth.

We need to have a strong presence there to reinforce the momentum gained through the demo, and to make it clear that securing the Bridge across the Ely has to be one of the most important objectives for the council.

Please try and attend the debate, and preferably come by bike, so that we can have a strong presence both outside and inside the venue.
It would be good if some of you could come ahead of the event so that we can stand outside with the banner and placards we had at the demo.
I will be there from 17:30 onwards.

Bridge shortlisted for Connect2 Big Lottery Bid

2007-05-09T20:22:00.000Z

Good news: The Ely Bridge project has been included in the final list of projects to be included in Sustrans' Connect2 application for a Big Lottery grant. If successful, this grant would provide £1.15m towards the bridge on a match-funding agreement with Cardiff Council. Connect2 is a scheme comprising several sustainable transport projects, like the Ely Bridge, throughout the country. It will compete against various other "living Landmarks" contestants, and its success will be determined in the autumn via television vote. It is important that as many people and organisations pledge their support for this bid, so please take a minute to register your support.

Obviously, we all keep our fingers crossed that Connect2 is successful, but in the meantime we are working to get both councils to commit to the bridge regardless of the outcome of the bid.

Find out more about Sustrans and their fantastic work to promote walking, cycling, and public transport here.

Taff Trail: The Missing Link

2007-05-03T18:53:00.000Z

Today we were going along the Taff Trail.
We cycled from Cardiff all the way to Pontypridd. We went to see the Melingriffith Water Pump. Sadly, you could go no more than ten steps close to it.
I desperately wanted to cycle all the way to Brecon, but we only cycled to Pontypridd. My dad said that next time we might take the train to Merthyr Tydfil and cycle back to Cardiff. It was a long day for me, but an exciting and tiring one.

I wish the Ely Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge was there already, then we could have started our trip from Penarth. But instead, we had to take a train to Cardiff and joined the Taff Trail from the Millenium Stadium.

By Ella, age: 8

Cycle Cardiff Account of the Demo

2007-05-02T22:40:00.000Z

The bulk of cyclists who turned up for the demo were Penarthians, but Cycle Cardiff joined us with a contingent of 16 cyclists. See their account of the event here.

Cycle demo video on YouTube

2007-04-24T16:45:00.000Z

Check out the following URL with a video from the Cycle Demo, if only to see the impressive and amazing turn out:

Link to You Tube Video

If all these people felt it safe enough to cycle on a daily basis,
without police escort, there would be no traffic chaos in Penarth.

Our Cycle demo was also covered on BBC online, on page two of the Echo and on page 1 of the Penarth times:

Link to BBC coverage
Link to Penarth Times
Link to the Echo

Over 400 people attend cycle demo in Penarth

2007-04-22T23:33:00.000Z

The new Welsh international sports village in Cardiff Bay is well on the way to completion. But there’s a problem: the only way you can get there is by car.

This bizarre state of affairs was the subject of a demonstration today, as 400 cyclists celebrated Earth Day by riding in convoy across the 4 lane highway - the ‘Cogan Spur’ - that is the main access route for the sports village. The protesters were demanding that Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils and the Harbour Authority commit funding to a bridge across the river Ely for pedestrians and cyclists.

Organisers of the demonstration had expected 50 or so cyclists to turn up. The Cogan Spur - from which pedestrians are banned - is normally braved by only the most hardened cyclist. So they were delighted when 400 people – including lots of families - turned up to form a huge convoy across the bridge as police stopped traffic to let them pass.

“It’s the biggest demonstration I’ve ever seen round here,” commented Tom Margrain, “and it’s a genuine grass roots campaign – there are no political or big campaign groups organising it.”

“It was great to cycle across the bridge,” beamed 10 year old Chloe Lewis. “Normally it would be much too scary. The only way I can get to the sports village is if my mum or dad drive me.”

Although the local councils have now put the bridge back on the agenda, current plans to fund it include an application for lottery money. This didn’t impress the protesters, who want to see a firm commitment to pay for the bridge. As Paul Kinnersley put it: "They didn't fund the extensive roadbuilding around the sports village with lottery money. Why are they prepared to spend money when its intrastructure for cars, but not when it's for pedestrians, cyclists or people using public transport? That’s bad enough for a shopping centre, but for a sports village it’s a joke."