In today's COVID-19 update from Cardiff Council: the first phase of the pilot scheme on Wellfield Road implemented - parking spaces removed to widen the pavements for social distancing;hubs continue to provide foodbank vouchers, as thedistribution of emergency food parcels from the four core hubs that remained open throughout lockdown comes to an end; what we can and can't accept at our Recycling Centres; and Cardiff ARC teams keeping people safe.

First phase of the Wellfield Road pilot scheme is up and running

The first phase of the pilot scheme on Wellfield Road was implemented over the weekend, with parking spaces removed from either side of the road and temporary traffic cones put in place to widen the pavements, so social distancing measures can be followed by the public.

Fourteen birch trees, in individual planters, will be introduced at the end of June and the trees and more permanent bollards will be put in place to replace the traffic cones. This will create a more permanent divide between vehicles driving on the road and pedestrians using the pavements.

This is the first of 15 neighbourhood shopping centres that are currently being assessed to make improvements in light of the new social distancing requirements to ensure that they are safe for the public to use.

Social distancing measures will remain in place for the foreseeable future, so it is important for the public to understand that when non-essential stores are re-opened, there will be restrictions on the number of people that can enter a shop at one time. This does pose a challenge for the local authority, as people will have to queue out onto the street before they can enter the shop.

Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport at Cardiff Council said: "With social distancing expected to be the ‘new normal' for some time to come, this does pose a significant challenge both for residents and the local authority.

"The pavements in the city were not designed to allow a two metre distance between other people, so public space will have to be adapted to ensure social distancing can be maintained as the city gradually starts to re-open for business."

The space for cyclists and pedestrians has already been expanded on Castle Street in the city centre, with the pavement extended into the road from the junction with Cathedral Road and Cowbridge Road, over Canton Bridge, along Castle Street, Duke Street and up to the North Road-Boulevard De Nantes junction. This dual space will be adapted into a new cycleway when the permanent approved scheme is built.

The first phase to extend the pavements on Wellfield Road follows the ambitious announcement last Friday (June 5^th) on the council's plans to re-model space in the city centre, so that when the city is ready to re-open for business, it can be done in a safe and managed way -https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/24027.html

Foodbank vouchers in Hubs

The distribution of emergency food parcels from the four core hubs that remained open throughout lockdown has come to an end.

More than 500 parcels have been collected from Central Library Hub, St Mellons Hub, the Powerhouse and Ely & Caerau Hub since March.

These hubs will continue to provide foodbank vouchers to households who are not self-isolating but are struggling to buy food because of the financial impact of the crisis. Anyone needing help can drop in to the hubs where the voucher will be issued.

Parcels can then be collected from Cardiff Foodbank distribution centres across the city. Find out where here:https://cardiff.foodbank.org.uk/locations

Our Money Advice team will get in touch with anyone needing a voucher after their visit to discuss their circumstances and help and support available for them.

Cardiff Council Adviceline 029 2087 1071advicehub@cardiff.gov.uk

What we can and can't accept at our Recycling Centres

We have put restrictions in place at our recycling centres in Lamby Way and Bessemer Close since we reopened so that residents and colleagues can stick to social distancing rules to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus and to help us manage traffic.

You must book online before visiting.

Please book  here.

Please see below for a list of items we will accept but you should only bring items to our sites if you cannot store them safely at home without risk of injury or harm to your health.

What we can accept

• Cardboard
• Wood
• Garden waste - this must be placed loose into the skip.​
• Scrap metal
• Small electrical items - e.g. toasters and kettles
• Hard plastic
• Lawnmowers
• Garden strimmers

If your item is not listed above, do not bring it. You will not be allowed to access the site.

What we can't accept

• Large, bulky items are not accepted unless they are made of one of the materials in the list above, fit into the boot of your car and can be safely carried by one person. Staff will not be able to assist you to unload your car.
• Computers / computer screens
• TVs

Our Recycling A-Z has been updated to reflect the new changes, please check your items  here.

You should not travel to our Recycling Centres if you are displaying any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

For more information, including opening hours, please visit:
www.cardiff.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

Cardiff ARC teams keep our locations safe during lock down

The ARC team have continued to deliver a professional and dedicated service throughout the lock down in Cardiff.

ARC provide a 24/7 protection and response service for people and places. Their role has adapted slightly under the current health crisis to also cover:

• Allowing contingency access for essential works to some council sites
• Ensuring social distancing guidelines are adhered to in certain buildings
• Monitoring CCTV for a variety of council buildings, i.e. sheltered accommodation
• Monitoring of keyworkers who are using our Loneworker solutions
• Monitoring vulnerable residents with cognitive impairment

As Central Library Hub has remained open to the public on an appointment-only basis for certain services, collection of green bags and foodbank parcels, the security team there have continued to work, ensuring the building remains safe and secure for staff and the public.

The Locality Wardens are completing tasks such as daily opening and closing schools being used a key worker hubs, patrolling council building including hubs and attending alarm activation, responding to fire and intruder alarm activations, reporting and responding to ASB incidents. The team have adapted their work tasks to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

The ARC team along with Business Support have also been a single point of contact for the out of hours distribution of essential PPE supplies across the many council and care home establishments in Cardiff during the COVID- 19 crisis ensuring that key workers are protected.

For more information on the ARC please visit:https://www.cardiffarc.co.uk/