Cardiff Council Update: 20th November

20/11/20

Welcome to the last update of the week from Cardiff Council, covering: the Indoor Arena; COVID-19 cases and tests; the latest schools affected by COVID-19; a new Fizalan High School; new cladding for Lydstep flats; a new one-way system planned for Wellfield Road; two important Cardiff Bay buildings that will be refurbished and saved and news on the approval for a new bridge linking Llanrumney to the A48.

#KeepCardiffSafe

Check the rules online:

https://gov.wales/coronavirus

Indoor Arena Moves a Step Closer

The delivery of a new 15,000-capacity indoor arena in Cardiff Bay will move a step closer when the Council appoints its preferred bidder at a Cabinet meeting scheduled for the 26^thNovember.

The planned new venue will cost around £150m to build and will attract more than one million visitors and an estimated £100m into the local economy every year. It will also deliver new jobs for local people, with over 2000 jobs created during its three-year build programme and, once up and running, another 1000 direct jobs and a further 600 jobs supported in the local economy.

Since December last year the Council has progressed a procurement process to secure a private-sector partner and has now received two offers to deliver a top tier UK venue that will enable events of all sizes to be hosted in the city.

Cardiff Cases and Tests - 7 Days Data (11 November until 19 November)

Based on latest figures from Public Health Wales, data correct as of:

19 November 2020

Cases: 591

Cases per 100,000 population: 161.1 (Wales: 166.5 cases per 100,000)

Testing episodes: 4,366

Testing per 100,000 population: 1.190.0

Positive proportion: 13.5% (Wales average 12.7% positive proportion)

Cardiff University - COVID-19 Case Numbers:

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-case-numbers

University of South Wales - COVID-19 Case Numbers:

https://www.southwales.ac.uk/news/coronavirus-overview/

Update on schools affected by COVID-19: 20.11.20

Cantonian High School

A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed atCantonian High School.134 Year 11 pupils and 2 members of staff have been advised by Public Health Wales to self-isolate for 14 days after they were identified as close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case.

Oakfield Primary school

A positive case has been confirmed at Oakfield Primary School. 18 Year 3 pupils and 4 members of staff have been advised by Public Health Wales to self-isolate for 14 days after they were identified as close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case.

Eastern High School

A positive case has been confirmed atEastern High School. 30 Year 8 pupils and 4 Year 11 pupils together with 1 additional member of staff have been advised by Public Health Wales to self-isolate for 14 days after they were identified as close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case.

Gladstone Primary School

A positive case has been confirmed atGladstone Primary School. 24 Year 5 pupils and 22 Year 3 pupils together with 4 additional members of staff have been advised by Public Health Wales to self-isolate for 14 days after they were identified as close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case.

Willows High School

A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed atWillows High School. 7 Year 8 pupils have been advised by Public Health Wales to self-isolate for 14 days after they were identified as close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case.

Plans approved for a new Fitzalan High School

Cardiff Council's Planning Committee havetodayapproved plans to build a new Fitzalan High School on land next to the Leckwith Stadium in the Canton area of the city.

The development represents a £63.5m investment in the local community and will see the existing Fitzalan High School replaced with a new-build 10 form entry school, which will accommodate up to 1,500 students between the age of 11 and 16, plus a sixth form.

The new school will offer comprehensive sports facilities including a multi-use games area, 3G pitches and a new indoor swimming pool, replacing the current pool which is already extensively used by local schools and community groups. These, and other facilities at the school will be available for public use outside school hours.

Contractor appointed to reclad high rise flats

A contractor has been appointed to reclad three of the city's high rise blocks.

Following a competitive procurement process, the Council has awarded the contract for the improvement works to the three tower blocks at Lydstep flats in Llandaff North to ISG.

Pre-construction work to deliver an enveloping solution to replace the cladding that was removed two years ago in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, will begin shortly with the main work of recovering the blocks due to start in Spring 2021.

Cladding was removed from five of the Council's six high-rise blocks after testing showed that while none of the buildings contained ACM, the material that clad Grenfell, it did not meet current fire standards.

Following surveys and recommendations from consultants for the most appropriate solution, the three blocks will now be recovered with a ceramic brick-based cladding to improve the thermal efficiency of the buildings, while maintaining the highest fire safety standards.

Plans for Wellfield Road are given the go-ahead

The final agreed scheme for Wellfield Road which includes a new one-way-system, a pop-up cycleway; improved facilities for pedestrians, as well as short stay parking, has been given the go-ahead with 74% of local residents surveyed supporting the new plans.

Work will start on site early in the New Year and will take four weeks to complete. The impact on local traders will be minimal - with the road remaining open and pedestrian access being maintained on either side of the road throughout the works.

The new scheme will make Wellfield Road a one-way-system northbound from Albany Road travelling up towards Pen-y-Lan Road. Southbound traffic will turn left on to Pen-y-Lan Road at the junction with Wellfield Road, and stay on this road until the junction with Albany Road. Buses will then turn right at Albany Road to continue to the city centre.

Two important Cardiff Bay buildings will be refurbished and saved

The future of two important heritage buildings in Cardiff Bay will be safeguarded for future generations as Cardiff Council's plans to secure ownership have been given the go-ahead.

The Merchant Place/Cory's Buildings occupy a prominent position in Cardiff Bay directly opposite the Wales Millennium Centre, but both have been empty and boarded up for over a decade.

The Council plans to buy the Grade 2 listed buildings and will seek grant support to support the costs of refurbishment and regeneration.

Plans Move forward for a new bridge linking Llanrumney to the A48

Plans for a new bridge to provide a direct link from Llanrumney to the A48 at the Pentwyn junction have taken a step forward following private-sector bids to deliver the scheme.

A report on the proposals - which form part of the East Cardiff Industrial Strategy - has been approved by Cardiff Council's Cabinet today Thursday, November 19, where it will was agreed to sell land to help fund the development.

The proposal will see a new bridge and road link built over the River Rhymney linking Llanrumney to the Park & Ride site and the A48. This will improve access to public transport for local residents and open up job opportunities in the city.

Consultation will commence shortly on plans involving the development of land adjacent to Llanrumney Hall, off Ball Road, which currently accommodates the playing pitch for Llanrumney Rugby Club. A significant area of greenspace will still be retained in front of Llanrumney Hall, but an agreement has been reached to relocate the playing pitch to land off Mendip Road that is not suitable for development.

As well as delivering a new pitch for Llanrumney Rugby Club the scheme will also provide a new full-spec, grass pitch for Llanrumney Football Club, mini pitches, and a brand new clubhouse and changing rooms for both teams to use. Local clubs will also get access at community rates to a new state-of-the-art sports complex being delivered through a tie-up between Cardiff University and the Cardiff City FC academy at the site of the existing Cardiff University playing fields.