In today's COVID-19 update from Cardiff Council: waste collections to go ahead as normal on VE Day Bank Holiday next Friday; the Council's response to COVID-19 in numbers; road improvements to begin on Western Avenue next week; a great ‘Diff Diaries response; former gas works site acquired for housing; work has started on improving sport facilities at Sanatorium Park; a public plea from Cardiff and Vale UHB; and Planning to start being reintroduced from Monday.

Waste collections to go ahead as normal on VE Day Bank Holiday

This year's early May bank holiday will fall on Friday 8^thMay to coincide with the 75^thanniversary of VE Day.

There will be no change to your waste and recycling collection date on this day.

COVID-19 Infographic: Cardiff Council response in numbers

Over the course of the COVID-19 crisis, we have been producing a series of infographics, capturing Cardiff Council's response in numbers.

Here is the latest of these infographics. It captures everything from the amount of PPE delivered, to the thousands of hours provided in domiciliary care each week; the hundreds of food parcels delivered, to the tens of thousands donated to our food appeal; the millions distributed in business support; the army of volunteers that have come forward to help; the thousands of child care hours provided every week in our schools; the thousands of tonnes of waste collected.

The list goes on, but you can see all the numbers for yourself:

#WorkingForCardiff #WorkingTogether #WorkingForYou

Improving pedestrian safety on Western Avenue

A road safety improvement scheme on Western Avenue (A48) which was suspended due to the lockdown for COVID-19 will resume on Monday May 4^thwith all staff complying with the new social distancing requirements.

A new toucan crossing will be installed on Western Avenue, which will be supported by a new 20 MPH speed limit. The new scheme will significantly improve safety for pedestrians in the area.

The contractor, Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure all their staff are able to comply with all legislation on social distancing requirements.

These lane closures will be in place for up to six weeks and a solid hoarding will be installed on the road to protect the workforce as they carry out their work.

This is the first scheme to re-start after the COVID-19 lockdown. All works on the highway will only resume if the contractors can show that they are able to work safely in line with government requirements.

Great response to the first week of the ‘Diff Diaries project

It has been a great start to the ‘Diff Diaries project, with fantastic submissions from Cardiff's children and young people coming though on the website.

A video has been put together which combines the diary entries sent in so far, and you and click to watch that here:

https://youtu.be/_RsEXLZ2FQU

‘The ‘Diff Diaries' is providing children and young people the opportunity to document their activity, thoughts and feelings during the global pandemic by submitting video recordings, photo collages or written diary entries.

With schools closed, all events large and small across the globe cancelled and children and young people everywhere having to stay at home, entries may show how children and young people are spending their time, perhaps learning new skills, being home-schooled or even sharing tips for children of the future.

Supported by Museum of Cardiff, Screen Alliance Wales and University of South Wales, the project has been launched by Cardiff Commitment and supports Cardiff's ambition to become a United Nations Child Friendly City.

The project is open to 7-16 year olds, Entries can be in both Welsh and English medium and must be uploaded via the Hwb Platform:https://sites.google.com/hwbcymru.net/the-covid-19-diff-diaries/home

Council acquires former gas works site at Grangetown

Cardiff Council has acquired the 29 acre former gas works site in Grangetown, Cardiff.

Property consultancy Knight Frank assisted with the acquisition of the Ferry Road site on behalf of the Council from vendors National Grid and Wales and West Utilities.

The Council intends to deliver a Council-led mixed tenure development of up to 500 new homes on the site as part of its target of delivering 2,000 new homes in Cardiff, 1,000 of which will be completed by 2022.

You can read the full story here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/23757.html

Work to improve sports facilities at Sanatorium Park

Improvement works currently being carried out to Sanatorium Park are to reinstate the markings of two existing sports pitches; one football pitch, one rugby pitch with some fencing, spectator barriers and team dug outs added to the football pitch.

This is to provide sports facilities for both community users and pupils whilst the new Fitzalan High School development is completed. It will also deliver enhanced legacy amenities which will be available for use by the local community following the works, for future generations to enjoy. There will also be six more trees on the site than there are currently, when the work is completed.

The works will be completed by June 2020 and will not affect public access to the park.

Reinstating sports pitches is permitted development and does not require planning permission.

Planning permission for the enabling works associated with the new Fitzalan High School was granted on March 18, 2020.

A public plea from Cardiff and Vale UHB

The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is making the following plea to members of the public: please do not delay seeking urgent medical treatment.

It is completely understandable, that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are trying their utmost to adhere to social distancing, staying home to protect the NHS. It is also understandable that the prospect of going to a hospital may now be daunting for at-risk groups of people.

However, by delaying seeking urgent medical treatment for conditions such as heart attack or stroke, they are arguably putting their health at an even greater risk.

Seeking medical attention is one of the reasons that people can safely leave their homes, and Cardiff and Vale UHB has put robust structures and processes in place to manage COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 emergency patients in order to minimise the risk of cross-infection.

Therefore, if anyone has symptoms of a stroke, chest pains which they suspect may be a heart attack, sustains an injury which needs treatment, has a sick child who needs urgent medical attention, or if you are pregnant and need medical attention, Cardiff and Vale UHB are still there to help.

Also, GP practices are still open, although there may be different ways for people to access them. Members of the public are urged to continue using their GPs if they medical attention, but they must call them before going to the surgery.

Planning to start being reintroduced from Monday

Cardiff Council's Planning department will be re-opening their services through a phased plan which begins on Monday May 4^th.

The first phase will ensure that the planning department is able to progress planning applications that have already been submitted, as well as the following functions:

• Validate & register Discharge of Conditions (pre-commencement & standard conditions) & Reserved Matters applications
• Consult upon, assess and issue officer/Chair decisions on pre-commencement & standard conditions & Reserved Matters applications
• Issue officer/chair decisions on all types of applications which have a consultation deadline before April 10^th
• Assess and issue decisions on Certificates of Lawful Development
• Assess and issue decisions relating to requests for works on Protected Trees
• Continue to process Pre-Application requests
• Continue to advise applicants and agents if information they have submitted meets our validation requirements 
• Continue to consider ‘Prior Approval' applications which require a response within 56 days (otherwise consent is deemed)

All planning applications which require a planning committee decisionwill notbe determined through delegations and work is ongoing regarding how planning committees will operate in the near future.

All other planning services, including re-opening the service to new applications, will form part of the second phase of re-opening services. Arrangements will be kept under review and further information will be released to the public as required.