COVID-19 Update: 27th May

Here is the latest COVID-19 update from Cardiff Council, covering: the latest on Bessemer Close Recycling Centre, and a reminder that you can also book now to use Lamby Way from Sunday 31^stMay; providing thousands of devices to tackle digital deprivation; temporary car park closure at Parc Cefn Onn; and Cardiff Libraries, your go-to for free lockdown reads and more.

Update on recycling centres in Cardiff

Bessemer Close Recycling Centre re-opened on an appointment only basis on Tuesday May 26^th. In the last two days, 640 residents have used this site by making an appointment through the online booking system.

The average time for a resident to get into the recycling centre, dispose of their recycling and leave the site is approximately 15 minutes. This compares favourably with other parts of Wales, with reported waiting times of up to four hours in other areas.

Lamby Way Recycling Centre is due to re-open on Sunday March 31^stbut access will only be permitted if residents make an appointment.

The only items that canbe brought to the recycling centres for now are cardboard, wood, garden waste, scrap metal, small electrical items and hard plastic.

Since the online booking system was launched at lunchtime last Friday, 4,300 bookings have been made at both of the recycling centres. 2,345 bookings have been made for Bessemer Close and 1,955 bookings have been made for Lamby Way.

To ensure social distancing rules can be maintained, certain waste types currently cannot be brought to these facilities. A questions and answers document has been produced to help the public understand why the new arrangements are in place:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/23932.html

The opening times for both recycling centres are from 8.30am until 4.30pm seven days a week. Residents can only book an appointment online through the council website: www.cardiff.gov.uk/recyclingcentres. Anyone who turns up without an appointment will not be allowed to access the sites.

Providing thousands of devices to tackle digital deprivation

Cardiff Council is providing thousands of digital devices and broadband dongles via Welsh Government's Education Technology Project Fund to support children in Cardiff that have been unable to access online learning during school closures caused by COVID-19.

The Council has worked closely with schools across the city to deliver the scheme, which will see over 5000 Chromebook or i-Pad devices repurposed from existing schools or purchased, and 2500 broadband dongles have been ordered.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Cardiff Council has developed a range of ways to address the issue of digital deprivation so that children and young people can continue to access online learning during school closures.

"We have been gathering information to determine exactly how many pupils require digital support and a dedicated project team has been established to deliver the new scheme with the help of our schools.

"Importantly, as well as ensuring children and young people can continue to learn and engage with education during the health crisis, we also intend for this to be part of a long term solution to support distance learning following the lockdown."

Temporary car park closure at Parc Cefn Onn

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Please note that the car park at Parc Cefn Onn is currently closed due to roadworks taking place on Cherry Orchard Road.

The car park will reopen Friday 29th May with limited parking available during the summer due to the ongoing refurbishment to the toilet building.

The park remains open.

Please continue to #StayHomeSaveLives but if you do go out to exercise in your local park, visitors are reminded to stay safe and maintain a 2 metre distance from others.

Cardiff Libraries - your go-to for free lockdown reads and more

Free lockdown reads and activities are available on the Cardiff Libraries catalogue here: https://wales.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/card_en and here on the Council website:https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Libraries-and-archives/Pages/default.aspx

You can borrow all this for free on your device:

e-books
e-audio
e-magazines
e-newspapers

Don't worry if you are not a member, you can join online here:

https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Libraries-and-archives/How-to-join-a-library/Pages/How-to-join-a-library.aspx