Cardiff Council Update: 06 December 2022

Here is our latest update, covering: a partnership to create a Cardiff Children's University has been formally agreed; a report has found that air pollution is less now than it was before the pandemic; and new trees planted in Bute Park.

Momentous partnership to deliver Cardiff Children's University is formally agreed

More children and young people will benefit from a wealth of educational opportunities following a formal agreement between Cardiff Council and Cardiff University to extend ‘Passport to the City'- Cardiff Children's University.

‘Passport to the City'- Cardiff Children's University, has been future proofed after Cardiff Council's Leader, Councillor Huw Thomas and the Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University, Professor Colin Riordan, joined together to sign a partnership agreement to support the ambition for young people in Cardiff as set out in the Council's Stronger, Fairer, Greener agenda.

The project aims to encourage and develop a love of learning by providing pupils with access to activities including art and music, science, technology, engineering and maths as well as cultural and graphics design courses, each contributing towards a ‘Passport to Learning'. The scheme brings together a range of city-wide partners to invest in raising the aspirations of leaners, whilst developing pathways to make these aspirations a reality.

Following the success of its pilot, the Council has committed to scaling up the programme to ensure young people from all backgrounds can enjoy the world-class amenities Cardiff has to offer.

Cardiff's clean air improvements benefit everyone

The latest study into air pollution in Cardiff shows that residents enjoyed cleaner air across the city throughout 2021 when compared with pre-pandemic figures in 2019, a new report has revealed.

The improvement in air quality during 2021 as reported in the Councils 2022 Annual Progress Report, was seen across the city and the data collected from monitoring stations showed that the council was compliant with all ‘limit vales' for pollutants, which are set out in legislation.

Air quality is monitored on an annual basis across a full 12-month period to ensure figures are representative across a full year.

The improvement in air quality levels in 2019 seems to have a direct link to the number of vehicles on our roads. The latest figures show, on average, vehicle traffic is at 80% of pre-pandemic levels, with air pollution levels reducing by approximately 20% during the same period.

Poor air quality is considered to be the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, and after smoking, the second biggest threat to public health. There is clear evidence to show that exposure to air pollution reduces life expectancy and significantly increases the risk of mortality from heart disease, strokes, respiratory diseases, lung cancer and other conditions.

Bute Park ‘Plants Back Better' with more trees and a new community orchard

The first trees in a new community orchard were planted in Cardiff's Bute Park las t week as plans developed in the wake of a devastating vandalism attack on the park begin to bear fruit.

Dozens of trees were destroyed by vandals, and thousands of pounds worth of damage caused to the park in September last year, but out of that dark day in the park's history came a community-led crowdfunding campaign that, coupled with funding from the council's Coed Caerdydd mass tree planting programme, will see two trees planted in the park planted for every one tree destroyed by vandals.