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Cardiff Council Update: 31 October 2023
Here is our latest update, covering:
- Field of Remembrance - The Lord Mayor leads Cardiff's tributes to the fallen at Cardiff Castle
- Cost of living help - Hubs and libraries are open as warm spaces again this year
- Wales v's Barbarians - travel advice and other useful information ahead of the match on Saturday
- Flat Holm beetle latest - reports of this ‘little beastie' are greatly exaggerated
Lord Mayor leads Cardiff's tributes to the fallen
Cardiff Lord Mayor Cllr Bablin Molik led the city's tributes to those in the Armed Forces who lost their lives in two world wars and other conflicts, at the opening of the Field of Remembrance in the grounds of Cardiff Castle last Friday.
Cllr Molik was among a number of other dignitaries, including Cardiff Council Leader Cllr Huw Thomas and Wales First Minister, Mark Drakeford AM, who paid their respects in a solemn ceremony organised by the Royal British Legion.
"Leading the city's tributes to the men and women of our Armed Forces who lost their lives in conflict - and continue to risk their lives to keep us safe - is one of the most important duties I perform during my year in office," said Cllr Molik.
"The Field of Remembrance is, of course, poignant in any year but the current events in Ukraine and in the Middle East throw into sharp relief the debt we all owe to our servicemen and women. I was proud and honoured to have paid my respects on behalf of the people of Cardiff."
The Field of Remembrance has become an annual tradition in the city, and will close on November 15. Opening times are 9am-5pm and entry is free to members of the public.
The Field features rows of crosses adorned with poppies and the names of the fallen, many written by their surviving families.
Welcome return to warm spaces
Cardiff hubs and libraries are once again offering a warm welcome to customers and residents at this time of year, with the onset of colder weather.
As temperatures fall and many people around the city continue to be concerned about the costs of heating their own homes this winter, hubs and libraries are providing a safe and warm environment for members of the public.
Now in its second year, the warm welcome space initiative is part of the council's response to supporting residents who continue to feel the effects of the cost of living crisis. Visitors to hubs and libraries will be able to have a chat with staff or other visitors using the building and access the wide range of support available for residents who may be struggling with cost of living concerns, if they wish to. Hot refreshments will also be available but times vary from venue to venue.
People are welcome to call into any of the city's hubs or libraries during their usual opening hours. Visit https://cardiffhubs.co.uk/ for details.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: "Warm welcome spaces are back in our hubs and libraries because the sad fact is that plenty of people in the city are still struggling and are worried about the rising costs of energy. Our community buildings are bright, welcoming venues where residents can come along, access the library services, use a PC or meet with others in the community.
"Our friendly teams are always on hand so I encourage anyone worried about heating their homes as we approach winter to take us up on our offer of a warm welcome."
A wide range of advice and support is available at hubs, from housing, benefits, debt support and much more. Anyone looking for help can also contact the Council's Money Advice team on 029 2087 1071 or emailadvicehub@cardiff.gov.uk.
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Travel advice for Wales vs Barbarians on November 4th in Cardiff
Wales will be taking on Barbarians on Saturday November 4that Principality Stadium.
With the kick-off taking place at 2.30pm - there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.30am until 6.30pmor as soon as it is deemed safe to do so, to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely.
The M4 motorway and surrounding Trunk Road Network is expected to be very busy for this event - please plan ahead - and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the Park & Ride facility at County Hall, in Cardiff Bay. For up-to-date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook.
Gates open at 12.15pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.
Relax! Flat Holm's ‘fearsome' beetle is harmless!
Vampires, werewolves, zombies, the Yeti, Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. To this list of apparently spine-chilling creatures, can we now add Flat Holm's flesh-eating beetle?
Well, not quite. But this rare insect had some excitable journalists in the national media urging us to run for the hills this month when its discovery on the island wildlife sanctuary in the Bristol Channel was announced by scientists.
We know it's the silly season - when almost anything can be hyped up into ‘shock-horror' headlines - but newspapers warning people to avoid this little beetle, ahem, ‘beat all'!
Flat Holm's community engagement officer, Sarah Morgan, was quoted - accurately - describing the insect (taxonomic name: dermestes undulatus) as "not for the squeamish", but adding, "these tiny beetles feed on the skin and bones of dead animals. It's a preference that makes them a bit of a pain in museum collections but incredibly useful in forensic science to help determine how long a body has been in situ."
That prompted at least two national newspapers to issue a ‘warning', and put our little mortician's assistant in the same league as invasive Chinese mitten crabs and the bedbugs currently causing alarm from the streets of Paris to the buses of Manchester!
Said Sarah: "These little creatures are only 5-7mm in length, are perfectly harmless and only feed on dead flesh.
"And because they feed on carcasses, these beetles do a really important job of clearing decaying material in the environment. This is essential for conserving our other wildlife and means they're a natural and important part of the ecosystem.
"I can assure you that they're nothing to be afraid of and only add to the amazing biodiversity we have on Flat Holm, including slow worms, the rare Scarlet Berry truffle and wild leeks."
If you want to visit Flat Holm and see the island's beauty up-close, it's possible to enjoy an organised day or overnight trips throughout the year. Overnight trips are self-catered and include a return boat journey, basic shared hostel-style accommodation with tuition and activities run by experienced instructors. For more information, visit:
