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Cardiff Council Update: 12 January 2024
Here is your Friday update, covering:
- Forty projects set to receive funding under the Shared Prosperity Fund
- Atlantic Wharf Redevelopment Takes a Step Forward
- Six new skateparks proposed for Cardiff
- Young mechanics a real driving force in transport depot
Forty projects set to receive funding under the Shared Prosperity Fund
A total of 40 projects have been successful in their bids for funding through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
This follows an ‘open call' for grant funding that was published in the summer of 2023 when over 100 applications were received.
Out of the 40 successful bids, seven of these organisations received confirmation of their funding last month, with work underway with the other organisations, so that the grant agreements can be finalised and agreed in the New Year.
The seven organisations that have received funding will deliver a variety of projects across Cardiff to support jobs growth and training, improve community safety, stimulate the circular economy and enhance the creative offering in the city.
The organisations that have received funding in November 2023 are:
- Action for Children will deliver a Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service.
- Public Services Board will deliver a Community Plan for Ely and Caerau.
- The Prince's Trust will provide self-employment support to young people who are economically inactive or not in the education system.
- Business in Focus will deliver community-based engagement and business support for entrepreneurs.
- Cardiff Metropolitan University will support businesses and third sector to reduce their carbon footprint, redesign their products and services to reuse, recycle and reduce waste.
- National Theatre Wales will appoint three Cardiff based staff to increase employment opportunities for freelancers and increase young people's access to training and development.
- Wales Millennium Centre will transform an under-used area in the WMC into a Creative and Social Hub aimed at communities and young people.
The Shared Prosperity Fund is funding from UK Government which was put in place in April 2022 as replacement funding to the European Structural and Investment Programme after the UK left the European Union.
Atlantic Wharf Redevelopment Takes a Step Forward
The regeneration of Atlantic Wharf took another step forward today, with a new report providing an update on the proposal to redevelop the Red Dragon site which - along with the new indoor arena - is a key project to stimulate the next-phase regeneration of Cardiff Bay.
In January 2020, Cardiff Council acquired the Red Dragon Site so that the council had full control over the land required to enable the development of a new 15,000-capacity indoor arena, and to facilitate the investment into the wider Atlantic Wharf site. The 30 acre site, which includes the Red Dragon site and the County Hall site, has been split into two development areas and in September 2023, the regeneration opportunities were put out to market.
The Red Dragon site, which is 11.3 acres of land south of Hemmingway Road, received two detailed bids following the eight-week marketing process, with Aviva Capital Consortium (ACC) identified as the ‘Preferred Offer'. The ACC proposal is to deliver a residential led, mixed-use development, providing new homes, offices, hotels, food and beverage and leisure facilities. The council will now work with ACC to develop its proposal and to prepare an Option Agreement that will be reported back to Cardiff Council's Cabinet in the summer for approval.
Six new skateparks proposed for Cardiff
A plan to invest in Cardiff's skatepark infrastructure and which could see six new skateparks built by 2032 and many existing skateparks converted into modern concrete based facilities, has been revealed by Cardiff Council.
The ‘Skateboard Amenities Strategy,' which was developed by Cardiff Council with the support of internationally renowned skate park consultants Van de Zalm and New Line Skate Parks, aims to support and grow the skateboarding community, foster a diverse user group, and create skate amenities that support a wide range of uses and skill levels.
A young skater enjoying the new ‘spot' and ‘dot' facilities in Maltings Park in Splott.
If agreed at a Cardiff Council Cabinet Meeting on Thursday, January 18th, the strategy would see four new destination skateparks built, serving north, east, west and centre of Cardiff. Each facility would be more than 1,200m2.
The south of the city, which is already home to Cardiff's only existing concrete destination skatepark, would benefit from a new neighbourhood skatepark between 600-1,200m2.
The strategy also suggests that the development of an Olympic standard skatepark facility in the city should be considered to further the sport in Wales at a competitive level.
Young mechanics a real driving force in transport depot
James Jelinski, 23, and Megan Colwill, 24, are the latest fresh-faced recruits to the Council's Central Transport Services department and they are living proof of how the world of motor mechanics is changing.
Both are passionate about machines and they both have plenty of opportunities to tackle a wide range of vehicles. They are part of a 36-strong team tasked with repairing and maintaining the Council's 1,000-plus fleet, which includes lorries, gritters, refuse vehicles, meals on wheels delivery vans and school minibuses, as well as all the electric vehicles and the Park's department's lawnmowers and other light agricultural vehicles.
Megan, from Caerphilly, joined the council as an apprentice and is the first woman taken on in this role. She was originally studying mechanical engineering at college as part of a placement but when that fell through she applied for a position at Cardiff Council and was taken on. Her feedback from the mentors she works with has also been excellent.
"I don't feel any different being the only woman on the team," she said. "There's a really good camaraderie at the depot and I love working here. I think there should be more women in this trade - traditionally it's been a very male-dominated field."
James, from Barry, loves the opportunity to work on a wide range of vehicles and wants to do more courses now he is a fully-qualified HGV fitter. "I want to work towards my HGV driving licence - that'll mean I'm able to road test the larger vehicles we work on."
