Best ever year for Get It Out For Cardiff!

Get It Out for Cardiff (GIOFC), the recycling and re-use campaign aimed at students has just concluded its 2013 campaign and enjoyed its best year yet.

The recycling rates have shot up by 14% with a 28% reduction in complaints recorded in the Roath and Plasnewydd areas over the academic year as our new approach to dealing with waste issues here have been implemented.

Donations are being stored
over the Summer

Cllr Ashley Govier, Cabinet Member for Environment was delighted with this year’s success. He said, ‘We have taken the GIOFC concept and introduced key changes as well as changing the general way we deal with waste and litter in the student accommodation areas and the results are there for all to see. We removed the additional weekend collections at the end of term and with our newly installed specialist Roath and Plasnewydd education and enforcement team, promoted best use of the available services such as the weekly kerbside recycling, fortnightly general waste collections and our household waste and recycling centre at Wedal Road.



‘We also promoted the year-round re-use banks provided by our partner, YMCA including the 3 additional banks for GIOFC 2013 and the 18 green sites across the university sites where a huge variety of items including clothing, food, small electrical items, books, CD’s, DVD’s and kitchen items were donated with the food collected re-distributed by Fareshare Cymru to relieve food poverty in our communities.’ 



Donations collected at a Green Zone one week

The total additional waste collected over the GIOFC period was down by 32%, as more people used the regular recycling and waste services correctly, underlining again how the recycling message was hitting home with the new approach meaning fines only had to be issued where necessary. A total of 22 fines were issued this year where our efforts at education and support had been ignored.



Environmental Champions spreading the message
in the student areas!

Cllr Govier added, ‘We cannot afford to rest on our laurels and we will build on this great year. The team has worked tirelessly to improve this historically difficult area to keep clean and I’m so pleased their efforts have been rewarded with such an improvement in recycling rates and reduction in complaints. We also achieved a saving of £26k in the process which just shows what can be achieved by looking again and implementing new and innovative approaches to how we deal an issue that can otherwise detrimentally affect the quality of life for too many people in these communities.’

Proposed 20mph pilot in Cathays and Plasnewydd - Have your say!

Cardiff Council have launched a consultation this week for a proposed pilot area for 20mph speed limits in areas of Cathays and Plasnewydd, which is being funded by Welsh Government through the Safer Routes in Communities project.

It is hoped that, as well as improving road safety and reducing the numbers of those killed or seriously injured on Cardiff roads, introducing 20mph speed limits will also make it easier for people to walk and cycle in the city and create a more sociable environment for people to live. The proposed project in Cardiff will be a ‘signs-only’ scheme. If the proposal is supported by local residents, 20mph limits are likely to be implemented in March 2014.

What do you think of this proposal? Cardiff Council would like local residents to let them know! An online survey can be found at:

English: http://surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/20mph/en/

Welsh: http://surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/20mph/cy/

Further details of the proposed pilot are available on www.keepingcardiffmoving.co.uk/20mph, along with a map of the proposed area, dates of public consultation sessions, an FAQ, and links to more information on 20mph speed limits and campaigns in the UK.

The closing date for this round of public consultation is 12^th August 2013 – please circulate this email and complete the survey before this date. If you have any further queries regarding the pilot, please email 20mph@cardiff.gov.uk

Important notice regarding parking permit applications

From 1 July 2013 the permit office at County Hall will close.

Students who are moving out of halls of residence and into rented accommodation, who are bringing their car to Cardiff, will need to obtain a resident parking permit if they live in a permit area.

All applications to obtain a resident parking permit are to be made by post only and permits cannot be obtained in person at any Council premises.

The postal address is:

Cardiff County Council Parking Services,

PO Box 47,

Cardiff,

CF11 1QB

For full terms and conditions when applying for a permit please visit the website www.cardiff.gov.uk/parking or, alternatively, telephone 029 2087 2087.

The Council are also developing an on-line application system and hope to have this operational later this year.

However, did you know... that estimates suggest bringing a car to University costs approximately £2,200?

Cardiff is a very walkable city and many students choose not to bring their car to University - why don't you make a Cardifference and leave your car at home?

Find out more here: http://cardiffdigs.co.uk/cardifference.htm 

New YMCA banks in Cathays

Another three YMCA banks are being installed in Cathays during the Get It Out for Cardiff campaign throughout the month of June. This is on top of the two permanent banks already present in the area.

 

New YMCA bank on Llanbleddian Gardens

The banks are situated by the Cardiff University Law building, the top of Cathays Terrace by Whitchurch Road and at the end of Llanbleddian Gardens on the corner of Miskin street.

 



Cardiff Council will be teaming up with the Environmental Champions, handing out reusable textile bags to students and residents in Cathays, Plasnewydd and Gabalfa. Textile bags can be filled with unwanted clothes, bags, textiles, books, CD’s/DVD’s and then taken to a YMCA bank.

Emma Robson, Student Liaison Officer, said ‘The new YMCA banks are situated in highly populated student areas and therefore maximise the schemes potential. Last year, the Get it out for Cardiff initiative recycled over 12 tonnes of unwanted items – items that would have otherwise gone to landfill. Having YMCA banks in prominent student locations encourages students to deposit their unwanted items when they move out of their property’.

Get It Out for Cardiff walkabouts

Walkabouts will be taking place in Cathays and Plasnewydd over the next few weeks to raise awareness of the Get It Out for Cardiff scheme. Volunteers are needed to engage with students and residents in the local area, giving them details of their nearest Green Zone and how to recycle their unwanted goods!

We shall be door knocking in Cathays on May 21st, 22nd and 23rd, and then again on June 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th. We will target the Plasnewydd area on June 4th, 5th and 6th. The meeting time and place for all walkabouts is on the third floor of the Students Union on Park Place, outside the sabbatical offices, at 4.30pm.

We would very much like for members of the local community to join together with Cardiff students, and give a little time to try and improve the local environmental quality of the area, and ensure that students are aware of the services available to help them keep Cardiff tidy at the end of term and beyond!

For more information, please call Emma Robson on 02920 871808 or email on emma.robson@cardiff.gov.uk

TV Licensing launches refund campaign for students moving home for the Summer months

As students in Cardiff prepare for their university exams, TV Licensing is reminding those moving home for the summer they might be able to claim a refund on their TV Licence, worth £36.37.

To be eligible, students need to have a TV Licence, be leaving their halls or rented accommodation and moving back home to a licensed address.

Any finance-savvy student who purchased a TV Licence at the start of the academic year will have a full three months remaining on their licence. This means they can now claim a refund for the final unused quarter. The savings could pay for a ticket to a gig, a one-way flight to Amsterdam or night out to celebrate the end of student exams.

Sara Jones, spokesperson for TV Licensing in Wales, said:

“With exams fast approaching and the Easter term coming to an end, the student refund is fantastic news for students who planned ahead and bought their licence at the start of the academic year. It’s vital students understand the law when it comes to watching or streaming live TV or they risk prosecution and fine of up to £1,000.”

Recent research by TV Licensing shows three out of five students watch at least an hour of TV a day, and 71 per cent of students use their laptop to watch TV. A TV Licence is needed to watch, record or stream programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV. This is the case whether you use a TV, laptop, games console, tablet, mobile phone, or any other device.

Phil Davis, Chair of the National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA), added: “The summer is a great opportunity for students to repair their bank balances, and it’s important they use every opportunity to do so. Getting a refund on the unused three months of a TV Licence is a really easy step to take.

“It’s important students buy a TV licence at the earliest opportunity when starting university and take advantage of the flexible payment options available to them. Most of all, it’s vital students avoid fines for not holding a TV Licence – a quick visit to www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo helps students ensure they are covered to watch TV on a range of devices.”

To arrange a refund, or for further information, simply visit: www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo, or call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6090.

Student and community volunteers recognised at Eastern BCU annual award ceremony

Student volunteers from Cardiff University and community volunteers from the local area have been recognized at an annual award ceremony held by South Wales Police. Students and residents were thanked for their commitment over the previous 12 months and presented with a certificate. Launched five years ago, the aim of the South Wales Police Student Volunteer initiative is to develop stronger community links and enhance the lives of students and local people by making them feel safer in their communities. This year has seen more than 50 new volunteers join the scheme.

PC Tim Davies, Student Liaison Officer, said: “The scheme has gone from strength to strength and the volunteers are very much part of the South Wales Police family. “They are helping bridge the gap between police and traditionally hard-to-reach members of the community improved community relations and making a positive impact on reducing crime figures within Cathays and Roath. We are grateful for them giving up their own time to help make Cardiff safer and it was nice to formally recognise their commitment at the 4th annual award ceremony.”