A piece for the Cardiff Evening News proving the impact of large events needs to be carefully considered:
EISTEDDFOD organisers have called on an expected 160,000 visitors to make this year’s event in Cardiff a “green” festival. But there are concerns about plans to charge for a temporary park and ride scheme.
Wales's top arts event will be staged in the capital in August, giving the city a £6.4m tourism boost and turning parkland into a huge entertainment extravaganza, the size of 14 football pitches.
But local residents are upset by the park and ride charge which, they say, will once again cause traffic chaos in Pontcanna and Riverside.
The area suffers from a huge influx of cars during large events at Ninian Park, Sophia Gardens and the Millennium Stadium as visitors seek to avoid paying for parking by taking residents’ spaces or parking illegally.
Margaret Rutter, 77, of Rennie Street, Riverside, is one of many locals who are calling for a public meeting to discuss the problem. She said: “When there is an event on, or a match, we are scared to go out as you cannot get back. Your space will be gone.”
Eisteddfod chief executive Elfed Roberts said: "We are expecting 160,000 visitors over the week and they can all help Cardiff's environment by thinking about their choice of transport. We would like to encourage them where possible to leave their cars at home or to use the park and ride services."
The Eisteddfod organisers are well versed in the art of liaising with local councils to provide park and ride schemes. In Llanelli (2000), Newport (2004) and Swansea (2006) such schemes were present and well used. They were also free.
This year Cardiff County Council are proposing to charge £5 for use of a park and ride scheme in Leckwith.
Alan Gwynant, technical director for the Eisteddfod said: “We had discussions with the transportation officers of the council and they are extremely experienced. They are running the park and ride, not the Eisteddfod.
“The primary message we will be putting out is don’t use your car. Every ticket has a leaflet sent out with it inviting people to pre-book the park and ride.
“Where there is an easy and efficient service people will take it. The service at previous events has been free but that was the decision of the relevant council.
“We have been told that extra enforcement officers are provided for large events so this should ease potential traffic problems around the event.”
Steven Phillips, corporate director for Cardiff County Council revealed otherwise at a recent PACT meeting in Riverside.
Speaking at the meeting, he said: “The reason people are parking [illegally] is because the enforcement of parking is non-existent. The problem is we have less than 40 traffic wardens in the city. The reality is that the police are spending their time on more serious matters.”
Mrs Rutter said: “We all know in Riverside if you park up after 3pm or 4pm you are not going to get in trouble.”
Plaid councillor for Riverside, Mohammed Islam, is trying to arrange a residents’ meeting with council and Eisteddfod officials for later this month.
Fellow Plaid councillor Gwenllian Lansdown said: “Parking is a serious issue in Riverside and there are genuine concerns that if the council insists on charging for the park and ride that not as many people will use it than if it were free.”
Mr Gwynant said: “We have offered at any time to meet anybody to talk about the matter but have not heard.”
Council press officer Claudia Hamilton said: “The £5 Park and Ride charge has been agreed with The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Anything less than £5 would not cover the running costs and that would then fall to the taxpayer.
“The £5 per car charge includes free unlimited bus travel to and from the Eisteddfod site and city centre throughout the day and into the evening.
“We are looking to provide a service from the central bus and rail stations to the event, but nothing has been finalised yet. We would encourage people to come by train and bus wherever possible.”
Work will start in May to prepare the site off Cathedral Road which will include a 550-caravan park, a 3,500-seat pavilion and more than 320 stalls.
Parking charges in Cardiff:
- On the university campus off North Road: £3 for 10 hours.
- Sophia Gardens: £5 for up to 6 hours, £7 for more than 6 hours.
- North Road car park: £3.50 afternoon only, £5 all day.
- Council’s shoppers’ park and ride scheme from the Bay and Crown Way: £3
- Eisteddfod park and ride: £5
EISTEDDFOD organisers have called on an expected 160,000 visitors to make this year’s event in Cardiff a “green” festival. But there are concerns about plans to charge for a temporary park and ride scheme.
Wales's top arts event will be staged in the capital in August, giving the city a £6.4m tourism boost and turning parkland into a huge entertainment extravaganza, the size of 14 football pitches.
But local residents are upset by the park and ride charge which, they say, will once again cause traffic chaos in Pontcanna and Riverside.
The area suffers from a huge influx of cars during large events at Ninian Park, Sophia Gardens and the Millennium Stadium as visitors seek to avoid paying for parking by taking residents’ spaces or parking illegally.
Margaret Rutter, 77, of Rennie Street, Riverside, is one of many locals who are calling for a public meeting to discuss the problem. She said: “When there is an event on, or a match, we are scared to go out as you cannot get back. Your space will be gone.”
Eisteddfod chief executive Elfed Roberts said: "We are expecting 160,000 visitors over the week and they can all help Cardiff's environment by thinking about their choice of transport. We would like to encourage them where possible to leave their cars at home or to use the park and ride services."
The Eisteddfod organisers are well versed in the art of liaising with local councils to provide park and ride schemes. In Llanelli (2000), Newport (2004) and Swansea (2006) such schemes were present and well used. They were also free.
This year Cardiff County Council are proposing to charge £5 for use of a park and ride scheme in Leckwith.
Alan Gwynant, technical director for the Eisteddfod said: “We had discussions with the transportation officers of the council and they are extremely experienced. They are running the park and ride, not the Eisteddfod.
“The primary message we will be putting out is don’t use your car. Every ticket has a leaflet sent out with it inviting people to pre-book the park and ride.
“Where there is an easy and efficient service people will take it. The service at previous events has been free but that was the decision of the relevant council.
“We have been told that extra enforcement officers are provided for large events so this should ease potential traffic problems around the event.”
Steven Phillips, corporate director for Cardiff County Council revealed otherwise at a recent PACT meeting in Riverside.
Speaking at the meeting, he said: “The reason people are parking [illegally] is because the enforcement of parking is non-existent. The problem is we have less than 40 traffic wardens in the city. The reality is that the police are spending their time on more serious matters.”
Mrs Rutter said: “We all know in Riverside if you park up after 3pm or 4pm you are not going to get in trouble.”
Plaid councillor for Riverside, Mohammed Islam, is trying to arrange a residents’ meeting with council and Eisteddfod officials for later this month.
Fellow Plaid councillor Gwenllian Lansdown said: “Parking is a serious issue in Riverside and there are genuine concerns that if the council insists on charging for the park and ride that not as many people will use it than if it were free.”
Mr Gwynant said: “We have offered at any time to meet anybody to talk about the matter but have not heard.”
Council press officer Claudia Hamilton said: “The £5 Park and Ride charge has been agreed with The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Anything less than £5 would not cover the running costs and that would then fall to the taxpayer.
“The £5 per car charge includes free unlimited bus travel to and from the Eisteddfod site and city centre throughout the day and into the evening.
“We are looking to provide a service from the central bus and rail stations to the event, but nothing has been finalised yet. We would encourage people to come by train and bus wherever possible.”
Work will start in May to prepare the site off Cathedral Road which will include a 550-caravan park, a 3,500-seat pavilion and more than 320 stalls.
Parking charges in Cardiff:
- On the university campus off North Road: £3 for 10 hours.
- Sophia Gardens: £5 for up to 6 hours, £7 for more than 6 hours.
- North Road car park: £3.50 afternoon only, £5 all day.
- Council’s shoppers’ park and ride scheme from the Bay and Crown Way: £3
- Eisteddfod park and ride: £5
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