CARDIFF CITY CENTRE’S NEW LOOK:
NEW images have revealed a glimpse of how Cardiff city centre will look with the new lockdown rules in place.
Cardiff council have revealed plans for how the capital will cope with the “new normal”.
As previously reported in the Echo, in a plan published on Friday, the council said a number of measures will be brought in over the next few weeks including:
■ More 20mph zones;
■ Widening pavements;
■ More cycleways;
■ Manned city centre welcome points; ■ Demarcated pedestrian footways;
■ Queuing space;
■ Spill-out areas;
■ Changes to car parking; and
■ Changes to traffic movement (including buses) around the city centre.
The “Cardiff Recover Strategy” report adds that some measures may be changed and some may become longerterm or permanent.
Now a series of artists’ impressions and maps have been revealed showing what the capital could look like.
Here’s everything you need to know about the plans:
■ How will people get into the city? The city will need to be put “into a form of event mode”, the council said, for people to access the city centre.
It added: “This arrangement will establish a managed cordon around the city centre allowing car access, and bus/ active travel through movement.”
■ How will people walk around the city?
People walking around will have to follow signed routes so they can keep a safe distance.
A one-way system is being proposed with all pedestrians to be directed to follow a pre-designated route.
The council said: “There will be a series of one-way movements and identified places to reverse the direction of travel (a leap-frog point).
“A series of routes around the city centre is being developed taking account of the retail offer, transport hubs (bus stops, taxi ranks, stations and car parks).”
Signs will also be put up around the city, including directions on which way to walk and queue markers outside shops.
■ Welcome to Cardiff
Welcome points are planned to be installed at the main pedestrian points across the city. These will tell people how the new systems works, how to get to certain places, hand-washing facilities and a worker to give advice.
■ Spill-out areas
The council have identified a number of “spill-out” areas across the city.
These can be used as shared or dedicated spaces for restaurants and the hospitality trade.
■ Old times are out
The council said: “The ‘new normal’ will include the need to potentially fundamentally change commute/office times.
“City centre businesses, including retail and restaurants, will need to extend and flex opening hours to allow more access spread throughout the day, evening and night.
“The city centre needs to be flexible to support recovery – it needs to provide more space and time.
“Given the challenge with public transport – it will also need to offer more flexibility in terms of the arrangements for safe access.
“Time and space in the city will need to be stretched, more flexible and adaptable.”
■ Car parks
The council said many of the existing city centre car parks will need to operate at a reduced capacity to ensure safety.
It said a “combined (public/private) approach to the availability of city centre car parking is being developed”.
It added a “comprehensive” network of park and rides needs to be developed. ■ Cycling
The council said there will be more secure cycle parking facilities on the street in the city to encourage their use.
It added it has “on-going dialogue” with Nextbike about the location and availability of the rental bikes.
The council said there has been a “significant” increase in people cycling for both exercise and essential journeys since the lockdown.
They said they will:
■ Bring in more “pop-up” cycleways, similar to the one outside Cardiff Castle, to link up the city centre and other areas; ■ Provide more cycle parking in the city centre and local centres; and
■ Review the potential for “park and pedal” sites.
■ What about other shopping areas outside the city centre?
The council is also working on plans to make sure other local centres can reopen, such as Wellfield Road.
It said it will introduce measures such as pavement widening, cycle routes, “street greening”, and bring in 20mph speed limits to “all local and district centres” that are currently 30mph.
It also plans to roll out the measures being piloted on Wellfield Road to other similar areas.
A number of other measures are also be considered, including:
■ Opening up public space for free, and implementing flexible licensing arrangements to support businesses in addressing constraints of social distancing. Extending operating hours for the city centre to reduce congestion;
■ Using the Castle as a safe marketplace for local businesses, using digital technology to enable city centre businesses to utilise a new “city square”; and
■ Additional support to improve shop frontages for small hospitality businesses and retailers.
The plans will be discussed by the Cardiff council cabinet on Thursday.