People like ourselves are not going to visit Cardiff
There were tramps everywhere, sleeping or begging for money
Arwel and Hilary Jones Coychurch, Bridgend
MY WIFE and I travelled to Cardiff in the hope of having a good day out.
When we were walking along St Mary Street we were approached on two occasions by downand-outs who looked very unkempt and dirty and who were asking for money.
When we walked on and ignored them one started to shout abusive language at us with threats.
We walked along to the shops. There were tramps everywhere, sleeping or begging for money – they always seem to have a dog with them.
Not very far from St David’s Hall two of the tramps started shouting abusive language and threateneding physical violence at each other. This again happened further down the road with another two shouting and threatening each other.
Guess what, there wasn’t a policeman in sight. We never saw one all day. No doubt the powers that be at the council were hiding under their desks hoping the problem would go away.
Begging is illegal under the Vagrancy Acto of 1824 – in all public places. So why aren’t the police or the authorities doing anything about it?
People like ourselves are not going to visit Cardiff as it is, foreign visitors included.
Arwel and Hilary Jones Coychurch, Bridgend
Problem on buses with large prams
I AM a frequent user of Cardiff Bus and at my age find it very difficult to stand for any distance.
Lately, on several occasions, it has been impossible to find a seat,mainly because of enormous sized prams taking up all the front seats.
To make matters worse, the owners then use the disabled seats as well. Unlike the much smaller pushchairs, these modern prams are not suitable to go on buses. Cardiff Bus should restrict pram sizes or at the very least charge owners for their use.
Robert Hampshire Roath, Cardiff
Recyling centre would be better
THE Waungron Road recycling site was closed down some years ago even though it had only been opened 10 or so years before.
Residents now have to take their waste to a site off Hadfield Road through traffic jams and have to queue up to use it on weekends.
The Waungron Road site has lain empty for some years now.
A waste of council taxpayers’ money and a probable cause of dumping and fly- tipping in west Cardiff.
Three years ago Cardiff council gave planning permission for a bus station on the site.
Nothing has been built to date. Next year’s estimates put some money forward towards the building of this bus station but no date has been announced for its opening.
At the time of planning permission being given it was pointed out that bus operators of buses from Ely to the city centre would not want their already slow journeys lengthened by a pointless call at Waungron Road.
Planning permission has also been given for housing and retailing to be sited at this new bus station.
These plans including new traffic lights in Western Avenue and Waungron Road.
The already traffic jammed and polluted area at this junction will be made worse by these proposals and the expansion of Cantonian School and siting of new schools on the Cantonian site.
It’s time either Cardiff council got on and built this bus station or abandoned the scheme.
Currently people changing bus or catching a train at Waungron Road have only a short walk between modes of transport.
It is difficult to see what will be achieved by this long-delayed scheme. It would have been better to keep the recycling depot open these last five years.
Cllr Keith Parry
Welsh National Party Fairwater and Pentrebane Cardiff Council
Independence is what is needed
FLOOD allocation has nothing whatsoever to do with devolution (“Devolution not quite so wonderful after all”, Echo letters).
Westminster has consistently ignored and underfunded Wales because it is perceived as an immovable traditional Labour bastion and therefore not relevant.
Do you honestly think you have a snowball’s chance of seeing the Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury line reinstated when you are competing with the HS2 and northern lines?
The only answer is independence for the people of Wales – it is the only way that we will ever get to decide on what matters in Wales, for the people of Wales.
Joy Davies
Caerdydd
Labour needs some true leadership
WHAT happened to the Labour
Party?
Historically, the government has mostly had an opposition which will hold them to account, challenge the
Government’s policies and put forward alternatives.
This is the level and democratic playing field in which the government has functioned in.
Doesn’t the current Labour Party urgently need true leadership which Labour supporters have confidence in? Why the surprise in the recent election results?
Don’t they urgently need a true leader, which by definition, will not blame external influences but will hold the current government to account?
Neville Simpson Montgomery
Still trading with EU after Brexit
BLUE passports will be issued for the first time in almost three decades from next month to mark Britain’s departure from the EU, the Government has announced.
They will replace the standardissue burgundy passports that were rolled out across EU countries from 1988.
Priti Patel said: “Leaving the European Union gave us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path in the world.
By returning to the iconic blue and gold design, the British passport will once again be entwined with our national identity and I cannot wait to travel on one.”
British identity gave the contract to a French company to be made in Poland. Just like the pride of our armed forces, energy needs and communications all made in other countries.
Andrew Nutt Bargoed