Ready to Listen : Ready to Act

Cardiff Post Article November 2008

The old saying of “A Week is a Long Time in Politics” has been taken to a whole new level by the Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru Executive on Cardiff Council. 

On the 27th September 2007, the previous Council took a decision to re-open the lower half of St MaryÂ’s Street, from

Wood Street South
, in order for traffic from the North to access CardiffBay without having to go through Riverside and Grangetown. A year on and still a firm date and direction is yet to be given on this.

, in order for traffic from the North to access without having to go through and Grangetown. A year on and still a firm date and direction is yet to be given on this. 

I sat and observed part of a scrutiny committee meeting of Cardiff Council which looked into the present situation on St Mary’s Street.  The meeting was detailed and heard many views from many different interested groups. I only wish that the Council meeting webcasting system was available for our committee meetings so that the public could have watched the important contributions and views on

St Mary Street.
 
I was shocked and surprised to listen to the evidence from the Managing Director of Cardiff Bus whom I assumed would have been fully consulted on the
St Mary Street
proposals presently being discussed by the Council.  How wrong I was.  The representative from Cardiff Bus revealed that officers from the Council had not consulted the Bus Company on several proposals for the Bus Network that has emerged as part of the City Centre Regeneration.

As an elected Member of this Council, I am increasingly seeing the frustration of the public and several elected members with the lack of direction of this administration.  No Executive Member seems to have the courage to take important decisions - hesitation which causes Cardiff to go into reverse.  I see the City moving backwards in many ways. The traders of

St Mary Street
indicated that whatever the final decision on pedestrianisation or re-opening, the dithering over
St Mary Street
has dramatically affected their business and they are worried about taking another “hit” over the Christmas period.

Councillors are elected to represent their ward and the people in the City. Not all decisions are easy, but the ruling groups would at least be respected if they actually took a decision, didn’t reverse it and then justify to the public why they did it.  Without this, the Council will continue to lose the confidence of the people.

My ward colleagues Adrian Robson, Brian Jones and I are holding a Ward Surgery and Coffee Morning on Saturday 15th November, between 10.30am - 12 Noon at The Wendy Hut, Lon Fach, Rhiwbina.

I can be contacted on Cardiff 029 2062 7757, mobile 079 7001 3332, E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk or log on to http://www.rhiwbinaward.com/

 

Â