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Outrage at airport plan

RESIDENTS have stepped up a campaign to prevent plans for an improved access road to Cardiff Airport.

A scheme to create a dual carriageway on Port Road through Wenvoe is one of three options being considered by the Welsh Assembly Government.

An announcement is expected soon.

But residents of Wenvoe registered their “100% condemnation of, and a determination to oppose, any dualling of the Wenvoe village part of Port Road,” at a recent public meeting.

Suzanne Campbell, of the Wenvoe community action group, said: “There is great concern at the pollution aspects of a dualling, especially as the road passes Wenvoe school.

“Many were in favour of a dual carriageway up the old railway line, taking traffic completely away from the village and the school.”

Source
 
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"No to airport access road’ – insist Wenvoe villagers

MORE than 100 people crowded into Wenvoe Community Centre on April 7 to pledge their opposition to an airport access along the Port Road.
Many village residents fear the road will be chosen by the Welsh Assembly as its preferred improved route to Cardiff Airport at Rhoose.
A spokeswoman on behalf of Wenvoe Community Action Group, which called the meeting, said: “People at the meeting aired their concerns to the Vale’s AM Jane Hutt, who said she was impressed by both the turn-out and the strength of feeling.”
Among the points made by villagers at the meeting were:
l A determination to oppose any dual carriageway through the village of Wenvoe.
l Expressions of concern at the pollution aspects of a dual carriageway, especially as the road passes Wenvoe school.
l That ‘improved’ road access to the airport should mean a direct link to the M4, especially in the light of further housing estate building, the proposed forces’ training academy at St Athan, and other developments scheduled in the mid-south part of the Vale to the west of Barry.
l Doubt was cast on the validity of the recent survey(s) and the need for a direct road to the airport at all at this time.
l An acknowledgement that traffic flows at Culverhouse Cross roundabout were a problem, but only in rush hours and school-run times; otherwise the traffic flowed steadily along Port Road.
l A general wish to consider any measures that would reduce the amount of traffic along Port Road from their current levels, as the road is noisy, smelly, dangerous, divisive and splits the village.
Wenvoe Community Action group (WCAG) was established in 1994, in response to a survey being carried out along Port Road.
The intention at that time was to cost a dual carriageway from Culverhouse Cross to Weycock Cross in Barry to improve access to the airport.
The group’s spokeswoman explained that the plans were put on hold in late 1995 for lack of funds, and the incoming Labour administration in 1997 placed a moratorium on all major road building.
The spokeswoman added: “The resolve still remains. Well in excess of 100 attendees again voted unanimously to vehemently oppose the dualling of that part of Port Road that travels through the eastern edge of the village.”
Jane Hutt told The GEM: “The Wenvoe village public meeting was very well-attended and it was an important event for me to hear the views and concerns from local residents about the airport access road proposals, which included options affecting the village.
“It was encouraging that residents had responded to the consultation last autumn so that their views could be taken into account.
“I also told them that I had written to the Minister to tell him about the strength of feeling and concerns about the Wenvoe options, and to pass on the issues raised at the meeting.”

Source
 
Cardiff Hub Planned

A NEW station, 3,500 parking places and a 130-acre business park costing up to £1bn could be built at St Mellons.

The station, dubbed the Cardiff Hub, would be built east of St Mellons and would replicate Parkways in Bristol and Didcot, serving thousands of commuters from across South Wales. As well as 3,500 car-parking spaces, the proposed development would include a bus station, check-in points for Cardiff and Heathrow airports, a cycle park and a business park, according to businessman Nigel Roberts, who is behind the scheme.

Mr Roberts, who owns Paramount Office Interiors, believes the ambitious project would create hundreds of jobs and give people living in areas of high unemployment better access to work in the city.

He said: “This has the potential to attract overseas business and could really turn around some of South Wales’ most deprived areas. It would ease congestion in Cardiff and move people on to public transport, which are all things the Welsh Assembly Government is trying to encourage.

“Initially it might be more of a local service but eventually we would like to provide trains right through to London.

“It even has the potential to replace Newport and Cardiff stations as the main transport hub for Wales.”

Mr Roberts is at the head of a consortium of businesses discussing the plans and says he already has options on 130 acres of land for the site.

The plans for the Hub were drawn up by WS Atkins, the design and engineering giant behind some of the world’s most iconic new buildings, including the sail-like Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the world’s tallest hotel.

Mr Roberts explained: “We want to work with ambition in terms of architecture and landscaping. In terms of planning, this started three and a half years ago. We don’t need to knock a building down or relocate anybody and the railway line is obviously already there.

“We’ve spoken to all the landowners and they have been very supportive.

“We’ve also spoken to leading politicians, to Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones, Jane Davidson and various people at the council.

“They are all supportive of it and want us to prove we can do it, so we’re currently gaining all the evidence for the economic and environmental case.

“You are going to be talking between £600m and £1bn in terms of cost and we have ambitions to open in 24 months.”

The station and business park would be built on the Cardiff side of the Newport-Cardiff county border, south-east of St Mellons. It would spread across the northern and southern sides of the railway line, providing a station mid-way between the two cities.

According to Mr Roberts, it would include two million sq ft of office space, a piazza, a hotel, shops and cafes for office workers.

Mr Roberts added: “The business park would be exemplar. It would be like nothing that we have seen in the UK. It would create its own energy and get rid of its own waste. We are looking at all the latest technology. We are also looking at having a check-in for Cardiff Airport and Heathrow. You could turn up here, park your car, get on a train and be at Cardiff airport in 15 minutes.”

Coun Geraldine Grant, the Liberal Democrat councillor for the ward, said she had already seen the plans but insisted it would take at least five years to happen.

She said: “At this stage it would be something I would welcome because it opens up possibilities for new business which would be greatly helped by a St Mellons station.

“It will be looked at along with all the other proposals. But there have been changes, not least with the economy of course, so you don’t really know.”

Labour councillor Ralph Cook added: “It is some years away from a decision. I’ve long held a desire to see a railway line with a station there. I’m a naturalist so I am aware of the environmental issues but I think the economic advantages outweigh the relatively small environmental impact it would have.”

An Assembly Government spokesman said it supported “in principle this type of development”.


link: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardi ... -23508298/

Would be inpressive if it came to fruition.
 
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[textarea]Cardiff Airport bus changes

Passengers using a bus link between Cardiff Airport and the city centre could face a lengthier wait, after the bus company operating it revealed it is reviewing its timetable, the Barry News reports. Cardiff Bus has said that it is considering revising service X91, which operates between Cardiff and Llantwit Major via Port Road, Barry and Cardiff Airport, because of a decline in passengers using the route.

The company told the newspaper that the need for change is mainly due to the effects of the re-opened Vale of Glamorgan rail line, and that other competing services are heavily subsidised enabling them to attract custom with lower fares. Peak-hour work journeys to and from Cardiff are likely to remain unchanged, with a bus every two hours off peak replacing the current hourly service.

Source[/textarea]

Who in their right mind is going to stick around for up to two hours waiting for a bus that may or may not turn up. This is outrageous.
 
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[textarea]Welsh Assembly Government criticised for rejecting plans to improve Cardiff Airport’s road access

AIRLINE chiefs reacted with anger yesterday after the Assembly Government abandoned its commitment to improve road access to Cardiff Airport.

The Government last year announced three schemes to make it easier for passengers to drive to the Rhoose terminal after 90% of people quizzed in an autumn 2007 survey said road approaches were “inadequate”.

But Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones dismissed all three claiming: “Following a study on potential routes to the airport which highlighted the limited economic benefits to the airport itself, when compared to the cost of the scheme, and concerns around the environmental impact, I am announcing we will not be taking forward these proposals.

“Instead, we will invest in improvements to the A4226 Five Mile Lane which will help ease traffic movement at Weycock Cross and will improve the safety of the road.”

A spokeswoman for budget airline Flybe said: “Flybe is extremely disappointed, particularly with the very little investment in aviation compared to the £6.3bn in rail.

She added: “Cardiff has poor transport links to the airport which means the competitive edge moves across the Severn and Wales loses out to Bristol and its airport. Flybe calls on the politicians to reconsider their decision.”

A bmibaby spokeswoman said given the lack of improvements to road access, it was essential to make it easy for passengers to reach the terminal by train and bus.

She added: “In light of the announcements made regarding improvements to access to Cardiff Airport, bmibaby supports the decision to invest in improvements of public transport facilities to Cardiff Airport.”

The Vale of Glamorgan council’s economic development director Rob Quick said: “The council is disappointed the Welsh Assembly Government has decided not to substantially improve road access between the M4 at Cardiff Airport and Barry.”

Announcing his National Transport Plan on Wednesday, Mr Jones hoped public transport would play a greater role in taking passengers to Cardiff Airport.

He said: “We will improve public transport access to Cardiff Airport, by creating more frequent bus and train services connecting the airport and Cardiff – as well as providing more convenient and regular trains between Bridgend and Barry.”

In a statement, the airport said: “We broadly welcome the more pragmatic and sensible approach outlined by the Welsh Assembly and in particular to enhance frequency and quality of public transport options between Cardiff Airport and Cardiff city. We would encourage immediate discussions in this regard as the relevant public transport standards need to be addressed.

“Cardiff Airport has for some time now questioned the notion of poor access to the airport and also whether this in itself could warrant such a significant road investment as that previously proposed.

“Our view is any significant infrastructural development, such as the options previously suggested, must be borne on the back of wider economic and social benefits for and around the Vale of Glamorgan.”

The statement added: “We also welcome the desire to enhance international connectivity from Cardiff Airport. Cardiff Airport believes that international connectivity is primarily a function of the economic and social prosperity of South Wales, but that there are specific and direct options which can be pursued now in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government.

“We look forward to playing our part in facilitating such opportunities going forward.”

Source[/textarea]

I'm puzzled as to how the Wales Assembly can reject such a vital road scheme to improve access to Cardiff Airport especially if access is such a big problem for Cardiff. It has to be said however that neighbouring Bristol airport isn't renowned for it's excellent road connections yet it has still managed to expand.
 
And Tim Lee, MD of FFB, agrees with you Aviador.

He has made the comment several times in WAN, effectively saying that if poor road links to Bristol Airport hasn't stopped the expansion there (they are, arguably, worse than those to CWL) it's no good pointing the finger at this for CWL's disappointing progress in recent years.
 
[textarea]Cardiff Airport parking changes

Construction work on a new layout outside the Cardiff Airport terminal building has been completed and, from next Monday (July 5) new Priority drop & go and Priority pick up areas will come into operation, with a fee of £1 to be charged. The airport has also made changes to its long stay car parks, to further add to the confusion just as the summer peak begins !

The changes mean visitors to the airport will have the option of using the new Priority drop & go and Priority pick up areas outside the terminal building, or a free drop off & pick up area in Long Stay 1 car park, a 'short distance' from the terminal building. New highway signs have been erected on all approach roads and within the airport site directing visitors to the new parking facilities and providing information regarding the new drop off and pick up options.

The Free drop off & pick up area will be available in the renamed Long Stay 1, formerly the Long Stay 2 car park, and a free special assistance vehicle for passengers with restricted mobility will also be available. The first 20 minutes will be free of charge with the usual parking rates applied thereafter.

Access to the Priority drop & go area in front of the terminal building will be available for up to 10 minutes, at a charge of £1 and 20 minutes for disabled blue badge holders. The Priority drop & go area will be barrier controlled where those wishing to use the facility will simply slot in a £1 coin into the barrier on exiting the area in front of the terminal building.

For the Priority pick up area paying the £1 fee will entitle those picking up passengers 20 minutes in the short stay car park, located close to the terminal building. After 20 minutes parking will be charged at the standard tariff.

As part of the redesign the existing car parks have been renamed and colour coded, with new signage installed: Long stay 1 (yellow) = Long stay 2; Long stay 2 (green) = Long stay 1. Please do not ask us why they would do this just as the summer peak is about to start, as we do not know either !

The airport has justified the changes by stating: 'Other UK airports such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and London Luton all operate similar procedures and charges for drop off and pick up of passengers,' but they can expect a press and passenger backlash.

Source[/textarea]
 
Hi Jimmy12,

If that is your website you can add it to your Signature using your User Control Panel settings so long as it's used as part of valid posts on the forum.

Welcome to Forums4airports! :smile:
 
[textarea]Flybe boss calls better road access to Cardiff Airport

Improved road access to Cardiff Airport would remove ‘an excuse‘ for airlines and passengers not to use it, the Western Mail reports the chief commercial officer of Flybe said yesterday. Mike Rutter also said that revenue levels from Flybe flights at the airport had increased year on year (on a weighted measure) by just over 50% for its last financial year to the end of March.

Although not impacting on passenger and revenue growth for Flybe in Cardiff, Mr Rutter said the airport needed to be able to attract passengers from Bristol. On shelved plans to improve road access to Cardiff Airport he said: ‘You don’t want to give too many excuses not to use Cardiff Airport. The access road needs to be improved and you cannot blame the airport’s management. However, to win business from Bristol, which has a bigger capacity, it has to be better.’

Mr Rutter, however, said he was particularly pleased with the Cardiff services to Glasgow and Edinburgh – with turnover growth exceeding expectations. He said: ‘Glasgow was up 45% and Edinburgh up 72%.' For the year the airline accommodated 218,000 passengers on flights in and out of Cardiff – up 2% on the previous year - with 42% of passengers travelling for business.

Source[/textarea]
 
Good news about the GLA and EDI routes.

The road access has long been blamed for CWL's disappointing performance in recent years but those who point to this seem to forget that road access to Bristol Airport is, if anything, worse and it hasn't stopped significant growth there.

Interesting that Mike Rutter appears to be encouraging CWL to snatch passengers from BRS given the apparent rapprochment between the BRS and Flybe managements after a difficult period a few years ago, and Flybe's new routes from BRS.
 
[textarea]Cardiff Airport access scheme moves a step closer

Plans for a £26.5 million scheme to improve access to Cardiff Airport took a small step forward this week when the Welsh Government was granted permission by the European Commission (EC) to use £5 million of public money on the project. Going ahead without EC approval would break competition rules.

However, a spokesman for the WAG said that a final decision on the scheme had not been taken, as there is a new Minister in charge. Responsibility for transport has moved from Ieuan Wyn Jones to Carl Sargeant. Mr Sargeant will now discuss with fellow ministers whether the money is available, and only then could discussions take place with the airport, who would be expected to fund the other £21.5 million.

Source[/textarea]

£21.5 million is a lot of money to find for an airport that is only supporting 1.34 million passengers annually. I just can't imagine where the airport will be able to find such a large amount of money for this development and Is it a financial risk worth taking if they do?
 
£21.5 million is a lot of money to find for an airport that is only supporting 1.34 million passengers annually. I just can't imagine where the airport will be able to find such a large amount of money for this development and Is it a financial risk worth taking if they do?

There is a significant body of opinion in Wales, or there is amongst those who take an interest in such things, that much of the blame for the ills that have beset CWL in recent years is due to the lack of interest of the owners.

TBI was originally a Welsh company but was bought by the Spanish Albertis Group several years ago and, since then, the rot has set in. That's not quite true because for the first year or so of Spanish ownership fortunes improved but that could be the result of the previous work of the owners when a Welsh company.

TBI/Albertis also own Luton and Belfast International airports in the UK and Welsh feeling is that Luton is regarded as the jewel in the crown and that is where most of the owner's interest lies.

Many believe that a change of ownership would be the catalyst that revives the airport's fortunes. That might prove to be true but it would depend largely on who bought it: often it's wise to think long about anything you wish for.

Whether TBI/Albertis would spend £20 million-plus on the airport is a moot point. They might if they thought it would improve the value of this fixed asset and make it easier to sell for the sort of money they would want, assuming they want to sell it.

Some experienced aviation people will say, probably with good reason, that the appearance of and ease of access to an airport is a red herring. Look no further than across the Severn to Bristol Airport whose surface access is, if anything, worse than Cardiff's, yet that has gone from strength to strength whilst Cardiff wallows in an advanced state of inertia.

If there is a market an airport will be successful. If there isn't no amount of tarting up will help much.

Cardiff's market is bigger than the current passenger figures and route network would suggest but how much bigger is arguable. The core catchment is around 2 million people and South Wales, the Cardiff city region apart, is one of the poorest regions of the UK and jobs in Wales rely on the public sector for about 70% of them. The successful neighbour doesn't help either with airlines, and South Wales passengers, using it more and more.
 
Cardiff airport road link

Looking back over the years when councils started to sell off airports to the private sector, I often wonder if it was the right decision. Clearly airports whether under public or private ownership should operate like a business and growth should be made responsibly and sustainably whoever owns the airport.

The problem I see with businesses running airports is unless there is a large stream of money coming into the coffers, private companies are reluctant to spending money to accumulate money, perhaps with only a few exceptions and with shareholders to please any money that is made tends to go to paying dividends as opposed to funding airport developments.
 
I think that so long as ownership of an airport in the private sector is vested in organisations that know what they are doing and are prepared to speculate sensibly to improve their asset then there is no contest when it comes to private versus public ownership of airports in this country.

Local authorities, although invariably owning airports through stand-alone companies sometimes in partnership with neighbouring local authorities, have two major drawbacks in my view.

1. They often find it difficult to obtain major investment to improve their airports.

2. There is always the underlying political control which can become critical if local authorities change political colour and policies thereby alter.

Cardiff's troubles seem to stem from a private owner seemingly not fully committed to this particular member of its stable of airports.

For that reason alone it would be fascinating to see what progress might be made under another owner, though there is always the danger of throwing the baby (no pun - well, not really) out with the bath water.
 
[textarea]Free airport shuttle under threat again

The future of a free shuttle bus service linking Cardiff Airport with its nearest train station has once again been thrown into doubt.

The shuttle service, which has an annual subsidy of £135,000, is now being reviewed against the background of cuts to all bus service subsidies across South Wales.

Following the opening of the Cardiff Airport station at Rhoose in 2005, the service first came under threat in May 2010 when airport managers withdrew funding, saying they could no longer afford the estimated £100,000 needed.

They said the shuttle bus carried fewer than 1,000 passengers a week, which made it unviable but the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Welsh Government stepped in to finance the two-mile service.

Now the subsidy is due to end in March and the Welsh Government is considering whether it should be continued.[/textarea]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonl ... -30395949/ for full report.

This is the bus that links Rhoose Halt on the Vale of Glamorgan railway line with Cardiff Airport. Although it's touted as an airport railway station it needs a bus connection to the airport terminal.

This seems another example of the owners of CWL relying on the public purse to subsidise something they should be paying for themselves.
 
[textarea]Direct rail link to Cardiff Airport "a £15m white elephant with five passengers per train"

Plans to build a direct rail link to Cardiff Airport have been slammed as an expensive white elephant that would end up carrying just five passengers per train.

Stop the Spur, which has been set up to oppose the proposal, says the cost – put at at least £15m – should be used instead to improve existing train services in and around Cardiff.

The Vale of Glamorgan council has included the link in its local development plan and earlier this week transport expert Professor Stuart Cole said building a 1.5-mile spur to the airport from the Cardiff to Bridgend coastal line near Porthkerry would greatly improve accessibility to the airport.

But Save the Spur spokesman Tom Beardshaw, a social media expert who has been asked by residents in the Porthkerry area to help their campaign, said: “In our view a direct link to the airport would be a five passengers per train white elephant.”

The row comes following highly critical comments made by First Minister Carwyn Jones about the condition of the airport.

He told AMs on Tuesday he doesn’t want to bring visitors into Wales through the airport “because of the impression it would give”.

Mr Beardshaw said: “Prof Cole says the link ‘could help transform the airport’ and Steve Hodgetts, the commercial director at the airport is quoted as being fully behind the proposal.

“And yet, in his evidence a few days ago to the National Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee, Mr Hodgetts said ‘There is a perception amongst some observers that improved access at the airport will, of itself, improve connectivity and growth. This is a misconception’.

“He went on to say ‘The infrastructure supporting Cardiff Airport – including access routes – is not currently a critical factor to route development’.

“That's because the problem with Cardiff Airport is not ease of access – in a recent survey asking passengers why they didn't choose Cardiff Airport, 57% cited too few destinations and too few flights while only 3% cited accessibility to the airport. It's not surprising that Cardiff Airport isn’t offering to help pay for the link.”

Mr Beardshaw also disputed Prof Cole’s claim that a new rail link could give the airport “a definite advantage over Bristol Airport”, saying similar claims had been made before the coastal rail line was reopened to passengers in 2005.

Yet despite Bristol Airport having no rail link, its passenger numbers have increased significantly while Cardiff Airport’s have slumped.[/textarea]

Full report at http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonl ... -30538439/

Without a railed train link Bristol Airport has powered ahead of Cardiff Airport - currently handling over five times as many passengers - but BRS does have a rail link, albeit it's a bus.

It runs at 10-minute frequencies in each direction between central rail and bus stations and airport from early till late and from April will run through the night. Passengers can and do travel on through rail tickets to/from the airport and by National Express.

It's an immense success and far better than any rail connection along a branch line to Cardiff Airport - which still needs a bus journey from airport halt to airport terminal and is entirely reliant on the rail companies providing trains.

CWL could have done the same though it means spending their own money, something the airport owners have shown themselves very reluctant to do.

CWL ought to send someone to spend a few hours outside Bristol Temple Meads railway station and see the continual flow of rail passengers who leave the station to board the Bristol Airport Flyer bus.
 
[textarea]Bus service to Cardiff Airport cancelled due to low passenger numbers

Cardiff Bus warns the Welsh Government to look at transport options now before it's 'too late'

There will no longer be an X91 bus service to Cardiff Airport

A row has broken out over the future of bus services to Cardiff Airport.

As reported in Saturday’s Echo, Cardiff Bus will be introducing changes to 40% of its services from July 21, as part of the company’s first major review of its timetables in a decade.

One of the changes includes the scrapping of the X91 Sunday service to Cardiff Airport, although the two-hourly service on a Monday to Saturday will remain the same.

Gareth Stevens, business development manager at Cardiff Bus, said the number of passengers using this service on a Sunday has not been enough to cover the costs of running it.

Full Story: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... rt-4282130[/textarea]
 
It's no wonder the Cardiff Bus service isn't working. I know Cardiff airport has been struggling over the past few years but I can't believe the Cardiff Bus company honestly thinks people will use a two hourly bus service. What the airport needs is a frequent half-hourly service with a reduced service running throughout the night. This will enable late arriving passengers and early morning departing passengers to use it. It might prove difficult to do initially because of the reduced number of airport users but increasing public transport links could also act as a catalyst to encourage any would be potential airline operator wishing to use the airport. Generally most airlines will insist on good public transport links to enable their passengers to complete their journeys.
 

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