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7.
August
2020.
COVID safety measures introduced at four district shopping centres

07/08/20


Work on adapting four of Cardiff’s district shopping centres to help businesses trade safely through the COVID pandemic and to enable visitors to adhere to social-distancing regulations is set to begin.

The first phase of works will take place on Sunday, August 9th. It will see temporary three schemes installed using red and white bollards to widen pavements in Pontcanna Street, off Cathedral Road; in Llandaff High Street; and placed on Merthyr Road in Whitchurch.

A similar scheme will then be installed in Merthyr Road, near the junction with Hermon Hill in Tongwynlais early next week. Planters with trees will be installed in all four locations later in the month.

This work follows on from the Wellfield Road pilot scheme, where pavements were widened, cafes and bars allowed to create spill out areas to trade outside, and new trees were installed in planters to green the shopping area.

Cardiff Council is also planning a second phase of works for all four schemes, which will involve replacing the temporary red and white bollards with bolt-down kerbs, and laying new tarmac on the pavement extension.

Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “It’s a priority for the council to provide the opportunity for local traders to be able to trade safely and within the current Government restrictions. We have been working closely with local members and local businesses on these plans. We want to ensure that the measures that are brought in, benefit and work for the local communities we are trying to help.

“The outside space for these businesses is important to them, as despite the announcement that was made recently about the hospitality trade trading indoors, the capacity for their customers to eat or drink inside is pretty restricted due to the two-metre social distancing rules.”

The four schemes will retain the same amount of disabled parking and loading bays as is available now.