In the hours leading up to a Six Nations game in Cardiff the streets are usually swathed in colour. Crowds spill out on to the streets from the packed bars and pubs as the atmosphere builds before kick-off.
This afternoon, however, the streets of Cardiff were eerily void of rugby fans, boasting only a sprinkling of French supporters who had made the trip over to cheer on Les Bleus as they took on Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Wales are hosting France tonight in a crucial Six Nations match, which expects to be furiously fought on the pitch and create a fantastic atmosphere both in the Millennium Stadium and the city centre.
But many local businesses are not happy with the game being played on a Friday evening rather than the more traditional Saturday afternoon as they are set to lose trade. Although there is a difference of opinion, the consensus is French fans will not stay for as long as they would if the game was played at the weekend, Wales fans will not spend all day in town as they ordinarily do because of work commitments, and all this at a time of economic difficulty.
Tony Schiczo, manager of Bar Sicilia on Cowbridge Road East, Canton, said: “We will lose out.
“When it’s an early game you get the best of both worlds – you get the trade before and after the game. When it’s in the evening you do not really get much.
“With the French we are losing out big time because they normally stay the whole weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – and they are big spenders as well.”
The continued development on Cardiff’s green spaces is set to be a key battleground in the upcoming general election.
A meeting last night organised by Angela Evans-Jones, the Conservative candidate for Cardiff West at St Catherine’s Church, Riverside, Cardiff, saw the tensions flair-up once more between residents, university staff and city councillors.
Problems have grown, with developments in Bute Park eradicating the city’s green areas in favour of the SWALEC Stadium, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, and increased motor vehicle movement within it.
A bridge built to allow articulated lorries greater access to the nurseries, and to aid the set up of major events in the park, has been completed, though it will not be opened to the public until April. And Glamorgan County Cricket Club have recently applied for planning permission to erect another 35-meter floodlight.
Mrs Evans-Jones said: “Bute Park is something which is very important to me because I live on the edge of it, my son cycles around it every day when the weather is good and my husband walks through it to work.
“I think the green spaces we have are very important and makes Cardiff the city it is.”
Posted in Cardiff
Tagged Bute Park, Bute Park Alliance, Cardiff, Conservatives, Glamorgan CCC, Labour, Plaid Cymru, Pontcanna, Riverside, Swalec Stadium, UWIC
Cyclists – the eco-friendly warriors who battle each day against the spreading of carbon emissions to save our planet.
But they often forget if they jump red lights and get knocked down they will not be able to reap the benefits.
The mindset of these lycra-clad people are: “I am doing right, I am right, and I will not change my ways for anyone.”
Almost a month since an earthquake shocked Haiti a CD to help raise funds for the devastated community has been launched in Cardiff.
Chris Rees while in Haiti in 2002
Steve Garrett and Welsh singer/songwriter Chris Rees visited the Caribbean island in 2002 to work with schools in the north of the country as part of The Haiti Fund.
Mr Garrett who runs the Riverside Market, said: “We went to try and help incorporate music into the curriculum but we quickly realised there were much bigger problems, such as where to get paper from.
“We always meant to put the CD out but our lives just took over. I suppose the earthquake was the catalyst we needed and I am glad we are finally doing it and we are able to help.”
