Returning safely to Cardiff schools
We have put together some Frequently Asked Questions for parents and pupils on returning to schools from 29 June.
To see how we are supporting schools to reopen read the full article on Cardiff Newsroom.Link opens in a new window
We are introducing a new school traffic scheme to help maintain social distancing when schools reopen. View information on COVID-19 School Streets Road Closures.
There is also a Frequently Asked Questions pageExternal link opens in a new windowExternal link opens in a new window on the Welsh Government website which will provide answers to common questions. Read more information about schools restarting on the Welsh Government website.Link opens in a new window
Hub childcare will stop from 26 June.
Find out more about Key worker childcare from 29 June.
Key worker Childcare Provision
From Monday 29 June all key worker childcare currently provided in the hubs will be delivered from home schools, i.e. where the child(ren) would have been on roll before the schools closed due to COVID-19.
There will be no changes to pre-school childcare.
As of 29 June the hours for the key worker childcare service offered in schools will be from 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
See more information on key worker childcare and how to apply
Pre-school childcare
There are number of private, independent and voluntary settings that are still operating which have spaces for pre-school children.
Parents or carers who are using the provision are reminded to observe social distancing when dropping off and collecting their children. We request that you keep a two metre distance from staff and other members of the public.
Free school meals
Parents and carers of children currently receiving Free School Meals will be sent a downloadable voucher to the value of £40 for the benefit of their eligible child or children which can be spent in one of the following supermarkets:
- Tesco
- Asda
- Sainsbury’s
- Morrisons
- Marks and Spencer
-
Waitrose
Families who are eligible will receive a letter with details of the voucher directly from the Council.
View a copy of the letter External link opens in a new window External link opens in a new window
To apply for Free School Meals, email Freeschoolmeals@cardiff.gov.uk
The Council have also developed an arrangement to enable parents and carers to buy food using funds deposited directly into their bank account. This will deliver BACS payments using Parent Pay, an online payment system already used by 91 of Cardiff’s schools.
Parents or carers with children who are eligible for Free School Meals will receive a letter providing information on how to receive the fortnightly payment. For those who are not yet using Parent Pay, there will be a step by step guide on how to register and contact details should you need further assistance.
This arrangement will provide parents with more flexibility on where they can shop. The voucher scheme which is currently being delivered will continue to run alongside the new arrangement.
School Admissions
School Admission Appeals
If you have made an appeal already, please bear with us as we await instruction from Welsh Government on how the arrangements for hosting appeals under the current public health crisis will be carried out.
Most kerbside collections return to normal from 1 June.
Fortnightly Garden waste collections are returning from Monday, July 6.
Check your recycling and waste collection dates.
Recycling centres
Following Government guidance, we have re-opened our recycling centres.
Find out how to book a time slot and see terms and conditions of use.
Bulky Item collections
We have made some changes to our bulky item collection service.
Find out more about bulky item collections and how to make a booking.
Shoppers, workers and residents visiting Cardiff city centre from Monday 22 June will be greeted by staffed Welcome Points, safe walking systems and some road closures as COVID lockdown restrictions begin to lift.
Cardiff Council has implemented its plan to keep people safe and help businesses to reopen, including:
- Setting up staffed welcome and information points;
- Creating a clearly signed walking system - accessible to all;
- Establishing queuing areas outside shops;
- Leaving available bench spaces where people can stop to rest;
- Closing Castle Street and Mill Lane to traffic;
- Help and advice for people with disabilities including a motorised, buggy, pick-up service.
These measures are part of a number of actions we will bring in over time as more and more restrictions are lifted.
There are further plans to create a public square inside Cardiff Castle; using Castle Street and the Castle moat as a covered area for local restaurants and cafes to deliver food to; delivering more on-street spill out spaces for hospitality businesses; and setting up zones across the city to entertain people outdoors in socially-distanced settings.
Read more about Council
plans for the city centre as lockdown restrictions are liftedExternal link opens in a new window The
Visit Cardiff websiteExternal link opens in a new window has more advice and information for residents and visitors.
If you are having difficulty paying your council tax due to being on a low or reduced income you may be entitled to Council Tax Reduction. Find out more and apply for a reduction.If you already receive Council Tax Reduction you can notify us of any changes in your circumstances.If you are concerned about your council tax payments please contact the Council Tax team via our online contact form or by emailing the office directly at ctax@cardiff.gov.uk. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic we are receiving a high volume of enquiries. Please bear with us, we will get back to you as soon as we can. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Play areas
Play areas in Cardiff Council's parks are closed. The risk of transmission from child to child on play equipment is thought to represent too great a risk to the public as we seek to slow the transmission of COVID-19.
Cardiff's parks will remain open at this time. We understand the role they can play in aiding well being through the outbreak.
If you are visiting a park please practice social distancing. This is vital if we are to slow or halt the person-to-person transmission of COVID-19.
If social distancing rules are not followed in our parks then we may have to review this position and they could then be closed to the public. We strongly urge people to avoid any large gatherings, and observe social distancing, so that parks can remain open.
Roath Park Lake
A temporary one-way system for pedestrians around Roath Park Lake is being introduced from Saturday 18 April in response to concerns raised by local residents. The system will involve a clockwise one-way system around the path by the lake and will remain in place seven days a week until further notice.
Signs will be placed in the park to show local residents and visitors how the new system will work and staff will be on hand this weekend to help bed in the new arrangements.
Two-way traffic will be maintained on Wild Gardens, Lake Road East and Lake Road West, between the Wild Gardens and the promenade. Here, all visitor parking will be removed, nearest to the lake, which will provide additional space for cyclists and joggers.
The changes to the layout of the highway are designed to discourage people from making nonessential trips by car to the area.
The one way system around the lake is due to be introduced on a pilot basis for the weekend commencing 18th April. If successful the scheme will be extended until at least 26th April with a view to implementing more durable measures to cover a longer period of COVID-19.
Blackweir Bridge
Blackweir Bridge across the Taff is being closed to the public as of Saturday 25 April.
Four key hubs are providing essential services and support to residents
Please see information on services provided at our Hubs.
Libraries
Books are now set to renew automatically and any holds have been suspended, overdue fines are not being charged so please do not travel to try and return books or other stock items.
You can access e-books, audio books and magazines via our online libraryExternal link opens in a new window External link opens in a new window.
We have created some Lockdown Activities including videos, activity sheets, and quizzes for you to enjoy at home whilst the Hubs and Libraries are closed.
Cardiff Council Public Rights of Way network remains open for the public to use. This will remain under review and may change if areas are identified where groups of people are congregating and not adhering to measures set out by the Government.
We ask that all members of the public follow the requirements for social distancing and use their local routes rather then travel to the countryside unnecessarily. Many footpaths and bridleways cross private land, working farms and in some cases are close to private homes.
Please keep to the paths, keep your distance from landowners and continue to follow the restrictions and measures which are in place to protect you and others.
All path closure notices will be published online and notices posted on site under
The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new windowSpecific guidance on the Coronavirus Regulations in relation to rights of way and access land, along with a centralised list of links to individual Authority closures is now available on the Welsh Government websiteLink opens in a new window
Footpath closure noticeRequirement to close to reduce the risk of public contact and spread of the coronavirus.Whitchurch No.78 Public Footpath, Rhiwbina Hill to Lon Ysgubor (547kb PDF).Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new windowFrom March 31, 2020 until end of the COVID-19 emergency period.Capel Llaniltern No.1 Public Footpath, Canada Lakes Lodge to Llantrisant Rd (400kb PDF).Link opens in a new window Link opens in a new window
From April 7, 2020 until end of the COVID-19 emergency period.
Capel Llaniltern No.19 Public Footpath, Llantrisant Rd to Heol St y Nyll (592kb PDF).Link opens in a new window From May 1, 2020 until end of the COVID-19 emergency period
St Fagans No.4 Public Footpath, St Bride’s Road to junction with St Fagans No.1 (617kb PDF).Link opens in a new window From May 1, 2020 until end of the COVID-19 emergency period
The following Cardiff Council managed venues are closed to the public entirely:
- The New Theatre
- St David's Hall
- Cardiff Castle
- The Museum of Cardiff
- The Mansion House
- Cardiff International White Water Rafting Centre
- Channel View Leisure Centre
- The Riding School
- Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre
- Canton Community Centre
- Bute Park Education Centre
- Roath Park Conservatory
- The Motocross site
- Llanover Hall and Arts Centre
- Severn Road Adult Learning Centre
- Flatholm.
City Hall and County Hall are closed as venues for private hire and private functions.
Events scheduled to take place later in the year will remain under review and decisions on whether or not they go ahead will be made based on the latest Government advice at that time.
- Children's Literature Festival - cancelled.
New birth registrations
New birth registrations have been suspended in line with UK-wide guidance from the General Register Office. This is to ensure new born babies are not exposed to the current risks associated with attending Registry Offices with their families. Child Benefit applications will not be affected.
Weddings
All marriage and civil partnership ceremonies are currently
suspended. We are aware that the government is currently examining how and when
weddings and other ceremonies might resume and we will update this page as soon
as we have details of the arrangements in place for Wales.
We do not yet know:
- Where ceremonies can take place
- How many guests will be permitted
- The content that can be included in the ceremony
- Any further restrictions that may apply
- The arrangements for notices of marriage or civil partnership
If you have a booking with us and would like to discuss your
options, please get in touch on 029 2087 1680/4 or email ceremonies@cardiff.gov.uk
Funerals
We have introduced limits on the number of people attending funerals. A maximum of ten immediate family members will be able to attend burials and cremations taking place at Thornhill Crematorium and the city's cemeteries.
The standard £50 fee for live webcasts of funeral services has been waived.
Four Cardiff cemeteries will re-open to members of the public from Saturday 25 April. Teams will be in place to ensure social distancing is maintained and the spaces are not used inappropriately during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
Please only visit the cemeteries if you are attending a grave or for a funeral Access to Thornhill Cemetery and Crematorium is restricted. In line with Welsh Government legislation the Crematorium itself will be closed to the wider public, with the exception of a maximum of 10 immediate family members attending funerals and burials.
No public access will be allowed to other areas of the site, such as the gardens, memorials or Book of Remembrance.
Our priority is to keep our tenants safe at this very difficult time and this means some changes to services have been necessary. The changes we have made are in line with Public Health and Welsh Government guidance.
See
Letter to Tenants from Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government (450kb PDF)Link opens in a new window
Repairs
To ensure a service to tenants with the greatest need and to prevent the spread of the virus, only emergency repairs will be carried out. Tenants should only contact us about a repair if it is an emergency.
This situation will be reviewed from 13th July onwards.
Rent Payments
Tenants experiencing problems with rent payments at this difficult time should get in touch to discuss this. Don’t worry, we can support you to find a solution.
Tenancy and Anti-social behaviour issues
Home visits will take place only in very urgent cases. Issues will be resolved by telephone as far as possible.
Cleaning of Communal Areas of Flats
Routine cleaning of low rise flats have been suspended and bulky waste collection may be delayed.
Tenant Participation
All meetings organised by the Council are being suspended. We strongly advise that all groups suspend their meetings.
Moving Home
No further exchanges will go ahead at this time and only urgent transfers will take place.
Homelessness
We will still be working on our empty properties and helping homeless people to move out of temporary accommodation and hostels.
Changes to Park and Ride due to COVID-19:
Park and Ride East: Monday – Friday only. No weekend service.
Park and Ride West: Cancelled until further notice.
Park and Ride South: Cancelled until further notice.