Cardiff live updates

As it happened on February 8: LGBT+ flag road marking cost, bin workers protest and food bank demand

How we covered the news in Cardiff

Today’s main headlines on CJS News were:

Unite Union picketed Cardiff Council over allegations that bin workers are being bullied

People in Cardiff were divided over the LGBT+ flags painted on Castle Street

Food banks said there’s been an noticeable increase in people using their services


17.30pm

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17.29pm

Read the full story of our LGBT+ road markings exclusive

Cardiff Council revealed to CJS News they spent £15,000 on the LGBT+ road markings.

Read the full story here.


16.51pm

‘He should resign’

 The Labour Party’s Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens told CJS News she thinks Boris Johnson has lost the “moral authority to govern”.


16.00pm

Increasing demand for food bank help in the city

Food banks are reporting they’re struggling to keep up with demand as living costs spiral.

Figures for January from the Food Standard Agency show one million people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland went a day without eating because of the cost of food.


15.39pm

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♬ original sound – Cardiff Broadcast

15.07pm

EXCLUSIVE: Cardiff Council reveals cost of LGBT+ road markings

Cardiff Council has confirmed to CJS News the cost of the new LGBT+ rainbow markings outside Cardiff Castle in the city centre.

In an email to CJS News, a council spokesperson confirmed the bill to paint four progressive Pride flags on Castle Street was £15,000.


14.05pm

‘It’s a visible commitment to diversity and inclusion in our capital city’

Dan Walsh from Pride Cymru supports the LGBT+ flag on Castle Street:


13.54pm

The LGBT+ flag on Castle Street has a mixed reaction

People in Cardiff have mixed views on the LGBT+ flag that’s been painted on Castle Street.

Some are debating on social media whether the flag is too similar to a zebra crossing.

Welsh Labour Councillor for Grangetown Ashley Lister says “it’s very, very clearly not a zebra crossing”.

Others have questioned how much it has cost the council, and whether it could’ve been spent on better security for the LGBT+ community.


12:12pm

Cardiff Council’s response to the bin worker bullying accusations

A Cardiff Council spokesperson told CJS News: “The council has met with Unite on these claims and has asked the Union – on several occasions – to bring forward any evidence of bullying or health and safety concerns which can be investigated properly. So far they have failed to do so.

“We are yet to see the details of the survey – although we understand only around one tenth of the workforce took part. None the less we are keen to see the details and to investigate any evidence brought before us.

“The council is surprised by Unite’s overall assessment as it runs counter to what the other trade unions (GMB and Unison) have told us in discussions. We take all allegations of bullying seriously, and will always work with Trade Unions when they bring forward specific allegations to investigate. We have robust and long-standing processes in place that have been developed in partnership with our Unions – to do just that. All the Unions know we take a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and the health and safety of our staff is a priority for us.”


11.50am

Unite Wales picket Cardiff Council over bin worker bullying allegations

Campaigners are outside County Hall in Cardiff Bay.

They claim Cardiff Council is trying to shut down complaints made by bin workers.

The council disagree with the accusations but say they take “all allegations of bullying seriously”.


11.40am

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