Updated: Updated Cardiff security fences and road closures sections.
This September over 60 world leaders will be coming to Wales to attend the NATO Summit at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. A series of associated events will also take place in Cardiff and Newport.
In preparation for the summit, a great deal of planning is happening to ensure the event is safe and that any potential disruption for the local community is minimised.
This will be one of the largest security operations ever undertaken in the UK with extra police officers and staff from all over the country arriving in the area to help police the event.
Policing
Normal policing will be maintained and Neighbourhood Officers will continue their daily duties, patrolling the area protecting, and reassuring communities. You can expect to see more police officers and activity in your area providing security around the time of the summit.
Protests
NATO summits have previously provided a focus for protestors and the police service respects the right for peaceful protest. The police will work with local communities that may be in areas where protests or marches are expected to keep them informed.
Gwent Police and Newport City Council have been informed of the routes of two proposed marches by anti-Nato campaigners. Read the full details here -
Both organisations have a legal obligation to facilitate peaceful protests and are, therefore, working together to ensure that the marches can take place safely, while coping with the inevitable disruption to the city on those 2 days.
The police and council are acting on the latest information which has been provided by the protestors. Rolling road closures will be put in place to try and minimise the inconvenience to road users as much as possible.
Saturday 30 August
Protestors intend to march from the Faulkner Road car park (council-owned car park by the Crown Court buildings) from 2pm. The car park will be closed all day. The proposed route will go past the railway station and to the Old Green interchange before crossing Old Town Bridge and via the Cenotaph in Clarence Place, along Corporation Road, across George Street Bridge and then Commercial Road before ending in Westgate Square (indicated this could be from 4pm onwards).
Thursday 4 September
The march is due to begin at 12pm at the Cenotaph and then along Chepstow Road towards the Celtic Manor Resort. It is not known at this stage where it will end and if there will be disruption to traffic, should protestors return to the city centre using the same route.
It should be noted that the times and routes for both marches could change. Please heed advisory and diversion signs, and check back here for updates.
Travel and road closures
Rest assured we are working with our partners on plans to minimise disruption as much as possible.
Whilst the summit itself is being held at the Celtic Manor Resort, the UK and Welsh governments have announced that 3 iconic Welsh venues – Cardiff Castle, Tredegar House and The Royal College of Music and Drama – will all host events for the international guests attending the summit. The Royal Navy’s newest type 45 frigate, HMS Duncan, which will be docked in Cardiff Bay during the week of the summit, will also be used for the events taking place on Thursday 4 September.
Security around the summit will rely on the safe transportation and accommodation of our guests and this will inevitably affect traffic and pedestrian flow around venues listed above.
There will be traffic disruption, focused around the Celtic Manor Resort, Cardiff’s City Centre and the roads in between, but there is no intention to close the M4 at any point. Significant disruption should be limited to particular pinch-points during the 2 days as delegations arrive and depart the Celtic Manor Resort. Rush-hour on Thursday evening and Friday morning are likely to be the most affected and people are advised to consider what time they start and finish work; where possible to use public transport or share journeys; and to allow extra time for journeys.
Newport - security fencing
A fence is being erected around the Celtic Manor Resort Site. This is already visible from the M4 and along a stretch of the A449.
Newport - road/footpath closures
From 10pm on Sunday 31st August until 7am on Saturday 6th September, there will be a number of road/footpath closures around the Celtic Manor Resort.
Catsash Road will be closed from the junction on Belmont Hill on the B4236, to the junction with Roman Road.
Bulmore Road will be closed from the Bell Public House in the old village of Caerleon to the junction with Abernant Road.
All footpaths that cross the Celtic Manor Resort will be closed for the event. These paths include Usk Valley Walk and pathways coming from Chepstow Road, Langstone, Bulmore Road, Catsash Road, Abernant Road and Roman Road. All the footpaths will have notices placed at the start of each closed section informing walkers about the closure.
This leaflet contains information on local road and footpath closures -
Cardiff - security fencing
From August 15 until September 12, traffic restrictions with diversion routes will be in place due to security fences. Fences have been put in place along North Road, Castle Street and in Bute Park beneath the Corbett Road Bridge. This will affect the traffic flow into the city centre and people using this area are advised to consider alternative methods of transport.
Cardiff - road/footpath closures
From 8.30pm on Wednesday 3 September the following roads will be closed in both directions:
- North Road (from Column Road junction through to Kingsway)
- Kingsway
- Duke St
- Boulevard de Nantes
- Cowbridge Road East (from Cathedral Road junction across Castle Street Bridge)
- Castle Street
During this time we advise you use our alternative route.
The graphic below shows the lane restrictions in place around the venues in Cardiff that are being used for working dinners.
The Council advises the public to use the park and ride facilities at Pentwyn and Leckwith, or public transport. Every effort is being made to minimise disruption as best as possible. If you have a planned appointment, we suggest you allow additional time for your journey.
The Council has been working closely with bus operators to make sure they can share information with their customers. Further information will be available via the Cardiff Bus website.
Significant traffic congestion and delays are expected to be limited to particular ‘pinchpoints’ during Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September as delegations arrive at and leave the Celtic Manor Resort. There are no plans to close the M4.
Until the fences are removed the restrictions below will continue to remain in place.
From the North, there will be a single lane inbound on North Road from junction with Column Road, onto Kingsway, Duke Street, Castle Street, across Castle Street Bridge and Cowbridge Road East to junction with Cathedral Road.
From the West, two lanes will be in place from the junction with Cathedral Road (narrowing to one lane to go through the outer cordon and widening out again), inbound along Cowbridge Road East, Castle Street Bridge, Castle Street, Kingsway onto North Road (narrowing to one lane to go through outer cordon) at the junction with Corbett Road. There are no right turns into Westgate Street, from Kingsway into Greyfriars Road and from Kingsway/North Road into Boulevard De Nantes.
From the East , the road narrows to one lane on Boulevard De Nantes; left turn is available but drivers are unable to make a right turn onto North Road. Drivers are advised that when approaching from the East and wanting to travel north they should turn right from Stuttgarter Strasse onto Park Place towards Colum Road. All vehicles exiting the Kingsway, Queen Street, St John Street, High Street, Womanby Street and Westgate Street will only be able to make a left turn.
The diversion route is clearly signposted and Cardiff Council is encouraging drivers to consider this alternate route while the traffic restrictions are in place.
Cardiff Airport
Cardiff Airport will remain open and operate ‘business as usual’ during the summit and in the days leading up to the event. It is expected that all scheduled and charter flights will be operating as normal.
Passengers will be able to access the airport via the main eastern approach (from Cardiff/Barry) with parking, pick up and drop off and public transport access unaffected. The western approach (from Llantwit Major) will be closed periodically and passengers will access and exit the airport site via the eastern route.
Passengers are advised to leave extra time when travelling to and from Cardiff Airport during these dates to allow for any possible disruption on the roads in and around the region.
Public transport
The use of public transport is advisable, especially for local journeys during these times. Go to Traveline Cymru’s NATO Wales 2014 page for up-to-date information.
The websites of Cardiff Bus, Newport Bus and Arriva Trains Wales may also contain useful information.
Local services
We will be working hard to ensure any disruption to local services and impact on local communities and businesses is minimised.
Local councils for Newport and Cardiff have written to school governors advising them on the implications of the NATO Summit. It will be for individual schools to decide whether they should close, although we would expect the majority to be able to remain open.
For updates on local services visit the websites of Cardiff Council, Newport Council, and Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Emergency Services
The NHS is making contingency plans to deal with any increase in demand over this period, while protecting services for people of the area.
All emergency services will continue to operate throughout the summit. Call 101 for non-emergencies and always call 999 in the event of an emergency. For further information visit the websites of South Wales Police and Gwent Police.