legal challenge overr libdems/plaid plan for Bute Park Road

1. tell your cllrs to pull off the contractors
2. respect the condition against works in the nesting season
3. who is ready to demonstrate at short notice

Urgent Request for Bird Watchers
- volunteers sought to record birds on or near the construction site email annegre@aol.com
07817513610 Join us on the FACEBOOK Group

Disgraceful behaviour and lies of Cllr Howells and lib dem/plaid cardiff council exposed!

Environment lawyer calls for Bute Park assessment

South Wales Echo, Jun 12 2009 by Martin Shipton,

OPPONENTS of council plans to drive a lorry access bridge and enlarged, raised roadways through Bute Park have obtained legal backing for a challenge to the local authority.

Environmental lawyer, Cambridge-based Richard Buxton, has called on Cardiff council to fulfil its obligations under European law by carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The EIA would properly assess the full impact the council’s proposed developments will have on the Grade I-listed historic landscape and arboretum with rare trees, as well as the adjacent wildlife habitat and mature woodland.

In a letter Mr Buxton also reminds the council of the strength of public opposition to its plans, and its duty to fully inform and consult the public when taking environmentally sensitive decisions.

Professor Kevin Morgan, chairman of campaigning group Bute Parks Alliance, said: “It is quite clear that the council has failed hopelessly in its duty to properly inform the public of its plans.”.

“Nowhere in its disingenuous ‘information’ material does it clarify that the proposed access bridge is more than 28 feet wide, and will be raised on pillars, and that sections of the current eight-foot path would be more than doubled in width and turned into a lorry roadway raised on an embankment.

“Nor does it say it would be still wider on curves to accommodate the largest lorries and that still more of the meadow would be converted to a lorry waiting bay.”

A host of celebrities, among them actors Matthew Rhys and Ioan Gruffudd, and entertainer Griff Rhys Jones, oppose the plans.

A Cardiff council spokesman said: “Cardiff council has responded to the letter from Mr Richard Buxton.

“It is not aware of any legal challenge to its processes in regard to the new bridge access at Bute Park.

“Once again the council would reiterate that full consultation has been carried out regarding the proposed access bridge and there are no plans to use the park as a money making facility by allowing an increase in major events.

“The new bridge will make it safer for users by relocating traffic away from principal routes used by pedestrians and the Taff floral border where people enjoy sitting out.

“The council is working to enhance and improve Bute Park and has embarked on a £5.6m conservation project in partnership with HLF, restoring historic features and opening the North Gate to reconnect Cardiff Castle to the park.”

The spokesman added that, in the council’s view, there is no need for a formal EIA.

gareth450 wrote:

The council declares that a full consultation was done with regards to the bridge. This is a lie. Many people on their list of people and groups that apparently gave letters of support to the council for this have no knowledge of the councils bridge plans. Some of these groups include Cardiff Horticultural Society, The Victorian Society, Environmental Agency, Welsh Institute for Sport, Cardiff Union and University ....... For more details and the collected evidence go to http://sites.google.com/site/butepark/bridge-road-development/consultation.

The consultation with the public caused over 1000 people to complain (according to the councils own planning report).