No 2 Lorries in Bute Park: December 2009

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Was CADW misled over bridge design?

I sent a FOI request to CADW to ask them to look at the new bridge and to ask if they will admit they were misled when they were told the bridge would be scaled down and that CADWs view that “The design of the bridge and raised carriageway using a parapet of timber posts and top rail, together with high tension steel cables is sympathetic, in Cadw’s view, to the woodland setting and should help to reduce their visual impact.” was mistaken
- now they can SEE that the new bridge is a huge industrial-type, motorway- style bridge that towers over the existing footpath and is totally out of character with the park

Heritage Lottery fund deceit

I have written to the HLF yet again and made a freedom of information request through the What do they know website website to request the document they used to jusify insisting on a BRIDGE and road for articulated lorries through listed Bute Park!

Dear Heritage Lottery Fund,

I wrote to you on the 11 DEC 2009 and I am requesting the information yet again through this site to try to get the document requested and answers to my questions detailed below.

Following my FOI request you replied to me in Sept and told me
"the overall proposal for the Park which includes the elements which HLF is funding, was supported by a detailed conservation based study and analysis."

It does not seem unreasonable to request that report. I have been waiting since Sept for a copy! I can assure you that I have not received a copy from Cardiff Council and as HLF has the report, please send me a copy. I am intitled to request this under the freedom of information act and therefore you are obliged to provide a copy.

Re your Point 3- "The HLF is funding the upgrading of the paths, and 'turning bays', in Bute Park : this needs to be seen in the context of the agreed work plan for the conservation of the historic park."
Please can you explain this to me?

Please also provide the dimensions and plans for the 'path' for artic lorries that HLF (you) are funding through listed Bute Park from the Bridge?

Which trees in listed Bute Park will be 'topped' or pruned back or lopped in any way along the route of the 'path' to make space/way for articulated lorries?

The new bridge you insisted must be built is a huge industrial-type, motorway- style bridge. It towers over the existing footpath and is totally out of character with the park as will your massive 'paths' and articulated lorry turning circle.

How can you justify this road building in the park to the people of Cardiff in the name of conservation of our heritage? Please, at least let us see the detailed conservation based study and analysis you based your decision on as requested above.

Yours faithfully,

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Bute Park damage in the NEWS

Playing fields still out of action after Eisteddfod
WalesOnline - Cardiff,UK
A large area of Pontcanna Fields near Bute Park is still fenced off with a large area covered in mud and standing water, nearly 18 months after the festival ...
A bridge too far? « Welsh Green Dragon
By tanyamercer
A variety of rare and ornamental trees have been planted to form the Bute Park Arboretum. Forty eight of these trees now have Champion Tree status – for being the biggest or best example of their species in the UK. ...
Welsh Green Dragon - http://welshgreendragon.wordpress.com/

Community battles council to keep Cardiff green ...
By bethan john
Stretching out behind Cardiff castle is the historic Grade 1 listed Bute Park. It's just been voted the best park in Wales, in Britain's Best Park competition. Yet it's not just a beautiful and tranquil haven, but is also host to some ...
Bethanjohnwriter's Blog - http://bethanjohnwriter.wordpress.com/

Friday, 11 December 2009

Will we always have our park?

letter in Echo today..

THE more I hear from Cardiff council, the more I’m inclined to sympathise with the Bute Park campaigners.

Councillor Howells accuses them of “inaccuracies” but he claims that only one holly tree will be removed to make way for the bridge. But what about all the trees removed from the embankment joining the park to the very busy North Road?

He says these were all dead or dying and have been independently surveyed. But will they be replaced?

This area used to be quiet and isolated from the road but now all that can be experienced is the roar of traffic and the scent of exhaust fumes.

He goes on to criticise Nerys Lloyd-Pierce for describing the new bridge as “motorway style”, but nowhere does he refute this.

I often walk through this part of the park and I have seen the new bridge in construction and it is a huge industrial-type, motorway- style bridge. It towers over the existing footpath and is totally out of character with the park.

Coun Howells’ only justification for this bridge is “health and safety” but the bridge is only moving vehicles from one part of the park to another. The only true way to enhance safety is to ban heavy good vehicles from the park and to move the nursery and plant distribution centre to a brownfield site outside of the city centre.

And finally, I agree it is not a question whether Bute Park can win this award three years in a row but whether, in 30 years’ time, we will still have a park at all.

PA Martin

RiversideCardiff

Note 2 Sept 2009 the Echo reported that..Coun Margaret Jones also jetted off to Stockholm for the Globe Forum Awards as a guest of the organisers to receive an award for Cardiff as a sustainable city from Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
“It proves we are helping to lead the way in sustainability, not just in Europe, but right across the globe. We now look forward to continuing that success in the years to come,” said Coun Jones at the time.

You couldn't make it up!

WalesOnline - News - Letters - South Wales Echo Letters - Friday ...

13 Nov 2009 ... IN a recent Echo report, Councillor Howells stated that 21 trees in Bute Park were to be felled because of disease (“We must kill trees to ...

Note Cllr Howells Fib Dem

Coun Howells also made the second most frequent declarations of hospitality so far in 2009, declaring events including hospitality at the Bafta Cymru awards, Six Nations rugby clashes, a Cardiff Devils dinner and other engagements.
Councillor Nigel Howells, who is responsible for sport, parks and culture, travelled to the German city of Leipzig to see the city’s white-water rafting and canoe course.

Cllr Howells Dirty tricks

The last 70 years have seen massive incremental damage to Bute Parks. You can download here the leaflet showing the degree destruction and privatisation that has been allowed in that time and which has escalated over the last few years.

Cardiff Tree protection???

Cardiff council Dirty Tricks!

Cllr Howells on the new road or as he calls it 'path' widening and lorry turning circle "full design has yet to be 'WORKED UP'!"

The MAP published alongside Coun Nigel Howells’ piece in the Capital Times had been DOCTORED to show the council’s proposed developments in a more favourable light.

Council officer admited that the artists image was “ephemeral”, and that in reality the bridge would be larger, higher and more visible.

Must read

ECONOMY & CULTURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: 18 JUNE 2009 nScrutiny report ‘The Economic Role of Parks’

Cardiff Council incurred expenditure of £11,356,089 in respect of vehicle operating costs. more here

LINKS Living Streets

Have your say to Cardiff council

Nov 27, Paul Adams,
Come on Cadw, why have you withdrawn your opposition to this scheme to allow articualated lorries to plough through a Grade ! historic park?!

Nov 27, Richard James,
Driving a road through a Grade I Historic Park? I would expect this from a feckless Council, but shame on CADW - grow a backbone!

Nov 25, Sabrina Cleevely,
I strongly object to the building of this bridge. Bute park belongs to the people of Cardiff. This is not restoration but destruction of a very beautiful and peaceful part of the city.

Denise Cooper,
'This would be a travisty if this went ahead, the park was given to the people of Cardiff for their enjoyment and not as a thoroughfare.'

Nov 23, Richard Darley,
This development has no public support and that Heritage Lottery funding should be encouraging this destruction is outrageous.

Nov 19, Ute Meister,
After every big event the grass is churned up and the whole place looks ugly for ages. Once the access road is built, the park will be used even more often for big events and nothing will be able to recover anymore.

Hannah Bevan-Mohaffel,
'This park is listed with CADW on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales and given a Grade 1 listing. Inclusion on this register means that CADW promise 'not to let insensitive development harm the historic and visual character of historic parks and gardens'. Does the council or CADW or the Heritage Lottery Fund think Capability Brown and later Andrew Pettigrew (the original park designers) would ever have dreamt that their design would be destroyed by large roads, built to accommodate huge articulated lorries, polluting the atmosphere and taking away the peace and serenity the park was intended to provide for busy city dwellers??'

Andrew Moon,
'1900 signitures for against the road in the park and 2 for it and it still goes through. Please do not sacrifice our quality of life, for money that will not improve the quality of life for the people of Cardiff as much as having an unspoilt park in the first place.'

Gafyn Jones,
'I cycle across Bute Park each morning and it's beautiful as it is. Hands off! '

Edward Gomez,
'I find it unbelievable that Cardiff Council have the new roads as such key part of their plans. What does that have to do with restoring Bute Park'

Margaret Pugh,
'IF THIS ROAD IS ALLOWED TO DEVELOP YOU WILL DESTROY THE VERY THING THAT MAKES CARDIFF UNIQUE AS A CITY. NEW YORK HAS CENTRAL PARK , CARDIFF HAS BUTE PARK. Do you think New York would allow lorries into Central Park?WE NEED TO PRESERVE OUR WONDERFUL HERITAGE.

J E Talbot-Jones,
'We should be looking to reduce the impact and scale of events held within Bute Park, not encouraging and accommodating them. Why must everything revolve around the needs of the internal combustion engine, which appears to have a limited future, rather than concentrating on the flora and fauna, and everyday low key/impact recreational aspects of the Park?

Michael Davies,
'Bute Park is a legacy to the people of Cardiff. Our elected representatives should be the guardians of this very special city centre park. It is a disgrace that both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cardiff City Council are even contemplating this totally unnecessary development. Such a road can only lead to the fragmentation of the park and consequently increase the likelihood of further erosion by developers.'

Robert Gatheridge,
'Many trees have already been lost in anticipation of the planning applications approval. Sophia Gargens had a pavilion where events were held but now it's a car park. I would rather the council get rid of the car park and replace it with a space for events rather than build a road into Bute Park'

sarah fotheringham Cardiff,
'I don't believe it! We are crying out to keep our green
spaces Green! Breathing spaces, garden projects,
community open spaces, planting trees in streets that have
non, and yet we are also ploughing up our green spaces...I
don't believe it!! well not in my back yard'

J C Williams,
'These parks are unique to this city and were donated to the people of Cardiff - not just the council -and essential as big spaces for everyone to enjoy safely - with sport, walking, relaxing, and play space for children - the council should appreciate this and leave them as they are. There is no need for lorry access. The council trucks already drive around quite adequately on existing paths.'

'These parks were left for the recreational enjoyment of the citizens of Cardiff not for hosting large scale events which many of those citizens can't afford to attend. This is an area of outstanding beauty and should be preserved intact for future generations.'

Richard Staniforth Cardiff,
'We have fought to retain the Park Lands at the heart of
Cardiff for the last twenty years with their gradual erosion
starting with the development of the old HTV studio site to
housing. The new stadium was only allowed on the basis
that it would not have an expanded impact on the Park and
surrounding areas. The state of the fields post Eisteddfod
is a disgrace - an area that has been used for community
football and cricket has been devastated by the hard core
laid down in the still fenced off area. Is this sleight of hand
to be the new car park for the Stadium to accomodate
vehicles for the 2009 test match?
The whole area - the lungs of the city and a recreational
area for the people of Cardiff is being taken over by
commercial interests. I strongly object to this development.'

Richard Jackson Dinas Powys,
'I strongly feel that the Council MUST NOT these plans
their permission to go ahead. The alternatives that will
cause far less negative impact on the park MUST be
investigated and preferably implemented.'

Peter Adamson Abertyleri,
'Stop the commercial development of Bute Park. It should
remain a peaceful haven.'

Susan Smith Cardiff,
'Building a road through Bute park would be appalling, it
would destroy the quiet, peacefulness and beauty of one of
the lovliest city centre parks in Europe'

Mark Suret Cardiff,
'I'm writing to ask you (or whoever is in charge of the
project) to think again about plunging a major new vehicle
access into Cardiff's green and pleasant parklands i.e. the
bridge and roadway entering Bute Park off North Road at
the end of Corbett Road and new carriageway and
substantial road improvement within the Park. A
number of mature trees and a large area of vegetation
have already been cleared, even though the application
has not yet been agreed by Planning Committee.
It is justified as allowing articulated lorries easy access to
areas of the park for commercial events and to permit large
articulated lorries to deliver plants from Holland (and
presumably equipment for Sky TV for use in broadcasts
from the SWALEC stadium).
Please understand how deep and wide the opposition to
this commercialisation of precious parklands goes. Not
only do these moves threaten the award winning
arboretum and its champion trees, about which the council
makes supportive statements from time to time. But people
from across Cardiff and beyond love this space of relatively
free land with its beautiful scope, and its trees. Its extent,
and its relative safety from traffic, for children, the disabled,
and all those wanting to walk, play, relax and cycle within
it, are part of its enormous value.
In terms of joined up politics it also makes a key
contribution to the health and well-being of Cardiff people,
as well as of those visiting Cardiff partly in order to enjoy
unspoiled and extensive parks.
All parties on Council pay lip service to green issues and
conservation. Let's have an inspiring example of opposition
to this environmentally destructive move.'

Sarah Hayton Cardiff,
'As a resident of Cardiff a user of Bute park and a cyclist I
and very concerned about the new proposed plans. The
reasons for such a vast change to the park and inevitable
destruction to some areas, do not seem justified. Ease of
access to council vehicles does not seem a good enough
reason to risk the safety of cyclists and to so drastically
effect the experience of an area of Cardiff which should be
teasured not spoilt. I find it depressing that Cardiff Council
should again be so glib as to make this proposal when they
should instead be preserving a park which many other
cities would be proud to have and to celebrate. I suspect
that the road is planned primarily to facilitate the summer
concerts and weekend events held in the summer months.
These must bring in a lot of revenue to the council it seems
that the council values the park as a money making venue
rather than a space that has an intrinsic value of it's own
that should be respected.'

Paul Charles Cardiff,
'As a regular user of the park, running & cycling I think it is
disgraceful that could even think of this destruction!!!!'

Patricia McKenna Cardiff,
'The flora and fauna of the Park is threatened by these
inroads. We should not be destroying parts of the park in
order to welcome articulated lorries delivering Dutch (?)
flowers for the nursery. The park is not a cultivated
manicured theme park but a tranquil oasis with natural
habitats that we should protect.'

Natalia Lawrence Cardiff,
'Please do not ruin the jewel in Cardiff's crown - keep Bute
park cyclist-friendly, peaceful and green. Surely in this era
of eco-awareness our local government should be doing
everything possible to protect and retain green spaces and
promote cycling? Building lorry access into the park that
cuts across a cycle lane is most definitely not helping with
this!'

Nigel Watt Cardiff,
'The design needs to be changed, so that lorries waiting to
turn into North Road will not impede cyclists using the
cycle path which runs alongside North Road's western
boundary.'

Ceri-Anne Davies Cardiff,
'I am appalled that the council could even consider doing
anything to such a beautiful park,not only do myself and
my children do races (running )in the park but i have taken
my children there often for picnics,its such a tranquil place
to spend time in and forget all the stresses of life'

Tamsyn Mackay Penarth,
'Keep the green spaces in Cardiff!'

C.J. Morris Roath, Cardiff,
'The memorial park should be just that - a place of peace,
memories and quiet reflection, not a throughfare for lorries
or any vehicle other than bicycles'

Steve Owen cardiff,
'Once again Cardiff council has a hidden agenda,it's our
jewel in the crown not their pot of gold'

Julia Charles Cardiff,
'Hand off OUR park'

Richard Self Cardiff,
'The park is a unique part of our childrens heritage. There
can be no creep of tarmac over this green space.'

Anne Bate Cardiff,
'It is disgusting that the council is trying to get this proposal
in via the back door! The public should have been informed. How can they justify felling our heritage for convenience and it must be said, monetary gain!!!'

Rachel Matthews Caerphilly,
'It is disgusting that the council are proposing to build a
road through Bute Park. I believe that something is going
seriously wrong with our priorities in this world and these
proposals are yet another example of this. Yet again it
seems that short-sightedness, monetary gain and
downright lazy expediency is taking precedence over
anything that is of long-term, intrinsic value in life. It is truly
wrong and unnecessary to build a road through what is
currently a place of outstanding beauty, peacefulness,
clean air and an essential escape for relaxation in a busy,
already over-polluted environment. To be able to escape
from the city into such a peaceful place is essential for us
all physically and mentally - what would happen if we let all
our green spaces get eaten up over time and never halted
the process - how could we explain to our children what
they have lost due to such laziness, short-term greed and
quick-fixes? Please THINK AGAIN and DONT build any
roads in Bute Park.'

Pat Gregory Cardiff,
'The site of the proposed entrance and bridge for lorries to
transport goods into the park is currently one of the most
beautiful and tranquil areas of the park, with mature trees,
a canal walk and grassland with decorative trees, and
daffodils in the spring. At that point the park is effectively at
its narrowest, due to the walled nursery area. If this road
access goes ahead it will effectively cut the park in two, as
on the other side of the nursery there are only a few
metres between the nursery and the river.'

Joek Roex Cardiff,
'There are other ways in which Bute Park can stay animal,
plant, and human friendly than through continuing
commercial development. Cardiff should be proud of a
park like Bute Park with its innumerable and invaluable
champion trees. The extensive use by pedestrians and
cyclists show that a continued conservation effort
would pay off in keeping the park accessible and safe.

Mark Palser CARDIFF,
'Save our parks - Bute Park is an oasis of calm - I am fully
against these proposals!!'

Hilary Hillhouse Kingston,
'It would be a tragedy to put a road through Bute Park.'

David McDonald Cardiff,
'They only withdrew the plans becuase of the election.
Leave our parks alone.'

Peter Regan Cardiff,
'I object to any building or upgrading in Bute Park.'

Planning Policy Wales

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FOR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FOR

Technical Advice Note 16: Sport, Recreation and Open Space

Woodwatch
Welsh Planning System
Planning Policy Wales (PPW)
- guidance on the preparation and content of development plans and advice on development control decisions and appeals - provides overarching principles of planning in the country. The policies provided in the guidance should be reflected in local development plans.

It also states:
'local planning authorities should seek to protect trees,
groups of trees and areas of woodland where they have
natural heritage value or contribute to the character or
amenity of a particular locality.' (PPW para. 5.2.8).

In addition to Planning Policy Wales, there is a Technical Guidance Note, TAN 5, which gives local authorities further guidance on Nature Conservation and Planning and is available from the Welsh Assembly.

Heritage Lottery Fund insist on Road/Bridge for artic lorries

EBM 11 Sept 07 Item 16 Cardiff Castle

On the 20 August 2007 the National Heritage Lottery wrote to the Council confirming that:-“the Heritage Lottery Fund view the position of a new bridge over the docks feeder to provide access into the park from North Road as an essential element of the Bute Park Restoration Project..
2008. The new bridge, if built if completed this financial year, would greatly support future major events in the Park, the first of these being the RHS Show 2008 and the National Eisteddfod
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Executive is requested to recommend to Council that the provision of a new vehicular and pedestrian access bridge off North Road at a cost of £1.40 million be included in the revised 2007/08 capital programme of the Council.

Destroy Heritage Lottery Fund Wales meeting March 2008

Making a complaint Heritage Lottery Fund
All Lottery Distributors follow the same procedure for the handling of complaints. This new process is explained in our ‘Making a Complaint' leaflet. To download the leaflet click on the following links:
English

95 KB | Welsh

100 KB
email enquire@hlf.org.uk

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has been granted planning permission for its £22.5 million development to build a new concert hall, theatre, drama rehearsal spaces and exhibition gallery to complement and enhance its existing high-quality performance facilities.

Bute Park Green Flag Award
Do lorries meet Green Flag key criteria
Destroy Heritage lottery fund grant
Project Bute Park Restoration

No 2 Lorries in Bute Park

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Was CADW misled over bridge design?

Heritage Lottery fund deceit

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Bute Park damage in the NEWS

Friday, 11 December 2009

Will we always have our park?

WalesOnline - News - Letters - South Wales Echo Letters - Friday ...

Save Bute Park trees

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Heritage Lottery Funding

Cllr Howells Dirty tricks

Bute Park Destruction by Cardiff council before planning permission

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Have your say to Cardiff council

Planning Policy Wales

Climate change and its effect on public parks in Cardiff

People in Cardiff told the Parks consultation

Full Documents for Parks and Green Spaces Strategy

Heritage Lottery Fund insist on Road/Bridge for artic lorries

EBM 11 Sept 07 Item 16 Cardiff Castle

Oct 16th Fight against park road continues

Oct 13, 2008 Bute Park Road disgrace

Oct 13, 2008 Bute Park danger to Cylists!!!

Oct 12, 2008 last chance to save bute Park - council steam roll permission to themselves through

Oct 3, 2008 Bute Park - new entrance and roadways

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