No 2 Lorries in Bute Park

What are they doing to Bute Park?

2011-10-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

Bute Park Clutter outside new 'education' centre gives wrong message

What are they doing in Bute Park?
This so called restoration project means this mess and clutter outside the new ~~education centre cafe/toilets~~ in Bute Park

Bute Park education centre a wash out with dodgy door

Were cyclists consulted over the cycle rack newly built by the £920 000 "Education Centre"? 4 stands behind the bin in what was meadow next to the roadway rather than adjacent to the wall appears intended to maximise visual impact - in the Park "restoration" project which is more akin to Park "urbanisation".
Is this design of door safe?

Plaid Mayor Delme Bowen has to drive 200 yds to listed Bute Park

If only they had thought of using permeable surfaces - then the 'all seasons ' cafe wouldnt be flodded.
This cafe has the added attraction of seating just outside the toilets.

And if you are disabled then forget trying to fight your way through to the toilets...between the tables!

Disabled people weren't consulted either.

But of course if you are Lord Mayor you need a £1.4 million bridge to be driven for the few hundred yard journey from the City Hall to the ~~'restoration'~~ commercialisation project led by a project leader with a degree in geology.

A quick dive back to the car hidden around the corner. How much did the personalised number plate cost? More than a youth club in Splott that you closed?

Makes a run for it to avoid demonstrators

Delme Bowen Plaid Cymru you are a disgrace to the people whos money you squander on this vehicle and driver when you could easily walk or cycle. what a white elephant that doesn't belong in any park never mind a listed one. A flooded entrance, toilets and cafe...who did design this? If only you had a proper consultation and shared the plan with public first. But then The libdems and Plaid would actually have to listen to people.

If only they'd thought of a Permeable Surface

Cllr Bowen to drive into Bute park cos hes wearing his chains?

2011-10-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

I asked Cardiff council what restrictions they put on vehicles entering listed Bute park where pedestrians and cyclists must have priority ...I got a reply from the ~~restoration~~ commercialisation project manager Julia Sas, (JSas@cardiff.gov.uk) who talking about the Fun Day specifically for opening of new ~~education centre~~ cafe & toilets said "we will have vehicles entering for the set up of the owl sanctuary and RSPB marquees, these will be managed by ourselves and stood down before the event begins. We will also have the Lord Mayor arriving and leaving by car during the event as he will be wearing is (heavy and expensive) chains of office."

However I noticed that Councillor Delme Bowen and his wife, Lady Mayoress Pam Bowen, rode a tandem bike across the Cardiff Bay barrage complete with chains of office Read More shame on you Delme - Get on your bike and leave the car at home!

The new 'all seasons' cafe seating is all outdoors and was flooded today. The seating is in a very cramped small area with one wall being the counter for food and the other the toilets - is this hygienic? Do want to sit nest to toilets while you eat? Uck! And Disabled people, especially those in a chair or with a walker would not be able get through the clutter to the disabled toilet.

The real friends of Bute Park say the park is for the peaceful enjoyment by the people of Cardiff—people on foot do not wish to be harassed by vehicles, small children need to safely run around.

If coming into the city by car, please park outside and join us on foot, If you are Park staff, do likewise and respect our environment .

Joint us in demanding that Cardiff Council apply strict controls on vehicles in our Park, provide cycles for the Park rangers and electric buggies for gardeners.

Only vehicles with a legitimate operational need may enter the park
Vehicle movement during an event is not permitted except in exceptional circumstances.
Vehicles must not damage the fabric of the park, e.g. by straying off hard surfaces.

£920,000 Cafe for Bute Park

2011-10-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

SAVE BUTE PARK

No support for the opening of this Overblown ~~EDUCATION CENTRE~~ - Big Cafe

the star in Cardiff council’s grandiose attempt to ~~restore~~ commercialise the Park.

… funded from the Lottery at a massive £920 000

… uses the old plant nursery that they closed in favour of importing plants from outside nurseries, including Dutch ones, and ferried in by juggernaut lorries.

The EDUCATION CENTRE is aimed for

· Horticulture in-house training

· school groups

· family/tourist information and

· cafe + toilets

It was intended for community use, then evening use was ruled out. It was originally to be an “academy for horticultural training”. Tourist information and ice creams etc. are now to be provided at West Lodge and the Summerhouse ‘kiosk’ cafe is fully running. Let’s predict that the new Centre will be a commercial failure, destined to be closed under a future round of cuts.

What a blow for Lib Dem Cllr Nigel Howells, following the defeat as MP for Cardiff Central!

… a loss-making centre costing £920 000, instead restoring a previous unique feature – the Swiss Bridge over the Castle Moat – at half the cost.

… looks like misappropriating Restoration Grant funding on a grand scale.

Cardiff Lib Dem Council wreck Bute Park

2011-01-01T04:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year...
And Cardiff Council is planing more building in Bute Park - a visitor centre now ...........

I noticed in councils latest 'askcardiff' survey which popped through my letterbox after the date of return had expired.. there was a section on Bute Park -
Q37 on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'excellent' how would you rate the provision of the following services in Bute Park?
There follows a list of 21 things the first few are in their order...
Car parking
Transport links
Sign posting Lighting
Labelling of the arboretum
Condition of paths.....
Somebody tell Cardiffs lib Dem Council that People go the park to RELAX. There was no mention of the most important component of an urban park - its greenery. And what about seating places.
The improvements users would like to see in urban parks include good design and management, but no questions on that! They did say that there is a £5.6 million restoration project sported by £3.1 million from Lottery Fund. But they didn't mention how much of that was spent on building a massive bridge to bring articulated lorries into the park or building better roads for traffic. No chance of relaxing in Bute Park as you are always being harassed by traffic..disgrace.

Green flag award NOT GREEN

2010-07-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

It is beyond belief that Bute Park deserved a green flag award this year...Scandalous! The award is Not 'green' at all!!!
Why are the JUDGES identities a secret even with a FOI request?
So we can only conclude that the judges must be politically motivated!!
Are you not aware that After a site special scientific interest was destroyed for a road for lorries
After CHAMPION TREES LOPPED BACK FOR LORRIES TO PASS
After dozens of tress chopped down for building a theatre and a huge bridge for lorries
After promoting events rather than preserving the environment and ecosystem
After increasing the number of vehicles in the listed park
Absoutely Fails on key criteria such as Sustainability, Conservation and heritage, Community involvement and management!! A disgrace - Green flag award is appearing totally corrupt!

THE REPLY

th..
ank you for your comments concerning Bute Park.
Green Flag Award Judges, come from a variety of backgrounds, including ecology, environmental issues, nature conservation, horticulture, community engagement, parks and landscape management and other related disciplines.
All judges are volunteers who give their time freely, and are passionate about quality green spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone. They are independent arbiters of the scheme and ensure that the standards set by the awards are high, and fair. Every judge completes a thorough training course, and new judges are mentored by colleagues who have a number of years experience with the scheme.
The Green Flag Award Judges are asked to assess each green space on the management plan for the site and what they observe and discuss during their visit. The purpose of the scheme is to recognise well managed, quality green spaces that meet the needs of all users. The judges who assessed Bute Park have agreed that the park has met the required standards to merit receiving an award this year. A decision that the Green Flag Plus Partnership fully supports and endorses.
As a charity established as a private company, Keep Britain Tidy is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and as such we are not required to respond to requests made under this act. We do, however, aim to respond to as many requests as possible. On this occasion you are asking for personal data and as such I must adhere to the rules set out in the Data Protection Act, which therefore prevents me from supplying the information you have requested, which is personal data of the judges.
Please let me assure you that from my own personal experience of observing the judging of a park, I am totally confident that the judges have made a full, robust and completely unbiased assessment of Bute Park, and that the decision to award a Green Flag is the correct one.
We have noted your comments concerning Bute Park, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further concerns about parks and green spaces in your local area.
Yours sincerely

Lynsey Atherton
Public Information Officer
==================
Keep Britain Tidy
Elizabeth House
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX
Telephone: 01942 612602
Fax: 01942 824778
E-mail: enquiries@keepbritaintidy.org
Website: www.keepbritaintidy.org

The fight for Rumney Recreation Gropund

2010-07-09T04:20:00.000-07:00

'We fight for generations to come'

The Guardian
This is typical, I am told, for the retired salesman who now devotes his time to leading the fight to save the park he loves – the Rumney Recreation Ground. ...

Another big fight agaisnt the Fib Dem/plaid Cymru cardiff council who don't listen to the public and want to destroy Cardiff Green spaces!!!

Join the Picnic in the park!

2010-07-05T02:43:00.000-07:00

Dear All -passing on news of an 'event' in Bute Park!!!

Please could you advertise this in any way you can:

A few of us are having a picnic party to celebrate having such a wonderful park to use. The venue will be on our fantastic new bridge and the time will be between 11pm-3pm on Wednesday the 14th of July.

Why you may be wondering would we do such a thing. Well my merry friends during that week there will be one of the largest private parties in the park that has hit our beloved victorian green space in its history. Three music tents, 60 bands and £25 entrance fee. We need to remind our glorious leaders that there are some people who feel that such events go against the spirit of the parks covenant and that a free public park is just that, free.

I look forward to seeing you all there and hopefully we can have an awesome time catching up with each other and sipping tea with a back drop of trees and HGV's.

Oh and as more is always merrier please spread the word to all you now, even if you decide not to come. We will have some bunting and food but bring some yourselves and make it a picnic to bring joy to a harsh bridge.

Berman & parks cause wanton damage 2waxcap meadow of Regional Importance.

2010-06-03T04:31:00.000-07:00

Letter 17 April 2010 To R Berman N Howells D Bowen N McEvoy

We note there has been significant damage to the meadow-woodland in Bute Park between the feeder canal and the Nursery, despite a SINC (special interest for nature conservation) being declared for this area last year on account of the (rare) waxcap fungi.

Could you kindly supply documents showing what assessment was made of potential damage by

use of tar-macadam which would leach chemicals including PAHs
use of grass turves which could harbour organisms harmful to the waxcaps
spreading of quantities of imported soil and sand which could bring in microorganisms and chemicals harmful to the current waxcap-friendly ecosystem.

We see that the grassland and woodland area affected by the works is as much as 4.5-5 metres either side of the roadways, compared with 2 metres specified in the planning documents. Can you supply documents to show how and why this substantial deviation from proposals put at the planning stage came about, including who was consulted within the Council?

For constructing pathway/road through the meadow, the planning consent required avoiding damage to tree roots and trees which are of high amenity value. As the contractors removed grass in excavations prior to laying the base of the widened road and, in doing so, exposed and cut tree roots, please supply documentation on how this was reported by the developer and/or checked by Council officers, and documents on steps taken or to be taken over the breaches of Condition 10. We have filmed this process and you can see the damage occuring on utube.

http://no2lorriesinbutepark.blogspot.com/

We note also that the events manager promised in the presence of a police officer to provide a stewart to prevent accidents to cyclists at the dangerous very wide opening/entrace to the new industrial bridge into Bute Park but failed to do so. We object to staff working in BUTE park parking vehicles at the bridge entrance.

Can you also explain why a dropped kerb has been provided for pedestrians and disabled people with a huge lamp post in front of it? This is also in front of the new bridge entrance to Bute Park on North Road. We were told by the events manager and R Berman by email that there had been a safety audit so could you explain how such a dropped kerb obstructed by a lampost is safe and what action you will be taking to remedy this?

.................................................................

Reply 28th MAY

Thank you for your email of 17 April.

Please be assured that your email has been investigated by the Operational Manager for Parks Services and the Bute Park Restoration Project Manager. They inform me that there is no significant damage to the meadow-woodland in Bute Park, as reported in your email.

They also confirm that a SINC was not declared for this area last year, as you indicate. As a result, no formal assessments were necessary for the use of tar-macadam, grass turves and imported soil. Despite this, the imported soil and turf we used was bought from approved sources and in line with planning conditions.

You mention that the grassland and woodland area is as much as 4.5-5 metres either side of the roadways. The planning drawing shows an indicative 3.5m graded edge from the path but notes the embankment is “to be feathered out at various grades”. The grading from the access to the grassland has been undertaken to achieve a sympathetic visual appearance. Please be assured that this has been undertaken in accordance with planning conditions and we have not deviated from the proposals put at planning stage. As a result, no formal consultation was undertaken and there are no related documents because this was not necessary.

In terms of the planning consent required for constructing the pathway through the meadow, I can confirm that all works have been undertaken in accordance with the arboricultural method statement. I understand that this statement has previously been supplied to you. I can also assure you that the works was supervised by an independent arboricultural consultant and Council officers.

I would like to inform you that we provided stewards during the whole RHS show operation to ensure safety and effective traffic management. The new access entrance to the park was stewarded by the Council’s Events Team during the show set up and throughout the duration of the show. Might I suggest that any vehicles seen at the bridge entrance were likely to have belonged to contractor staff working on site, or those held temporarily as part of the event management process?

The lamppost that you refer to has been installed to provide adequate lighting in the area. I can confirm that a road safety audit was carried out in April and no specific road safety issues were identified. Therefore, we believe that no further action is needed.

(pic of SAFE lampost in front of pedestrian dropped kerb)

I trust that this information is of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Rodney Berman

Leader of Cardiff Council

...................................................................................................

2009 Waxcap atlas includes:
The following existing SINCs now have waxcaps as a qualifying feature:
• Blackweir Wood (this site includes Bute Park Arboretum).
To say 'no significant damage' to the Arboretum meadow is clearly challengeable in terms of area and appearance. The reply admits no assessments for impact of tar-macadam, grass turves and imported soil. The excuse is the Planning consent, but that never considered the SINC. Previous excuse was the waxcap site(s) was/were not affected, but they could not know. So rodney Berman and friends - explain that!!

The Waxcap atlas says it's of Regional Importance, with the only site in Cardiff for one species. Also that the grassland has been reduced to a "small glade" and the 9 species are hardly seen fruiting

cllr Rodney Berman and the officers are not qualified to make the assertion that there is "no significant damage" He and
Cdf Parks Chiefs cause wanton damage to a waxcap meadow of Regional Importance.

Below is the full description from the Atlas / Max
Site Name: Bute Park Arboretum Grid Ref: ST17437735
Habitat: Amenity grassland (arboretum in parkland) Area (ha.): 0.05
Total taxa (spp.): 9 Single visit taxa (spp.): 4
This is the only site in Cardi! for the UK BAP species Date-coloured Waxcap H. spadicea. Despite
regular visits (at least four per year) to this very small site in every autumn from 2002 to 2008,
only a single fruiting body was recorded on one visit in September 2004. The species had
previously been recorded at the site in 1992 and 2000. This is a very atypical site for H. spadicea,
which usually occurs on thin soils over limestone rather than in alluvial plains in river valleys.
Although nine species have been recorded, fruiting by several species has been extremely
sparse; H. pratensis and H. conica have not been recorded since 2002, and H. quieta and H. ceracea
have only been recorded on a single date each. The site is a remnant of the former unimproved pa
sture which became part of Bute Park Arboretum. It was originally planted with elms, which
died of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. It was then replanted with a range of trees. What is left of
the waxcap grassland is confined to a small glade.

Schools for Luxury Flats

2010-06-03T01:55:00.000-07:00

Council leader @rodneyberman on Canton Schools reorganisation http://is.gd/cAJ6u
It seems to outside observers that the reorganisation is based on property values and development opportunities rather than the best for our children! The decision to build on Rumney Recreation ground IS going ahead – a prime example of Fib Dem Rodney Berman and Plaid Neil McEvoy mismanagement of the city of Cardiff and their continuing destruction and concreting over of our green spaces.

NSPCC event traffic cutting up Roath Park

2010-05-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

I went for a ~~peaceful~~ walk in ~~quiet~~ Roath Park on a bank holiday and suddenly I am startled by car in a hurry coming up behind me and impatiently cutting over the grass to get to car parking for NSPCC event organisers putting children and adults at risk. I didn't expect to see a car speeding along the path in the park! Great the NSPCC is having a Teddy bear picnic but there is no need for car parking next to it. The entrance to the park is only 20 metres away!

One person said the band needed to park next to the picnic! When I was a child my sister and I went to school and concerts by bus carrying cello. If they were playing in St Davids Hall they would have further to walk from parking than from the park gate to the teddy bears picnic!
These events took place successfully in the past with out cars having to drive into parks and put people at risk. If there was a particular need for anything really heavy then it could have been put in place early this morning and collected in the evening and the vehicle parked outside the park. The council gave permission I hear but no regulation in place. Damaged grass can harm the bio diversity of the park wrecking havoc on plant species - it is more than just replacing just 'grass'.

In addition to this there are families attending many of whom are such lazy people who can't walk more than a few yards from the park are parking their cars on the pavements blocking the way for pedestrians. Folk think this is perfectly ok! In fact some of them are horrified when you challenge them! This sort of anti social behaviour should be stopped and traffic wardens attending.

I am surprised at the NSPCC as our children's welfare and heritage is being destroyed by this sort of
total disregard for the value of our parks! Surely they must not think it unreasonable to ask stall holders and their band to park outside the park. I totally support and value the NSPCC but lets have responsible environmentally friendly sustainable fund raising in future! why are people supporting the NSPCC so agressive? Great they are supporting a great cause but no need to destroy our parks in the process. Our kids need parks without CARS!

broken promises and damage to meadow woodland in Bute Park

2010-04-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

Just where we were protesting the other day at the entrance to the new bridge there were 4 cars parking inside just where the head of events promised there would be no illegal parking.

In front of a policeman he promised to put a marchal at the cycleway but hasn't.

I am surprised that RHS is responsible in part for the damge to the habitat and bio diversity in Bute Park. The show grows and more and more people are coming into the listed park with 4 x 4s, lorries, cars as if it was a car park! The RHS should be acting in a more sustainable way!

We are writing to Cardiff Council again ----- who show no regard for the bio diversity of listed Bute park! Or the pedestrian and cyclists using the park. And the welsh assembly let this building proceed in spite of approaches and pleading! Such much for a sustainable Wales policy! Not worth the paper it is wrtten on!

Could you kindly supply documents showing what assessment was made of potential damage by

use of tar-macadam which would leach chemicals including PAHs
use of grass turves which could harbour organisms harmful to the waxcaps
spreading of quantities of imported soil and sand which could bring in microorganisms and chemicals harmful to the current waxcap-friendly ecosystem.

Danger to cyclists Action in Bute Park

2010-04-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

No helpful response from cllrs so we had a nother protest to highlight the danger to cyclists from new bridge entrance. they have designed the entrance so that it is extra wide and can have 4 lorries on it goining in and out at the same time, which makes it very dangerous! Time the council think pedestrians and cyclists before cars and lorries. They have had the cheek to put a dropped kerb for pedestrains here with a huge lampost in the mifddle of it so that a wheelchair user has to go into the road or cycle lane!! And they claim this has has a safety audit?!

Green Party Action Cardiff news - Pedals and petals clash at entry to RHS spring show: http://bit.ly/dbgpmo

Pedals and petals clash at entry to RHS spring show

Apr 16 2010 by Ed Walker, South Wales Echo

GREEN activists left traders queuing to get into Bute Park to set up for the RHS Flower Show, which starts today.
The event is one of the biggest of the year in Cardiff but vehicles were locked out as cyclists blocked the entrance to the park across the controversial bridge from North Road.
They are angry about a cycle lane at the entrance of the new Bute Park bridge they claim should not be crossed by vehicles.
Anne Greagsby, leading the protests, was adamant Cardiff council was not putting the safety of park users at the heart of their plans for the park.
She said: “Our protest is about safety for cyclists and pedestrians. How can someone stand there and claim it’s safe when they build a safety ramp for disabled people and put a lamppost and a sign in front of it?
“I could cry over what’s happening to this beautiful park. I just can’t believe the councillors could be so ignorant about what people want to happen with the park.”
The protest followed objections to the building of the bridge and the official opening last week was marred by protesters who branded it a “monstrosity”.
Max Wallis, from Cardiff Friends of the Earth, said: “Even though they have marked it as an official cycle lane and done a safety assessment, any priority they claim to give to cyclists is not legally enforceable.”
Councillor Nigel Howells, the council’s executive member for sport, leisure and culture, said: “Stage 1 and Stage 2 Road Safety Audits have been carried out by independent consultants which identified the conflict between the proposed access and the existing footway and cycle route.
“As a result additional signs have been put up on North Road informing drivers that there is a cycle lane and that they should look both ways. Similarly, for vehicles leaving the park, signs have been erected informing drivers to give way to cyclists and pedestrians.
“The council is satisfied that all necessary safety and legal considerations relating to the new bridge’s access arrangements have been addressed, and the presence of a marshal on the bridge will further ensure the safe and effective management of the new arrangements for the duration of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) show.
“I am once again looking forward to welcoming thousands of flower and garden lovers from all over the country to the show which I am sure will prove to be another great success in the wonderful setting of Bute Park.”
Sam Coates, the Green Party election candidate for Cardiff Central, was also at the protests.
He said: “This access via the Bute Park bridge needs to be closed until it’s made safe for cyclists.”

WalesOnline - CardiffOnline - Cardiff news - Cyclists 'could be ...

9 Apr 2010 ... Apr 9 2010 by Mike Brown, South Wales Echo. Cyclists 'could be killed' on new lorry bridge. PROTESTERS have called for the new Bute Park .

Protest Thursday 12.30 at new bridge entrance North Road

2010-04-14T03:47:00.000-07:00

Big Protest tomorrow our demands were not answered... so we have yet another protest..
The lorries and all the cars and vans going inot the park pose a real DANGER TO Cyclists as they turn in over the cycle lane!
As well as fill the park with unwanted traffic!!!

Take Action See you there on thursday 12.30 to 1.30 at BUTE PARK new bridge entrance on north road .
No answer back from Del-boy (Cllr Delme Bowen Plaid C) over our challenging driving on the mandatory cycleway as unlawful. Nor from the 'Leader' (Cllr Berman Lib Dem) who promised immediate attention.
Love to hear from any election candidates who will support our action and attend tomorrow?

What we asked...
To Council Leader, Rodney Berman plus Exec Member for Transport Delme Bowen

New Bute Park entrance – unsafe and unlawful

The entrance was picketed around 1pm on 8th april and vehicles turned away. You will have seen the Echo report of 9th April and the excuses of the Council spokesperson that fail to mention the unlawful driving and do not claim a safety assessment of the scheme as built.

We demand that Cardiff Council close it and revert to the old entrance for the Royal Horticultural Show traffic, until the safety and legality issues are resolved.

The design is a disgrace, destroying the pavement along North Road for 30 metres, and providing nothing for pedestrians crossing from the Corbett Road side, at a junction where drivers of fast-moving vehicles wishing to turn into the Park may well be distracted from noticing pedestrians and cyclists.

Vehicle left turns across a cycleway are a recognised hazard to cyclists, and this design is worse than many. This cycleway is mandatory - driving on it is unlawful. New markings denoting “give way” by cyclists are not legal. The no-driving stipulation means vehicles cannot lawfully access the Park this route. The police did not intervene - the picket was fully successful in stopping the unlawful vehicles.

We call on Cardiff Council to withdraw their traffic marshal (complicit with law breaking) and close this gateway to vehicles for the RH Show forthwith.
Please confirm that you will ensure action is taken without further delay.

Max Wallis
CCAB, Cardiff University
with support of
Cardiff Green Party
Save Bute Park action group
Bute Parks Alliance
Cardiff Cycling Campaign
Living Streets

NOTE >>>SAVE RUMNEY REC meeting tomorrow -.WAG have apporved building on rec!!!
I am stunned that the WAG have approved this scheme which is unstainable and environmentally damaging and will effect peoples health as their means of recreation is taken from then and make their lives unhappy! The WAG and the council shoulsdd listen to the local peoples views which is clearly agaisnt their scheme!
The Green Party support this campaign.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanrumney
http://rreelactiongroup.webs.com/ourstaffcontact.htm

PUBLIC MEETING

TO DISCUSS THE WAY FORWARD

THURSDAY, 15th APRIL, 2010

RUMNEY & LANRUMNEY

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

7:30 pm

The Campaign Continues

Can't trust CADW helping transform Bute Park into Vehicle Heaven

2010-04-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

CADW shame! How can they justify this ugly bridge in a listed park?

2. Has Cadw looked at/viewed the new bridge now it has been built?

RICHARD KEVERN

Gweinyddu Henebion / Ancient Monuments Administration reply

Yes. Cadw’s Inspector of historic parks and gardens visited the site on 20 January 2010 and considers that the authority appears to have adhered to the design as contained in the approved planning application. The visit confirmed that the timber cladding on the bridge had been put in place since the date of your e-mail and that the significant trees nearest the works are being well protected by timbers. The Council has provided laminated information sheets within the park to help provide information to members of the public and explain the extent of the work being carried out. The construction works are on going and not yet complete. Responsibility for ensuring that they conform to the planning permission rests with the Council’s Development Control Department.

1. Will Cadw now review its support of the “road” to be built through the park and turning circle?

"Cadw’s letter of 19 September 2008, issued in response to consultation from the local planning authority, was to help inform its consideration of the planning application. Cadw’s assessment of the impact of the proposals on the historic environment was objective and impartial and taken into account, along with other views and material considerations, by the local authority when it determined the application."

CADW should think of a listed park like a store and NO vehicles should be allowed in unless absolutely vital - environmentally friendly small vehicles only - get the gardeners on their bikes and absolutely no parking for staff/gardeners own vehicles in the park. They should be encouraged to park and ride or bus or walk to work.

And in the top picture note than even twiggy would have trouble with this footpath!

Action on New Motorway bridge into Bute Park

2010-04-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

The action was covered by WalesOnline
Cyclists ‘could be killed’ on new lorry bridge: Green Party Action in Cardiff http://bit.ly/bzJjPr
some pictures here of 1. the badly designed monstrosity of a bridge going in to bute park and danger ot cyclists and pedestrians...
2. And some of the work going on yesterday chopping back beautiful mature trees so they won't damage Articulated lorries..Shame on Cardiff Lib Dems and Plaid!
3. The events transport organiser person was sat on the bridge with his red car a yard away..
Our demands sent to Cardiff ...

New Bute Park entrance – unsafe and unlawful

The entrance was picketed yesterday 8th April around 1pm and vehicles turned away.

We demand that Cardiff Council close it and revert to the old entrance for the Royal Horticultural Show traffic, until the safety and legality issues are resolved.

The design is a disgrace, destroying the pavement along North Road for 30 metres, and providing nothing for pedestrians crossing from the Corbett Road side, at a junction where drivers of fast-moving vehicles wishing to turn into the Park may well be distracted from noticing pedestrians and cyclists.

Vehicle left turns across a cycleway are a recognised hazard to cyclists, and this design is worse than many.

This cycleway is mandatory - driving on it is unlawful. New markings denoting “give way” by cyclists are not legal. The no-driving stipulation means vehicles cannot lawfully access the Park this route. The police did not intervene - the picket was fully successful in stopping the unlawful vehicles.

We call on Cardiff Council to withdraw their traffic marshal (complicit with law breaking) and close this gateway to vehicles for the RH Show forthwith.

Max Wallis

CCAB, Cardiff University

with support of

Cardiff Green Party

Save Bute Park action group

Bute Parks Alliance

Cardiff Cycling Campaign

Living Streets

New access is crossing a “mandatory” cycleway – driving on this is traffic offence.

2010-04-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

The opening of the new/ Corbett Rd bridge into But park missed Easter, despite overtime working to meet that deadline, because of some ‘thisngs to sort out’, the workmen said.

The new access to Bute Park for artic lorries is crossing a “mandatory” cycleway – driving (and parking) on this one is a traffic offence. The Council would have to make a new Order as they’ve restored the cycleway within a solid white line but haven't yet..

Cyclists objections to this design as unsafe/dangerous for them have been ignored.

The hazard of such a junction to cyclists comes because vehicle drivers turning off the main highway pay regard to the traffic lights and other vehicles and may well miss cyclists, though they are supposed to give way to them.

The solution proposed to Council officers was to re-lay the cycleway close to the fence, maybe on a raised hump and including signing. They’ve ignored this no doubt because they say the road is only an “access” and traffic laws do not apply. So the only recourse that cyclist have is to object to changing the mandatory cycleway to allow vehicle crossover.

No safe crossover to and from Corbett Rd has been designed, when they just lengthened the splitter island. Is this contravening the Disability Discrim Act? They could have widened it sufficiently to take a wheelchair - but didn't.

Bute Park – A tear is shed

2010-03-30T02:53:00.000-07:00

Excellent article here from Mark Groves..on the bute park development: http://bit.ly/cLSO60
As the person who started this campaign I am very sad that all representations, petitions, Failed! The Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru railroaded this through and voted on it several times with the support of the Heritage Lottery fund and was given a blessing from CADW! I was nearly knocked down by Cllr McEvoy who used the terrorism act to seal off the city hall from Bute Park protesters! I was thrown out of the council public gallery as they defended the ROAD! A monument to stupidity - a road for articulated lorries. and they continue to concrete over the park.....lets hope they suffer for it at the next election... Any one know the opening date...? so we can be there and continue to oppose articulated lorries entering the park They are digging in coppers field now making turning circles for lorries!!..
Facebook group here.. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10999506173&ref=ts

Bute Park – A tear is shed

Mark Groves

Published: March 30, 2010Posted in: City Centre, Development, Featured, Opinion, Parks, PlanningTags: bute park, Cardiff, castle grounds, City Centre, landmarks, Parks, Photography

The development of Bute Park, including the new bridge, have proved controversial

With the upcoming news about Bute Park and it’s proposed destructive development, I have to say I genuinely shed a tear and felt great sadness.

It’s very hard to put into words exactly what I feel without making a post that is completely family ‘unfriendly’ but I think you get the idea of just how rotten I feel inside.

When I started my photography hobby Bute Park was the first place I visited, in fact I actually took one of my favourite shots of all time there, Stoned (left). I’ve even been featured in Schmap with one of my pictures of the Iconic Queens tower from the Castle Grounds / Bute Park.

Unfortunately, I get the feeling that the famous city grounds will look nothing like even a shadow of it’s former self with the proposed road going through it. Again, I appreciate the need for access, but please, why do we insist on destroying things like this?

It’s long been talked about a tram system similar to the one in Sheffield to aid in reducing traffic congestion (it would also be brilliant in replacing certain bus routes that are forever plagued by traffic) so why has this never materialised? for those of you old enough to remember, Castle Street and St Mary’s Street had something similar in the past, Trolley busses. You can see a picture of them here (Taken by Photo by D.J. Norton ) so it’s not inconceivable either!

It does of course bring up the question, what are the people who are doing this smoking?

Yes there is a need for better transport. Yes I know, it’ll ease the frankly awful congestion around the city centre but there is another way!

In fact there are several other ways, including trams, more busses, better around city parking, more park and ride services for commuters etc.

The list goes on! As far as I am aware however, Cardiff is doing everything it can to prevent people from coming into the town centre, i.e. the ridiculously sized and badly built ’speed hump’ or, ‘Vehicular Traffic Calming Measure’ to use it’s proper name, at the end of Queen Street. Whoever came up with the design alone for that really needs to be made to drive over it six times a day, I regularly see cars hit that thing and then bottom out going up and down it, I’ve quite frequently seen sparks from exhausts slamming into it (even at low speeds) and more than enough bumpers being scraped along the bottom of it (if you look closely on a monday morning you can actually see scars on the hump itself, and bits of plastic from sump guards and bumpers along the kerbside where they have inevitably been ripped off.

Perhaps the new road is actually a diversion around the speed hump, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Government or Council (whoever it is) had decided that instead of shaving off an inch from the top of the gargantuan asphalt lump they would just build a road around it.

No, my pain is much deeper than that, for me and many others. Words cannot really express how I feel.

Cardiff Fib Dems boast of "protecting our parks and winning awards too"

2010-03-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

The Cardiff fib Dems have been distributing a news paper called the Cardiff Herald a4 page newspaper which they doesn't say the Fib Dem's produced it themselves...only know if you are looking for it at the very end in tiny print.

Fib Dems have such a cheek to claim to be green for "protecting our parks" as they concete over Bute Park as you read this!!! And for articulated lorries..???
They boast too of green flag award for Cardiff parks and wouldn't disclose who the judges are....so why hide that info unlesss it show bias!!

so what else do they say...some highlights..
"we have launched a new free shuttle service which circles the city every ten minutes" which has been a disaster
"new routes for Cardiff bus - reducing carbon and congestion" !!!
make bus routes one way and inconvenient and claim its green!!! Making more space for cars?? Building huge car parks ... so reduce the buses and call that green?? Couldn't make it up!!

WESTERN POWER BEGINS EMPTYING LLANISHEN RESERVOIR.

2010-02-27T02:24:00.000-08:00

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER so just for once raising this disaster..
27th Feb '10
WESTERN POWER BEGINS EMPTYING LLANISHEN RESERVOIR.

Yesterday, Western Power began emptying Llanishen reservoir. They have set up pipes through which they are pumping water over the embankments into the Nant Fawr.
It seems they can draw off the top three metres of water without requiring permission, but thereafter need to obtain a drainage consent from the Environment Agency.
The reservoir engineer who has been employed by RAG estimates that there will be a minimum of 10,000 cubic metres of silt on the bottom of the reservoir.
If only a small fraction of this is washed into the Nant Fawr it will do enormous environmental damage to the stream and it will all end up in Roath Park Lake, adding to the silting problems there.

Draindown could not have come at a worse time for the exceptionally large population of toads which normally breed in Llanishen reservoir. Within the next two weeks they will be migrating to their traditional breeding site to spawn
http://www.llanishenrag.com/

Western Power tells us that it is keen to be green - their new environmental initiative? It claims its aim is to protect and enhance the communities served by us. And they do exactly the opposite!! Green wash of the year award!!!

I wrote to Mr. James Miller Chairman, President & CEO Pennsylvania Power and Light Corporation re their subsidiary Western Power Distribution objecting to the draining of the reservoir.
The reply...

I’m writing to acknowledge the receipt of your e-mail to James Miller regarding Western Power Distribution’s activities related to the Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs.

While I know that there is some understandable concern among nearby residents regarding development plans for the reservoirs, PPL believes that the plan being pursued by WPD is appropriate.

I have passed along your letter to our offices in the U.K. for an additional response to your inquiry.

Sincerely,

Rick L. Klingensmith

President, PPL Global

You can email them too!
rklingensmith@pplweb.com, djmccarthy@pplweb.com, jhmiller@pplweb.com

Contractors destroy/Damage tree roots in Bute Park

2010-02-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

Complaint to Cardiff City Council re destruction of tree roots in Bute Park and the lies by contractors

On the 11^th Feb campaigner Max Wallis wrote to Richard Cole,
Senior Planning Officer, Cardiff County Council to raise the issue of damage to tree roots in listed Bute Park. –
I see they are running a loaded dumper truck along the track of the path from which the surface tarmac and base have been stripped, taking gravel etc. to the north of the Nursery.
This presumably means the truck runs over the tree roots that were supposed to be protected at great cost. Though dumper trucks have wide tyres to spread the load, this means less damage to near surface roots but not to those a foot or so deep.
Have the contractors obtained technical advice that their procedure does not damage the tree roots? And if not, will you intervene to stop it to prevent further damage?
And the reply …

Dear Mr Wallis

Richard Cole , ( Senior Planning Officer ) has asked me to respond to your e-mail dated 11 th February in which you express concern regarding the protection of tree roots as part of the above works

The roadway in question is one of a number of internal roadways and paths that are being upgraded using a "no dig " specification specifically designed to overcome the potential root damage associated with conventional methods of roadway and path construction . The " no dig " method involves the contractor removing only the existing tarmac surface and leaving the existing sub base material intact . The new roadway construction is then built up using a cell web system . This avoids excavating and cutting tree roots and results in little or no additional compaction .The whole operation is supervised closely by the contractor and the Council .

At the time of your visit and from your description the existing tar macadam surface had been removed exposing the existing sub base material . The contractor was using a dumper truck with floatation tyres to run stone material along the roadway on the existing sub base in advance of the cell web being laid . No tree roots were evident and certainly none were exposed . Our records show that site conditions were surprisingly good during this period with no evidence of water ponding or wheel rutting on site . I can also confirm that the contractor is fully aware of the " no dig "construction requirements .

Under the circumstances whilst I appreciate your concern I am satisfied that no damage has occurred to adjacent tree roots and the "no dig " method of roadway and path construction being used will ensure that this remains the case .

The contractor has been made aware of your concern and I can assure you that we will continue to supervise the work .

Thank you for your interest . Mike Clark Bute Park Restoration Project

Clark, Mike - M.Clark@cardiff.gov.uk

Cole, Richard - rcole@cardiff.gov.uk

Richard Cole,
Senior Planning Officer,
Cardiff County Council.

Richard - This reply from a rep of the developers is untruthful. The video on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsuu4QaZas shows them scooping up top soil with roots and quickly covering up the damage with sheeting . Of course there were lots of roots where the track was being widened over current meadow, as well as roots in the roadway 'base' (over the 'sub-base he says they left). Their use of a tracked JCB as well as running a dumper truck over it would inevitably have damaged finer roots in compressing the material. From the reply we should infer they had no technical advice, on which I asked.

It's your department's responsibility to enforce planning conditions. Omitting independent inspection and enforcement would be preferential treatment. In this case did you simply refer my complaint to the 'developers'? And delay inspection till they have covered the excavations and their tracks. What action is now open to you, in the light of this untruthful and unprofessional behaviour, after the damage?

Regards / Max

This is a story of the Destruction of trees and the concreting over of Bute Park particularly the building of a bridge and road for articulated lorries. There is no organisation here in Wales prepared to protect trees and the environment in listed Bute Park.
Already the extremely rare Wilson’s holly (Ilex altaclarensis
‘Wilsonii’) may have been removed/chopped down.

A considerable number of the trees lie adjacent to the paths that
would be affected by the scheme and one lies in the line of the
realigned path at the east end of the bridge. I wrote to CADW to find out what has happened to it without a result and you can read this correspondence here
Other mature trees are being damaged at this moment and the council will do nothing to stop the roots being damaged. A very short film (3 mins) on utube shows the damage being done. Pictures of the damage to trees can be seen here

Goodbye Bute Park Hello Howells Highway

2010-02-19T04:35:00.000-08:00

check this out...Edward writes....what's this really all about?
I was looking at a map of Bute Park recently and noticed something which might 
give a clue as to why the council is building this illegal and immoral road.

I wrote a blog item about it and mocked up some images.
Keep fighting them!
Edward

See also our Face book group here

Will Jane Davidson AM save Bute Park?

2010-02-19T02:14:00.000-08:00

Max has written to Jane Davidson, Minister for Planning, Welsh Assembly Government -

The Request to the Minister under Article 4 of the GPDO is to issue an Order withdrawing permitted development rights for developments including upgraded paths and/or roadways in Bute Park, Cardiff
The letter, was delivered to her office, together with the e-files of enclosures for it.
Kindly confirm that you will consider this request with urgency, in view of the fact that damaging developments are already underway. And all, he got back was an email saying ..."This to confirm that we have received your correspondence to Jane Davidson Dated 11/02/2010. This is receiving attention and we aim to respond within 17 working days 15/03/2010." This is too late. Please write now to Jane Davidson and ask her to act NOW!
jane.davidson@wales.gov.uk.
correspondence.jane.davidson@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Write to the paper too. More info and pictures in last post.

Bute Park destruction in pictures

2010-02-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

Due to its location at the historic core of Cardiff, Bute Park contains a wealth of historic interest dating back to Roman and medieval times. Cardiff Castle, the famous Animal Wall, the Gorsedd stones and the Blackfriars site are just a sample of the park’s rich history. The Castle Green was landscaped in the late eighteenth century by Capability Brown , but the park itself was laid out from 1873 on by Andrew Pettigrew, Head Gardener to the 3rd Marquess of Bute^[1]. In 1947, the 5th Marquess of Bute presented the park to the Council. Today the park is still owned and managed by Cardiff Council.

[

Nature

The size of the park and its variety of habitats make Bute Park a haven for wildlife until the diggers and articulated lorries move in.

It is possible to see a great variety of wildlife including woodpeckers, kingfishers, egrets, bats and grey squirrels. The woodlands adjoining the River Taff contain an excellent spring flora and there is an interesting range of wax cap fungi within sections of closely mown lawn in the arboretum. Salmon and sea trout can be viewed on Blackweir.

An interesting mix of rare and ornamental trees have been planted since 1947 to complement some excellent specimens that formed part of the original park design. Many of the trees are known to beChampion Trees, the biggest examples of their species anywhere in the UK.

Shame many trees have been felled including a very rare species of Holly Tree. Trees roots will be damaged by the building works. Champion trees have been lopped as you can see to allow for dumpers and lorries to go by!

You would think that the Pliad cymru/Lib dems running Cardiff would protect our heritage! But you would be wrong...Join the facebook group for more information..http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10999506173

The dock feeder canal forms a tranquil corridor along the eastern edge of the park. Its origins go back to medieval times when it was a millstream, constructed to feed the Lord's Mill, situated below the western walls of Cardiff Castle. This line is clearly seen on the Bute Estate Maps of 1824. ^[2] In 1833, the line of the mill stream was incorporated as a water source for the development of the Cardiff Docks by the 2nd Marquess of Bute and was reformed as the dock feeder when the docks were constructed 1836-1841. ^[3] The dock feeder is still the main water supply to the port of Cardiff.

The River Taff runs along the western edge of the park providing great visual and wildlife interest. Each autumn, salmon and sea trout can be seen jumping up the weir below the footbridge at Blackweir, and herons and cormorants have been observed fishing in this area.^[4]

^ [1],[2]
^ Bute Estate Maps of 1824
^ Plan showing the route of the dock feeder, 1833. Glamorgan Records Office
^ "BBC Wales Nature Q&A". Retrieved 2008-01-16.

Bute Park destruction in pictures

2010-02-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Green Flag secret judges? WHAT HAVE THEY GOT TO HIDE?

2010-02-12T10:24:00.001-08:00

WHAT HAVE THEY GOT TO HIDE?

I can not understand why the identity of the green flag judges can not be disclosed! Why is there the need to keep this information secret? Judging parks is hardly something to be secretive about! Unless of course, if disclosed the judges would then be identified as having links to the Lib Dems or/and Plaid Cymru politicians in Cardiff. It is in the public interest to know who these judges are. It is in the public interest to know that the judges are impartial. My conclusion is that there is something to hide from the public.
See more here

Link to this

Bradshaw, Phillip
Cardiff Council

12 February 2010

Dear Ms Greagsby

I am disappointed to note that you have flagged this request as rejected. It was not rejected and we provided the information you requested other than the redaction of the names and contact details of the Green Flag judges. At no time during the request or review did you make any representations on this point.

I have sympathy with the point you make about knowing the identity of the judges being in the public interest. However the exemption under FOI for personal data is not subject to the public interest test.

The Council accepts that you have a legitimate interest in requesting this information. Nevertheless we consider that disclosing it is unwarranted having regard to the prejudice to the rights freedoms and legitimate interests of the judges.

Award judges are unpaid volunteers and in our view we should respect their expressed wishes for anonymity. Our understanding is that they receive appropriate training and guidance from the Green Flag organisation and would be expected to disqualify themselves if there was any suggestion of conflict of interest.

I am sure that the Department for Communities and Local Government can provide you with further information about their procedures and processes on request.

Phillip Bradshaw

Information Manager
Democratic Services

Room CY4A, County Hall

EMail: [email address]

Phone: 029 2087 3346
[mobile number]

Fax: 029 2087 3349

Information is the Currency of Democracy

Listed Bute Park tree destruction

2010-02-11T06:20:00.000-08:00

The destruction of listed Bute Park continues against the wishes of the people of Catrdiff to build a road in the park for articulated lorries!!!

Cardiff council are allowing contractors to run a loaded dumper truck along the track of the path from which the surface tarmac and base have been stripped, taking gravel etc. to the north of the Nursery.
This presumably means the truck runs over the tree roots that were supposed to be protected at great cost.
Though dumper trucks have wide tyres to spread the load, this means less damage to near surface roots but not to those a foot or so deep.
We haveasked the council if the contractors obtained technical advice that their procedure does not damage the tree roots? And if not, will Cardiff Council intervene to stop it to prevent further damage?

The 'Heritage' lottery fund is paying for this destruction of Bute Park.

CADW have nothing to say!

Plaid Cymru and Lib Dems fought to destroy the park ignoring the people of Cardiff and indeed Wales!

Was CADW misled over bridge design?

2009-12-29T05:20:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-29T04:07:00.000-08:00

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,

Bute Park damage in the NEWS

2009-12-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

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/

Will we always have our park?

2009-12-11T02:23:00.000-08:00

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.

Rodney Berman, talking about climate change in the city

2009-11-13T02:12:00.000-08:00

Next Monday 16th Nov 7pm Rodney Berman is
"Among the speakers at the hearing at Cardiff City Hall on 16 November will be council leader Rodney Berman, talking about climate change in the city."
Should be interesting from the concrete eco crim who parks at the city hall door.
Conretes over Bute park, Rumney Rec, 100 acres green field for Junction 32 Business Park, sells school playing fields for building etc, wants a big burner, incinerator. Probably tell us he has changed his light bulbs. Lib Dem Jenny Wilmott MP says co mingled waste is better...haven't a clue!

Cardiff: 16 Nov, 7pm – Ferrier Hall, Cardiff City Hall
Speakers include: Charles Abani, Oxfam Regional Director for Southern Africa

Oxfam Climate Hearings claim to

.. bring the voices of those most affected by climate change direct to decision makers around the world at local, national, regional and international levels. From Aberystwyth to Zambia, Oxfam is organising events which will take testimony from people and turn their experiences into effective pressure.

From local villages to large-scale moments, the hearings will provide a platform for the people who are most vulnerable to climate change to place their experiences directly before those who can do something about it.

We are inviting people along to these public meetings where speakers will be giving their account of the impacts of climate change from their perspective. We are aiming to present both local and global stories, which we will record to put pressure on decision-makers at all levels of government – and at the crucial UN climate talks to be held in Copenhagen in December.

For more information please visit-
http://climatehearings.org/
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/climate_change/

http://local.stopclimatechaos.org/2009/cardiff-oxfam-climate-hearing
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8353391.stm

Plaid split on concreting over Rumney Rec!

2009-11-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

With elections looming even Plaid Cymru Cllr Concrete McEvoys own party are disowning his actions and the enormous environmental damage he is inflicting on Cardiff and his complete disregard for citizens views. Cllr Conrete McEvoy being shocked at Franks differing views shows his complete lack of understanding of green issues. Cardiff Plaid Cymru Cllrs have supported and campaigned with the Lib Dems FOR Building on GREEN SPACE in Cardiff, such as Rumney Recreation Ground, School playing fields, Junction 33 Business Park (called in by WAG), Building a massive bridge and road into listed BUTE PARK, chopping down loads of park TREES for articulated lorries and ignoring a petition of 5,000 and endless
demonstrations! See the latest pictures of the BUTE PARK destruction here
http://no2lorriesinbutepark.blogspot .com/

Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems have failed to listen to the people of Cardiff.
The only party you can trust with Cardiff Green Space is the Green Party. Vote for a change next time

Plaid ‘is at odds’ over school plan

Nov 9 2009 by David James, South Wales Echo

ONE half of Cardiff council’s ruling coalition executive is coming under pressure from several levels of their party over the controversial decision to build a new school on parkland.

Plaid’s executive members on the Liberal Democrat/Plaid executive have been criticised by both local party workers and a regional Assembly Member over their backing for the plans in East Cardiff.

Party workers in Llanrumney have put out leaflets pledging to campaign against the plan to close Rumney and Llanrumney High Schools and build a new secondary school on Rumney Recreation Ground. The activists are also campaigning in favour of a legal bid promoted by the Labour Party to thwart the plans by having the land designated as a village green.

And in the latest blow to party unity, Plaid’s South Wales Central AM Chris Franks has written to Labour Education Minister Jane Hutt urging her to throw the council’s plans out.

In a letter to Ms Hutt, Mr Franks highlighted the environmental, traffic and social arguments against the plans and the 94% vote in a local referendum against the plans.

He said: “In view of the substantial and widespread opposition to the proposals, I would ask you to reject these particular proposals and ask Cardiff council to reconsider the future of secondary schools in Llanrumney and Rumney.

“I would like to further discuss this issue with you to highlight residents’ objections.”

Plaid’s group leader in Cardiff, Neil McEvoy, last night issued a group statement saying the council group was “shocked” by Mr Franks’ intervention. He said that this was the first time the group had heard from Mr Franks.

He said: “Given that the Llanrumney deal has unanimous group support and was part negotiated by Plaid’s chief executive Gwenllian Lansdown, we feel that Chris has shown remarkably poor judgement by going public on this issue.

“All parties have disagreements, but there is a process for this. There are issues on which we disagree with the Assembly coalition on, but up until now, we have been disciplined enough not to make public comment. The party matter will be dealt with internally as is proper and correct.”

Jane Hutt is expected to release her decision on the proposals for Rumney and Llanrumney next month.

New pics Cardiff Council Destruction Bute Park

2009-11-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

Heritage Lottery Fund demanded this bridge as a condition of funding the 'restoration' of the park!

Not a very "rustic" looking BIG ROAD as we were told at planning and that CADW would agree because it was supposed to be scaled down???!
The New Road demanded by the heritage lottery fund! Onwards and concreting over this beautiful area of this LISTED PARK!

Heritage Lottery fund deceit

2009-11-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

To Jennifer Stuart of the Heritage lottery fund

Three questions for you
1. I am still waiting for the "detailed conservation based study and analysis" that you were going to find for me in September. I am still waiting for it. Please send it asp.

You said that the

the overall proposal for the Park which includes
the elements which HLF is funding, was supported by a
detailed conservation based study and analysis which I would love to see and would ask you to send me a copy of that as soon as possible.
2. On your website you state that you are not funding the bridge.However, 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 ProjectExecut_E_07_09_11_A_rep_R-2.pdf. Therefore you are deliberately misleading the public by stating
you are not funding the bridge but you are insisting it will be built. Please will you change this as what you are saying is not the truth! More details below. ***

HLF pagehttp://search.hlf.org.uk/English/GrantsDatabase/grantsproject?applicationID=24617 3. What exactly are you funding? Are you funding the NEW PATH/roadways and turning circle? The chopping down of trees?

***CARDIFF COUNCIL CYNGOR CAERDYDD
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING: 11 SEPTEMBER 2007
CARDIFF CASTLE AND ITS PARKLANDS - BUTE PARK
PROPOSED NEW ACCESS BRIDGE
REPORT OF CORPORATE DIRECTOR AGENDA ITEM: 16
PORTFOLIO: SPORT, LEISURE & CULTURE
6. 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. “Accordingly Cardiff County Council will be required to demonstrate a firm commitment to the bridge and provide a construction start date as part of its Phase 2 application to The Heritage Lottery Fund. Without this HLF will not be in a position to commit its funding to the Bute Park Restoration works”.

7. Following the Stage 1 approval, a Stage 2 bid will be submitted in October
2007 and subject to satisfactorily meeting the commitments and
requirements of the HLF then confirmation of approval of the Stage 2 bid is
expected in spring 2008. Without this commitment and construction start
date from the Council by October 2007 there can be no Stage 2 bid to HLF.

12. The new bridge will also significantly improve access into Blackweir Playing
Fields and thereby enable this attractive parkland to be brought into greater
use for a range of activities and major events. If built by July 2008 this would
greatly assist in the planning and support for the 2008 National Eisteddfod
when 700 caravans will need to be accommodated for the event.
Consequences
22. The provision of a new vehicular and pedestrian access bridge will satisfy the requirements of the HLF and enable the full grant to be considered as
part of the Stage 2 Bid and if successful awarded in the spring of 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 2008.

Bute Park trees for the chop

2009-11-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

Councillor Chain Saw Nigel Howells said the felling of 21 trees marks is part of the multi-million-pound Bute Park Restoration Project! Oh yeah! Such utter rubbish. Remember the tree felling of a so called 'diseased' tree just happened to be where they were building the bridge and was the excuse for having started work before planning permission. Cardiff Green spaces are not safe in the hands of this Fib dem/Plaid lies Council whose total disregard for our trees and the people of cardiff opinions is shameful. Why is there not a cheep from CADW?

Bute Park trees cut Nov 05 2009

DEAD and dying trees in the city’s Bute Park are set to be cut down as part of a controversial council project.Read

Nov 5 2009 by Abby Alford, South Wales Echo

DEAD and dying trees in the city’s Bute Park are set to be cut down as part of a controversial council project. Authority bosses have stressed the work is essential for safety reasons?

Professor Kevin Morgan, chairman of the organisation fighting to preserve Cardiff’s parks, said he is sceptical about any claim by the council that it is acting in the spirit of conservation.

“When it comes to managing green spaces, Cardiff council will need to earn the trust of the public, a resource it has recklessly squandered by its treatment of Bute Park in particular,” he said.

“If officers and councillors want to see what truly green cities are doing with their parks, they should consult the city of Nantes in France, which happens to be one of the cities with which Cardiff is twinned.

“Until it emulates the likes of Nantes, the people of Cardiff will judge the council by its deeds not its words.”

Campaigners fight on for Cardiff’s parks

2009-11-04T02:39:00.000-08:00

Campaigners fight on for Cardiff’s parks

Nov 4 2009 by Emily Woodrow, South Wales Echo

great article says it all..the fight goes on!

The Bute Parks Alliance used a meeting in Rhiwbina to raise opposition to the work the council is carrying out to build a £1.4m lorry bridge into the parklands and expand the roadways.CAMPAIGNERS fighting to protect Cardiff’s much-loved Grade I-listed central parklands last night tried to rally support across the city.

Professor Kevin Morgan, who chairs the organisation, told the meeting in the Bethany Baptist Church the campaigners would not give up.

He said: “Our parks are wonderful, but they have one fatal flaw – they have no voice. Consequently, they are open to abuse from successive councils who see the citizens’ parkland as cheap land for development. Our aim is to keep the plight of our green space in the public eye – permanently.”

Cardiff council is already carrying out work to prepare the way for the bridge and the widening and raising of the paths in the park.

Prof Morgan said: “It was in 1920 that the process of development and erosion began in Cardiff’s green spaces, but it is in the last 10 years that the pace has really changed.

“The thing which galvanised most of us into action was the council’s decisions about Bute Park. More than a third of our central parkland has been lost to development already.

“It’s a case of death by a thousand cuts – a huge and ugly new bridge, raised on concrete pillars, is being constructed in Bute Park, disfiguring what was once a beautiful woodland belt, and Cardiff council has further controversial plans for a turning circle, road enlargement and commercialisation of the nursery.

“Furthermore, the vast WJEC building at the northern end of Llandaff Fields dominates that section of parkland, marring the view of Llandaff Cathedral – and is yet another example of inappropriate development.”

The meeting, which was held by independent councillors Jayne Cowan, Adrian Robson and Brian Jones, also addressed another motion – to protect Cardiff’s green spaces.

Councillor Robson said the reason for holding it was because parks and green spaces in Cardiff were under threat from developments and changes and they wanted to protect them.

Coun Cowan added: “There’s a groundswell of public concern about the loss of open spaces throughout the city and the meeting gave us an important opportunity to listen to views and discuss the way forward.”

A vote was held on how to protect the city’s open spaces, asking people to agree or disagree on the following statements:

Bute Park should remain for the enjoyment of the people and no further building or development (with the exception of emergency safety work) should be undertaken.

All green spaces in Rhiwbina need to be protected from development.

Both proposals received 100% support for protection.

One member of the public added: “Every incursion is something which can’t be taken back. It will affect our children and grandchildren and will never ever be reversed.”

Greenwash and lies from Neil McEvoy Plaid Cymru

2009-10-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is the GREEN CARDIFF Neil Mcevoy and Plaid Cymru are responsible for ..

what he did to Bute park and continues to do for ARTICULATED Lorries

for mindblowing hypocrisy...Cardiff Green spaces are not safe with Plaid Cymru or Fib Dems

latest Plaid lies & hypocrisy in the form of a propaganda leaflet.

And we already have project GREEN

..ummm...Plaid and Fib Dems scheme to build an INCINERATOR for all South Wales Rubbish!!

Mad Hatters Tea Party

2009-09-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

Mad hatters tea party for Bute Park

2009-09-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

Bute parks alliance invites you to join them for a MAD HATTER”S TEA PARTY if you care about Bute Park and the citys green spaces!!

Outside City Hall

3.30, September 24

Wear something bright and colourful, bring a hat and umbrella, and a whistle, drum, cymbals....

Get the council to wake up to the fact that Cardiff’s green space is too precious to trash with development.

What’s happening to the city’s green spaces is a microcosm of what’s happening to the planet – and the madness has to stop.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD – BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

STOP CLIMATE CRIME

WAG new advice protecting natural Welsh heritage

2009-09-18T01:41:00.000-07:00

I hope they sent a copy to Cardiff council who did no environmental impact assessment of their Lorry Road on listed Bute Park!

Welsh conservation advice

The Welsh Assembly Government has published new planning guidance on how local planning authorities can allow for continued development while protecting the natural heritage of Wales.

Technical Advice Notice 5 (TAN 5) gives revised guidance on the conservation of internationally and nationally designated sites and habitats. It also addresses the conservation of protected species.

Read the Welsh Assembly Government press release

Download the TAN 5 revised guidance

Occupation stops work on Bute Park Bridge

2009-08-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

A group of us from BPA gathered this morning to protest at the destruction of Bute Park by Cardiff Council.

We enjoyed a hearty breakfast as the protest got under way before the workers arrived on site!

This was just a short protest...no one chained themselves or lay in the path of the diggers yet or climbed the trees.

Not yet...!!!

Just see the park beyond that is soon going to be totally destroyed...for articulated lorries..

Watch the slide show!

We are accused of spreading “misinformation”

2009-08-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

WalesOnline - News - Cardiff News - Bute Park protesters in ...

20 Aug 2009 ... CAMPAIGNERS against the building of a road into Bute Park have been...

Bute Park protesters in ‘misinformation’ fury
Aug 20 2009 by Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo

CAMPAIGNERS against the building of a road into Bute Park have been accused of spreading “misinformation” in leaked emails written by council members to the judges of a top environmental award.

Last month, the city centre park retained its Green Flag despite the furore over the building of a bridge and access road into the park.

Correspondence disclosed to campaigner Anne Greagsby under the Freedom of Information Act shows that when an unidentified judge expressed concern about the possibility of a demonstration by members of the Bute Parks Alliance pressure group during their visit, an unnamed Cardiff Council officer accused the group of putting out “misinformation”.

The correspondence also shows that the council entertained the judges to lunch at Cardiff Castle.

Professor Kevin Morgan, chair of the campaign group Bute Parks Alliance said: “The nature of this correspondence clearly illustrates the deeply flawed nature of the Green Flag judging process.

“The public believes that an award of this kind is given independently – but the interaction between the judges and Cardiff Council reveals that this is definitely not the case.

“Furthermore, the judges did not even bother to find out why there is so much public opposition to the council’s development plans for Bute Park.

“Work is now under way on the new lorry access bridge, creating a huge scar in what was once a lush and green woodland belt.

“If the proposed 20 foot-wide road into Cooper’s Field, lorry turning circle, and nursery development are carried out, a significant area of the park will be unrecognisable.

“But how much of this was revealed to the judges? And how many probing questions did they ask?

“Both the council and the judges lack moral integrity in their attitude to the Green Flag, rendering it meaningless.”

Paul Todd, manager of the Green Flag Award Scheme, which is run by a partnership that includes Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace, said: “Our judges are trained to a very high standard to assess sites and decide whether they merit an award or not.

“In this case they were made aware of the concerns that had been expressed about Bute Park by members of the public. When making their decision, they took all factors into consideration and made a judgment.”

Dodgy Bute Park Judges.

2009-08-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Suspiciously chummy correspondence between council and judges. If that’s

independent judging, I’m a banana!

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/green_flag_award_meetings_and_co#incoming-40045

What do you think of this?

I cannot understand this. Why judges for a park award should be kept secret?

Cover up so there must be something to hide ?

And accusing protester's of misinformation is appalling, the

judges should have arranged to

meet them and not excepted that

as true. Judges told ...Protesters "refused to listen to what we have told them"!

And the judges

asking for advice...!!!

One of the judges says "having a wobble about whether of not to

enter the fray! I would be grateful if you could give me a bit of a

steer about how delicate the situation is or not.. as i don't want

to get embroiled in a political muddle. Is this a big issue for you

and your team?

I like a challenge but would appreciate a heads up so I can

make a more informed decision about whether to come to Bute

or not. Are we likely to be lobbied on the day? A girl needs to know.

Any help or advice advice you can offer will be much appreciated."

so the judges are Wined and dined by the parks department and come up with goods..

Cardiff council GAG

Note they Cardiff council are telling me we have to keep qiuiet about this and talk of copywright

which is beyond my comprehensions.

Freedom of information respsonse..

My Ref: MAT(P)/SD/2059/CLP0012 G00158

14 August, 2009

Anne Greagsby

[FOI #16595 email]

My Ref: MAT(P)/SD/2059/CLP0012 G00158

14 August, 2009

Anne Greagsby

[FOI #16595 email]

Dear Ms Greagsby

ELECTORAL DIVISION: CATHAYS

GREEN FLAG JUDGING OF

BUTE PARK

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act

2000 about correspondence relating to the Green Flag judging of

Bute Park in 2009 received on 7th August 2009.

We have considered your request and enclose the following information:

Various emails between Council officers and the judging team, and the
itinerary for the judging visit.

Most of the documents that we provide in response to

Environmental Information Regulations 2004

requests will be subject to copyright protection. In most

cases the copyright will be owned by Cardiff Council.

The copyright in some documents may be owned by another person

or organisation, as indicated on the documents themselves.

You are free to use any documents supplied for your own use,

including for non-commercial research purposes. The documents may

also be used for news reporting. However, any

other type of re-use, for example by

publishing the documents or issuing copies to the public

will require the permission of the copyright owner.

Details of the arrangements for reusing the material owned by

Cardiff Council can be found on our website at or by contacting the

Information Manager, Room 111,

County Hall, Cardiff

CF10 4UW (Phone 029 2087 3346).

For documents where the copyright is not owned by Cardiff

Council, you would need to apply to the copyright owner to obtain their

permission for re-use.

We supply this information based on your original request. If this

information does not answer your enquiry or if you feel we have not

fully understood your request, please contact me to clarify your

exact requirements.

If you have any queries or concerns or are in any way dissatisfied with

the handling of your request please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jon Maidment

Operational Manager

Parks

show quoted sections

Dear Ms Greagsby

ELECTORAL DIVISION: CATHAYS

GREEN FLAG JUDGING OF BUTE PARK

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
about correspondence relating to the Green Flag judging of Bute Park in
2009 received on 7th August 2009.

We have considered your request and enclose the following information:

Various emails between Council officers and the judging team, and the
itinerary for the judging visit.

Most of the documents that we provide in response to Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 requests will be subject to copyright
protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Cardiff
Council. The copyright in some documents may be owned by another person
or organisation, as indicated on the documents themselves.

You are free to use any documents supplied for your own use, including
for non-commercial research purposes. The documents may also be used for
news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example by
publishing the documents or issuing copies to the public will require
the permission of the copyright owner.

Details of the arrangements for reusing the material owned by Cardiff
Council can be found on our website at or by contacting the Information
Manager, Room 111, County Hall, Cardiff CF10 4UW (Phone 029 2087 3346).

For documents where the copyright is not owned by Cardiff Council, you
would need to apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission
for re-use.

We supply this information based on your original request. If this
information does not answer your enquiry or if you feel we have not
fully understood your request, please contact me to clarify your exact
requirements.

If you have any queries or concerns or are in any way dissatisfied with
the handling of your request please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jon Maidment

Operational Manager

Parks

show quoted sections

Blind leading the blind!

2009-08-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Blind group welcomes new access plans for Bute Park
WalesOnline
A SUPPORT group for the blind has spoken out to welcome Cardiff council's plans to build new road access into Bute Park. The Cardiff Institute for the Blind ...

Which is safer ..a park with articulated lorries or a park withput articulated lorries ..think again!!

It would be useful if this group spoke to us about the plans. I would like to know what misleading information they have been given. The 'road' will be safer for some people who are trying to access the castle but it is NOT safe per se to have articulated lorries in the park nor environmentally sound. A raised road and turning circle up to half a metre high in some places with one in 5 slope as Pat Thompson (project manager) told me is far from safe.
The less people the greater the temptation for the lorries to speed.

No 2 Lorries in Bute Park

What are they doing to Bute Park?

If only they'd thought of a Permeable Surface

If only they'd thought of a Permeable Surface

Cllr Bowen to drive into Bute park cos hes wearing his chains?

£920,000 Cafe for Bute Park

Cardiff Lib Dem Council wreck Bute Park

Green flag award NOT GREEN

The fight for Rumney Recreation Gropund

Join the Picnic in the park!

Berman & parks cause wanton damage 2waxcap meadow of Regional Importance.

Schools for Luxury Flats

NSPCC event traffic cutting up Roath Park

broken promises and damage to meadow woodland in Bute Park

Danger to cyclists Action in Bute Park

Pedals and petals clash at entry to RHS spring show

WalesOnline - CardiffOnline - Cardiff news - Cyclists 'could be ...

Protest Thursday 12.30 at new bridge entrance North Road

The Campaign Continues

Can't trust CADW helping transform Bute Park into Vehicle Heaven

Action on New Motorway bridge into Bute Park

New access is crossing a “mandatory” cycleway – driving on this is traffic offence.

Bute Park – A tear is shed

Cardiff Fib Dems boast of "protecting our parks and winning awards too"

WESTERN POWER BEGINS EMPTYING LLANISHEN RESERVOIR.

Contractors destroy/Damage tree roots in Bute Park

Goodbye Bute Park Hello Howells Highway

Will Jane Davidson AM save Bute Park?

Bute Park destruction in pictures

[

An interesting mix of rare and ornamental trees have been planted since 1947 to complement some excellent specimens that formed part of the original park design. Many of the trees are known to beChampion Trees, the biggest examples of their species anywhere in the UK.

Bute Park destruction in pictures

Green Flag secret judges? WHAT HAVE THEY GOT TO HIDE?

Bradshaw, PhillipCardiff Council12 February 2010

Listed Bute Park tree destruction

Was CADW misled over bridge design?

Heritage Lottery fund deceit

Bute Park damage in the NEWS

Will we always have our park?

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

Rodney Berman, talking about climate change in the city

Plaid split on concreting over Rumney Rec!

Plaid ‘is at odds’ over school plan

New pics Cardiff Council Destruction Bute Park

Heritage Lottery fund deceit

Bute Park trees for the chop

Bute Park trees cut Nov 05 2009

Campaigners fight on for Cardiff’s parks

Campaigners fight on for Cardiff’s parks

Greenwash and lies from Neil McEvoy Plaid Cymru

Mad Hatters Tea Party

Mad hatters tea party for Bute Park

WAG new advice protecting natural Welsh heritage

Occupation stops work on Bute Park Bridge

We are accused of spreading “misinformation”

WalesOnline - News - Cardiff News - Bute Park protesters in ...

Bute Park protesters in ‘misinformation’ furyAug 20 2009 by Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo

Bute Park protesters in ‘misinformation’ fury

Dodgy Bute Park Judges.

Blind leading the blind!

Bradshaw, Phillip
Cardiff Council

12 February 2010

Bute Park protesters in ‘misinformation’ fury
Aug 20 2009 by Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo