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

New pics Cardiff Council Destruction Bute Park

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!

Bute Park trees for the chop

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.”

CADW on Vulcan and Bute Park

Thank you for your e-mail of 12th November to the Assembly Minister for Heritage about listing the Vulcan Hotel public house on Adam Street as a building of special architectural or historic interest. I have been asked to reply.

There is a statutory duty to list buildings which meet published listing criteria but this cannot be where they are not met. These criteria state that, because of the greater number of buildings built after about 1840 which survive, selection is needed to identify the best examples of particular types. Only buildings of definite quality and character are listed. Buildings that illustrate important aspects of Wales’ social, economic, cultural or military history may also be considered for listing on grounds of historic interest and also where there is a close historical association between a building and people or events of importance to Wales.

Cadw have considered the Vulcan for listing on a number of occasions - in 1996-97, when the area was surveyed for historic buildings and several times since 2003. Cadw’s Inspectors have visited more than once and carried out internal and external inspections. Although the pub has reputedly been in continuous use since 1853, it has the appearance of an early twentieth century building, seemingly remodelled around 1900. More recent internal alterations have further affected its original character. In this respect the Vulcan does not compare favourably to other historic pubs in Cardiff which have been listed such as the nearby Golden Cross. Cadw has also considered the case for listing of the Vulcan based on its historical interest or association but these seem not to be significant outside the immediate area. On present evidence therefore, Cadw’s assessment is that the listing criteria are not met in the case of the Vulcan but officials would be happy review the matter in the light of any new information.

Historic buildings, listed or not, are an important part of our cultural heritage and can make a significant contribution to local regeneration. Where development affecting historic assets is proposed, developers and the local planning authority should consider retaining and incorporating these into their plans so that an area continues to reflect an element of local distinctiveness and character. We understand that work on the redevelopment of Adam Street, including the site presently occupied by the Vulcan, primarily for residential apartments, is due to start late next year or early 2010. We hope that in the time that remains every opportunity is taken to consider the scope for retaining the pub as part of these development plans so that the Vulcan’s long period of association with the area can continue.

With regard to the proposals for a new bridge and access road from North Road into Bute Park, Cardiff City Council put this forward in order, primarily, to improve goods vehicle access necessary for setting up public events held in the park grounds. Cadw was consulted on the planning application for these proposals as Bute Park is included, at Grade I, on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales and had serious concerns about the original proposals presented to us in 2007 which we expressed to the council. In the light of these concerns the council made significant changes to the design of the access bridge to reduce its visual impact while still providing improved access.

Philip Hobson Designations Section/Y Gangen Ddynodiadau
Welsh Assembly Government / Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.
Cadw,Plas Carew 5/7 Cefn Coed, Parc Nantgarw Cardiff CF15 7QQ
Direct Line/ Llinell Uniongyrchol 01443 336017
E-mail/E-bost hobsonp@wales.gsi.gov.uk