corrupt Cllrs vote for car park in park for sky tv

Outdoor games area in Sophia Gardens will make way for extra parking spaces
Feb 19 2009 by Gavin O'Connor, South Wales Echo

Outdoor games area in Sophia Gardens will make way for extra parking spaces

CAMPAIGNERS have lost their battle to preserve green space and sports facilities in a section of historic city parkland.

Members of Cardiff council’s planning committee last night voted in favour of extending the car park outside the Welsh Institute of Sport in Sophia Gardens.

The decision means the Grade II listed park’s multi-purpose sports area will be lost at the expense of more spaces for vehicles driving into the Cathedral Road conservation area.

One thousand objectors signed a petition and four members of the planning committee were persuaded by their arguments.

But six members voted in the scheme at a packed meeting held at City Hall yesterday.

The development will see 161 car park spaces boosted to 235 – but less than the initial intention of 252 spaces.

Simon Warder, planning director for developers RPS, on behalf of Cardiff Council, said the project would solve the issues related to “casual parking” and have a positive impact.

“There are many other recreation facilities close by, including the multi-use games area in Canton,” he said. Greg Butterworth, 40, of Cathedral Road, addressed the committee and spoke of his disgust at what the approved outcome would mean.

“The council’s special projects department is supposed to serve the people of Cardiff,” he said. “This planning application and the issues around it remain a disgrace.”

The extra space would cater for TV vehicles visiting nearby sporting events such as the upcoming Ashes fixture at Glamorgan Cricket Club’s Swalec Stadium.

Pat Mckenna, of Pontcanna, also spoke on behalf of residents against the plans and said the historic features of the park were suffering “gradual destruction”.

She said: “The bribe of seven new lime trees being planted should not buy this application.

“Far from being preserved, the parklands are being ravaged by development.”

However, committee member, Coun Keith Hyde, who changed his mind to cast a positive vote for the development, said: “We are not really doing a lot other than tidying up the car park. This revised scheme is much better.”

Bute park saved from car park fate

CADW back car park plan - is it time to ask is CADW fit for purpose?

Historic park saved from car park fate
Jan 15 2009 by Andrew Dagnell, South Wales Echo

A PLAN to convert historic parklands in the heart of the capital into a car park is to be blocked by councillors.
Members of the city’s planning committee yesterday voted against plans by Cardiff council’s special projects department to tarmac a grassed area in Sophia Gardens next to the Welsh Institute of Sport. But they deferred a final decision until the committee’s next meeting.
The planning application aimed to create 207 parking spaces – 58 of which would be used up to 12 times a year to accommodate TV vehicles filming sports matches.

It also sought approval to remove the Grade II listed park’s multi-purpose sports tarmac as well as removal of a substantial of shrubbery. Planning officers had recommended the scheme for approval, however it was met with opposition by Councillor Gwenllian Lansdown, who said the plans were not in keeping with the park’s historic status.

She warned: “This would be the end of Sophia Gardens as we know it.
“This is a well-used sports area enjoyed by local residents and others. No plans are made to replace it therefore constituting an unacceptable loss of public open space.
“This application falls within a conservation area and the introduction of more car parking would jeopardise its status as historic parkland.”

Welsh heritage body Cadw had backed the plans, saying that the suggested changes to the park, which is within the Cathedral Road conservation area, “would be beneficial to the character of the park” and “would be an enhancement of the park’s quality and character”.

A Freedom of Information request by a homeowner living in the area has revealed that if the plans were given the go-ahead the project would be funded by Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
However, this was blasted by Councillor Richard Foley who said he felt the plans were being allowed to pass through the backdoor. He said: “I abhor Cadw’s response. I find this application extremely uncomfortable, and we would not permit it if it was an external application.”

Speaking after the meeting, Cathedral Road resident Greg Butterworth, 40, said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the win – it’s a massive success for us over the council and the cricket club.
“The plan would have destroyed the surrounding environment and the area that we live in.”
andrew.dagnell@mediawales.co.uk