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

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!

Outrage at Bute Park destruction

Freiends of Bute park wrote to the council - 14 October 2008 Dear Julian Stedman

I write to protest most vehemently at the proposal to build an access road and bridge for large lorries to enter Bute Park. This proposal will destroy and change forever a large number of mature trees and a significant proportion of a truly magnificent park.

Cardiff has one of the largest inner city urban parks in Europe - I'm absolutely outraged that yet again an elected body is proposing to eat into and defile a precious and outstandingly beautiful space for short term convenience. It appears that the council has already begun preparations to enact the proposal without, as far as I'm aware, properly publicising and consulting it's constituency. Everybody who visits Cardiff, and we work with people from all over the world, remark on how lucky and privileged we are in Cardiff to have such an incredibly wonderful and universally accessible space at the very centre of our city. It is comparable to the Wansee in Berlin the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and Central Park New York in it's beauty and usage.

At a time when we are all being told by government, environmentalists and ecologists that the threat of global warming is the main threat facing all of us, and the safeguarding of the environment is crucially important to everybody, our council seems to be intent on destroying mature trees and introducing an invasive and polluting highway to a tranquil and exquisitely delicate space. Cardiff is full of misconceived, wasteful highway "innovations" and "solutions" which appear to have been introduced by amateur and environmentally illiterate administrators. This council wastes millions each year on short term, ill conceived traffic plans which cause havoc to everybody without achieving any real solutions to the problems of traffic pollution or flow. There are no electric trams or hybrid buses anywhere, no proper provision for bicycles or really effective pedestrianisation of city centre streets. The introduction of noisy, polluting and incredibly dangerous "bendy buses" has been a disaster of epic proportions. The Bute Park proposal will add to a growing list of serious environmental and highway incompetence's.

The administration should be forced to spend some public money visiting our twin city Stuttgart to see what a proper integrated transport system looks like. In comparison Cardiff is third rate and backward.

Bute Park, Pontcanna Fields and the rest of the river parks are brilliant examples of utilised inner city public spaces - superbly accessible to everybody, young and old, infirm and athletic. They are precious resources to be protected and guarded by those who purport to represent us as responsible and intelligent politicians.

It will be your eternal shame if you violate the trust the people place in you go ahead with this madness. You should be setting a supreme example to us all not indulging in environmental hooliganism at such a crucially important time as this.

As a company involved in advertising and filmmaking we will do our utmost to make sure that this issue is publicised as widely as possible in an effort to stop this violation and erosion of a wonderful public resource.
Sincerely,
Les Mills

Beryl Productions International Ltd
Chapter • Market Road • Canton • Cardiff • Wales • UK • CF5 1QE
Studio Tel/Fax: 44 (0)29 20 226 225 • Office Tel & Fax: 44 (0) 29 20 666 418
Studio Email: studio.beryl@btconnect.com • Office Email: les.beryl@fut.net

Company Directors: Les Mills & Joanna Quinn

Council's audacious plans for park access bridge

Came across this article from 18 September 2008 in roadtransport.com
with rather different figures from the ones given at the planning meeting!

Cardiff Council has announced ambitious plans to build a dedicated lorry bridge that will allow hauliers unrestricted access into a park in the heart of the city centre. The local authority estimates that between 50 and 100 HGVs travel into the historic Bute Park every week in order to supply the Nursery, provide equipment for open-air events and maintain and manage water flow in the Dock Feeder.

Existing access involves a busy junction, and the council says it is potentially unsafe.

Concerns have also been mounting for some time that once vehicles enter the park, the close proximity of pedestrians could result in accidents. However, the council's proposals have not prevented campaigners from the Green Party objecting to the cutting down of 10 trees in order to provide space for the bridge.

A council spokesman says if it gets the go-ahead, the bridge will not be tolled and will not have weight restrictions other than "the standard ones applicable for public highways".

Simon Higgins, Road Haulage Association area manager, says: "It can only be a good thing for haulage. We would like to keep lorries away from people. What we don't want to do is pay for the privilege of crossing the bridge. The haulage industry is already hammered with taxes, but if it's free, we have absolutely no objections at all."

Chris Tindall Email at news@roadtransport.com

Jenny Randerson benefits of artic lorries in Bute Park

More greenwash from Jenny Randerson
"I did not read the additional information as I am not a Councillor, nor a member of the planning committee and, therefore, was not party to the discussions or decisions that were made.

I do support environmentally friendly and sustainable policies but, as stated in the Planning Report, the overall benefits of the scheme must be balanced against any potential negative impacts. In this case, amendments were made to the scheme to lessen the negative impact."

Regards, Jenny Randerson

to tell Jenny what you think...email with your views to her assistant Dominic.Hannigan@wales.gov.uk,

Jenny Randerson AM for lorries in park

Carol.Kelloway@Wales.gov.uk,
Dear Anne
Thank you for your e-mail.
I presume you attended the Planning Committee meeting and, if so, maybe had sight of the Committee Report, which fully explains the rational behind the recommendation and CADW's response. If not, I can e-mail you a copy.
pp Jenny Randerson
From: Randerson, Jenny (Assembly Member)
Sent: 20 October 2008 15:00

GREENWASH from Jenny Randerson, Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, has welcomed Cardiff's proposed Local Development Plan - referred to as the Preferred Strategy - as a vision to a "fair green future"...is that what articulated lorries in bute park is?

LIB DEMS .."The Lib Dems have been the party that consistently prioritises future generations and the world we leave to them. It was heartening to see practical examples of sustainable development which means meeting the needs of this generation without compromising future generations' needs."????

HELP THE AGED reply

Thank you for updating us on the situation. I am sorry to hear that your concerns are not being heeded. I hope that Pat Thompson's response will be more detailed and understanding.

With best wishes, Mariam Kemple Campaigns OfficerHelp the Aged

207 - 221 Pentonville Road London, N1 9UZ Tel: 020 7239 1944

Email: mariam.kemple@helptheaged.org.uk

Restoratation depends on atric lorry bridge!

Dear Ms. ...
Thank you for your communication of 19th October outlining your concerns about the proposed new bridge at Bute Park. Although the Heritage Lottery Fund has made a substantial award to Bute Park for the restoration of the historic park, the design, planning and construction of the new access bridge does not form part of this award. However we are conscious that the success of the HLF project will depend on the success of the new access bridge, and in particular the acceptance of the bridge by all users of the Park including local residents and community groups. For this reason we have asked the Council to demonstrate the involvement of users both in the design and long-term maintenance of the bridge. We are forwarding a copy of your email to Pat Thomson who is responsible for the project on behalf of the Council, for a more detailed response.
Thank you again for your interest in the work of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Yours Sincerely
Jennifer Stewart
Pennaeth CDL, Cymru/Head of HLF, Wales
Llinell uniongyrchol/direct line 029 2023 4144
www.hlf.org.uk