Heritage Lottery fund deceit

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

Dear Heritage Lottery Fund,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yours faithfully,

Heritage Lottery fund deceit

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.