Dan Clayton Jones HLF and historic gardens shuns public meeting

What HLF said “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”.

What HLF say now ...Thank you for your emails. I have not responded about the public debate as I was waiting on further information from Professor Kevin Mason, which he supplied yesterday. As you well know the Heritage Lottery Fund is not funding the new access bridge which is the subject of the public debate - I attach our Public Statement as a reminder. As we cannot comment on those elements funded by other parties, neither I nor Mr Dan Clayton Jones will be attending the meeting.

Thank you again for your interest in the work of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Best Wishes Jennifer Stewart

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

Date: 4th Nov 2008 Bute Park – Public Statement

A HLF spokesperson said
“The £3.1 million grant awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to Cardiff County Council to restore Bute Park is not funding the design, planning or construction of the new access bridge and road into the Park, which forms the subject of current public concern.

“However HLF is conscious that the success of its grant award to the project is dependent on the successful integration of all forms of physical and intellectual access in the Park. We have asked the Council to provide ongoing evidence of their commitment to consult and involve the public, community and conservation groups in the project, to ensure public support for this project, and the future of the Park’s priceless heritage.”

-Ends-

Further information:
Please contact the Heritage Lottery Fund on 029 2034 3413
or email wales@hlf.org.uk

NOTE that in June 2006 the HLF approved a Stage 1 grant of £3.1m towards the
overall cost of the project which amounts to £5.6m. The Stage 1 grant
specified that the Council needed to demonstrate a commitment to construct the new vehicular access into Bute Park and the offer excluded a contribution from HLF to the Bridge.
Page 2 of 4
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”.

Big wigs in cardiff run scared of facing the public!

Berman is right about the date - Glamorgan Building (Committee Room 1) for 5pm on 12 December for the Bute Park Debate. Councillor Nigel Howells not available either but this is urgent -

Lets hope we can find a senior Cardiff Council lib dem who is free! And someone from the HLF!
Jennifer Stewart

Jennifer doesn't want to attend a public meeting - She says 'To be honest I don't think there would be much more to add to our public statement: - as you know, we are not funding the new access bridge, we are funding the restoration of the historic park. And, as a funder, we have no role, nor locus, in the planning process. These are rather brief, boring messages for the audience! And the real debate will centre on other issues, not our funding.'

But she seems to have forgotten that she wrote to me saying HLF did tell the council 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"

email from jennifer stuart to me

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-----Original Message-----
Llinell uniongyrchol/direct line 029 2023 4144
www.hlf.org.uk jennifers@hlf.org.uk,

Email From: Berman, Rodney (Cllr)
Sent: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 9:40
Subject: RE: private eye and Bute Park

I have already explained to Professor Morgan that Councillor Nigel Howells would be much better placed than me to participate in the debate on behalf of the Council as the Executive Member responsible for parks.

I have also explained that he is already committed to being out of the country on 12 December (which was the date given to me by Professor Morgan, not 10 December) and that I would also not be available on that date as I am committed to being in mid-Wales.

However, I have made it clear to Professor Morgan that Nigel Howells would be more than happy to participate in the debate if it was possible to rearrange the date and have suggested to Professor Morgan that he liases with Nigel Howells directly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Yours sincerely,

Rodney Berman

Leader of Cardiff Council

---

We don't understand the complexities of major city park!

24.10.08

Bute Park

Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF Wales has copied me into her reply dated 21^st October to your email addressed to her dated 19^th October concerning the above.

The provision of a new vehicular access into Bute Park is an important element in the total Bute Park Regeneration Project.

The Council is committed to ensuring the total Park Regeneration Project is understood and implemented with the full involvement of all Park users. The process has already commenced and a number of specific public consideration exercises were undertaken in the preparation of our successful HLF bid. The process will continue and intensify with the benefit of the grant funding from HLF. The Council places a great deal of importance on the communication process I have referred to above.

I am taking this opportunity to attach a further information sheet The Council specifically produced in relation to the provision of a new access into the park. Hopefully this will be of assistance in clarifying and explaining the need for the bridge, the benefits it will bring to the park and the minimum impact it will have on this wonderful park.

As you are aware the proposal has now received Planning Consent. It appears to me that you may not have fully appreciated the complexities of managing a major City Centre Park and accordingly I would be happy to meet with you and outline The Councils responsibilities and vision for The Park. This will also enable you to raise and discuss your concerns. If you are agreeable, then please contact me on 02920 788355.

In view of your interests I have copied this response to Jennifer Stewart, Danielle Wheeler and Martin Buckridge of HLF.

Yours Sincerely

Pat Thompson