Chainsaw massacre in Bute Park for a cafe!

Jeremy Sparkes on the problem with the college of music plans!

The problem I raised with them was not the design or look of the buildings, which are in sympathy with the area, but the precedent that would be set by the disposal of the land by the Council. It was clear from the plans they showed me that the area of Bute Park they want is not actually needed for the provision of new educational facilities – rehearsal rooms, concert hall, recording studios. The ONLY reason it is coveted by them is to have a grandiose scheme with art gallery, huge atrium, café and terracing that will, in their words to me at the meeting, “make a statement to the people and have us noticed” because too many people walk by without realising the College is there.

They also argued that it was a piece of land in poor condition but if we used that basis for action then councils could just let areas ‘run to seed’ and then dispose of them.

The truth is they don’t need the land to provide the new facilities but somewhere between the Council and the College scheme has been hatched to dispose of part of Bute Park that will set an important precedent.

Jeremy Sparkes

Tree felling at College of Music BUTE PARK prior to development consent

Help by emailing the Cardiff council leader to save these trees by Writing to the leader of cardiff council rberman@cardiff.gov.uk
copy in the local paper - ecletters@mediawales.co.uk, david.james@mediawales.co.uk,

If anyone would like to join me protesting at the site as soon as they prepare to start work. email me at annegre@aol.comi

The picture is of the site of tree felling in listed BUTE PARK that was due to ONE 'diseased' TREE being chopped down!

Tree felling at College of Music BUTE PARK prior to development consent

Work is due to start on cutting down trees this afternoon and marking other trees for felling. Yet pre-conditions on the development of the new College auditorium have not been met which prevents work at this time.

Also disposal of the area of park for the Auditorium development agreed by the Council/Cabinet is still subject to legal procedures including public consultation

The developers wanted to get the trees down before the nesting season, erecting a compound this week and today starting tree felling. The Tree Officer had agreed (issued a S211 consent), but as tree felling amounts to starting work on the development, the pre-conditions do not allow it.

If consultation on disposal of bits of the Park is meaningful, it could be turned down and the whole project be stopped, yet the park is desecrated with many wrongly trees lost. The Council should enforce the rules and stop the premature tree felling.

The council says "However not all the trees are located on the Council’s land – some are located on the College site, mainly along the North Road frontage. It is estimated that 19 trees will be lost on the Council’s open space. Only 1 was considered to be category A (the most desirable to retain) with the remainder either categories B, C or R (the latter being desirable to be removed because of disease or other factors). Those trees on the Council’s land are mainly sycamore and not therefore of rarity value. However it is acknowledged that as mature trees they make a significant contribution to the wooded screening along the east side of the Park, and from North Road."

No concern or checks has been made for wildlife or hibernating bats or animals.

Write to the leader of cardiff council - tell him also that you will not vote lib dem for people who destroy the environment rberman@cardiff.gov.uk,
copy in the local paper - ecletters@mediawales.co.uk, david.james@mediawales.co.uk,

One diseased tree according to rodney Berman was removed here!

The college itself was built on part of the park and it is this chipping away that is destroying the park. The land concerned extends to approximately 1814 sq. metres (0.18
hectares or 0.45 acres) some 43 trees will be removed as a result of the proposals.

At its meeting on 6 November 2008 the Executive resolved to grant a peppercorn lease of Council land to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for the purpose of an extension to the College to house a new Concert Hall and Theatre (Min No. 69).
That land forms part of Bute Park Public Open Space

No concern or checks has been made for wildlife or hibernating bats or animals.

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