Council warned on Bute Park bridge

Jun 17 2009 by Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo

Council warned on Bute Park bridge

CARDIFF council has been warned it could breach its own planning permission after contractors began preparations to build a controversial bridge and road into Bute Park.

The scheme has been bitterly opposed by the campaign group Bute Park Alliance, which has accused the council of planning to “desecrate” the Grade I-listed park.

Acting on behalf of the scheme’s opponents, environmental lawyer Richard Buxton has written to the council warning it not to start work before the end of July.

One of the planning conditions for the scheme says work should not proceed during the nesting season, which lasts until July 31.

A spokeswoman for Bute Park Alliance said: “Cardiff council is disregarding its own planning conditions by starting work on the site. The noise and disruption caused by the contractors in their compound adjacent to the park will inevitably cause distress to nesting birds.

“Only on Sunday, a family of blackcaps was spotted on the site of the proposed access bridge.

“Public trust in the council is at an all-time low, particularly as the map published alongside Coun Nigel Howells’ piece in the Capital Times had been doctored to show the council’s proposed developments in a more favourable light.

“The access bridge will destroy the character of Bute Park for ever.

“The council has repeatedly neglected to inform the public that the access bridge is almost 30ft wide, What’s more, the bridge will be practically 200ft long from the point it enters the park on North Road to where it finishes.

“It may even be longer because of the gradient – 17%, or one in six. With such a gradient the 40-ton lorries using it will not be able to do so safely, so it seems likely that the bridge will have to be extended at a less fierce gradient – which will involve eating up yet more green space. Bute Park is one of Wales’ treasures. Surely it is time the Assembly Government intervened to save it?”

A council spokeswoman said: “The council has responded to Mr Buxton’s letter of May 18 and it will be responding to the points raised in his further letter of June 12. The planning condition preventing disturbance of nesting birds by felling, lopping or relocation of trees/vegetative clearance during the nesting season has been and will continue to be enforced.

“We strongly refute the claim that the new bridge will destroy the character of Bute Park.

“The map printed in Capital Times was not doctored but simplified to show readers the existing routes used by vehicles and how the new access bridge will take traffic out of the majority of the park, making it a more enjoyable and safer experience for park users.”

Write to Cllr Howells who is responsible and copy to annegre@aol.com
NHowells@cardiff.gov.uk,

Lorraine Barrett to raise question re Bute Park

Lorraine Barrett AM to ask a question in the assembly re the Bute Park work..
Lorraine says she is "very concerned about this work going on during
the nesting season and I am thinking of raising a question to the First Minister
on Tuesday, concentrating on the nesting issue but also mentioning the way that
the council has generally dealt with this matter without regard to so many
peoples' concerns."

http://www.lorrainebarrett.co.uk/

Cardiff's planners will fail city of the future
http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=1cc87019637a97bbfc1a2ec95&id=77c69ec37e

Save the trees being chopped down at college of music

The Cabinet over-rode objections and approved the disposal of this
corner of the Park to the College on 15th January. If its reasons
... improving the provision of higher education in Cardiff, and ... support for the arts
www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?object_id=13269
don't meet the criteria of the Bute bequest and covenant, someone might still stop it.
So objecting to the tree felling is justified just if you think the council should stick to rules.


Cardiff council Planning give permission for new building at school of music on park land having 'consulted' on the qt dismissing objections to give part of BUTE PARK away or for a peppercorn rent to the school of music.

Tree felling at College of Music prior to development consent

I understand from the Tree Officer Tony Lovelock that all the pre-conditions on the development of the new College auditorium have not been discharged. Nevertheless, work started on cutting down trees this afternoon and marking other trees for felling. The S211 order that allows the tree felling does not allow any works to carry out the plans.

council has not confirmed that
# there are pre-conditions that still remain to be fulfilled before any work under the planning consent can be started

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

# that the felling of trees required to carry out the planning permission (and not for specific aboriculture reasons) amounts to starting work.

# that such tree felling under a S211 consent still amounts to starting work on the development under the consent.