Plans for city park road put on hold

Mar 19 2008 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

PLANS to build a controversial road through Cardiff’s Bute Park have been withdrawn for further consideration.

Cardiff council’s plans for a new entrance and four-metre wide access road through the city park were due to be considered by the planning committee today but have now been withdrawn from the agenda.

The plans sparked public outcry, with demonstrations from protestors and a petition against the scheme signed by more than 1,500 people.

The council has claimed the road is necessary to improve access for lorries delivering for events.

A spokeswoman said the plans had been postponed for consideration at a later date.

She said: “As a result of recent changes to the scheme Cadw was consulted and responded shortly before the deadline for publishing the committee agenda.

“The applicant wishes additional time to consider and respond to these comments before the matter is reported to committee.

“At this point we do not know which meeting the application will be reported to.”

Cadw is the National Assembly’s historic environment division. No-one from Cadw was available for comment last night.

The decision to postpone the plans was today welcomed by protestors.

Anne Greagsby, of Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, is a member of Friends of the Earth and the Green Party.

She said: “We will be keeping a close eye on them to see what happens next.

“I just hope they rip up that plan, start again from square one and let people know what’s happening.

“If you look at the petition there are some very moving comments and I think the council should be apologetic for the distress this application has caused.

“The council should be ashamed of themselves for even thinking about the plans they are suggesting.”

Cardiff University lecturer John Culling, 43, from Canton, Cardiff, is among the 1,500 people who signed the petition.

He was concerned the road would eventually lead to cars regularly travelling through Bute Park.

He said: “They claim there are no plans to increase traffic but they can’t guarantee that in the long term.

“I hope they will forget about these plans entirely now because I can’t see that they can ease my objections in any way. Once the road is there, it’s going to get used eventually.”

Several trees in the park were cut down by Cardiff council earlier this year, prompting campaigners to question whether the work was in preparation for the planned new road. The council said the work was nothing to do with its plans and claimed it was routine maintenance work.

katie.norman@mediawales.co.uk