Calling all citizen journalists! Help us understand the council’s secretive plans for a new #BayArena!

Cardiff Civic Society is calling on all citizens journalists in the city and beyond to help uncover and understand Cardiff council’s secretive plans to spend millions on an expensive arena in Cardiff Bay. See link below.

Following a internal review under freedom of information law, Cardiff council have finally published the full business case for the arena as presented to the cabinet. But, large parts are redacted or censored - to protect the commerical interests of the developers and owners.

The business case and other related documents have been published on Cardiff Civic Society’s pages on the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website.

The busines case highlights some of the key risks identified by the developers associated with the scheme. These include:

• “Difficulties with the acquisition of land from Junction Canals makes the enabling works more challenging

• Inflation: Elements of the current cost plan calculation have focused on short term hyper-inflation within certain packages rather than the likely position of the packages at programmed construction dates. This element needs further review in order to determine an agreed inflationary % to be applied.

• Proposed Road Alterations restricting traffic flow

What do you think of the business plan? Are there other items of concerns it raises? Let us know in the box down below and will raise the substantive issues with the council and in the press.