Sixteen calamitous decisions by Cardiff Council
Shameful neglect of our cultural heritage
Cardiff Coal Exchange - a historic building under threat
March 2022
Cardiff Council has stood by and allowed the neglect of Cardiff’s proud industrial and dockland heritage. It allowed the Cardiff Coal Exchange to fall apart and to pass into the hands of businessmen with poor reputations.
Cardiff Coal Exchange is one of the most important buildings in Wales and links the city’s heritage to the rest of Wales. It celebrates Wales’ might as a coal producer and Cardiff’s central role as one of busiest and most multi-cultural ports in the world. When the coal industry was at its height, it saw the signing of the first million pound cheque. A wonderful piece of architecture, it was to have been the home of the Welsh parliament in 1979. More recently it has been a vibrant concert and event centre, playing host to dozens of talented Welsh and international performers.
Under Cardiff Council’s recent leadership it has been allowed to fall into the hands of a businessman with a controversial past. The building itself has been neglected, with the roof at the rear open to the elements allowing rain to pour in.
This disdain for the culture and history of the city and Wales is part of a pattern by the ruling group. Under it its pro-big business policies, other cultural venues have disappeared or are under threat. Famous venues like Gwdi Hw* and the Paddle Steamer are gone. Porters is under threat of demolition. All the while the city council washes its hands and turns its back on the city’s proud history and brilliant bands and artists.
In Our Vision for Cardiff we propose that the Council should consider the environmental and heritage implications of all cabinet and council proposals.