Sixteen calamitous decisions by Cardiff Council

Destruction of the Northern Meadows – green space trashed and hundreds of trees felled

March 2022

According to the Save the Northern Meadows campaign, the area they are trying to protect comprises 23 acres of meadow, ancient trees, shrub and grassland.

It provides green space for residents, near and far, and is used widely, for our health and wellbeing.

The space is bordered on three sides by the Forest Farm SSSI Nature Reserve an abundant, diverse wildlife haven, local heritage sites, housing and schools.

Cardiff council’s decision to recommend and grant planning permission for the development entails the loss of community amenity and habitat for an expensive hospital that is outdated before the first brick is laid: 163 medics say that the Velindre should be co-located with an existing general hospital.  

Those opposed to the plans say that they recognise the serious need to update cancer services in Wales. But they believe this site should never have been granted planning permission in the first place, due to its inaccessibility and its proximity to the nature reserve.

These fundamental flaws in the location of the site mean any attempt to access it will involve felling  a significant number of adult trees in the construction of two bridges and a temporary access road. It will break up an important wildlife corridor, ruin a historic representation of Welsh industrial history and disrupt pedestrian access to public amenities.

This will be irreversible damage during our lifetimes at a time when serious action must be taken to fight the climate and biodiversity crises.

There has been sustained objection to this development by the community for over twenty years. Yet the Health Board has not changed the plan to build on this site or consider alternative designs which would allow it to utilise its current site and fantastic listed buildings.

This development does not stand under the Environment (Wales) Act, the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and the Historic Environment (Wales) Act, as well as numerous international treaties.

The meadow, railway cutting and sports fields have become indispensable during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people in our community don’t have gardens, and so this space has become even more crucial to them. It offers us relief from the anxiety of staying at home, in a setting that is completely unlike any other found in a city.

Cardiff council’s co-operation with developers wishing to build on treasured green spaces is part of a pattern of behaviour by Cardiff Council.  There are examples across the city.  These include Caedelyn Park near Rhiwbina where the council recommended permission to build a rugby ground.

In Canton, local residents were strongly opposed to building a caged artificial football field for the exclusive use of one club over a grassland that was being shared by all in the community. 

In all these examples, residents concerns were arrogantly swept aside by council officials and councillors on the planning committee.