Cardiff council ‘did not break planning law by restricting access to Bute Park this summer’
Martin Shipton
Cardiff council has insisted it did nothing wrong when restricting public access this summer to historic parkland close to Cardiff Castle.
For the second year running, objections have been made to the authority’s decision to allow a series of rock concerts known as Blackweir Live to take place on land meant to be enjoyed in tranquillity by residents of the Welsh capital.
While restrictions can be waived for a limited period, in 2025 the land concerned was shut off to the public for too long.
This year James Bischoff, of the group Friends of Bute Park, told Nation.Cymru he believed the council may have again broken the law by failing to seek planning permission for three temporary developments in the area concerned.
He told Nation.Cymru: “I believe it might be worth your while looking into three areas where Cardiff council may well be once again flouting the planning regulations and failing to obtain Planning Permission for:
1. Erecting a stage and an ice rink therefore restricting public access for more than 28 days to over one third of the public land in Cardiff Castle.
2. Fencing off, placing two metal containers and hanging festoons of lighting on approximately one acre of land in Bute Park to the north of Cardiff Castle for in excess of 28 days.
3. Permitting a trailer park, where four large lorry trailers have been parked without being moved, to exist on Coopers’ Field, Bute Park for in excess of 28 days.
Mr Bischoff added: “Following their failure to obtain planning permission for Blackweir Fields in 2025 I feel this is another breach of planning when Cardiff council is again riding roughshod over the people they were elected to represent.
“I am not an expert on planning but I believe this to be correct and I have attempted to find out if planning permission is needed or had even been applied for in any/all of the three cases. I feel further research into this is needed.”
Reviewed
We asked Cardiff council to respond to Mr Bischoff’s concerns. A spokesperson said: “Officers have reviewed each of the matters raised and concluded that neither the temporary event infrastructure at Cardiff Castle, the temporary fencing, containers and lighting in Bute Park, nor the temporary stationing of trailers on Coopers Field constitute development requiring planning permission.
“In each case, the structures concerned are considered to be temporary chattels and the activities do not result in a material change of use of the land. As no development has occurred within the meaning of section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, there is no breach of planning control and therefore no requirement for planning permission.
“It is also noted that local authorities have wide-ranging permitted development rights under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended in Wales) to undertake certain development on land within their control without the need to obtain express planning permission.
“While it has not been necessary to rely upon those provisions in reaching the conclusions above, as no development requiring planning permission has been identified, they provide a further statutory framework under which certain works and activities undertaken by local authorities may proceed without a specific planning application.
“Accordingly, the council is satisfied that no breach of planning control has occurred and that there is no requirement for planning permission in respect of the matters raised.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Get more trusted Welsh news
Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.
Cardiff isn’t for Cardiffians anymore. Our public spaces are for the benefit of private companies now. Music city my arse.
Well said.
The major beneficiary of these gigs is global corporation Live Nation, who likely made £ millions.
Would be interesting to know how much Cardiff Council made from this. Peanuts probably.
Live Nation’s dominance is a problem for the global entertainment industry but you don’t fix that by having the best artists bypass Wales.
You forget another major beneficiary – the local restaurants, hotels, pubs etc who will cater for the fans before and after the concert. Plus the huge benefit to Cardiff’s brand, positioning it as a city with lots going on, worth visiting etc. Finally, there’s local people of all ages who get to see their heroes play and, on the case of Tafwyl, celebrate Welsh language and culture in a safe environment.
Agreed. I couldn’t get my kids across the city for an evening event because a) the traffic was impossible and b) walking or cycling through the park with young kids against the flow of people wasn’t an option. Given the supposed profit Cardiff makes from the events I’m sure they’d reimburse me for the lost sessions?
There are rail options to get “across the city”.
Indeed. Thousands of people can’t have fun because someone needs to get to scouts.
Well done to CC for helping to get these events over the line and letting people have fun for a few weeks. Sad to see people such as Mr Bischoff wanting to ban such wonderful events, including Welsh language events as Tafwyl. Is he English?
Almost certainly probably a retiree with, like many, nothing better to do than dedicate themselves to trashing the hopes and dreams of younger generations.
Undoubtedly.
Is he English…LoL…Old German for ‘Bishop’!
I do not want to stop the excellent music events hosted by Depot in the Castle. What I want to see is Cardiff Council complying with the planning laws that we all have to adhere to.
Nice try Mr Englishman. You just want to stop Welsh people enjoying star studded concerts and celebrating their language and culture at brilliant, inter-generational events like Tafwyl.
You’re wasting taxpayers time to try and stop Tafwyl etc. No reason to be doing this if you support the events. CC must have so much to do.
Will you be following the police around to make sure they’re complying with the driving laws that we all have to adhere to?
If you believe the Council has acted illegally, then take them to court using your own money? Bet you won’t!
Spot on. Who elected Mr Bischoff and these “friends” anyway? Busybodies with nothing better to do.
As a tax paying citizen of Cardiff I approve this use of the park.
Bute Park, Llandaf Fields and Pontcanna fields, when combined, are massive. The events take a relatively small part, if someone wants to hang out in the park they can just go to another bit. I have some sympathy for cricketers who lose their fields, but other than that I really can’t see who’s losing out.
What an atmos, I wouldn’t change trains there these days, in fact all the wild horses on Pengam Green couldn’t…