New park lights taken down within weeks of being installed
Ted Peskett, local democracy reporter
Brand new street lights along a Cardiff park path were taken down just weeks after they were put up.
Roath Recreational Ground and the area around it is currently the site of construction work which will see a new shared cycle and pedestrian path, crossings and bus stops put in place.
The works have been met with opposition from a number of residents who think the council hasn’t gone about developing the site in the right way.
While they do not oppose the idea of having a cycle path in the park, the campaigners feel residents haven’t been properly consulted with on the plans and worry about the future of sports pitches at the park.
Feedback
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “The lighting columns were taken down recently following testing and feedback from local residents.
“The cycleway’s proximity to Ninian Road and lighting there showed that they were not essential along the cycleway and they are being stored for use on another scheme.
“To ensure public safety there may be a requirement to install lower level lighting at a later date, this is currently being assessed.”
Dozens of campaigners took to Roath Recreational Ground in June to protest about the way the plans for the park were being carried out.
Works at and around the park are classed as highway improvements, but campaigners argue a planning application should have been made for the construction of the path and associated works as this cuts through the public open space.
Consultation
They also want more consultation to be carried out, including with key stakeholders like Cadw and Fields in Trust.
When work started on the new shared path, one of the four sports pitches at Roath Recreational Ground was taken out of action and some residents are worried about whether it will be brought back into use.
Cardiff Council said in June that once construction of the path was completed, the four sports pitches would be reinstated.
In a statement, it added: “The configuration of these pitches will be reviewed – in consultation with users and residents – to ensure the best use of the space available.”
The multi-million pound project for the area around Roath Recreational Ground includes improvements for bus travel, parking and drainage work.
The scheme will also affect some of the junctions near the park.
Right turns from from Wellfield Road on to Marlborough Road will be prohibited, as will right turns from Marlborough Road onto Penylan Road.
Cardiff Council said these restrictions were being brought in to reduce the delay to traffic at the junction.
The wider plans around Roath Recreational Ground are intended to improve and encourage active travel in the city.
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.
Cardiff Council is run by Sustrans fanatics who have plenty of money to waste on unwanted and unused cycle paths.
I have read recently, and with increasing frequency, of incidences where pedestrians have been injured, killed in some cases, by cyclists. I would question the wisdom of combined cyclist pedestrian pathways.
The bit at the end of the article about the restricted traffic manoeuvres at the cross roads to accommodate dedicated bike crossing at the traffic lights is what I dislike the most about these cycles lanes. It seems there is absolutely no consideration to the wider impact on traffic of effectively diverting cars down lower capacity streets (usually residential) because they can no longer take a high street route (or dissuaded due to increased queuing time at traffic lights). The result of this is that residential streets which can serve at rat runs get busier, more polluted and more dangerous,… Read more »
Or you could see it as the provision of a cycle lane will mean more people are likely to cycle hence less cars and less traffic. The fact is that Cardiff is still growing in population and the existing road infrastructure won’t have capacity looking forward, plans like these look to create a model shift via safer cycling infrastructure. If it inconveniences people in cars perhaps that’s a good thing as it’ll encourage people to take public transport or walk or cycle therefore creating less traffic and less pollution and a better environment to live in with healthier people….