Save our parks from Cllr Howells

During late Summer/early Autumn of 2007, 8,500 people signed a petition opposing the development of a school on Rumney Recreation Ground. This was the largest petition the Council had ever received. But still Cardiff Council ignored it. Parks are not safe with Cllr Howells. He continues to persit with a plan to put a 4 metre wide road with 2 metre 1in5 slopes through Bute Park, for articulated lorries!

The Council's Proposal

During the summer of 2007 the Council announced its proposal to build a new Secondary High school on Rumney Recreation Ground. The school would also incorporate the current Eastern Leisure Centre. The closure of the two current schools would ensue - namely, Llanrumney High School and Rumney High School and the land would be sold off for developement. Both these schools are surrounded by large green, open spaces. The Rumney High School site, in particular, holds commanding views across the Bristol Channel, which is considered to be prime land for housing development. The council claim that the capital receipts from the sale of the two school sites would raise capital to develop the new build school and refurbish the leisure centre.

However, local people quickly realised that if this particular proposal in its present form were to continue unopposed and Cardiff City Council were to proceed with this plan, then this would amount to the Council conducting nothing more than a land grab - not only selling off two prime school sites but also proposing to build a new school on our beloved RUMNEY/LLANRUMNEY RECREATION GROUND. It is not the building of a new school, or the amalgamation of the two schools which residents are opposed to, but WHERE the Council want to build the new school that has become the “bone of contention”. The local communities were outraged that the Council appear to be land grabbing and are, in essence, also asset stripping our community for fiscal gain. Rumney Recreation Ground has been an inherent part of our community for generations and, as far as the local communities are concerned, it is not negotiable. More information here

And BUTE PARK here

Congrats to Pantmawr Action Group

Cllr Jayne Cowan, and Adrian Robson and Brian on the terrific news on Pantmawr appeal

“We would like to congratulate the Pantmawr Action Group and all the local residents who support the Inn through the whole planning process. It was a very thorough appeal hearing which considered many issues and we are delighted with the Inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal against the Council’s original rejection.

The Pantmawr Inn is the only real community facility in Pantmawr. If it had gone then a great void would have been left on the estate and we were pleased to see that the Planning Inspector concluded that the permanent loss of the pub would be against national policy.

“We have seen a really strong campaign to protect the pub and if there is a new application then we are sure that the Action Group will fight to ensure the Pantmawr Inn remains”.

You can contact Jayne: JCowan@cardiff.gov.uk,

The Inspectors report is attached! Pantmawr Action Group

Wow! Pantmawr Inn Saved!

Appeal Ref: APP/Z6815/A/08/2075016
Site address: Land at The Pantmawr Inn, Tyla Teg, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 7TL
The inspector calls....and the Overall Conclusion
37. Although I have concluded on the first main issue that the scheme would not
harm the character or appearance of the area, I consider that, on balance, this is
insufficient to overcome the harm that I have identified in relation to the other
main issues.
Hywel Wyn Jones INSPECTOR

decision

for the Pantmawr Inn EARTH RIGHTS Solicitors
Restores your faith in the system and now lets hope we can save Bute Park!

Julie Morgan supports Garden Grabbing

Julie Morgan MP Votes to keep Garden Grabbing - Planning Bill — 24 Nov 08 at 18:45

Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in the said amendment:-

The House divided: Ayes 278, Noes 217. Look here to see how your MP voted

Voted with the government and supports garden grabbing

Julie Morgan Cardiff North - don't think the residents of Rhiwbina would agree! Julie Morgan had nothing to say on garden grabbing although there has been so many incidents of this in Rhiwbina and Whitchurch!

Alun Michael Cardiff South & Penarth

Voted against the government and against Garden Grabbing
Jennifer Willott Cardiff Central

See the full debate here

Back story Peers back Planning Bill amendment to protect gardens

Welsh Assembly Government | Written - Planning Bill UpdateThis statement is to inform the National Assembly for Wales on progress of the Planning Bill, which has now passed to the House of Lords for consideration. ..
RTPI Cymru - Royal Town Planning Institute

bid to ban "garden grabbing" blocked

Plans to protect gardens in suburbs and town centres from developers have been blocked by ministers, the Daily Telegraph can disclose.

By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent Last Updated: 7:42PM GMT 28 Nov 2008

The bid to ban "garden grabbing" by requiring local councils to protect urban green spaces when making planning decisions was made by Conservative peers, who included it in an amendment to the Planning Act, currently going through Parliament.

However, earlier this week, in a late night vote in the House of Commons, MPs overturned the amendment, promising instead to conduct a "review" of the issue.

The Conservatives accused the Government of performing a "classic Labour fudge".

Eric Pickles, the shadow local government secretary, said: "Labour's rules have given a green light for garden grabbing and rich pickings for developers.

"Across the country, there is growing concern about how Labour's planning rules are leading to leafy gardens being dug up and replaced with soulless and ugly blocks of flats.

"Local people are powerless to protect the character of their neighbourhood, and communities are suffering from the extra burden being placed on local infrastructure.

"Our proposals would increase protection for gardens and small urban green spaces, and leave local communities to decide what's best for their neighbourhood."

Announcing the review, Baroness Andrews, Local Government Minister, said the Government was not yet convinced that the over-development of gardens was a "genuine" problem.

She said: ``We are proposing to begin a review early in the new year of evidence on the extent of development on back gardens to ascertain whether there is a clear or genuine problem.

"If there is a problem, we will take action to remedy the situation by, for example, making revisions to policy, changing the definition of previously developed land or offering targeted support and guidance to local authorities.''

The terms of the review have yet to be set, but the minister promised to keep the House informed.

The Conservatives say the garden grabbing ban is necessary because planning rules currently require councils to demand that builders create high density homes - such as blocks of flats - when they develop properties in towns and suburbs.

Under the terms of the amendment, local authorities would have been forced to consider the "desirability" of retaining gardens, which would be officially designated as protected urban "green spaces," before granting planning permission.

Ministers announce 'garden-grabbing' review

MINISTERS ANNOUNCE 'GARDEN-GRABBING' REVIEW

Concern over issue acknowledged...Ministers announce 'garden-grabbing' review »

The Government has decided to carry out a review to see whether action is needed to tackle 'garden grabbing' by developers.

This move was announced during the final Parliamentary stages of the new planning legislation which saw the Commons overturn a Lords amendment to the then Planning Bill which would encourage councils to give greater weight to resisting the development, principally, of back gardens.

During debates in the Commons and the Lords ministers insisted that councils already had the means to protect gardens from being bought up and used as building plots.

They also expressly denied claims that planning inspectors were overturning local authority decisions on brownfield development just because they are on garden land.

Local government Minister John Healey said councils already had powers designed to protect back gardens from being bought up and used as building plots, but many were not using them properly.

Healey said: "There is already considerable scope for planning authorities - which most are not yet using to the full - to be able to equip themselves should they see a potential concern over garden grabbing in their area."

In the Lords Baroness Andrews, the senior Communities and Local Government minister, acknowledged concern over the issue but argued that "there is a crucial absence of systematic evidence as to where, how and why this is occurring, why some local planning authorities are more successful than others in developing policies for protecting back gardens, and where a sustainable solution may lie".

The minister told peers that the Government investigation would begin in the New Year. She said this would ascertain "whether there is a clear and genuine problem. If there is a problem, we will take action to remedy the situation by, for example, making revisions to policy, changing the definition of previously developed land or offering targeted support and guidance to local authorities".

Roger Milne 27 November 2008

Half Bay flats empty and half price!

Britain's worst price falls The Guardian, Saturday November 22 2008 Patrick Collinson and Miles BrignallCardiff Bay - half of flats empty and many half price! Do the planning committee know this?
Cardiff Galleon Way Peak price £234,500 On sale now £116,950

The Cardiff bay area is Europe's largest waterfront development and a symbol of the economic

renaissance of Wales, housing the National Assembly and the Millennium Centre. In April approval was given for Bay Pointe, which at 120 metres will incorporate Wales's tallest building and 1,800 apartments.

But local property experts say up to half the apartments around the bay may now be unoccupied, and prices are plummeting. In private, one of Britain's biggest mortgage lenders told Guardian Money the bay is where it is seeing the heaviest price falls.

Galleon Way is a gated development of "executive" apartments with loft-like spaces, en-suite bathrooms and views across the Bristol Channel. But it is riddled with repossessions. Local estate agent Darlows says that it alone has taken on to its books eight repossessed properties there.

When the development went on sale, people were "fighting to get in and queueing up to buy", says agent Amanda Trinder. Some sold for £300,000, though the average was nearer £200,000. But now, Trinder says, the only buyers to be found are cash-only bargain hunters looking for repossessions at knock-down prices.

The property 138 Galleon Way first went on the market at £159,950 in July. But propertysnake.co.uk reveals that the asking price has been progressively cut to £149,000, £129,000 and £117,000. The apartment next door sold for £234,500 in June 2007.

Peak price buyers are in severe negative equity and Galleon Way is not unique - Trinder says the price falls are typical of the bay area.

Just how bad is the property market right now? Are desperate sellers slicing thousands off asking prices to shift their homes? Research found south Wales was the area in which there was no difficulty finding properties for sale at hugely reduced price

Garden grabbing developers

Garden grabbing developers alive and kicking in Rhiwbina
For more on that contact Cllr J Cowan - JCowan@cardiff.gov.uk
If Cardiff Councils already has powers designed to protect back gardens from being bought up and used as building plots they are definitely not using them properly. Why not?

24dashGovernment announces review into 'garden grabbing' developers
24dash, UK -
The Government today announced a review to see whether action is needed to tackle "garden grabbing" developers. Local Government Minister John Healey said ..

Yesterday in parliament
guardian.co.uk, UK - Tues 25th Nov 2008

Garden grabbing' developers
Local government minister John Healey announced a review to see whether action is needed to tackle "garden grabbing" developers. He said councils already had powers designed to protect back gardens from being bought up and used as building plots but many were not using them properly. MPs overturned a Lords amendment to the planning bill which would encourage councils to give greater weight to resisting "garden grabbing".

Lords amendment aims to block "garden grabbing"
Horticulture Week, UK - 13 Nov 2008
by Gavin McEwan An amendment to prevent "garden grabbing" by developers was yesterday (Wednesday 12 November) voted into the Planning Bill currently before ...

Government defeated in Lords over 'garden grabbing' 24dash, UK - 13 Nov 2008 The Government has been defeated on an amendment to the Planning Bill aimed at stopping "garden grabbing". The Lords voted 135 to 128 - a majority of seven ...

Sustainable Communities Act for Wales

The Sustainable Communities Act process has started! We can now drive the
actions of government to protect Post Offices, increase bus services, restrict
supermarkets, promote local renewable energy and much more.

 Why is this Act different? What makes it not just another consultation exercise?

This Act is not just consultation. It is governance by dialogue and
reaching agreement. Government has a legal duty to co-operate and reach
agreement on the proposals made by communities and their councils.
Councils also have a duty to reach agreement with communities regarding
the ideas they have for help and action from central government. This
is radical - 
we have never before had a law like this that creates a bottom-up way of doing government.
We need to urge all our AMs to call upon the Welsh Assembly to act on this.

From: Steve Shaw steve.shaw@unlockdemocracy.org.uk

Subject: Sustainable Communities Act - Action and Update - your help needed

The Sustainable Communities Act process has started! You and your communities
can now drive the actions of government to protect Post Offices, increase bus
services, restrict supermarkets, promote local renewable energy and much more.

But…

We can only use the Act’s process if the Welsh Assembly wants us to. Only then
can our principal authorities (i.e. County Councils) choose to use it too. If
they do not then we can not use the Act at all. So it is crucial that AMs hear
loud and clear from us and other local residents that they should choose to use
the Act.

Action: get involved

1. Write to Welsh Assembly Members asking them to “please support the submission
of a Legislative Competence Order to apply the powers in the Sustainable
Communities Act to Wales”. You can find out who your Welsh Assembly Members are
by going to www.assemblywales.org or calling the Assembly Information Line on
0845 010 5500.

 If the Welsh Assembly chooses to request to Westminster that the Act
applies to them it will also apply to all Local Authorities in Wales.
The Local Works coalition are campaigning for the Welsh Assembly to
choose to do this. Please write to your AMs if you are a Welsh citizen
(you can use this sample letter).


2. Please sign up to Local Works by sending your contact details to the address
or email below so that we can keep you informed of the progress we are making in
applying the Act to Wales.

Ask other local people to write too - the more letters that AMs receive the
better! So please forward this email to friends, family, neighbours, colleagues
etc.

Currently over 20 councils in England have already resolved to use the Act. This
is very good news given that the process has only just started. You can see the
full list on the front page of our website here: www.localworks.org.

More information and guides on the Act are available at www.localworks.org.