Users of a much-loved Cardiff park have been offered hope for their "vital" green space after a council cabinet member agreed to open discussions on potential future improvements to the site. It was announced last month that Grangemoor Park in Grangetown will be closed for the rest of the year to allow essential maintenance work to take place.
At a Cardiff Council meeting on Thursday, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks, Events and Venues, Councillor Jennifer Burke-Davies said she is willing to meet with local ward members to discuss overall site provision and future funding opportunities for Grangemoor. However, she said there is no funding available for new facilities at this moment in time. Ward member for Grangetown, Councillor Sara Robinson, said the park, which has been a saving grace for residents during the Covid-19 pandemic, is "much loved and valued" by people in the community.
Cllr Robinson asked Cllr Burke-Davies at the council meeting if she could commit to a consultation exercise to scope what facilities Grangetown residents would like to see at the park when it is reopened. "This vital green space is much loved and valued by residents, particularly given the proportion of housing in the ward without access to gardens," said Cllr Robinson.
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"Access to Grangemoor Park was a mental health saviour for many during lockdown and the community is understandably keen to see the park restored to its former glory. Unfortunately, facilities at the park are tired and in dire need of a refresh, partly because how people use the space has evolved over the years. For example, barbecues and family picnics are popular but they can cause issues for wildlife and grassland when appropriate stands and tables aren’t provided."
Grangemoor Park was developed on what used to be a landfill site, with the park was closed earlier in the year to allow work it. It was due to reopen in the middle of June, however, the council revealed on June 16 that work will have to continue until the end of the year. You can read more about that here.
The work, which involves heavy machinery and the renewal of leachate and methane gas equipment, will allow for these by-products to be collected, managed and removed from the site. In response to Cllr Robinson's question, Cllr Burke-Davies said: "There is no funding available currently for new facilities; however, I would be more than happy to meet with local ward members to discuss the potential for consultation, overall site provision and management and, indeed, funding opportunities for improvements to be made to Grangemoor Park."
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