A section of well-used Cardiff parkland will no longer be considered in a controversial land swap. The Maindy Park Trust Committee was on Thursday, November 17, due to make a decision on what recommendation it should make to Cardiff Council's cabinet on plans to swap land at Maindy Park for land at Blackweir Fields and Caedelyn Park.
The land swap, if it goes ahead, will pave the way for the expansion of Cathays High School. The committee, which is made of members of the Standards and Ethics Committee and Governance and Audit Committee, has decided to adjourn its decision in order to obtain more information on the pieces of land involved in the land swap.
It was confirmed at the meeting that the committee does not see the land at Blackweir as a suitable option in the land swap. A campaigner who opposes the plans for the land swap, Jeremy Sparkes, spoke at the meeting as an "advocate" of park users.
Read more: ' 'I am frustrated, frankly': Cardiff Council leader on delay to Parkway station plans
He said: "It is quite incredible and wholly insensitive that Blackweir should even be considered as a potential site of equivalence. While no part of Cardiff can be considered to be 100% immune from any level of crime, the presence of the staff, facility, lit parking and lit paths at Maindy Park make it a much safer option for girls and women, members of the LGBTQ community and those with mobility concerns, particularly in winter months."
Mr Sparkes highlighted that one park user claimed to have been stalked in Blackweir in broad daylight. He also pointed out that the park is used as somewhere for people to take their elderly parents for some fresh air, adding that taking it away would affect their mental and physical wellbeing. The council's director of governance and legal services, Davina Fiore, said the committee would like "more information in relation to Caedelyn and whether there would be any potential conflict between the Maindy Trust objectives and current usage and conditions in relation to the land".
She added: "And they would also like information around potential works that might be able to be undertaken to ensure that Caedelyn would be better able to meet the current charitable objectives of Maindy Trust. Finally, they would like additional information in relation to the equality impact assessment and the impact of the design of the velodrome to be sure that if there are any equality impacts in relation to that that would need to be taken into account in the decision."
The independent committee has also requested to see a definitive site plan of the land that is remaining in the trust and specific details in relation to any dual use of any of the land.
READ NEXT:
-
The incredible story of the grand Welsh hall in the middle of a housing estate
-
Police investigate alleged sexual assault in city centre park
What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea
