Cardiff council's plans to develop a new school on the site of a historic velodrome have been dealt a potential blow after local residents unanimously opposed a proposed land exchange that would pave the way for the controversial development to go ahead. Earlier this year the council approached the Maindy Park charity, of which it is a trustee, about releasing land at Maindy Park in exchange for land at nearby Blackweir Fields and Caedelyn Park in Rhiwbina, which is not held in trust.
The exchange was proposed so that land at the site, which is home to the famous Maindy Velodrome, could be used as part of the Cathays High School expansion. Plans to expand the high school were approved by the council in October 2021 with a new modern school set to be built and the velodrome moved to the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay. You can read more about those plans here.
Local residents, who were already opposed to the high school expansion and concerned over the loss of the velodrome which helped kickstart the career of Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, hit out at the council once again in May after noticing the proposed land exchange being advertised in a local newspaper. A consultation was then held regarding the exchange, with just over 250 local residents responding to voice their views on the matter.
