Blackweir Live brings big acts and controversy

Local TV

A series of live gigs set to take place in Blackweir fields in Bute Park has caused controversy with a lack of public access and potential damage to the area, but the council have said the events, which include sets by world renowned artist is important to inject vital funds into the councils budget.

Transcript

00:00Live Music is returning to Butte Park this summer, but not everyone is feeling the same

00:06way about it.

00:07Black Weir Live, a new concert series set to bring global stars like Stevie Wonder and

00:11Alanis Morissette to Cardiff, has been defended by council leaders as a necessary move to

00:16protect public services.

00:18The concerts taking place at Black Weir Fields in June and July are expected to draw tens

00:22of thousands and bring in significant income for Cardiff Council, which is facing another

00:27tough year financially.

00:29Council leader Hugh Thomas says the events are part of a wider plan to generate verifinue

00:34and avoid deep cuts to local facilities.

00:37Add in there's a financial upside to hosting live music at Black Weir and has helped us

00:41balance the budget and avoid difficult decisions like closing services or venues.

00:46The council had initially been braced for more than £60m worth of cuts in 2025-26, a figure

00:52reduced to under £30m following a better than expected settlement from the Welsh Government.

00:58But even that smaller number still leaves tough decisions to be made.

01:01Some locals though aren't convinced.

01:03Residents, volunteers and sports clubs have raised concerns about damage to the park, reduced

01:08public access in the summer and the way events have been organised.

01:12They say this is another case of public space being sacrificed for short term financial gain,

01:17and questioned why tickets were being sold before licences for the larger events had even been

01:22approved.

01:24Council lawyers said promoters had moved quickly to secure big name acts and insisted there

01:28are safeguards in place to repair any damage to the park.

01:32While some remain sceptical, others are excited to see Cardiff once again host live music events,

01:37something the council says is part of its vision for Cardiff as a city of music.

01:40Jane P. Watkins reportedas for Local TV.

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