Locals speak out over park access

Blackweir Live is bringing some massive acts to the city, but locals aren’t bothered, they’re more concerned with a lack of access to their park.

Transcript

00:00cardiff is in for a summer of some huge names in music but concerns are growing over whether

00:05the city's latest concert series black we are live is breaching planning rules the first event took

00:12place on friday last week when noah khan kicked off the series of blackware fields part of a

00:16cardiff's iconic butte park but now councillors and campaigners are questioning whether the use

00:21of the park for so long should have required formal planning permission with it not being

00:25planned to be removed until after the gigs on july 21st at least their concerns follow a recent

00:31high court ruling in london which found that similar concerts in brockwell park breached permitted

00:35development laws by lasting more than 28 days cardiff events could be in similar territory

00:40at the recent full council meeting liberal democrat councillor rodney burman raised the issue directly

00:46asking for clarity on whether the events comply with planning rules council officials says they're

00:51confident the correct process has been followed and point to a projected 35 million pound boost to

00:56the local economy but residents near the park aren't just concerned about legalities noise complaints

01:02restricted access and the transformation of a green public space into a commercial venue of prompted

01:07backlash the group friends of butte park says the council has shifted the energy of the park

01:12claiming it no longer feels welcoming particularly for those who used it for mental well-being

01:17while more than three quarters of the park remain open on non-event days and safety is cited as the

01:21reason for the fencing campaigners argue the balance between public use and private events has tipped

01:27too far with major acts like slayer and stevie wonder still to come cardiff council says it's reviewing

01:33the legal implications of the london ruling but for many this is about more than concerts it's about what

01:39and who cardiff public parks are really for james peach watkins reporting for local tv