Temporary buildings on the south side of Cardiff Castle will be kept for a further two years if planning proposals are granted by Cardiff Council today.
In a letter to Cardiff Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff Civic Society have laid out their objections to the portable buildings, and are asking for the planning application to be "called in" before today's meeting at 2.30pm.
David Eggleton from Cardiff Civic Society set out the grounds for this request in December, 2009. He wrote:
"There is a serious issue of the very damaging impact of these temporary and poor quality structures on the essential setting of the monument and its integral historic landscape. Temporary permission was granted subject to their removal upon completion of the new permanent centre. This temporary permission was only granted to facilitate the building process, whilst also protecting the relict Brownian landscape and other archaeological features."
The temporary buildings were erected in 2005 as short term measure while a visitors' centre was constructed inside the castle walls – the buildings were intended to be taken down in 2008.
The proposal put to the planning committee at City Hall today outlines plans to keep the buildings for a further two years – meaning they have stood a total of four years after the original consent. The officers' report also suggests the council may look into retaining the portable buildings permanently.
Planning officers at Welsh Assembly Government will have until 2.30pm today to "call-in" the application – if they make this move the decision will be in the hands of Welsh Ministers.
Cardiff Civic Society say the proposal to keep the portable buildings goes against the castle's Grade-I listed status by spoiling the Victorian front of the building, viewed from Castle Street. Chair of the society, Peter Cox, said:
"The use of these disfiguring buildings has continued without lawful permission since the visitor centre opened. This was the subject of an inquiry and much concern was expressed about the temporary buildings."
"Since the buildings are only there as a result of an Inspectorate decision, we feel that the least that should happen is for the decision to be called it."
Cardiff Civic Society has also called on Wales heritage service, Cadw, to back its campaign. Llandaff Society, Bute Parks Alliance, and The Victorian Society have also objected to the proposals.
You can read more about the Cardiff Civic Society on its website, and there are links to the campaign against the Portakabins here. I'll be following this issue at the planning committee meeting at City Hall this afternoon so keep posted for updates.
I'd be interested to hear what people think about the portable buildings on the side of Cardiff Castle, so please do leave your comments below.
