Save the Northern Meadows Campaign:
@savethenorthernmeadows – Facebook
@cardiffsave – Twitter
@cardiff_meadow – Instagram
- Protecting North Cardiff’s access to green space for our and future generations health and well-being.
- Protecting an existing dynamic and diverse ecosystem, it’s habitats and its wildlife.
- Protecting our heritage and the development of it at the future Whitchurch Hospital site. Join almost 5000 people by adding your signature here. Further support us working with local councillors, Assembly members and Welsh government.Watch out for notices to object to planning permissions – use our templates to make them effective objections. Find out how we are opposing the development, what future actions need to be taken here www.savethenorthernmeadows.wales
or on our Facebook page.
What are we protecting?
23 acres of meadow, ancient trees, shrub, grassland – Whitchurch/Northern Meadow
Green space for our residents, near and far, used widely, for our health and wellbeing.
Wider Implications: This space is bordered on 3 sides by the Forest Farm SSSI Nature Reserve an abundant, diverse wildlife haven, local heritage sites, housing and schools.
An overview of the meadow space and proposed development. The access routes and the Nature reserve surrounding it.
Over 400 residents have responded to our user survey.
Our goals
Our goals are to engage the community to use the meadows (and know that they’re there!), to empower people to present an informed view on the planning application, and to get everyone feeling confident about cha[ng to a decision maker about the proposed development.
- We Want the meadow to become a part of Forest Farm Nature reserve.
- We want to work with Velindre and the University Health Board to utilise the meadow land, nature reserve and current Hospital site as a community wellbeing resource.
- This could involve planting trees and flowers, creating new habitat and creating a haven for wildlife in North Cardiff.
- The potential of this site for UHB, Velindre and the Welsh Government to achieve their biodiversity targets under the Well-being of Future Genera’ons Act are great. This could incorporate educa’on, recrea’on with the growth of a nature reserve, a carbon sink as well as a space for innova’ve forward looking therapies incorpora’ng the natural world.
We want to work with the Welsh Government and the Health Boards to find a new purpose for this incredible site.
Why are we objecting to the development?
We recognise the serious need to update cancer services in Wales. But we believe this site should never have been granted planning permission in the first place due to its inaccessibility and its proximity to the nature reserve.
These fundamental flaws in the location of the site mean any attempt to access it will cut a significant number of adult trees in the construction of two bridges and a temporary access road. It will break up an important wildlife corridor, ruin a historic representation of Welsh industrial history and disrupt pedestrian access to public amenities.
This will be irreversible damage during our life’mes at a ‘me when serious ac’on must be taken to fight the climate and biodiversity crises.
There has been sustained objection to this development by the community for over twenty years. Yet the Health Board has not changed the plan to build on this site or consider alternative designs which would allow it to utilise its current site and fantastic listed buildings.
This development does not stand under the Environment (Wales) Act, the Well-being of Future Genera’ons Act, and the Historic Environment (Wales) Act, as well as numerous international treaties.
The meadow, railway cutting and sports fields have become indispensable during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people in our community don’t have gardens, and so this space has become even more crucial to us. It offers us relief from the anxiety of staying at home, in a setting that is completely unlike any other found in a city.
For any queries, press statements or to show your support please get in touch. Save the Northern Meadows Team
savethenorthernmeadows@gmail.com
Facebook @savethenorthernmeadows
Twitter @cardiffsave
