A road has been built through Marl Park to serve construction vehicles building replacement flats
RESIDENTS of Channel View in Grangetown have lost easy access to a nearby park while workers build a replacement for flats hit by cladding problems.
They say they were only given two weeks’ notice before a road was built through the lower section of Marl Park – with some residents saying they had no idea about the plan.
The main entrance used by residents was shut off as a temporary access road for construction vehicles was built.
But residents claim there had been no prior mention of a road being through the park in previous information given to residents about the redevelopment.
Trevor Turton, a resident of the Channel View tower block, accused the council of being “misleading” about the building of the road.
The letter he received in mid-October was the first he had heard about the plans and he says if residents had been told earlier “people wouldn’t have accepted it”.
“I have a feeling that some residents are very disturbed by this new road development.One chap living in my block who I spoke with said in an angry voice ‘we’ve been duped!’.”
Others say they weren’t aware of plans at all.
Sally Westacott says: “It was just put up one day. The only reason I knew what was going on was because I went and asked the gentlemen [at the site] and he said they were building a road.”
She says her dog is vulnerable so she usually avoids the busier, upper section of the Marl. Now, because of the entrance closure, she has to walk all the way around the building site and along the river to access the lower Marl.
“It’s disgusting. We woke up one day and it was just there,” says long-term resident Alyson Jones.
“I take my puppy there every day. The other day she ran out and hit her nose on the gate.
“It’s our green space.”
Grangetown is one of Cardiff’s most densely populated wards, making access to green space all the more important for residents. The Marl is a popular spot for dog walkers, cyclists and sports teams.
Another resident of Channel View Road, who asked not to be named, said she used to be able to watch her grandchildren from her house as they played on the lower section of Marl.
Now if they want to play, they have to go to the other end of the park, a distance that she struggles to walk.
The work is part of the first phase of the Channel View redevelopment, which will see the existing council tower block replaced by two blocks of 126 homes.
The first block is due to completed by the end of 2026 and the second is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2027.
The council has said that existing residents in the Channel View high rise, where many of the tenants live in poor conditions created by the removal of cladding after the Grenfell disaster, will have first priority when the flats are completed.
In total, 180 properties will be replaced with up to 400 new homes.
A spokesperson from Wates, the developing partner for the project, confirmed that a temporary access road for construction traffic and contractor parking is being built within the Marl and is due start being used by workers on November 21.
They said: “We have been working closely with Cardiff Council to ensure the redevelopment progresses smoothly, with minimal disruption to the surrounding community. This access solution is designed to reduce the impact on residents by providing contractor parking and improve safety during the construction phase.
“We are committed to keeping residents informed about the redevelopment plans. Information about the access road and compound on the Marl was distributed to all surrounding residents via an in-person letter drop and door knocking on October 14 and October 15 shortly before works commenced.
“We also held a Meet the Builder event in Channel View leisure centre on October 23 and are establishing a stakeholder group to ensure open communication with the community. We will continue to engage with the community throughout the development process.”
- Residents can keep up to date with project developments here.
