Pavement repairs are ‘a blot on city’s reputation’
“SHODDY” repair work to the granite paving in Cardiff’s flagship shopping streets has been described as showing “how little we care about our city”.
Areas of black tarmac have appeared between paving slabs outside the St David’s shopping centre on The Hayes where utility firms have been doing work.
Cardiff council and the developers of the shopping centre spent millions on the granite paving when the centre opened and The Hayes was refurbished and St Mary Street part pedestrianised between 2008 and 2010.
One retired engineer described the tarmac as “literally a blot on our reputation as a capital centre”. Cardiff council said it was in contact with the utility companies and was making “every effort to encourage them” to restore the granite paving – but said that legally they had six months to reinstate the paving.
The patches are outside the Old Library and on the paved avenue between the St David’s shopping centre and the arcades.
Ray Noyes, 72, a retired engineer from Cardiff Bay, said: “Most Cardiffians would agree that the extensive repaving of The Hayes and adjoining streets using high-quality stone slabs was a great improvement.
“The unsightly and shoddy black patches show both residents and tourists alike just how little we care about our city. These dirty black patches are literally a blot on our reputation as a capital city.”
Lyndhurst Lyons, 68, from Mountain Ash claimed the replacement tarmac was a trip hazard, saying: “It is down a lot lower and you could catch your foot on that part and trip. They have made it worse than it what it was. It drops down too far. “
Paul Coles, 64, from Grangetown said: “I know stones are dear, but it doesn’t look very nice for a start. It does look a bit odd. I thought it might only be a temporary thing.”
Craig Williams, MP for Cardiff North, said: “A lot of money from Cardiff council goes into the city centre which neglects people in the suburbs, so if they are going to spend the money they should do it right.
“Shoddy jobs like that do not do anything for the people of Cardiff.”
A spokesman for Cardiff council said: “The areas that are pictured are temporary surfaces that have been carried out by a utility company, before permanent paving slabs are scheduled to start to be laid next week.
“This work has been done to ensure that footways and carriageways remain open for the travelling public.
“Legitimately the utility companies have six months to reinstate the footway or carriageway with the correct materials, but every effort is made to encourage them to complete their work earlier.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK? EMAIL ECLETTERS@WALESONLINE.CO.UK
ABP’S Dolffin Quay development in Cardiff Bay looks like being another faceless development, adding to Cardiff’s characterless tower blocks.
Cardiff Bay has limited green space, and this development encroaches upon Britannia Park, which may belong to ABP, but has been used by the public “as of right” for many years.
It is spurious to suggest a development of this nature will “regenerate” the park as the planning documents imply; this is a commercial proposal.
At 24 storeys, the development is far too large for its setting, and will invade and overshadow the Norwegian Church, and cause the lock keeper’s cottage to be relocated.
Until April 17, there is an opportunity to comment – log on to www. dolffinquay.com or call 0800 130 3270.
Nerys Lloyd-Pierce Chair, Cardiff Civic Society
I THINK most Cardiffians would agree that the extensive re-paving of some shopping areas in the city centre was excellent. Why then are they already being ruined by substituting them with tarmac? There are several areas where high quality slabs have been removed, probably to gain access to underground services, and not replaced. Why? Who is doing this? Who on the city council is responsible for allowing it? Does no one inspect such work? It shows tourists and residents
Every Saturday, the sender of our Letter of the Week receives a set of first day covers and a presentation pack courtesy of Royal Mail.
alike that the city doesn’t really care.
This photograph was taken on Wednesday.
Ray Noyes Cardiff Stray got trapped in the cat flap
LAST year I read a perturbing Echo report highlighting how a cat met a tragic death when it got caught up in the cat collar it was wearing.
Living in a quiet area at the bottom of Westville Road we seem to be popular to the cat population because people feed them and I have always had three cats of my own which over the years I have rehomed from the Catwel Charity.
Living with three cats is an inconvenience without having a cat flap. A couple of months ago a neighbour started to feed a black cat which was wearing a bulky red cat collar with an extra loop in it, enabling a dog lead to be attached.
Where are all the original slabs? At 24 storeys, the development is far too large for its setting Nerys Lloyd-Pierce
This cat is friendly with my three cats and discovered how to use my cat flap, but the collar caught the inside of the cat flap and trapped the cat.
Because the cat had a flea problem I took it to my vet for treatment. The vet told me the cat is identichipped, but not registered with a vet, about two and a half years of age, and is a tom.
I have told the vet I will care for the cat in the hope of finding its owner. I don’t think this cat lives far away from me because it jumps over the fence and disappears as if the owner is working shifts.
Malcolm H Mort Roath, Cardiff The small print:
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