VICTORY FOR LIVE MUSIC
WOMAN BY STREET CAMPAIGNERS WIN FIGHT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save music venues on Cardiff’s Woman by Street have won a significant victory.
The Welsh Government has announced it is to revise Wales’ national planning policy in a move to support live music.
The announcement follows a high profile public campaign by the Save Woman by Street group, where venues have closed and others faced the threat of noise complaints.
Lesley Griffiths, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, said that she wants an explicit reference to the “Agent of Change” principle to be included in Wales’ national planning policy.
Under this principle, if new developments or uses are to be introduced near a pre-existing business, such as a live music venue, it is the developer’s responsibility to ensure solutions to address and mitigate the noise are put forward.
Ms Griffiths also said the policy will be updated to allow the designation of areas of cultural significance for music within Local Development Plans.
The Cabinet Secretary has decided to update Wales’ national planning policy following a high profile public campaign, based around Woman by Street, which is home to a number of popular live music venues.
The adoption of the “Agent of Change” principle into national planning policy and the designation of areas of cultural significance for music are two of the campaign’s central aims.
Ms Griffiths said: “Live music venues contribute greatly to Wales’ thriving cultural scene and our nighttime economy. I am aware of the efforts to protect the future viability of these venues, including the Save Woman by Street campaign in Cardiff, and I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of all involved.
“Although the continued vibrancy of areas like Woman by Street depends on the ongoing participation of a number of different parties, including local authorities, the venues themselves and their customers, I have heard the calls to update our national planning policy to protect live music venues.
“I am delighted, therefore, to confirm I have asked my officials to start revising Planning Policy Wales at the earliest opportunity.
“I am sure this news will be music to the ears of Wales’ live music fans and I hope local planning authorities will have the confidence to apply these measures when considering planning applications.”
Thom Bentley, from The Save Woman by Street campaign, praised the efforts of those who have campaigned tirelessly.
He said: “The Save Woman by Street campaign receives this news with great admiration for the ongoing efforts of all parties involved.
“We will work to help officials to introduce a planning policy that works in the interest of the cultural nightlife economy, developers, local planning authorities, and the general public.
“There is much to be done to protect and cherish our grass-roots music. The agent of change is the first step to ensure this vital industry continues to flourish.
“Together we can protect grassroots music in Wales, and facilitate its growth. The choices our government make today will echo in future generations.”
Guto Brychan, chief executive of Clwb Ifor Bach – the venue on Woman by Street which has opposed the proposed development of a sevenstorey residential property next door – added: “This is excellent news. Our two core objectives were the adoption of the agent of change principle and the designation of areas of cultural significance within LDPs.”