MARCHERS OUT SAVE CARDIFF’S
THOUSANDS of music fans of all ages thronged the streets of Cardiff yesterday as part of a march to protest at threats to the city’s live music scene.
The event, organised by the Save Womanby Street (SWS) campaign, saw venue owners, musicians, music fans and politicians march from the city’s “music street” to City Hall, where speakers from the campaign as well as Cardiff political leaders addressed the large crowd.
Campaigners want Cardiff council and the Welsh Government to change planning policies to protect music venues against noise complaints.
The move is a response to recent events and developments in the city’s “music quarter”, including the closure of music venues Dempseys, the Full Moon and the Moon Club, and the proposed opening of a Wetherspoons Hotel on the street and the noise issues that could potentially bring.
Protesters are also concerned about the suitability of plans to build a residential development on Womanby Street next to the city’s Welsh club – Clwb Ifor Bach.
Ahead of the march radio presenter and blogger Daniel Minty addressed the crowd through a loudspeaker.
He said: “The powers that be see the street as a few slabs of concrete. We need to show the city of Cardiff and many across the globe that this is our community.”
After his speech he said “it was an honour” to address the crowd.
He added: “It was pretty mental, I have never seen this street so busy. There’s so many people here today to promote this and I just hope something comes from it.”
Leaders of the city’s Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and Labour party addressed the crowd at City Hall to outline their plans to support the campaign.
The march then returned to Womanby Street, where venues are hosting a weekend of performances to celebrate the area’s cultural importance.
Councillor Sarah Merry, who represents the Cathays ward, which includes Womanby Street, was one of those on the march.
She said she was against proposals for planning developments on the street.
“It would be so sad to see it lost. We put an objection to the planning for . the residential development. It’s the wrong location for the venues and the developers. It’s that simple.”
Sadye Baker was marching with her friend Natasha Shalton.
She said: “We are both passionate about live music. We think Womanby Street is a vital force – if that goes we have no place to go.
“Today it’s beautiful to see so many people coming together.”
Natasha added: “The street fosters an alternative culture but it’s a family. You can see thousand of people care about it.
“You walk down Cardiff’s St Mary Street, you have chain bar after chain bar, you’ve got a tiny street like Womanby Street that’s under threat. Why would you take that away from Cardiff?
“You’ve got plenty of other streets for hotels, you’ve got plenty of other