MARCH TO SAVE THE MEADOWS
HUNDREDS of people joined the latest protest against the building of a £180m cancer centre in the north of Cardiff yesterday.
The new Velindre cancer centre, which includes a hospital, is planned to be built on a greenfield site known as the Northern Meadows between Whitchurch Hospital and Asda at Coryton. The facility is set to replace the current 60-year-old Velindre Cancer Centre.
Though the plans were approved by Cardiff council in 2018, many residents from the campaign group Save the Northern Meadows say the plans will cause “irreversible damage” to a beautiful area.
The group organised a protest walk through Whitchurch village to the meadow yesterday morning.
But there are also many in favour of the new hospital, which supporters say is desperately needed to accommodate the growing number of cancer patients in Wales.
The new facility would be twice as big as the current hospital with a capacity for 8,500 new patients and 160,000 patient appointments a year.
One said: “We do need a new cancer hospital. I lost a beautiful man to cancer and there were times we had to travel from Merthyr for his treatment. I love green spaces but life must come first.”
Another said: “We have one of the finest cancer treatment centres in Britain. I really do not understand people protesting against a new hospital being built in the same area wherever it has to be. God help the protesters if it is built 100+ miles away because of your moaning and people have to travel further for treatment.”
Many of those taking part insisted they are not against the building of a new cancer hospital, but they feel there are alternative sites in the area that would be better suited.
Cat Lewis, who lives on the Hollybush Estate adjacent to the Northern Meadows, said the area was a key factor in her recovery from breast cancer.
She said: “I was a patient at Velindre where I was treated for breast cancer 18 months ago so I know how important Velindre is. It is important that we have up-to-date cancer care, but what I don’t believe is that it should be built on the Northern Meadows., which is where my recovery has really taken place.
“It is a really important green space. Cardiff already doesn’t have enough green space and for the residents of Whitchurch and northern Cardiff this is vital, especially for future generations.”
Another protester, Michelle Gough, said: “We don’t believe they should build on Northern Meadow.
“There is the Whitchurch Hospital site. Why can’t they use it?”
Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price recently visited the meadow after being invited by Cardiff North members. After his visit last weekend he wrote to Velindre
NHS to raise a series of issues of concern to campaigners.
In his letter, Mr Price said that he “wholeheartedly” supports a new centre to improve cancer diagnostic, treatment and survival rates in Wales.
But he added: “I do believe it is important that every effort is made to secure the support and consent of the community where this centre of national importance will, hopefully, be situated when completed, particularly during the planning and construction phase.
“I have been made aware of a number of concerns locally on the part of those who share the aspiration for the new cancer centre, but who have concerns that the exact site earmarked is unsuitable; suggesting instead that an alternative brownfield site about 500 yards to the south or west of the site currently earmarked may be more advantageous.”
Mr Price, who asked Trust chair Professor Donna Mead to meet local campaigners to discuss community concerns, questions whether the Whitchurch Hospital site could be redeveloped as the new cancer centre.
In the letter to Prof Mead, Mr Price added: “In relation to the former Whitchurch Hospital site, it is suggested that the site as a whole may well provide the required space for the development of the cancer centre. However, it is suggested that the way in which the former Whitchurch Hospital site was ‘parcelled’ into four pieces of land to facilitate housing and commercial development has prevented the Trust from exploring this further. Is that correct?”