Seat of government is in the wrong place

A LETTER by Douglas Davies (WM, August 11) has prompted me to write again concerning the totally inappropriate and ill-judged location of our National Assembly building.

Much was made at the time of its opening about the transparency of its proceedings. As I said in a previous letter on this subject, I very much fear that it is transparent to the point of invisibility. I don’t think half the population of Cardiff, let alone that of Wales, have seen it. Unseen and unloved it will be as long as it remains in its present position.

Cardiff possesses a civic centre of which it can justly be proud. Indeed, it is the envy of many countries around the world with the City Hall at its centre. Seen from the crossroads of its busiest streets it stands tall, and is the jewel in the crown of the other splendid edifices around it in lovely Cathays Park. No wonder City Hall was the location favoured by the majority as the site of the new National Assembly.

Unfortunately, it was passed over for “a transparent petrol station with scaffolding” in a part of the city that is off the beaten track even to most Cardiffians, unless they live or work there.

I would (if I were online) set up a programme to spearhead a campaign to move the National Assembly to its rightful place in City Hall. There it would be seen, proudly pointed at and, above all, be perceived by the people of Wales as relevant to their daily lives and their love for it would grow; something I fear will not happen as long as it says where it is.