‘save guildford crescent!’
ANGER OVER DEMOLITION PLAN:
MORE than 10,000 people have backed a campaign to save a muchloved music venue after plans to demolish the site were revealed.
The owners of Gwdihw on Guildford Crescent in Cardiff announced on Wednesday that it will close in January because landlord Rapports will not be renewing the lease.
Rapports has notified the council of its intention to demolish the row of buildings – which also includes the Thai House and Madeira restaurants.
Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens raised the closure of Gwdihw in the House of Commons and asked for a debate about protecting cultural assets against developers.
She told MPs: “Yesterday, I learned that a brilliant live music venue – Gwdihw – in my constituency and other long-standing local businesses are being forced to make way for unnecessary commercial development.”
Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens backed the campaign, saying: “Cardiff needs its independent venues. It also needs its architecture and beautiful streets like Guildford Crescent. It’s what makes our capital distinctive. We will become a city of flats if we’re not careful.”
Labour AMs Julie Morgan and Jenny Rathbone have also written a letter to Huw Thomas, the leader of Cardiff council, urging the local authority to “preserve Guildford Crescent’s special architecture and history by implementing the conservation area as soon as possible, to prevent these historic venues from being lost”.
The council has been consulting on plans to give the street protection from development or demolition by making it a Conservation Area, however it is not known if that can be formally adopted before the demolition order goes through.
Giving the protected status would also do nothing to protect the businesses as the landlord would still be entitled to end the lease of the three businesses.
Daniel Minty, who also campaigned to save Womanby Street last year, said: “Gwdihw is such an important part of Cardiff ’s grassroots music industry and Thai House and Madeira are both familyrun businesses which bring vibrancy and culture and colour to the city.
“Not only have they been there for decades but the buildings are also historical. You can’t just get a sledgehammer and wipe out a piece of history.”
At the time of writing, the petition had just passed 10,000 signatures.
One supporter wrote: “I love these restaurants and Cardiff needs to keep its independent businesses to maintain its character and keep city centres worth visiting.”
The owners of Gwdihw issued a statement saying they hoped to carry on the Gwdihw name in a new venue.
But Mr Minty said: “Gwdihw would survive wherever it went, as would the other two, but you can’t move history.
“Gwdihw is known for its unique building. It has its curves and edges and it’s a bit rickety and it’s bright and colourful and represents everything that is Gwdihw.”