if
it's about Cardiff..
Sport, Entertainment, Transportation, Business,
Development Projects, Leisure, Eating, Drinking,
Nightlife, Shopping, Train Spotting! etc.. then we want it here!
The facade they wanted to demolish is the most unornamented and really doesnt fit with the style of the rest of the building. My concern from what i remember is that the replacement facade was very unispired and reflected the boring apartments opposite it.
You're dead right - but then you've gone and diluted your argument by showing what is proabably one of the most flattering and picturesque photos possible of the flank in question to illustrate your point !!! Take one without the snow as it is now and you'll hammer home the point!
I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about the Exchange.
While he achieved a lot for the city, Russell Goodway always had a blind spot when it came to the importance or the arts and culture to Cardiff's economy. This could be seen in his opposition to the original opera house plans and the recent threats to the future of the New Theatre and Sain David's Hall. Regarding the latter, following the fall of the Goodway regime the council's position appears to have changed.
Cardiff council is to search for new ways of running its leisure centres, St David’s Hall and the New Theatre.
The authority’s cabinet yesterday gave permission for officers to start the procurement exercise in looking at other ways of operating these services and venues. This could be in the form of social enterprises, not-for-profit trusts, commercial management contractors or staff mutuals.
The Labour-led authority announced in February that it could no longer afford to subsidise the New Theatre and St David’s Hall, which together with the city’s leisure centres amounted to £8m in subsidies last year.
The council commissioned Max Associates to look at the possible options and the company concluded that private sector partners or established trusts may be the best option for Cardiff and believed there would be significant interest from the market.
Councillor Peter Bradbury, cabinet member for community development, co-operatives and social enterprise, stressed to the cabinet yesterday that no decision has been made and that the in-house option is the default position.
He said the council will focus on four key principles: protecting the services for the medium to long term, maximising savings, ensuring the best deal for staff and making sure the people who use these services are heard.
Coun Bradbury said the consultation with the public will be carried out as part of the Cardiff Debate. This future set of ongoing consultation events and activities with residents was something outlined by Coun Phil Bale when he became leader in March.
Coun Bradbury said officers are also carrying out a piece of work on how the council can maximise its current in-house model and that the two pieces of work are going “hand in hand”.
He said officers have already met with unions and said they and staff will be consulted.
Coun Bradbury said he, together with the council’s leader and chief executive, will be holding meetings with the arts community to get them involved in the procurement exercise and to see if they can leverage any financial help from other organisations.
It seems to me that this is a pretty big u-turn with all the talk of 'mothballing' etc dropped.
What does theis mean for the Exchange? Well, for me the important thing has always been the preservation of the southern, western and northern facades, the exchange hall itself and associated former public areas such as the exchange restauraunt and club.
I have a lot more confidence in the new council leadership to be sensitive to heritage and public access issues was Goodway who was basicaly planning a big box behind the front facade.
