A council report has revealed that a series of concerts held on Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields went ahead without the right permission
Blackweir Live saw performances from Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Slayer and Stevie Wonder (Image: John Myers)
A controversial series of concerts held on Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields went ahead without planning permission, a council report has said. The Blackweir Live performances from Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Slayer and Stevie Wonder saw tens of thousands of people attend, with promoters describing the gig series as a “huge success”.
However, Blackweir Live drew some criticism and complaints for blocking access to Blackweir Fields, noise issues and traffic delays due to road closures. The Cardiff Council report has now revealed that there was no application for planning permission ahead of the shows, and that a certificate of lawfulness, which shows whether planning permission is required or not, had not been issued.
The council said it had decided not to take planning enforcement action against the organisers, Cardiff-based promoters Depot Live and Cuffe and Taylor. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The controversy surrounding Blackweir Live first started when tickets for gigs went on sale before a licence to allow events of up to 35,000 people on Blackweir Fields was approved.
After the license was eventually granted, more than 90 environmental and community activists signed an open letter to the leader of Cardiff Council protesting the use of the park for events. They feel that the events are taking it away from the very public it was gifted to back in 1947.
Cardiff Council said the concerts would bring £35m to the city’s economy, which would be used to improve parks and support grassroots music venues in the city.
The report states there was no planning application submitted by organisers before the events took place, and without a certificate of lawfulness, the organisers were “proceeding at risk”.
Fencing was put up around Bute Park for Blackweir Live(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Planning laws prohibit a temporary change of the use of parks for more than 28 days each year without additional planning consent.
Council officers said that the organisers proceeded on the basis that no planning permission would be required as the concerts would fall within the permitted 28 days.
However, the report found that the area of Blackweir Fields was affected for a total of 37 days due to the setting up and clearing of the site.
Blackweir Fields was affected by the concerts for 37 days, the report found(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The report goes on to a highlight a case argued at the High Court earlier this year, where judge ruled that Lambeth Council did not have the correct planning permission to stage events in Brockwell Park for more than 28 days.
It said: “There have been no other temporary events in Blackweir Fields during this calendar year, but the result remains that the number of days exceeds that permitted.”
A spokesperson for the council said that this court judgement “will now form part of a wider review of arrangements for future events in Cardiff.”
Council officers considered whether enforcement action should have been taken against Depot and Cuffe and Taylor, but concluded that the breach was “limited” and said it would be “expedient” to take formal enforcement action.
The report recommends that Cardiff Council and organisers of any future events should apply for planning permission “for any event (or combination of events in a calendar year) that would exceed the permitted 28 day allowance.”
The report concluded both Cardiff council and the organisers of any future events should apply for planning permission for any event exceeding the 28-day limit.
A council spokesperson said: “The council has reviewed the situation, in line with all appropriate internal governance arrangements, and decided not to take formal planning enforcement action over the Blackweir Live event.
“This decision relates to the planning process, which is entirely separate to the premises licencing arrangements for Blackweir Fields.
“While the setup and breakdown of the site exceeded the 28-day limit for temporary events, the concerts themselves stayed within that timeframe, which was why planning permission was not sought for such a temporary event.
“The recent legal judgment clarifying how the 28-day rule should be applied was only established in a High Court case in May – after the Blackweir events had already been agreed and booked.
“The site was fully cleared by July 18, and most of Bute Park remained open throughout. The council can only enforce against a breach in planning rules once any alleged breach has occurred. Taking legal action at this stage could have delayed the site being returned to public use.
“The implications of the recent court judgment will now form part of a wider review of arrangements for future events in Cardiff.”
