Park gigs went ahead without planning permission - report

A CONTROVERSIAL series of concerts held on Cardiff's Blackweir F lields went ahead without planning permission, a council report has said.

- ELLIE GOSLEY

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.

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.