Park protesters show their love

Gill Branston, Gill Boden, Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, Grace Lane, Llinos Carpenter and baby Aled Carpenter

Protesters oppose council plans to build a new access route through the park

Paper hearts were displayed to mark Valentine's Day by protesters against a development project in a city park.

Bute Parks Alliance are opposed to a council scheme to build a new lorry route to nurseries in the Cardiff park.

"Cardiff's unique heritage is being chipped away for development, and this has to stop," said the campaign chair Professor Kevin Morgan.

But Cardiff council said the changes were mainly about safety and that it had followed all the proper procedures.

A spokesperson said heavy vehicles would spend less time in the park when the development is complete.

Proposals to build a new bridge and access road were agreed by the council in October.

Campaigners have collected a 2,000-word petition against the plans.

They want a moratorium on any development in the city centre parklands, which stretch from Cardiff castle to Llandaff cathedral.

Professor Morgan said: "We cannot lose our heritage to generate short-term financial gain. The council has no right to use our parkland as a cash cow."

"It's a case of death by a thousand cuts. Bute Park and the adjoining green space is the most significant open space in Cardiff and fundamental to the character of the city," he said.

Safer and better

But the council said the new access arrangements to the park's nursery were essential to provide a safe solution.

It said the new bridge and road in the north of the park would remove lorries from other parts, and allow the council to safely open a new access gate to the castle green.

A spokesperson said it had followed all statutory procedures on the matter, including a consultation.

"As explained on numerous occasions, the access bridge will enable us to have a greater separation for pedestrians from the vehicles that need to use the park to make deliveries to the nursery and help service the hugely popular and successful events this park hosts each year.

"It actually means the vehicles will need to be in the park for less time than they are now as they will travel a far shorter distance and give safer and better access for pedestrians."