Garden Grabbing Cardiff

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23 Beulah Road planning application rescheduled for September Council meeti
2007-07-20 11:27:00
I wrote to Cardiff Council to try to find out what was happening to the planning application for 23 Beulah Road which was to demolish the existing bungalow and build a new bigger property.At the last planning meeting this was referred to the full council meeting but it has been recommended that this be deferred to September .The council officer writes...I am writing in response to your comments below regarding the Council papers provide on our website.The papers for this month’s Council meeting were published five working days in advance of the meeting. This is the case with any Council or Committee meeting. On this occasion the all papers provided to Councillors prior to the meeting were published. This consisted of the Council Summons (or agenda), 3 reports and 2 sets of minutes.The item you refer to regarding a planning application is not on the agenda for this month’s meeting of the Council. The Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer advised that the application could no...
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Eglwys Newydd Primary School to be demolished?
2007-07-20 11:09:00
Whitchurch Heritage Action Group Fight another Chu...:Are you aware of the recent proposals to demolish Eglwys Newydd Prim a ry school and the Whitchurch High School Upper site (Penlline Road) under the school reorganisation plan?The Primary and High School are against this and would welcome your support. Please be good enough to contact the Primary school for details of the newly formed Action Group, Thanks.Ah, so if these are demolished what would be put in its place, the council woudn't be planning to sell and have what built there?
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Garden space disappearing report from Which
2007-07-18 12:05:00
Garden space is disappearing, warn campaigners Which? -The practice known as 'garden grabbing' happens where builders snap up large detached houses with big gardens, knock them down and then squeeze a small ...Garden Organic warns the practice is reaching epidemic proportions in suburbs across the country, eroding Britain's green spaces and creating housing density in urban areas.Dr Susan Kay-Williams, chief executive of Garden Organic said: 'The postponement of the Bill is of great disappointment to everyone involved in the Save Our Gardens campaign, as well as residents up and down the country. The figures go to show just how fast gardens are being swallowed up by property developers hell bent on making a fast buck.'In recent weeks we have seen flash flooding right across the country, mainly in urban areas. It's no secret that gardens play an important part in helping to soak up rain water but if we continue to cover gardens with concrete and tarmac then rain water simply ha...
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Fighting the Garden Grabbers!
2007-07-03 12:22:00
Fighting the garden grabbers ic Wales -Garden -grabbing is the emotive term used by campaigners opposed to the building of blocks of flats on land which was formerly tree-studded private gardens. ...
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Ted Thurgood Chairman of the Llanishen Reservoir Action Group wants your su
2007-06-30 14:39:00
Ted Thurgood Chai rman of the Reservoir Action Group is appealing for your support at the Public Inquiry into the Registration of The Meadows behind Black Oak and Rhyd-y-penau roads as a Town Green which will be opened by the Inspector, Mr. Vivian Chapman QC, on Monday 9th July 2007 at 11am in the Scout Hall attached to Christ Church in Lake Road North. The Inquiry is expected to last 3 days.Our case has been meticulously researched and prepared by Andrew Hill, our Barrister, Miss Morag Ellis QC who is highly experienced in this field, has been fully briefed. Now we need to ensure that the Inspector knows how strong the support is among local residents for these meadows to be protected in perpetuity by this application for registration as a Town Green. We can best achieve this by ensuring a good public turnout at each session of the Inquiry, especially at the first session.I know you are all busy during the day but please make an effort to attend at least one or more of the sessions....
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The Lodge Radyr before and after the developers destroy this beautiful gard
2007-06-22 19:38:00
The large garden of The Lodge , an empty 19th Century house in Drysgol Road, Radyr, Cardiff, is now history as the planning committeee in Cardiff give permission for 12 2 bedroom apartments in 2 3 storey buildings evan before the consultaion period expires!! It was to be the 6th July.Now it is to be demolished. The plans had been recommended for approval by council officers who said the development was not excessive enough to 'harm the character of the local area'. Residents are outraged by the plans. This old house dates back to the 19th Century, which is one of the oldest in Radyr, residents tried to get it listed but failed. A petion was signed by 782 residents! a 2nd petition was signed by 124 people! But this couldn't influence Cardiff County Council! The council report by council officials says that the lodge is not considered to pocess any special architectural merit or historical association! They think they know better than at least 906 people in Radyr !!! Phil...
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High drama at Cardiff County Council 20th June 2007 planning meeting re the
2007-06-21 16:50:00
The Lib Dems Council lors on the planning committee upped and walked out as they ‘declared an interest’ as a Lib Dem had organised the petition. This left 4 members and the chair, the matter was deferred for some time while council legal officers left the room to consider the matter. (application 06/2843/W page 218)When the discussion resumed the planning committee - the 4 members left - agreed to reference up to the Full Council meeting which has never been done before according to the councils legal advisor.Cllr Bon Derbyshire chair of the planning committee said that it was a straight forward case and the move to reference up would 'open a can of worms' , and added that this case came in in Feb and can't keep on deferring it as it would leave 'ourselves open to Challenge'. He opposed the move to send up to full council.Rhiwbina Councillor Andrian Robson who suggested the move and debate to reference up said 'I am still minded to suggest that this be put up to full counci...
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19th Century Lodge and Garden HISTORY to be replaced by more flats!
2007-06-21 15:43:00
The large garden of The Lodge , an empty 19th Century house in Drysgol Road, Radyr, Cardiff,is now history as the planning committeee in Cardiff give permission for 12 2 bedroom apartments in 2 3 storey buildings.The plans had been recommended for approval by council officers who said the development was not excessive enough to 'harm the character of the local area'. Residents are outraged by the plans. This old house dates back to the 19th Century, which is one of the oldest in Radyr, residents tried to get it listed but failed. A petion was signed by 782 residents! a 2nd petition was signed by 124 people! But this couldn't influence Cardiff County Council!The council report by council officials says that the lodge is not considered to pocess any special architectural merit or historical association. They think they know better than at least 906 people in Radyr do and me!!! Philistines! And are the replacement buildings an improvement? Council officals describe them as providing ...
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Feeling the pinch of compact cities
2007-06-21 13:42:00
High density "compact cities" are the favoured model for sustainable living in the 21st Century. But there are drawbacks, says Richard Fuller, because losing urban green spaces will reduce people's quality of life and drive out wildlife that have also made their homes in cities. Are compact cities the way forward?Is it a good idea to build smaller, higher-density cities? 'Compa ct cities' is the preferred model for future urban development, but despite its advantages, it could reduce our green spaces and be bad for our quality of life.The government says higher-density cities would stop housing spreading futher into the countryside and help the environment by reducing long car journeys. But Dr Fuller, from the University of Sheffield, warns that our parks and gardens would be threatened and that biodiversity may also suffer.What do you think of the compact-cities idea? Would it significantly help the environment and reduce CO2? Can we afford to cut back on our green spaces? Wo...
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Hit by garden grabbers
2007-06-18 17:46:00
Hit by garden grabbers Jun 18 2007- Not just Cardiff !Leafy neighbourhoods are being threatened because gardens are disappearing under new housing as a result of "damaging" Government policies, MPs and campaigners yesterday warned. more
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Land Use (Gardens Protection etc) Bill back in parliament today
2007-06-15 10:07:00
In Cardiff as elsewhere across the country the character of neighbourhoods is being fundamentally changed in an unplanned and unsustainable way with no concern for the environment or the lack of infrastructure. We have seen this happen and described on this blog in Rhiwbina and Whitchurch. The pictures are of 2 bungalows and gardens demolished and replaced by monstosities. Anyone who loves gardens and beautiful things couldn't fail to be appalled by this.We are fighting developers in Church Road Whitchurch Church Road Fighting 3rd Attempt - Whitchurch: 58-60 Old Church Road Demolition of 2 Semis23 Beulah Road and the plans , Gardens of Listed buildings such as Llanishen Fach Farm House Garden, Heol Erwin,Semi detached houses + 4 parking placesLon y Celyn Whitchurch. Seen property demolished, gardens destroyed and monstrosities replace them for example 19 Beulah Road, Pantbach Road... Whitchurch: The Pines DestructionSee ePolitix for background from ePolitix the Bill Introduced by...
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23 Beulah Road Revised Plan June 2007
2007-06-12 17:25:00
Had a residents note from Jayne Cowan saying she now has copies of the revised plan for 23 Beulah Road . She is having a surgery between 12 and 1.oop.m. on Saturday, 16th June , at Rhiwbina Library, when she will have the plans with her.Jayne advises that the plans will be considered by the Plan ning Committee on Wednesday 20th June at 2.30.m., but she doesn't know the exact time when 23 will actually be discussed. Perhaps it would be worth circulating as many interested parties as possible, so that at least they can see the plans in the Rhiwbina Library on Saturday.Plans can be looked at at City Hall or write to your local councillor for a copy. Letters of objection can be sent to:Julian Stedman,Development Manager, Devlopment Control, Strategic Planning & Environment,City Hall, CF10 3ND Or email: developmentcontrol@cardiff.gov.ukWrite also to: In Cardiff North -Tory AM Jonathan.Morgan@wales.gov.ukPlaid AM Leanne.Wood@wales.gov.uk Independant Councillors for Rhiwbina JCowan@cardiff.g...
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Good luck from Dr Caroline Lucus MEP
2007-06-12 17:23:00
The work you are doing in Cardiff looks very good and she'd like to wish you the best of luck.Cath Miller Constituency Co-ordinator and Researcher Office of Dr Caroline Lucas MEP Suite 58 The Hop Exchange 24 Southwark StreetLondon SE1 1TY Phone: 02074076281 Fax: 02072340183Email: carolinelucas@greenmeps.org.uk
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Close loophole that means gardens judged as brownfield sites,
2007-06-12 12:27:00
Gardens vanish under 28000 homes The scale of "garden-grabbing" is certain to intensify calls for ministers to close the loophole that means gardens are judged as brownfield sites, ...Gardens lost to land grabbers ic Newcastle.co.uk -Campaigners claim the equivalent of 2755 Wembley football pitches will be lost by 2016 if garden grabbing continues at its present rate.See all stories on this topic
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Garden Grabbing in the Cotswolds!
2007-06-07 19:15:00
Residents make a standCotswold Journal, CHIPPING Norton residents are making a stand against garden grabbing developments which they say are threatening the character of the town.
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Take Action against Garden Grabbing - Write Letters of objection
2007-06-06 19:07:00
Plans can be looked at at City Hall or write to your local councillor for a copy.Letters of objection can be sent to:Julian Stedman,Development Manager, Devlopment Control, Strategic Planning & Environment,City Hall, CF10 3ND Or email: developmentcontrol@cardiff.gov.ukWrite also to: In Cardiff North -Tory AM Jonathan.Morgan@wales.gov.ukPlaid AM Leanne.Wood@wales.gov.uk Independant Councillors for Rhiwbina JCowan@cardiff.gov.uk & arobson@cardiff.gov.uk Their address is 'Gallery' 198, Manor Way Rhiwbina CARDIFF CF14 1RP Tel: 02920619237 Fax: 02920827486 Mobile: 07973145116Telephone 029 2062 7757 Mobile Jayne 079 7001 3332 and they have a useful website Rhiwbina Ward Councillors Cardiff Planning committee chair Labour gbird@cardiff. See also Whos who on the planning committee?
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Civic Trust View on the Planning White Paper and Wales
2007-06-05 18:30:00
The Planning White Paper and Wales Civic Trust initial briefingThere has been considerable publicity for the UK government's planning white paper, which signals possibly the biggest shake-up in town and country planning since the Attlee government implemented the first planning act sixty years ago. The Trust has received a number of inquiries wondering about its relevance to Wales.Further concern has been expressed because of the influence on UK government intentions of the Barker reviews of housing needs and the planning system, which have been heavily criticised for both the quality of their analysis and for proposals to liberalise the planning system in a way that would make it easier, for instance, to get permission for major out of town retail developments.There is no doubt about the influence on the White Paper of the Barker review. Amongst the key proposals are:A new national policy framework set by Ministers and parliament setting out how we will meet the country’s key inf...
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Take Action to 'Save our Gardens' write to your MP
2007-06-04 12:07:00
MORGANJ@parliament.ukDear Julie Morgan MP, New Labour for Cardiff NorthPlease campaign for our concerns to be taken on board by Yvette Cooper, MP. Please will you support and vote for Caroline Spelman’s Bill on Land Use on Friday 15 June.I am writing to you to raise my concern about the growing phenomenon of ‘garden grabbing’.Property developers are snapping up large detached houses, knocking them down and then squeezing a small estate of new homes onto the same plot. This is being allowed by a loophole in the law which sees gardens defined as brownfield sites, making them ripe for development.I passionately believe that this is having devastating affect on many areas of our life, not least the environment, children’s health and education and everybody’s general well being.I am concerned that with building land at a premium in urban areas, cases of ‘garden grabbing’ are on the rise, with local planning authorities seemingly powerless to stop it. In fact it seems to be ...
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Lon y Celyn yet another garden grab in Whitchurch
2007-06-02 19:26:00
In Lon y Celyn there is an application for a new 4 bedroom house in the garden of an end terrace. This is the third application! A familar story.Some people never give up an opportunity to make a fast buck. They know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
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Whitchurch Heritage Action Group Fight another Church Road 'garden grab'
2007-06-02 19:21:00
Daphne Shepherd writes -In May 2005, Pegasus Retirement Homes made a planning application for 61 flats on the site of the houses on numbers 2, 4, and 6 Church Road. This would have entailed demolishing the existing Edwardian houses and building an enormous fortress in the heart of Whitchurch Village. Fortunately, the planning committee of Cardiff County Council rejected this plan, and the Council also won the subsequent Appeal in May 2006. At the beginning of the Appeal the Pegasus representatives asserted that so far they had never lost an Appeal; butthey did lose this one. The application caused outrage amongst the whole of Whitchurch and much of Cardiff, and Whitchurch Heritage Action Group was formed with a mandate to fight this proposal, and also aim to protect the old part of Whitchurch from other applications which would destroy the local heritage. We were very fortunate in having the full support of our local ward members, Assembly Members and MP; and ward...
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Civic Trust Director views on 'Garden Grabbing'
2007-05-18 11:49:00
From the Civic Trust for Wales, Ymddiriedolaeth Ddinesig Cymru, the Director /Cyfarwyddwr Dr M Griffiths writes My initial response is that this is not necessarily an issue to be resolved only by a change in the definition of gardens as brown field. Another route is through design control. A local authority which has positive policies for residential design set out as supplementary planning guidance would have a tool against which to assess infill applications and defend refusals at inquiry. This would reinforce their capacity to use TAN 12 as a guidance to good design and the assessment of an applicant's design statement.In Wales some local authorities have adopted generic residential design guidance based on the Planning Officers Society of Wales Residential design guidance. This is not an adequate tool. What is needed is locally tailored design guidance -- Powys have a much superior approach where each settlement has its individual appraisal.Best wishesMatthew Griffiths Dr M Grif...
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Help us to beat garden grabbers!
2007-05-16 18:46:00
May 16 by Abby Alford, South Wales EchoIT’S called Garde n Grab bing and it’s coming to a street near you.As the demand for housing rises, increasing numbers of old homes are being demolished and replaced with bigger houses, a practice that also means lawns and flowerbeds disappear under concrete foundations.But the residents of one street are taking a stand in a bid to preserve the character of their area.People living in Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, are opposing plans to demolish a bungalow and put a five-bedroom detached house in its place.They are also campaigning for a change in planning laws that would enable residents to have more say on developments in their area.Protester Anne Greagsby, who joined fellow Beulah Road residents to lobby members of Cardiff council’s planning committee as they conducted a site visit, said the experience of seeing another bungalow knocked down and replaced with “a monstrosity”, had made them determined not to let it happen again.“Th...
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23 Beulah Road Decision Deferred by planning committee
2007-05-15 10:36:00
Jayne Cowan writes "I have been advised that the committee will not be hearing 23 Beulah Road now at the next meeting as they are awaiting amended plans. I'll let you know which committee meeting will hear the application when I am advised - at the earliest it will be June 07."Jayne Cowan Independent Councillor/Cynghorydd AnnibynnolTelephone/Ffôn 029 2062 7757Fax/Ffacs 029 2087 7005Mobile/Ffôn Symudol 079 7001 3332E-Mail/E-bost jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk More protest pictures from 14 Mat 2007 23 Beulah Road taken by H Jones. The planning committee discuss the plans.You may also like to respond to this by posting a comment..There is a new comment on the post "Garden Grabbbing at Fairacre, Cardiff Road, Llanda...":"My father was the man who built Fairacre. I am incensed by this proposal. If anyone wishes to contact me - please post here and I will check back - with a view to making contact."
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Protest at 23 Beulah Road Rhiwbina
2007-05-14 16:38:00
Residents protesting at 23 Beulah Road today during the site visit by some members of the planning committee.Another chance to have a say and listen to the dicussion at the planning committee meeting which will take place at 2.30pm on Wednesday 23rd May, Ferrier Hall, City Hall. Late representations can be made via local members, or to Julian Steadman, j.stedman@cardiff.gov.ukCllr. Jayne Cowan will be attending the Meeting. people can pass comments to her on 02920627757 or email jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk You might want to know how high will the roofline be, how near the pavement will the frontage be, how big is the footprint of the proposed building or how many windows will overlook Gernant at the rear.The current proposal for 23 Beulah Road is out of scale with the surrounding streetscape. We also think it will invade the privacy of neighbouring properties and may encourage further inappropriate developments in the surrounding area.” Proposed development in the gardens of 56 – 60...
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Site visit protest 14th May 2.15
2007-05-06 13:06:00
Jayne Cowan will be attending the Site Meeting. Only the Local Members (in addition to the committee) are allowed to ask questions, so if residents have any, please feel free to pass them through her.Site visit with reps of the Planning Committee to No 23 Beulah Road on Monday 14th May at 2.15p.m. (Planning application (No. 06/02843/W) for permission to demolish and replace it with a five bedroom dwelling and garage.)Jayne COWAN. A.'Gallery'198, Manor Way Rhiwbina CARDIFF CF14 1RPTel: 02920627757 Fax: 02920877005Mob: 07970013332 email:- jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk or visit the Rhiwbina Councillors website http://www.rhiwbinaward.com/index.php
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23 Beulah Road Protest 14th May 14:15
2007-04-21 10:59:00
Site visit with reps of the Planning Committee to No 23 Beulah Road on Monday 14th May at 2.15p.m. (Planning application (No. 06/02843/W) for permission to demolish and replace it with a five bedroom dwelling and garage.)No-one can address the Committee at the site. However a strong presence of local residents would help defeat the application so come along and join in to save our neigbourhood from being concerted over - stop garden grabbingOr if you want to speak to the Lib Dems re this matter the contact tel no is 2062 8484, or huwpayne@ntlworld.comCardiff North Lib Dems Focus Team joined with local residents to oppose plans for the redevelopment of 23 Beulah Road and compiled a petition which was placed before the Planning Committee.The application to be considered by the council includes the demolition of the present bungalowand the erection of a new five-bedroom, two storeyhouse with garage.Lib Dem activist Huw Payne said: “While we understand that housing stock needs to be u...
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Destroyed - The Pines Mansion's Garden, - nothing safe from Development in
2007-04-19 10:32:00
Daphne Shepherd, Whitchurch Heritage Action Group tells us -"Cardiff Council gave the approval for developers to destroy the Pines Mansion 's garden by building 7 modern houses on it, including the removal of 14 trees one of which is a TPO tree. The design is top down housing with people living on the 2nd floor with balconies over looking Old St. Mary's Church Yard and our houses so privacy was another issue. When the new development goes ahead the Grade II Mansion house is going to be completely surrounded by modern housing. This case has set a precedent for planning and now to me nothing is safe from development in Cardiff." Picture of 'The Pines' by David Griffiths
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Whitchurch Heritage Group dismay at planning permission for The Pines
2007-04-18 16:07:00
Dear Anne,I am contacting you on behalf of Whitchurch Heritage Action Group about your letter in the South Wales Echo with regard to garden grabbing. Thank you for writing this letter, and we are very pleased that the Echo published it. We hope you obtain a huge response!You are probably aware that between 2005 and 2006 we fought strenuously against a Pegasus Retirement Homes planning application to demolish three Edwardian houses in Church Road, Whitchurch, to be replaced by 61 retirement flats. This application was aiming to fill entirely the three gardens behind these houses, as well as imposing two fortress-like facades to the public gaze, one facing Church Road, the other facing Whitchurch Village via St Mary's Churchyard.(Picture is of a property on Church Road)We were extremely fortunate to have excellent advice and assistance from our local councillors, the unanimous support of the whole community (and beyond) for our campaign, and the willingness of local residents to cont...
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Join the campaign against garden grabbing
2007-04-16 18:04:00
My letter in the EchoTHERE was a story in the Echo about "garden grabbing" in Radyr, Cardiff.Residents are protesting about 19 luxury flats being built in the back garden of the Lodge, an empty 19th-Century house in Drysgol Road.I agree totally with Mr Butler who said: "It's just total over-development."Garden grabbing is a practice where property developers snap up bungalows on big plots or large detached houses, knock them down and then squeeze a small estate of new homes on to the same plot.Gardens and urban green spaces play a crucial part in creating balanced and rewarding places to live.Thirty thousand gardens a year are being torn up by housing developers because John Prescott's planning rules leave a loophole in the law which classifies them as "brownfield" sites.I would invite readers to contact me to join the campaign against garden grabbing by e-mailing me at mailto:annegre@aol.comI have already had one reply: Having read your letter in the Echo today, I just thought I...
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Ask your Welsh Assembly candidate for their support
2007-04-14 20:01:00
Sun 15th April, Swansea - televised BBC hustings meeting. Email debatewales@bbc.co.uk or ring 08700 100 775 for information or to get tickets.- Tue 17th April - Cardiff North - Rhiwbina Baptist Church, 7.30 pm - organised by Evangelical Alliance (contact: Jim Stewart, tel: 07921 080464).- Wed 18th April, Cardiff - Temple of Peace, Cardiff, 7.30 pm - organised by Cardiff Stop the War Coalition/United Nations Association.- Wed 18th April, Newport - King's Hotel, 7.15 pm - organised by Friends of the Earth.- Thu 26th April, Cardiff Central - Glenwood Church, Llanedeyrn, 7.30 pm - organised by Evangelical Alliance (contact: Jim Stewart, tel: 07921 080464).- Sun 29th April, Cardiff - televised BBC hustings meeting. Email debatewales@bbc.co.uk or ring 08700 100 775 for information or to get tickets.
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