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Cardiff AMs call for Agent of Change to save city centre live music

Two Cardiff AMs are calling on the Welsh Government to change planning laws in Wales to protect the future of live music venues in the centre of Cardiff.

Published: 14 April 2017 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:28 PM

Two Cardiff AMs are calling on the Welsh Government to change planning laws in Wales to protect the future of live music venues in the centre of Cardiff.

The Save Womanby Street campaign, which the Musicians’ Union (MU) is supporting, is concerned that the future of local venues could be in doubt as a result of planning permission given for hotel and residential properties on the street.

Responding to fears from constituents over the future of Womanby Street in the city centre, Jenny Rathbone (AM for Cardiff Central) and Julie Morgan (AM for Cardiff North) are calling for the Welsh Government to amend planning laws in Wales to include the Agent of Change principle.

Jenny Rathbone AM said: “Womanby Street is part of what makes Cardiff such a great cultural city, and it must be protected.

“Planning is a devolved issue, so this is within the Welsh Government’s gift.

“Julie Morgan and I will be writing to the relevant Welsh Minister to call for the introduction of the Agent of Change principle to Welsh planning laws.”

Julie Morgan AM said: “I have been asked by constituents to raise this issue in the Assembly and I feel it is important that Cardiff residents – and visitors to our capital city – have the opportunity to hear live music in all types of venues including small, intimate places such as Clwb Ifor Bach which has played host to some big name bands on their rise to fame.

“We would like to see Womanby Street, which is home to some of the best live music in Cardiff, protected in the Council’s Local Development Plan as an area vital to the cultural night-time economy of our city.”

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