Residents “depressed” by unfinished playground in Cardiff estate

Residents on a Cardiff estate said it is a shame having to live with the “depressing” sight of an unfinished playground on their doorstep.
Cardiff Council recently confirmed that Redrow has breached planning conditions for its Cae St Fagans development in Pentrebane by not having completed a playground which it started work on this year.
Redrow has apologised for the delay to the completion of the playground and said it is working to get it finished as quickly as possible.
The developer said it has not been finished yet due to some outstanding technicalities with the groundworks on site.
One resident whose daughters “would love to be able to play there” said he was told the playground would be finished in August.
Tim Keohane, 27, said: “It is depressing coming home from work and seeing that.”
Mr Keohane, who said it is a “shame to walk past” the playground, commented on how litter also affects the area around it.
He added that youngsters sometimes play in the street next to the fenced off playground where there is poor lighting.
“I’m afraid one of them is going to get hit,” he added.
As part of the planning permission for the 120 homes on land to the south of Pentrebane Road, Cardiff Council attached a number of conditions that Redrow is required to meet.
Condition number eight of the permission states that the play facilities on site “shall be provided and fully operational prior to the occupation of the 150th dwelling”. The 150th dwelling has been completed and is occupied.
Another resident who wished to remain anonymous said: “It is just an eyesore isn’t it? You think ‘great, it is done’ and then you get that.
“There are loads of other things that haven’t been finished as well.”
The resident, who has been living on the estate for more than a year now, said they were also told that the playground would be finished by the summer.
“I hate it,” they said.
“I have got to look at that every day… that is the view we are left with.
“It is just a shame. It lets it down.
“In real life it doesn’t look like how you imagine it to be.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Discussions are taking place with the developer and the council reserves the right to use any enforcement powers needed to ensure the playground is built by the developer in line with the conditions of the planning consent.”
Next to the playground, a pathway and incomplete bench is also fenced off.
Caroline McCartan, who walks through the estate regularly, said: “Work [on the playground]  stopped around October sometime at the latest and nothing has been done.
“You can see the litter bins and everything like that that people can’t get to.
“Children will want to play on it, but it is literally barricaded off with safety barriers.
“It must be quite upsetting if you are desperate to get the children out to play.”
A spokesperson for Redrow said: “We are sorry that there has been a delay to the completion of the play park at Cae St Fagans due to some outstanding technicalities with the groundworks on site.
“We understand the importance and value of creating play areas for our residents and are working with our contractors to resolve the issues and get the equipment installed as quickly as possible.”
Cardiff Council ward member for Pentyrch and St Fagans, Counillor Rhys Livesy, said the incomplete playground at Cae St Fagans is a “frustrating problem”.
However, he added: “We’re all very grateful for a very diligent council officer’s quick responses on this matter.
“I’ll do my best to keep tabs on the completion of this park and am more than happy to help the very motivated and community minded residents on this new and forming development.
“Much appreciation to them for keeping this issue in the limelight.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​