Protestors occupying Velindre cancer centre site removed by police with two arrested

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Protesters occupying the new cancer centre site in Cardiff have been removed by police.

Campaigners have been protecting the Northern Meadows site since Monday as workers began clearing vegetation on a new Velindre site.

Two women have been arrested on suspicion of "aggravated trespass".

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "UK policing recognises and upholds the right to democratic protest and facilitate peaceful protest while minimising disruption to the wider public. 

"Officers have been in attendance at the protest at Northern Meadows, Whitchurch, and a 36-year-old woman from the St Mellons area and a 69-year-old woman from the Heath area have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

"The protest was in the main peaceful and the protesters eventually dispersed without any further incident."

Community members from Coryton and Whitchurch have occupied the land known as Lady Cory Field in a bid to prevent the clearance of the 25,000 squared metres of green space.

They've campaigning to save the land as they believe it represents some of Cardiff's last remaining green meadows and ancient woodland.

Campaigners have occupied the Northern Meadows in Cardiff

Proposals for a new centre on the Northern Meadows have divided the local community, and sparked protests by campaigners.

The cost of the project is thought to be more than £550m and the plans include starting work by 2023.

The new centre will eventually replace the current Velindre facility which was built in 1956 and treats cancer patients across south east Wales. 

The protesters are disappointed by the lack of notice for the commencement of the work

A spokesperson for 'Save the Northern Meadows' campaign said that they don't oppose the new cancer centre but are asking the council and the developers to follow the correct planning process.

They said: "(The community) support the position of 167 senior clinicians and Colocate Velindre who believe building the stand alone centre will create unnecessary risk for cancer patients for decades to come. 

"The community is peacefully asking the Council and developers to enforce their own rules and ensure clearance is done while following due process.

"This cannot happen until planning application 21/01954/MJR is granted permission by the planning committee, and a petition of objection including 367 signatories is heard."

Campaigners claim that the developers don't have the correct planning permission to begin clearing on the site.

David Powell, project director for the new Velindre Cancer Centre, said: "The works being carried out are focused on limited vegetation clearance that will allow us access to do ground survey work on the site in the coming weeks. The work will only include removal of previously wind-fallen trees as agreed with Cardiff Council.

“The works will be undertaken in accordance with the European Protected Species Development Licence (EPSL) granted by Natural Resources Wales and we will have ecologists on site during the work to ensure that we meet the requirements of the licence."

Cardiff Council have confirmed that no planning permission is needed to clear vegetation

Protestors were also disappointed about the lack of notice given for the commencement of the work. Councillors received a letter from Velindre on Friday afternoon saying that the work would begin on Monday, October 25.

David Powell added: "In line with the proportionality of the work being undertaken, and the short term disruption to access, we wanted to provide context to key stakeholders ahead of the work beginning. As part of our ongoing engagement, we will provide more notice ahead of any further works on site in the coming weeks.”

Cardiff Council has confirmed that no planning regulations have been broken. A spokesperson for the council said that as the preparation work taking place was related to grass strimming and vegetation management, there was no need for planning permission.

The council also confirmed that the right of way site notice is the responsibility of the applicant, which in this case is Velindre. The land is owned by the health board and therefore is not public land.