Cardiff Council is calling on Cadw to give approval for a new lift to be installed at Cardiff Castle to allow access for disabled people to the main house.
Listed building consent is needed for any alterations to be made to the Castle which is one of the foremost tourist
attractions in Wales and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
Cadw have said that permission should not be granted for a lift to be installed and asked for modified plans to be
brought forward but will not guarantee they will be approved either meaning the main house of the Castle will continue to be out of bounds to people with mobility problems.
The Deputy Leader and Equality Champion for Cardiff Council Cllr Judith Woodman has now started a campaign to persuade Cadw to give their consent so everyone can have full access to the Castle.
Cllr Woodman said, “I have written to Cadw asking them to reconsider their decision. It is very important that we are
able to install this lift and enable people with mobility issues to be able to visit all parts of the Castle.
“We have been lobbied for years to get a lift installed in the main house and it is even something which has been raised
with us by the Royal family so I am very concerned that Cadw will not give us permission.
“Installing this lift, which is not at all intrusive and has been designed to be as sympathetic as possible to the Castle,
will allow disabled people to have access to the beautiful interiors of the main house for the first time.”
Cllr Woodman said she was going to be encouraging people to write to Cadw asking for them to give listed building consent for the lift.
“As a Council we have to ensure our buildings are able to be accessed by disabled people and yet Cadw are preventing us from ensuring the Castle can be open to everyone,” Cllr Woodman added.
“The new Intepretation Centre at the Castle has dramatically increased disabled access to the Castle with the site winning a major prize for accessibility this year and I am keen that it becomes even more accessible.
“I want to encourage everyone who feels the Castle should be easily accessible to all to write to Cadw and show their
support for this lift being installed.”
Cadw can be reached by writing to, Peter Ashby, Cadw, Welsh Assembly Government, Plas Carew, Unit 5/7, Cefn Coed Parc, Nantgarw, Cardiff CF15 7QQ.
Photo: Inside Cardiff Castle. Photograph © Ben Salter @www.welshicons.org
