Echo reports site visit! Balloons lift protesters’ pub demo to a new level!

Story in today's Echo, by Laura Wright.

"A PROTEST group made sure that a council planning committee had plenty to see when they made a site visit to a threatened pub.
Plans have gone before Cardiff council to replace the Pantmawr Inn, in Pantmawr, Cardiff, with flats. But residents have fought the plans from the outset and even set up a naked protest to make sure they were noticed.
This time round, up to 300 people turned up at the pub for the planning committee site visit to show their objections with visual aids yesterday.
About 40 helium balloons demonstrated the height and area of the flats and several signs around the area pointed towards the community’s protest.
Rachel Thomas, of the Pantmawr Action Group, said: “The balloons were very useful because it’s hard to imagine how tall a building is going to be and its effect on the area. Our signs showed how close the flats would be to houses and that the pub is used as a community facility.
“Children play on the grass outside the pub and, if that goes, the nearest park is two and a half kilometres away.
“We’re very pleased with the turnout especially with the sleet, hail and rain.”"