An aspiration without bounds...
Forward Cardiff believes that our city is an increasingly confident and worthy capital of Wales, but that much of the improved fortunes of the city reflects a general UK trend for regeneration and the renewal of urban areas. In order to maintain momentum, to improve our city relative to others, and to meet our high expectations we require an ambition for growth, development and continued renewal that sometimes seems to be lacking. We must accept change may mean disruption and trade-offs and that meeting the needs and aspirations of tomorrow may change the city's character and appearance.
Forward Cardiff is not blindly pro specific-development, and neither it nor its individual members and commentators will hesitate from criticising inappropriate or poorly implemented proposals or finished schemes. However, it does believe that in order to maintain and improve its place in the UK and European hierarchy, our city needs to continuously develop with, in particular, a focus on high density development in the city centre and bay. Increasing high-rise development will change the city, but we believe in a good way: it shows a city in demand, and a city on the up.
The city might also require growing "outwards" as well as "upwards" and Forward Cardiff hopes to add its voice in support of well thought-out schemes to extend the city, backed up by clear and lucid argument. Opponents of growth and change often go unchallenged and this needs to be rectified: only if their arguments are better should they win through.
We believe the city is something to shout about and will provide comment and critique of how the Council and other public and private sector organisations go about their role of marketing and representing the city. The Council plays an important role in facilitating development and its policies and decisions must be held to account by reasoned analysis. It must know there's more to public opinion than Echo Editorial.
Ultimately Forward Cardiff is about putting forward a new and fresh narrative of Cardiff's potential; it really is unbound.