Who is responsible for maintaining Roath Park Dam?
Cardiff Council is legally responsible for maintaining the publicly owned Roath Park Dam, and routine inspections are required under the Reservoirs Act (1975).
Will the park have to close?
Various areas of the park near the dam will need to close during the ground investigation works and construction phases. All closures will be planned and communicated in advance to community stakeholders and local residents. There will be regular updates on Cardiff Council’s social media channels. If changes arise due to unforeseen circumstances, these changes will be communicated as early as possible.
Will the children’s play area be closed?
The children’s play area was closed from Tuesday 16th – Friday 19th November for the ground investigation works. For the future construction works we will look to keep the park open as much as possible, but there is likely to be some closure works are happening on that side of park to keep park users safe. Most construction work will be the other side of the park where the spillway is located.
When is the maintenance work due to start and what is it likely to entail?
Ground Investigation works are likely to start in November 2021, where investigations will determine the scope of the project and construction itself. Following community engagement, design and subject to planning determination, construction will begin Nov 2022 and last until late 2023.
How long will the work take?
Ground Investigation works will take up to around a month in November. The works are scheduled to begin Nov 2022 and last until late 2023.
Is the timeline correct?
The timeline is provisional and subject to design being completed and the planning application being approved. This is the best estimate currently, but it is subject to change.
What will be the working hours during the construction works?
Ground investigation works will take place between Monday and Friday. There will be no work at the weekend. During construction works, the operation days will be decided when a contractor is appointed.
Will the lake/reservoir be dredged for the main works?
We are currently looking into options for dredging the lake. Because the construction works may involve lowering the water level of the lake, this could provide a good opportunity to de-silt the lake. As part of the current studies, samples have been taken to determine where the silt could be placed should it be removed.
What will happen to the water in the lake during construction?
It is likely that lake will be drained to make it safer, easier and quicker to access the spillway. No timescale for this is currently available.
How will water outflow be managed during construction?
The water outflow is managed via pipes which run through the base of the dam, called ‘scour pipes’. There may need to be some pumping to aid this.
Which parts of the lake and park will undergo maintenance and be closed during construction?
The spillway will be the main focus of the maintenance works and there will be some works to the dam itself. We will aim to keep disruption to a minimum. More details will be provided once the design is finalised and a contractor is appointed.
Will the works affect Roath Park lighthouse?
No construction works are planned in the vicinity of the lighthouse. Construction will focus on the dam crest, dam slope into the park and the spillway.
There is the possibility that desilting works may be undertaken in the vicinity, but those works would only be to remove silt that has accumulated since the last time the reservoir was dredged.
Will either Lake Road West or Lake Road East need to close for the works to take place?
At this stage, we do not anticipate needing to close either Lake Road West or Lake Road East.
Will either Lake Road West or Lake Road East require traffic management while the works take place?
It is likely that traffic management will be required at times. With construction traffic and delivery vehicles needing to enter and exit the park, traffic management may be necessary to ensure the safety of park users, the public and construction staff.
Will the park be locked at night?
Working areas will be fenced off as part of security for the ground investigation works. There may be a need to lock the gates temporarily overnight, and so we will provide specifics when available.