Cardiff residents outraged by new bollards installed on village green

Residents in a leafy suburb of Cardiff have voiced strong dissatisfaction over the installation of new bollards on a local green space. The green, located at Y Groes in Rhiwbina Garden Village, is notable for being a filming location of the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas special. Many community members have described the recently placed bollards as “horrendous,” claiming that the changes disrupt the area’s traditional charm.

These bollards were put in place by Cardiff City Council, which explained that over half of the green already had bollards around it. The additional posts were installed primarily to stop vehicles from driving onto and damaging the grassed area. Despite the council’s assertion that the measures are necessary to protect the space, the community feels otherwise. A petition has been launched with more than 200 signatures, calling for the council to reverse the installation, arguing that the dense line of bollards has significantly altered the character of the historic green.

Local resident Natalie Drury-Styles, who has lived in the area for 15 years, expressed concerns about the necessity of the bollards. She said, “The council have said it’s [because of] continuous parking on the green… I’ve lived here for 15 years, and I’ve seen it a handful of times.” Natalie also criticized the process, stating that many residents were not given a “meaningful opportunity” to engage with or comment on the plans before the bollards were erected. Another longtime resident, Lynn, aged 71, described the new bollards as “horrendous” and resembling “the entry to a circus.”

From the community’s perspective, the appeal of Rhiwbina Garden Village rests on its “uncluttered” and “simple” design, qualities they say are now compromised. The petition highlights how the historic green space’s aesthetic has been fundamentally changed by the “dense” installation of bollards. In response, a Cardiff council spokesperson clarified that the bollard placement was part of a broader regeneration effort around the nearby shops. They noted that an earlier consultation was conducted in September 2025, during which residents received leaflets inviting them to comment on the proposed plans. Nonetheless, opposition from locals continues as they seek to preserve the green’s character

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