Billybanks at night

Pedrfardd · May 7, 2012

Long exposures taken on a full moon in the Billy Banks Estate in Penarth, South Wales.

"The Billy Banks is a large ghost estate. The dilapidated grey blocks look over a view deemed too good for the poor and only a handful of residents remain.

Amongst the hanging concrete and the rusty puddles the two populated flats shine, one small front garden has palms. With views over Cardiff Bay and a garden like this you can see why the residents don't want to budge and why should they?

I love urban landscapes and there is a wonderful romance about this one. Not only because of the battle between David and Goliath currently taking place (residents / small traveller community vs Council) but also because of the ivy creeping over the crumbling concrete and the history, the stories, this once was a limestone quarry.

Cardiff Council plan to demolish the estate to make way for luxury apartments, they intend to make this a view you have to pay for, a view for the monied."

Night shot Billybanks by Pedrfardd, on Flickr

423900_10151385436705175_519920174_23720307_185922048_n-001 by Pedrfardd, on Flickr

UEP-Wales · May 7, 2012

Pedrfardd said:
Long exposures taken on a full moon in the Billy Banks Estate in Penarth, South Wales.

"The Billy Banks is a large ghost estate. The dilapidated grey blocks look over a view deemed too good for the poor and only a handful of residents remain.

Amongst the hanging concrete and the rusty puddles the two populated flats shine, one small front garden has palms. With views over Cardiff Bay and a garden like this you can see why the residents don't want to budge and why should they?

I love urban landscapes and there is a wonderful romance about this one. Not only because of the battle between David and Goliath currently taking place (residents / small traveller community vs Council) but also because of the ivy creeping over the crumbling concrete and the history, the stories, this once was a limestone quarry.

Cardiff Council plan to demolish the estate to make way for luxury apartments, they intend to make this a view you have to pay for, a view for the monied."

I am a little confused here. Your pics were taken (roughly) about two months or so ago - based on the condition of the site, fence locations and windows in the buildings...Ok people I know I spend to much time there. But, in your report, you say that the battle is still taking place, residents are still remaining and the travellers are there?

Also just to let you know, Cardiff Council has never planned anything with this estate, now the Vale of Glamorgan council may have approved the demolition but it's the developers that will be doing the work - well Lawsons to be exact. As of 8am tomorrow morning (Tuesday 8th May 2012), Demolition will begin to the Phase 2 section of the Grand Billy Banks Estate!

Pedrfardd · May 8, 2012

No sorry - didn't mean to confuse - these are about 2 months old. Its difficult to access the sisite now.. the description is a quote off the web giving a context of sorts ( Hence the " " 's - should have read it more carefully as i know people are aware of the progress being made..