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The future of Cardiff’s live music hub Womanby Street is to be debated in the Senedd .

A petition calling for planning laws to be changed to protect music venues has now passed the 5,000 signature mark and qualifies for a Senedd debate on the topic.

Campaigners want the introduction in Wales of an equivalent to the ‘agent of change principle’ found in planning law in England.

Womanby Street has lost three live music venues so far in 2017 - Dempseys, The Moon Club and The Full Moon - although former staff at The Full Moon are hoping to re-open the venue

Another two - Fuel Rock Bar and Clwb Ifor Bach face threats from noise complaints and proposed residential developments.

The agent of change principle makes it the responsibility of developers of any new premises, commercial or residential, to find solutions to noise from nearby preexisting businesses.

The law – which protects night time businesses including live music venues, pubs, nightclubs and bars – has been introduced in England, but not in Wales.

The petition was created by composer and conductor Richard Vaughan.

“I am delighted that the petition has passed 5,000 signatures and is now set to be debated in the Senedd,” said Richard, who is standing as Plaid Cymru’s candidate in the city’s Grangetown ward at the local council elections on May 4.

“Our capital city has always had a strong sense of community spirit and the case of Womanby Street has shown that when Cardiff unites behind a common cause so important to so many people, we can push an issue to the top of the agenda.

“As a conductor and composer myself, I am fully aware of the importance of Cardiff’s live music scene and the venues which are its beating heart.”

The petition comes as The Save Womanby Street campaign was recently launched to push Cardiff Council and the National Assembly to protect Cardiff’s “music street” as an area of cultural significance.

“The proposals to develop Wales’ most famous live music street pose a threat to these venues due to the weak planning laws we have here in Wales,” Richard added.

“That is why I launched the petition calling for the agent of change principle, like that in England, which would mean that new developments have to accommodate existing live music venues.

“I am hugely grateful for the support this campaign has received so far and hope that by securing a Senedd debate we will be able to put further pressure on the decision-makers to save one of Wales’ most famous streets.”

Find out more about the Save Womanby Street campaign HERE