Campaign history

September 26, 2001 o Town castle is 'of no importance' Cardigan Castle - home of the National Eisteddfod and seat of the mighty Lord Rhys - is of no national importance. This is the conclusion of CADW following an investigation of the site and detailed discussions with the Ancient Monuments board.

October 3, 2001 o Locals are key to saving town castle Cardigan castle may be of no national importance where CADW are concerned but their controversial dismissal of the 700-year-old site has provoked an angry response from locals. Tivy-Side Comment: Do we want our castle?

October 10, 2001 o Castle: the fight starts Councillors in Cardigan are rolling up their sleeves for a fight over the future of the town castle and have hot out angrily over comments by Welsh Ancient Monuments authority CADW. o Swinging the lead Local historian Canon James Cunnane takes the county council to task.

October 17, 2001 o Cardigan Castle: we throw down the gauntlet Time is running out for Cardigan Castle. The Tivy-Side feels that Ceredigion has sat on its hands for far too long. That is why we have written an open letter to the county council's chief executive Owen Watkin, asking why the authority won't take action to save this important building. o Exhibition An impromptu exhibition on Cardigan Castle has sparked massive interest among townspeople.

October 24, 2001 o Is there a future for our castle? We ask local personalities what their views are o The bottom line is lack of money - Ceredigion chief executive Owen Watkin replies to the Tivy-Side letter. o Letters: False rumours over castle - Canon James Cunnane; A disgrace to Cardigan, G Cooper and V James; Stop the decay, Adrian Owen; Amazed at disinterest, Margaret Gallagher.

October 31, 2001 FOUR PAGE CASTLE IN CRISIS WRAP - launch of petition o NT support for castle The bastion of British conservation - the National Trust - has pledged its support in the fight to save Cardigan Castle. o Article was misleading Town mayor John Adams-Lewis has strongly refuted claims that Cardigan Castle is beyond repair. o Letters: Well reasoned but not convincing, Father Cunnane replies to Owen Watkin; Put theatre in castle; What about the National Trust, Martin Davies; Keep castle pressure up, John Hagger. Tivy-Side Comment: Action and a result

November 7, 2001 o An appeal to the Welsh Assembly Mayor Cllr John Adams-Lewis reads out statement to the Mid Wales Regional Committee which met in Aberporth. o Welsh Tory leader backs campaign Welsh Tory leader Nick Bourne has appealed to Environment Minister Sue Essex and CADW to reverse a decision that classifies Cardigan Castle as only locally important rather than nationally important. o A matter of urgency Historian Dr Geraint Jenkins gives his view. o A cultural showpiece Cardigan Castle has the potential to be a cultural showpiece for the whole of Wales and to draw millions of visitors from all over the world. o Letters: Fill ruins with life, Ushchi Anscombe; Save part of our history, Oliver Forsyth; Can't see wood for the trees, Lyn Jenkins.

NOVEMBER 14, 2001 o Castle in cookies Tivy-Side Cardigan castle cookies were going like hot cakes on Fair Day. o Cardigan Castle is important, says CADW CADW sends letter to Cardigan Town Council o The way forward Town councillors meet with Ceredigion chiefs over castle. Ceredigion council leader Cllr Dai Lloyd Evans: "What are the views of the majority of the people of Cardigan? Do you have a mandate? If the people of Cardigan are serious about it then we need to pursue and protect their interests." o Letters: Castle could be tourism catalyst, Malcolm Headley; Make the town worth visiting, Esther Dawson; Harmonise past and future, Marlene Paulett.

NOVEMBER 21, 2001 o Culturally one of the most important places in Wales Eisteddfod leading lights call for the castle to be saved. o Letters: We know views of Cardigan people, Jayne Spillet; Castle is important in European context, J Arnell.

NOVEMBER 28, 2001 o Castle is still my home Cardigan Castle owner Barbara Wood has refused to relinquish her hold on one of Wales' greatest cultural landmarks. o History of Castle Green House Castle Green House, now a listed Grade II building, was constructed early in the 19th century. o No-one wants to talk to me Castle key-keeper Brian Rees hits out at town council. o Letters: Cadw: we're ready to contribute to project of historic repair, Tom Cassidy, chief executive; Diogelu Castell Aberteifi, Eirwyn George. o David Green: Does anyone want Cardigan Castle? o Tivy-Side Comment: We do want to talk Mr Rees.

DECEMBER 5, 2001 o Calls to CPO castle Calls are being made for Cardigan Castle to be the subject of a Compulsary Purchase Order as the property's owner, Miss Barbara Wood, stated she would not negotiate with Ceredigion County Council concerning ownership of the site. o Castle model rescued from skip A four foot model of Cardigan Castle got the same treatment as its historical counterpart when workmen dumped it in a lorry as trash. o Letters: Castle as heritage centre, Dilwyn Miles; Put the castle on the web, Pat the Piper. o Tivy-Side Comment: Don't get cold feet - go for CPO

DECEMBER 19, 2001 o Letters: Lack of castle planning, Dafydd Ladd; Caring about the castle, J Prior.

DECEMBER 26, 2001 EIGHT-PAGE CASTLE SUPPLEMENT o Letters: Survey ranked castle highly, Berian Wilkins.

JANUARY 2, 2002 o Cough up the cash Cardigan Castle is poised for the battle of its life following confirmation that the 12th century site is being put on the open market. o J B Evans: Let's go for a CPO o Questions over castle ownership As controversy rages over the future of crumbling Cardigan Castle, questions have been asked over official ownership of the property. Tivy-Side Comment: A property with potential

JANUARY 9, 2002 o You say 'Save the Castle' Tivy-Side petition of 3,500 names handed over to Ceredigion County Council. o Action urged over castle Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for Ceredigion, has written to Ceredigion County council urging them to start serious discussings regarding the future of Cardigan Castle. Tivy-Side Comment: A petition by thousands

JANUARY 16, 2002 o Castle gates could stay closed Fears are being expressed that the gates of Cardigan Castle could remain closed to the public forever unless it can be taken over by a publicly accountable body. o Castle working group dispute A dispute has erupted among councillors in Cardigan over the compilation of a working group which was set up to play a role in the future of the town's ancient castle.

JANUARY 23, 2002 o Castle - 'a matter of weeks' Negotiations over the future ownership of Cardigan Castle look set to come to a head within the next few weeks. And the building blocks have been put in place for an independent trust to help look after the 12th century castle. Tivy-Side Comment: Completing the castle puzzle

JANUARY 30, 2002 o Battles and blows - as Cardigan waits with bated breath over the ownership issue we take a look at some of the castle's chequered history.

FEBRUARY 6, 2002 o Let Cardigan have the castle - as Cardigan Castle goes on the market at £1.25m we make an open appeal to castle owner Barbara Wood and her represenative Brian Rees. o £1.25m - what price heritage - we ask local experts what they think should happen next. o Difficult to sell at any money - news that Cardigan Castle has gone on the market for a staggering £1.25m has sent property experts and archaeological hisotirans relling in disbelief. o Ceredigion deputy planning chief Tim Ball said this week that any change of use or development of Cardigan Castle will require planning permission.

FEBRUARY 13, 2002 o Castle: It's not over yet - Ceredigion County Council is very definitely still actively pursuing the possibility of bringing Cardigan Castle into public ownership. o Why a trust has to take on the castle - we give 10 reasons why the town's most important asset should belong to a public trust - not a private individual.

FEBRUARY 20, 2002 o Council set to make offer on the castle - An offer to buy Cardigan Castle and bring it into public onwership will be made by Ceredigion County Council by the end of the week. o Buried treasure - what archaeological gems lie hidden behind the walls of Cardigan Castle?

FEBRUARY 27, 2002 o CPO on the cards - Cardigan Castle is set to finally come into public ownership after Ceredigion County Council's Cabinet backed moves to instigate a compulsory purchase order.