Cardiff Civic Society Election Forum shows candidates' green colours

While the leaders debate silently started on TV screens elsewhere, it was local issues in Cardiff which was increasing the volume at the Our Cardiff Election Forum 2010.

Held at Chapter Arts Centre and organised by Cardiff Civic Society – the aim of the event was to provide a civilised debate on the future of Cardiff. It was a rare chance to see politicians get real about passionate issues of clear local concern, and show their true colours in the process.

The panel was a cross party mix of MPs and AMs in the Cardiff area, chaired by the BBC's Welsh affairs editor Vaughan Roderick. While there may have been no clear 'winner' of the evening, there were certainly politicians who became more diminutive in favour.

The opening gambits were unlike the London slurs on so many introductory statements made at local hustings – and the tone was set for a debate which would highlight individual detail rather than broad brush stokes of bland party policy.

Meet the panel

First up, Plaid Cymru's regional assembly member for South Wales Central Chris Franks – who immediately touched on what turned out to be the nerve of the night by mentioning his support for current work in Bute Park – initiated by council executives from his party.

He ought to have taken a look at the audience before being so bold. An event organised by Cardiff Civic Society – who have from the outset have opposed the council's development of the park – meant the audience was made up of CCS supporters flanked by rows of community and environmental activists, and cultural butterflies who care about where they live and the future of the city. An access road bulldozed through one of the most beautiful parks Cardiff has to boast of was not going to be popular.

Jake Griffiths, leader of Wales Green Party and standing for Cardiff West, was always going to be a hit. Softening the tone with a joke about Green Party candidates all having beards (he'd had a shave), he continued to gain a warm reception by championing power at the hands of the people – green spaces, deprived communities and lower car use in the city were his priorities – including having 25 mile hour zones throughout residential areas. "We need to be brave and say that we do not want development," he said.

Jeremy Townsend, standing in for Dominic Hannigan who couldn't make it, seemed youthfully ignorant of local concerns and lacking in knowledge and experience on all topics – unable to ride the wave of Cleggmania and unpopular due to the audience's audible dislike of the Lib Dem (in coalition with Plaid) council executive.

Andrew Davies strode up to the platform and apologised on behalf of Angela Jones-Evans for her absence but his powerful speech as the Conservative AM for South Wales Central, repeating the importance of 'communities' and 'civic engagement,' and highlighting local campaigns such as the Vulcan pub, made us believe perhaps Angela was better off with him standing in. "Cardiff is big enough to cope but small enough to care," he said. "We have a great city here with so much potential. I passionately believe is devolving power down to the communities."

Alun Michael, Cardiff South and Penarth Labour MP, was disappointed the panel was not made up purely of parliamentary candidates but was glad to see a good turnout. "I don't think a televised debate is as important as this one," he said. He plugged his lifelong experience in local councils and parliament, and displayed his in depth knowledge on issues such as the council's decision to build the merged Llanrumney and Rumney secondary school on Rumney Recreation Ground – which he is campaigning to protect by applying for village green status. He's clearly still hung up on the headland walkway though – one of his projects which never went ahead under Tony Blair's government.

Questions from the audience

Audience members quizzed the panel on sustainability, greener living, Bute Park and housing developments in the city – issues which allowed Jake Griffiths to shine with his eco friendly answers and left the other candidates praying for easier topics where they could slip into the safe territory of party policy.

Griffiths put forward a persuasive argument following a debate on energy consumption in Cardiff. He said:

"We have not been giving energy efficiency the priority it deserves," he said. "We should be going out and just knocking on doors and saying 'can we look at your house and its energy efficiency.' Look how quickly we have gone to digital television. But we haven't got smart metres in everyone's homes. We are just so far behind the rest of Europe."

But the hot topic of the night was Bute Park – which caused the Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrat politicians to get a good booing and hissing following their open support for the work in parkland. The Labour and Green Party candidate were keen to voice their objection to the work. Griffiths said:

"Bute Park is such a brilliant place – you just want to lie down and close your eyes and listen to the insects. We have critical years ahead of us now in terms of how the city develops."

How do you think the politicians should react to issues on a local level? Has your opinion of candidates changed after seeing them in debate? Leave your comments below.