Ards and North Down Councillors have criticised a Stormont department over continuing delays to a £50 million regeneration plan for Bangor.
At the full monthly meeting of Ards North Down Council (January 26) elected members condemned delays from the Department for Infrastructure, which is looking at potential flooding risk from a reservoir in the Clandeboye estate, more than two miles away.
Despite the plan being approved by Ards and North Down Council last year, the department, which has the power to 'call-in' or end the project, has been carrying out an assessment on the planning application, in relation to the scheme falling within the flood inundation zone of Clandeboye Lake.
During the Ards and North Down council meeting elected members from Bangor Central unanimously condemned the Rivers Agency and Minister Nichola Mallon’s attitude towards the project.
Independent Councillor Ray McKimm said: “When plans began to emerge from Bangor Marine it settled fears that systems of government, often indistinguishable for constituents, had finally moved on a very long, overdue project, bringing both a sense of optimism to the town, and restoring relationships with the council.
“It was with great consternation to the community that the plans brought forward by Bangor Marine were abruptly halted by this hypothetical and ridiculous notion it could be flooded. I thought it was about sea levels, but no, it was more obscure, it was the Clandeboye lakes.
“This would do a lot more damage to Bangor before it got to Queen’s Parade, yet we are accepting and giving planning approval to applications in its presumed path.”
He said: “We may be on the cusp of losing yet another Queen’s Parade development plan after being held to ransom by the department.”
DUP Councillor Alistair Cathcart told the chamber: “I have looked at the methodology in relation to probability, and that is what really needs to be looked at by the department. They basically have a doomsday scenario, and say that will be the case.
“When you look at things in terms of risk assessment, you make a more accurate assessment. Otherwise you wouldn’t build roads, in case there is a road accident, or ever build houses, in case they go on fire.
“If this reservoir was so alarming, why haven’t they evacuated half of Bangor? There’s a primary school around the corner, why aren’t they making claims about that. And why aren’t they funding it, if it is such a safety issue? DfI has failed this council on this.”
In January 2021, Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Planning Committee gave their approval to the plans submitted by Bangor Marine Ltd for the development site located at Queen’s Parade and Marine Gardens in Bangor.
The proposed scheme involves a new hotel and cinema, residential units, new commercial/retail/restaurant space, new external events spaces, cafes, a new play zone, refurbishment of existing commercial properties, a basement car park, and new marketplace and courtyard squares. There are new seafront lawns planned, a children’s play area, and a new water feature.
The Ards and North Council website states: “The Department has not given a timescale for making its determination but has acknowledged the importance of the proposed development for the regeneration of Bangor and the implications of this delay in the planning process.
“Council awaits DfI Planning’s determination, and in the meantime continues to work alongside the developer, Bangor Marine, and the Department for Communities, who currently own the majority of the site, to progress the scheme.”
The council will present a detailed report on its next move regarding the planning application, at the Regeneration and Development Committee next week.
