Bangor’s famous Queen’s Parade steps are to be turned into an artwork to help the town’s regeneration, if Stormont agrees to a request by the local authority.
Ards North Down council is seeking permission to explore funding from Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure, who own the walkway, to make an artistic feature of the steps which lead from Princetown Road to Queen’s Parade at Bangor seafront, as part of a wider regeneration plan for Bangor town.
Elected members at the recent Regeneration and Development Committee voted to commission a report looking at how the artwork could be a pilot for the wider borough. The plan got cross party support and will be ratified by the full council.
Alliance Councillor Karen Douglas, who forwarded the motion, told the committee: “Why these steps? Firstly, their location. They act as a gateway to the Pickie Park, to the North Down Coastal Path, to the Bangor Marina and town centre. And the views of Bangor and the marina are simply quite stunning.”
She added: “I think it would complement the recent street art in the vicinity that was delivered as part of the Open House Seaside Revival art project, and the pending redevelopment of Queen’s Parade - which has been delayed.
“The project can really transform these grey concrete steps into an attraction in themselves. We only have to look at the images of public art on steps elsewhere to see how attractive they are, and that they can draw attention and tourism. They can really contribute to the regeneration of an area.
“I have seen them in all sorts of countries, from Lebanon to Chile, the United States, to Mid and East Antrim borough, in Larne.” She insisted the artwork was to be made by local artists.
Alliance Councillor Gavin Walker said: “I think this would be a wonderful addition to Bangor. There is real value in a location having what you could call a “moment of delight.”
“I think they could become a focal point, for people to come specifically to Bangor to see the steps.”
