Green space v parking: City divided in row over seafront project

It's just a small strip of green space along a scenic County Down seafront - but a row over turning it into a car park is dividing a city.

On one side, there are residents who want the green space left to the community instead of concreted over for cars.

On the other, the developer and people who say the car park is needed for families, the elderly and those with accessibility needs, and others who say the entire Queen's Parade development shouldn't be held up over "a little strip of grass".

These plans at Queen's Parade have been discussed for decades but have faced years of delays, with the recent row highlighting the division over this patch of grass.

Original plans for the first phase of the projectincluded a small play park. But new proposals for a bigger play park and car parking on a small green area bordering the coastal path have angered some residents.

The developer, Bangor Marine, acknowledged that other parking suggestions had been proposed but they did "not offer a practical route that meets the project's requirements". "We have examined every alternative, and this is the only viable solution," the developer added.

The plans are part of the Marine Gardens project, the first phase of the wider Queen's Parade redevelopment.

Bangor Marine's enhanced play park proposal includes an 81-space car park in the green area.

The developer said the car park was "essential for families, elderly visitors, and those with accessibility needs", adding that current parking was "insufficient for the anticipated increase in visitor numbers".

The revised plans are still subject to planning approval.

The overall £145m Queen's Parade regeneration project will include new homes, a hotel, offices, a market plaza, retail, a playpark, cafes and restaurants.

Construction got underway last year.

Marine Gardens is expected to cost about £14m, with £9.8m from the UK government's Levelling Up Fund.

The developer said the original plans for Marine Gardens carried a projected loss and "fundability has been the main obstacle to getting works under way".

The North Down DUP group on Ards and North Down Borough Council said rejection of the new plans could risk the Levelling Up money which, they said, was "critical to the viability of the entire redevelopment of Queens Parade and Bangor seafront".

The developer will take most of the income generated and it is proposed that the council will receive about 5%.

Loren Wilson is part of the group behind the Save Marine Gardens petition, which currently has more than 4,500 signatures.

From cyclists and joggers to children and dog walkers, Wilson said many people use the area, which has "beautiful mature trees".

"It's just taking away community land that is natural and putting cars."

Linda McAuley, a former BBC Northern Ireland presenter, said the changes would not just impact local residents - but also people visiting Bangor.

She said the group was keen that there was parking provision, particularly for people with disabilities.

"But there's absolutely no need to dig up all of this green mature area with nature and plants and enjoyed by people of all ages all year round," she said.

Alison Blayney, the chief executive of Kilcooley Women's Centre, said "the people of Bangor desperately need this development to happen".

"Business and tourism wont survive if we don't do it," she said.

"We're at risk of this issue becoming Bangor's Casement Park, where the development becomes so unviable, where the finances aren't there to do it, that we're left with this black hole at the front of the seafront for the next generation."

She said that for "a little strip of grass" to hold up progress would be "really, really sad".

Mandy McCreight said the car park was "essential" for people with disabilities, older people and families to access the play park.

McCreight, who is disabled and has a son with a learning disability, added: "My children are older now but I remember when they were younger – if I wanted to take them to the park for a quick half hour after school would I have taken them to a park where I had to walk at least 400 metres there and back?

"Probably not - I think I would have driven on and gone to another park where there was car parking close by."

However, Joyce Craig said she was more likely to use the green area rather than the car park with her disabled son.

"I would use [the area] as a green and sit there with my son and look at the marina but not as a car park."

At a recent council meeting, unionist representatives voted in favour of the revised plans.

An Alliance motion from councillor Chris McCracken seeking more time to consider other car parking options was rejected.

However, he said he still plans to push for other solutions.