By Julie Waters
COUNCIL officials urged local politicians to back controversial plans to remove a seafront green area and replace it with a car park.
Local politicians were last night expected to approve the controversial proposal, despite a vociferous campaign mounted by local residents.
In a report, seen by the Spectator ahead of last night’s crunch council vote, officers recommended that plans for the 81 space car park be given the green light, subject to negotiations with the Crown Estate.
The documents show developers Bangor Marine have asked for a number of changes be made to the £14m Marine Gardens plans, including sub-leasing the land for the car park, to build the £1m car park and install a £1m play park.
As councillors met for their main monthly meeting at Bangor Castle, their decision was taken against a backdrop of angry local residents protesting against the loss of green space.
The papers explain that Bangor Marine have warned the car park ‘is the only way the scheme becomes viable’ and if the changes were not agreed ‘they are not sure how the scheme could proceed’.
They state the previous plans, including a smaller play park and car park, had ‘incurred a significant loss’ which had been the ‘main challenge’ to work starting on the long delayed scheme.
The report explains that a number of alternative car parks were suggested but ‘no viable alternative was found’; the developers also considered a ‘number of different configurations’ of the Marine Gardens site but ‘none of these were workable’.
It says Bangor Marine will maintain the bigger car park and take the income, expected to generate £250,000 each year; the council will also receive an income from the car park – the percentage is still to be agreed but is expected to be around 5%.
The papers explained that a new sub-lease agreement between Bangor Marine and the Crown Estate, which leases the land to the council, would have to be agreed.
Initial discussions have been instigated to gauge whether Crown Estates would be agreeable for the additional land to be sub-leased to Bangor Marine and the terms of the sub lease is 125 years.
The council papers explain that the developer also plans to upgrade the play park to a £1m facility; the play park will ‘remain under council control’ and officers urge councillors to be ‘mindful of the replacement costs of this facility’ that will need to be put in place.
If the councillors agree to the new proposals, and the Crown Estate issues are resolved, the changes will be included into an additional deed of variation which will be brought back to council for approval.
