A FORMER councillor has added his voice to calls for Bangor Castle to remain in public ownership.
Tom Smith, the former councillor for Bangor East and Donaghadee, has echoed the recent calls of North Down MLA Alan Chambers who called for Bangor residents to strongly oppose any plans to sell off the iconic building.
Ards and North Down Council is planning to move out of the building in several years time in favour of a new HQ within the proposed Queen’s Parade development. Despite the likelihood of the move costing several million pounds of ratepayers’ money, the matter has been discussed in secret by local politicians.
The move out of Bangor Castle leaves the council with the dilemma of what to do with the historic complex, which also houses North Down Museum.
Consultants were engaged to look at the future of the complex and have come up with five options including a boutique hotel and events centre, a larger hotel and events centre, a creative hub and cultural arts centre, a small business workspace or a small business workspace and museum.
Voicing his opposition, Mr Chambers called on ‘every resident of Bangor’ to oppose any move to sell the castle.
Writing in the Spectator this week, Mr Smith, who was a member of the DUP before he resigned and become an Independent, said he has been concerned about the castle’s future for many years.
“While others focused on spending £20m on shiny new council offices, I voiced concerns about what would happen to Bangor Castle should the council decide to vacate the property,” he said.
“Bangor Castle was bought and paid for by the ratepayers of Bangor,” added Mr Smith. “Yet, these are the very people who have been excluded from any discussion about its future. All discussions have taken place behind closed doors, which is extremely concerning and an affront to the very notion of an open and transparent government.”
The former councillor says Bangor Castle has an important story to tell and he argued it should be refurbished and turned into a museum for Bangor and North Down.
“If people want to save Bangor Castle, they will have to fight for it,” he said.
“Now is the time to speak up, not when the Council says you can. Tell your councillors that they are there to listen to you, not to unelected council officers and well-paid consultants.”
