your comments
Hirael Dad
Ian Westwood, are the police at fault or the matra papers or the wardens for the drunk kids by the church do you think? Or is it the parents who don't know where their kids are and what they're up to? Or perhaps don't even care. I know were mine are - 13 years and 14 years - in by half nine on the nights they're allowed out. And if I smelt booze on them they'd be grounded. They don't need to be moved on by police cos they don't get into trouble. Go figure.
Tue Apr 14 10:17:57 2009
Mike, Bangor
Yet another stupid traffic scheme seems to have appeared in Bangor! This time at Ysbyty Gwynedd. They now have access control gates as you enter the hospital, but the queue of traffic waiting to get into the site overflows onto Penrhos Road and the roundabout, causing gridlock and mayhem! Another accident blackspot created. Well done to whoever's responsible for this one.
Wed Apr 8 09:19:06 2009
Andy, Anglesey
I see the Welsh Assembly Government has called in the planned 55-acre development between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge. Quite right, too. A better way to ruin what could really be called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be hard to imagine. As another correspondent has said, why not put such a development on the outskirts of Bangor? Llandygai, with easier access to arterial roads, would be a much better bet.
Mon Apr 6 11:27:12 2009
Mike, Bangor
Can anybody from Gwynedd Council tell me what the hell is happening to the roads here in Bangor? It's a disgrace. Has anybody driven down Ffriddoedd Road? One of the busiest areas of Bangor, the road is falling apart! Potholes - and I mean big, deep, potholes! What's the point building nice new student halls of residence when the access roads are crumbling. Stop wasting money on cycle and fancy footpaths. I pay road tax and council tax and would like to see something back in return.
Mon Mar 9 09:51:02 2009
Lost Cinema goer of Bangor
Can the old Woolies in Bangor be converted into a lovely Cinema? It is central, has all the amenities for easy access, buses, taxis and carparks, there are plenty of eatng houses etc... it would make sense.
Wed Feb 4 09:53:51 2009
University Lecturer, Bangor.
I can only echo the sentiments expressed about the decline and fall of Bangor City. When I first came here, there was a greengrocer on the High Street, an excellent camera shop, a cinema (albeit not very comfortable), a theatre, some decent shopping (Co-op), a bookshop, a cycle shop etc. Now, the only notable feature of the High Street is the chewing gum on the pavements! The rebuilding of Theatr Gwynedd is supposed to take three years, which is unbelievable. Meanwhile, Watkin Jones continues to fill Bangor with its unattractive "developments". University staff are as angry and depressed about the state of Bangor as many of the correspondents here - students DO bring money into the area, but on seeing the state of Bangor, many will stay away, preferring to go elsewhere, further accelerating the decline of Bangor City. The council are either blind to the problems or don't care a fig. Let's vote them out in the next council election.
Tue Jan 13 10:06:35 2009
John, Bangor
I'm glad the Ty Mawr development in LlanfairPG was rejected, Bangor high street is already quickly becoming deserted. If that had been built it would be even worse!I might sound selfish, but any development like that really needs to be in the city. What about on the outskirts by Llandygai - plenty of land there!Also the council needs to put a block on all the student flats being built Yes I like students and Bangor does need them, but Bangor city centre is quickly being overcrowded with them. You go to places like Liverpool and Manchester and all the student accommodation is on the outskirts. On the Beach Road development, we need something similar to the docks in Caernarfon. Too many people are stuck in the past in Bangor. Who needs a boatyard? We could have some really nice cafes,restaurants, bars and a hotel there - really make that waterfront a place to visit!
Wed Jan 7 16:47:41 2009
Jack, Bangor
What IS going on in Bangor? Kids have nothing to do - no cinema, no skate parks - nothing! Look at Caernarfon - a fancy new dock area, their square being refurbished with Welsh slate, sparkly new rubbish bins, state of the art fountains, skate park, cinema in the NEW arts centre (while Bangor's one and only theatre just closed) - need I go on? People in Caernarfon are moaning about the work being done there. Bangor gets nothing. Why do they call it Gwynedd Council? Caernarfon Council more like.
The MFI site on C'fon Road is ideal for a cinema/bowling alley. The old bowling green next to the town hall is ideal for a skate park. What's going on? Bangor deserves some respect. We are a city after all.
Mon Dec 1 09:49:55 2008
Carly, Bangor
I agree with most people on here. The new traffic system next to the train station is awful, I'm extremely surprised there haven't been any major accidents there yet. Why anyone ever thought it would be a good idea, I'll never know...it's ridiculous. Bring back the old way!
Tue Aug 19 09:56:57 2008
Franklin - Bangor
Reading through these messages it is clear a great many people care about Bangor. The problem isn't apathy, it's because people don't know what's going on and feel powerless. To be fair to Gwynedd Council, they aren't biased against Bangor, so much as it is a big wasteful bureaucratic self-serving regional organisation that pretends to be local government. The 10 Gwynedd councillors from Bangor don't work together to develop a plan for the city. Community Councils like Bangor City Council are encouraged to be proactive and develop plans that can involve the community. Every community initiative that happens to improve Bangor is despite, not because of the two councils. It is because of this lack of functioning local democratic government that developers and the university are able to do what suits them. That is why the city centre has become so neglected while big sheds have popped up along the Caernarfon Road. That is why Watkin Jones has been able to turn the area around Farrar Road into a private student accommodation campus. And unless people stand up and be counted, it is why Hirael Bay will be developed in a way is not in the interests of the community or the environment.
Tue May 27 16:52:05 2008
mike,bangor
Anybody coming back to Bangor i would advise them to stay well away! I came back to my regret. This city has lost its way, it's streets and green areas are filthy and the roads are a disgrace!
Tue Apr 15 09:24:35 2008
IAN WESTWOOD
As my comments under Old Grumps were attacked (by my wife actually) I thought I would speak as myself this time. The local free paper Matra News states the efforts of the police and warden are going to stop unruly crowds of drunken kids gathering by the church in maes g. Saturday night we could hear loads of kids in the church grounds and even though the CCTV is now supposed to be watching the church at weekends to stop this, it carries on. A police car drove up past the church but did not even stop. The kids moved around the blind side of the church and continued their rampage. As the bungalows backing onto the church are for old and disabled people this is a frightening experience and we can do nothing about it. I asked if I could photograph the troublemakers after they broke the church window and threw mud at the bungalows. I was told I could be taken in and my camera would be confiscated if I did. What sort of a world are we living in when we can no longer defend ourselves and the police do not want to know?
Mon Apr 7 09:46:42 2008
Giblin, Bangor
I've been reading all these and have done a bit of research into them and i think that Bangor's council should focus on fixing the problems they can instead of saying 'We can't do this and that'. they could clean up some parks for the youths. Also, the University should be revolving around Bangor not the other way round!!
Wed Apr 2 09:50:11 2008
Old grump, Maesgeirchen
the churchyard in Maes-G is disgusting and does not seem to get cleaned up any more.there is ,what looks like ,human faeces by the church perimeter wall that have been there for ages.it is like an obstacle course dodging poo of all kinds.add to that the new wave of depositing black bags full of rubbish outside the llys dylan bungalows and you have got a really nice place to live and work! (joke) and to top it all there is a local shop that does not stock anything you want.sorry but maes.g is on it's way down a steep slope to being a national disgrace.
Wed Feb 27 10:07:16 2008
Ellen, Bangor
Thank you Gareth for your response. We need input like yours. Did you put in a questionnaire with your concerns and any possible ideas? I know exactly what you mean about GCC in Caernarfon being "all for" Caernarfon and I add, all points south. This is why we need to make Bangor Voices heard. We have to make a stand. It isn't right what they have done and plan to do to Bangor. We must fight for what is right for Bangor. There is far too much apathy in Bangor - people turning and looking the other way, then complaining when they see what has been done. We have an opportunity to do something about it.
Wed Feb 20 09:25:41 2008
Gareth from Bangor
I have seen the plans for the 'new ' Hirael Marina and to me they raise as many questions as answers. As a local I have to admit that the site of Hirael Bay at low tide on a grey day is not very appealing, but we have to face up to the fact there may not be enough of a market for two marinas in the eastern part of the Straits and consider the long-standing plans for a Beaumaris Marina also. Secondly, what consideration has been given to the influence of global warming and other issues pertaining to the water table in the vicinity of the Afon Adda? I can still remember when the residents of Strand Street etc, had to sandbag their homes to prevent flooding, are we going to return to those days? Thirdly, only a fool would insist that the developers are interested for purely altruistic reasons. They obviously feel there is an opportunity to turn a profit here. Thich is all very well and good, but where does that leave the people of Hirael and Bangor? As someone who spent a good portion of his childhood playing football on 'Beach' and mucking around on the shore and Penlon Park, I would hate to see the 'Private No Tresspassing' signs appear that prevent local people from enjoying their heritage and 'filltir sgwar.' What precautions have been put in place to prevent the Marina from becoming isolated from the wider community and nothing more than a gated settlement in all but name? Bangor in general needs a boost, but I still have my doubts about the Marina's ability to provide one. More generally, the rest of Bangor outside Hirael resembles a giant building site. For the life of me I cannot understand how the new carpark near Aldi's obtained planning permission and I have great sympathy with the residents of Ashley Road. I suspect that one day the Ombudsman will get to know more about this as the car park is simply not in keeping with the surrounding area. The traffic system continues to generate sound, fury, and debate from admirers and detractors alike. Sometimes I think this is all part of 'A Cofi Plot" to make Bangor as unnattractive as possible. Seriously though, I do believe that things would be better if Bangor could be the headquarters of a new unitary authority stretching from Abergwyngregyn in the east, Felinheli in the west, and Bethesda in the south. This idea of Bangor seceeding from the rest of Gwynedd was mooted a few years ago but died a death because the powers that be would not allow Bangor a plebiscite or a democratic voice on the city's future. Whether we like it or not, many Bangorians feel that Gwynedd County Council is run from Caernarfon for Caernarfon and that, consequently, Bangor's interests will always come a poor second as a result of this.
Mon Feb 18 10:15:05 2008
Ellen - Bangor
I agree with Marinda, we must support the Hirael Bay Development. Otherwise we will be left behind and Bangor deserves a facelift and its residents need something to bring the pride back into Bangor. I agree we need to have somewhere for the youngsters to go, there is enough drunkeness and crime in the UK amongst young people without Bangor adding to it. So let's tell the council what we want. I have sent in my questionnaire and have told family and friends to do the same so let's spread the word.
Thu Feb 14 09:54:42 2008
Marinda Bangor
I want to remind people they can participate by completing a questionnaire to put ideas forward for the Hirael Bay Development. You can collect a questionnaire from Bangor Library or online with Gwynedd County Council. Add what you think about the Hirael Bay Development ideas, please take advantage of this, it is your Bangor and if done properly you will be able to enjoy the final outcome - but have your input now and make a difference to Bangor. How many people attend the Firework Display down on the field in Hirael every year? wouldn't you like this to continue and have even more facilities to enjoy? Have somewhere nice & safe to take your children on a lovely warm summer Sunday afternoon, without breaking the bank. Have indoor facilities in the Winter? I'd love to see an open market every week and buy local produce, hit Tesco where it hurts - in their bank balance. We don't want a rag market, but something similar to the French Fruit & Veg markets. Maybe once a month throughout the summer, an antiques market. This is an ideal opportunity for the people of Bangor to tell the Council what THEY want. Bangor University is closing yet another landmark in Bangor - the Museum and Art Gallery: can we move it into the Hirael Bay Development, like our own version of the Tate Gallery? We must not let them take Bangor to pieces like this. We have to take a stand and tell the Council what we want.
Mon Feb 11 09:48:10 2008
