The objector’s petition states: “Bangor Castle belongs to the people…”
Ards and North Down Borough Council is to continue work on a business case for converting Bangor Castle into a hotel, despite a TUV led petition objecting to the plan, which has received 1,300 signatures.
At the council’s Corporate Committee meeting held this week, officers confirmed to elected representatives that they were continuing work on the outline business case to change Bangor Castle, currently known as City Hall, and a host to the council’s full monthly meetings, into a hotel. When the business case is finished it will be returned to councillors for a final decision.
A year ago the council announced the future use of Bangor Castle was to go open for consultation as it had decided to move out of the Victorian landmark after 73 years in attendance. It described “a significant rationalisation” of its office estate, which will relocate around 420 employees to a single, modern, fit-for-purpose office building in Bangor centre.
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Currently, the council operates from multiple administrative buildings in Bangor and Newtownards. The new office will involve hybrid working, requiring around 50 percent less office space than the current footprint.
The petition, which was set up by Peter Wilson, Chairman of North Down Traditional Unionist Voice last August, has been signed by 1,289 individuals – 623 via signed paper copies and 679 via online collection.
Independent Unionist Councillor Wesley Irvine said at the council’s Corporate Committee meeting this week: “I welcome this petition that has come forward. There is great interest, certainly in the Bangor area, about the future use of Bangor Castle.” He asked council officers what the feedback on a public consultation on the matter was like from last year, and if there was any further engagement with Bangor residents.
A council officer replied: “We had an event at the City Hall, with people who had a lot of questions and a lot of concerns. We had a lot of people keen for the building to be retained as this petition suggests, for civic purposes.
“Equally there were people saying they appreciate the difficulties for the council maintaining a building of this nature, and that other opportunities should be looked at. So there was a mixed level of views, and of course there were a lot of other questions around regeneration in Bangor as a whole.”
She added: “The position we are in at the moment is that the council has agreed in principle that we would look at this hotel option, and an outline business case is being developed around that, and that will come back before the council for further consideration. So we are still working up that OBC at the moment.”
She said: “It is a sizable piece of work, but we would hope to have something before the council in the next couple of months.”
UUP Alderman Philip Smith said: “I obviously acknowledge the concerns people have, particularly in the Bangor area. We know the council will retain ownership, no matter what the outcome of the consultation and the plans going forward are, and the environs around the castle will remain in council ownership with similar use.
“The question is whether the (hotel) option is a goer, and we will have to see whether there is a commercial interest or not. There are a lot of moving parts here, particularly with new council officers, with Queen’s Parade, and the overall regeneration of Bangor.”
The objector’s petition states: “Bangor Castle belongs to the people. Purchased with public money in 1941, it has been the seat of local government for over 80 years. It is a living civic space.
“Council meetings, mayoral functions, civic receptions, and weddings are all held in the castle. Its rooms and stained-glass windows tell the story of our community’s past and present.
“Public access is central. Handing over the castle to private operators risks restricting public use of this iconic landmark and reducing its status to a commercial venue.
“Bangor Castle is a Grade A listed building at the heart of our town’s identity. To remove its civic function would strip Bangor of an essential part of its democratic and cultural heritage.”
It adds: “We therefore urge the council to retain Bangor Castle in public ownership as the civic headquarters of Ards and North Down Borough Council, to safeguard its current civic uses, including council meetings, receptions, weddings, and access to the grounds and museum, and to reject plans to convert Bangor Castle into a private hotel or commercial venue.”
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