Residents flock to Hirael Bay development exhibition

Feb 6 2008 By Helen Harper

MORE than 350 people have visited an exhibition showing plans to develop Hirael Bay.

Ideas for the area include a marina, student accommodation, enterprise park and coastal park.

The exhibition called on local people to give their views, thoughts and aspirations about the future of Hirael Bay, focusing on the suitability of a number of potential development sites and ways the area could be used in the future.

Andrew Teague, an associate at Building Design Partnership (BDP) who along with Richard Broun Associates and Richard Baddeley and Company, have been commission to undertake the development masterplan, thanked people for their frank and honest views.

"Our aim by staging the exhibition was to begin a debate with the community on the future of Hirael Bay through an initial display of ideas.

"With this objective in mind, the exhibition was a huge success. The community has provided us with a clear and united response on a number of important development ideas."

The bay area, stretching from the Garth area to Port Penrhyn has been identified by Gwynedd Council as a key site, which has the development potential to stimulate new economic opportunities for the city and the surrounding area.

Cllr Dafydd Iwan, who leads on development on Gwynedd Council, said that Hirael Bay is a unique area that could offer development opportunities for local people, business and visitors.

"We are very pleased that so many local residents and business have already presented their opinions and ideas and I would encourage anyone who has an interest in the Bangor area to come forward and share their views and let us know what they want for the bay area."

An exhibition of the plans will be on show at Bangor Library until Friday, and are available on the council’s website at www.gwynedd.gov.uk/hiraelbay .

All the feedback from the exhibition will be reported later this month, with a further exhibition being held later on in the year on more detailed development options, incorporating the feedback received.