PIER support
Strong support for bid to secure funds to rejuvenate city's iconic landmark
ACRUCIAL bid to secure funding to rejuvenate Bangor’s iconic pier has a “good chance of success”, supporters have been told.
A packed meeting of city councillors and members of the public was held in Perhyn Hall on Monday to hear an update on the city council’s plans to present a grant funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The council announced last year that it was seeking funds to complete the ambitious pier project, which also includes more kiosks and interpretive displays to tell residents and visitors about the history of the structure over the past 120 years.
Bangor Pier has been owned by the city council since it was bought from
Arfon Borough Council in 1978 to save it from demolition. The city council restored it to its present form in the 1980s and has managed it ever since.
Despite now requiring substantial work to restore it to its former glory and bring its history to life, positivity was in the air at this week’s meeting.
Addressing the meeting, project consultant Jim O’Rourke praised the support shown by residents and the city council to the project so far, with over 200 letters of support received in support of the bid.
He said that initial surveys showed the pier structure itself was in a reasonable condition, but had deteriorated over time.
Mr O’Rourke explained that even if the bid was successful in attracting significant funding, with the city council contributing some of the cost, the twoyear renovation would not be expected to start until 2017 at the earliest.
A bid for between £50,000 and £80,000, which would be used to prepare a more thorough application, could be submitted as early as March.
Mr O’Rourke said the outcome of this application could be a key indicator for the future success of a full bid in future.
He said: “A successful HLF bid will breathe new life into Bangor Pier and make it a focal point on the waterfront.
“It will enable the pier’s story to be told to local people, to visitors and to future generations, and at the same time will develop a significant tourist attraction in the area which will help boost the local economy.
“The important thing now is that we present the best possible bid, which will give us the very best chance of success. We have to play the long game, and nothing will be decided overnight.
“It’s evident that there’s enormous support, both within the city council but also from the people of Bangor, and that’s so important.
“But money is tight and the number of bidders can be high, so the Herit- age Lottery Fund will be looking for a bid that ticks many boxes and has long-term value.”
Members of the public attended the meeting, many of whom represented a group called The People’s Voice. Reassurances were sought by Cllr Nigel Pickavance that the public would be kept abreast of all the latest information regarding the bid, adding that the pier essentially belonged to the people of the city.
Town clerk Gwyn Hughes noted that efforts would be made to engage the people of the city in all discussions that did not include commercially sensitive information such as potential contracts.