Bangor Eye - Keeping an eye on the city.

Present: Ayrton Westwood, Elsie Kendrick, Douglas Madge, Abdul Aziz Barazi, Elgan Hearn, Jean Forsyth, Franklin Scrase, Gareth Edwards, Aled Davies, June Marshall (Secretary).

Guests: Gwenan Huws Tomos ( Parking issues, representing Colin Jones), Simon Finney (Arriva transport)

1. Apologies. Colin Morris, Colin Jones, Margaret McGuire.

2. The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 21st. March were accepted.

3. Matters arising.

The street market is no longerpossible due to objections to using the area near the Cenotaph.

Amlyn ab Iorwerth is looking intousing the taxi rank on Castle Hill as a coach drop-off and pick-up point.

Work is progressing on the Bangor Eye web site. Ayrton will give Gareth a DVD of the opening of the refurbished Deiniol Centre to put on the site.

4. Menai Centre.

MargaretMcGuire of the managing agents of the Centre was unable to attend. The Centre car park will be up and running by December, with the shops to move in from January. Debenhams will have possession in December. Superdrug will move to the Centre. River Island will have premises and there are four other retailers in the pipeline. Rents are high.

5. Simon Finney spoke of new developments within bus services. There have been new services launched andthe company is looking at ways of making the service more attractive to groups such as students. SF wants to provide a better service for groups such as shop workers. How can this be achieved? Would shop keepers be interested in discounted deals for employees? SF keen to help develop Bangor and offered to put tourist information into the Bangor Office of Arriva. He also allow good causes to put up small posters in buses free.

The Chairman thanked Simon Finney for his talk and enthusiasm for improvement.

6. Highways matters

Gyratory system at Station

Abdul pointed out a contradictory and misleading information signs at the station. He showed photographs of these signs. Others agreed that the new system was difficult and potentially dangerous but some found it a great improvement. Gareth pointed out that learner drivers find the merging system very hard to manage as there is no clear priority. It was agreed that those with comments to make should contact Dafydd Wyn Williams or Bill Lee (Gwynedd Council Highways.

Parking

There are problems for drivers with season tickets as there are not enough long stay parking places. Kyffin Square car park can be used temporarily for long and short stay, but there is a need for a permanent solution. Gwenan agreed to look into this.

Doug asked about Residents Only car parking. This is being looked at now. Dafydd Wyn Williams is in charge.

It was confirmed that the traffic wardens had restricted powers and cannot book cars for parking on the pavement or for obstruction.

Franklin asked how many people have been fined for illegal parking. Gwenan will find out and let us know.

7. Doug Madge’s initiatives.

A Father Christmas race is planned.

Doug is working on getting a hotel in Bangor. There is a piece of land near Tesco which the owners are keen to develop but the Planning Officers are opposing.

8. Plaques on historic buildings – the discussion was postponed.

9. Any other business

- June told the group of a Gwynedd Council initiative whereby gang blitz areas to clean them – this was done in the centre of Bangor.

- Gareth has made a 360 degree view of Bangor for Bangor Eye.

- Jeanne proposed an open top bus to go round Bangor– Simon felt this was an excellent idea.

- Jean pointed out that the poster board is very messy – Franklin will tidy it up.

- Franklin informed the group of a number of developments – a new retail unit in the Greenhouse providing an outlet for arts and crafts, an office for the Credit Union and an information point. He pointed out that the Web Forum needed to mesh with Bangor Eye. He also told us about the Youth Video Project – to help bored youngsters make a video.

- Jean asked what would happen to the Post Office building when the PO moves to the High Street.

- Doug asked if we could have litter wardens.

- Jeanne said that a new sound system has been purchased. This could be used for our events or hired out.

- Ayrton proposed that we run a Christmas event with a medieval theme.

10. Chairman’s announcement.

Ayrton felt that it was time to elect a new Chairman as he had been in post for two years. The name of Doug Madge was proposed and seconded. There were no other nominations. Doug was elected by a unanimous vote.

Ayrton was congratulated on his achievements as Chairman and thanked for his hard work since the inception of the Forum.

11 Date and place of next meeting: Wednesday July 11th. in MENTEC, Bangor at 2pm

To all members of the Bangor Retail Forum

The next meeting of the Bangor Retail Forum will be held at 2pm on Wednesday July 11^th. in MENTEC, Bangor. Apologies for absence may be sent to me on Bangor 370955 or by email

Yours sincerely,

June Marshall

Secretary.

AGENDA

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of the last meeting (attached)

3. Matters arising from the minutes

4. New constitution for the Forum

5. Bangor City Council matters

- Town Clock

- Bangor Pier

- Hanging baskets in the High Street

6. Menai Centre

7. Gwynedd Council Regeneration activities

8. Plaques on historic buildings

9. Any other business

10. Date and place of next meeting.

A new constitution will be passed soon which will allow elected members to vote on the right path to take to establish the forum as the voice for Bangor businesses.

The Chairman
Mr Douglas Madge

The Secretary
Mrs June Marshall

The group meets every month on topics concerning the business sector of Bangor.

Minutes will appear here shortly

Business forum mebers with Douglas Madge (New Chairman) and Ayrton Westwood (Manager of the Deiniol Centre)