 The Wellfield Shopping Centre is set to be demolished |
A decision on plans for a new shopping centre in Bangor which have caused controversy among shopkeepers has been delayed.Gwynedd Council's Arfon planning committee deferred approving or rejecting proposals to revamp the Wellfield shopping centre in the heart of the city at a meeting on Wednesday.
The scheme submitted to the council has left some shop owners fearing for their livelihoods.
The �25m plans for the centre would see about 40 shops replaced by 13 larger units and a multi-storey car park.
Councillors decided they needed more time to discuss elements of the proposal.
They will now hold a special planning meeting on 12 June.
 I don't know if they're going to find takers for these units because they're enormous  |
Tenants at Wellfied raised concerns that they will not be offered leases at the new shopping parade if it gets the go-ahead.
Sioned Bebb, who runs the Welsh bookshop Siop Pendref, said there had been no contact between the developlers, Cathco Property Group, and the shopkeepers.
"It's been a very frustrating time because the development company has refused to speak to us.
"I spent about six weeks banging my head against a brick wall, writing to people, ringing people, but getting nowhere."
Although not against modernising the precinct, Ms Bebb said she was opposed to the "very nature" of this particular proposal.
She thinks the public has a perception of a shopping arcade which does not match the scheme on show.
"You imagine something covered and glazed.
"But it's going to be rather like a retail park that you usually get on the edge of towns, but it's going to be in the city centre.
"It's not going to be attractive.
"I don't know if they're going to find takers for these units because they're enormous."
'Negotiate'
Hendre ward councillor Tony Eccles said there were empty shop spaces available in other parts of the city centre which could be an option for the Wellfield shopkeepers.
"If you go through to the Deiniol centre, there's quite a few spaces there empty and there are shops further up that are empty.
"I don't see why they can't negotiate with the Deiniol centre.
"I've got no problem with the proposals really," he added.
However, he said he would be pressing for the developers to build the carpark first.
A spokesperson for centre owners and developers Cathco Property Group said no decision would be made on existing tenants until planning permission had been decided.
Until then, they said, there was no point for people to get worried and that if and when the development goes ahead, discussions would be held with each individual tenant.
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