BANGOR | University Arts & Innovation Centre

[LiamG]

This is in this weeks Bangor & Angelsey mail...

Residents group hit back over SU president’s comments
Aug 25 2010 by Daniel Bissett, Bangor and Anglesey Mail

RESIDENTS in Bangor have reacted to comments by the Students’ Union president that Bangor may struggle to attract new students if a new nightclub isn’t built to replace Time/Amser.

The group called the Central and Upper Bangor Residents (CUBR) believe Jo Caulfield’s comments misrepresent the views of local residents’ opposition to the proposed new nightclub in the Robinson Building.

They say the building is unsuitable, and universities are having to turn away students because of an over-supply of applicants.

A spokesman for CUBR said: “Bangor will not struggle to attract students without the proposed nightclub in the Robinson Building. Nationally, six students are fighting for each university place via clearing.

“Bangor residents groups have no objection to a new student nightclub if suitably sited. Local objection is to the proposed location of the nightclub in the Robinson building.”

The group believes Bangor students should have their own purpose built nightclub, not a substandard old building such as Robinson.

The group also suggests that Bangor has enough nightclubs such as the Octagon and Hendre Hall.

The spokesman said: “The university has considered approximately 10 alternative nightclub sites besides Robinson. Among the alternative sites considered are some on the student residential campuses such as Ffriddoedd and the George site and a location of the a nightclub on one of these sites would have far less impact on local residents than the Robinson building.”

Miss Caulfield acknowledged the group’s comments but said she had no further comment to make at this present time.

daniel.bissett

Erm Bangor has Hendre,Oci and the new Base Nightclub, Any of them are hardly setting the world alight

Bangor Uni has to have a students union/nightclub, It was the only place where they had decent nights on

And the Uni sites already has Bar UNO

I would like to know what the 10 alternative sites are

[dronkula]

That really is an absolutely ridicilous story.

Stick the club down on the George Site? You really want a thousand drunk people getting chucked out of there and then walking back to Bangor along the A5 late at night? And the Ffrith site is *surrounded* by residential building - not to mention the fact that not every student actually does like clubbing and some of them might actually want to study?

And I still don't count Hendre Hall as a 'club'. It has music events but it's really not like Occy or Time.

And this spokesman has forgotten that Time isn't *just* a student nightclub - it's open to anyone and so will the Robinson club.

Basically, the 'Central and Upper Bangor Residents' group just don't want it in their particular area but don't mind it elsewhere - it's just nimbyism.

As I mentioned, Gwynedd council have now had an independent noise assessment done on the proposal and that's come back and said there will be no legal issues with noise from the site. As Gwynedd Council is backing the Pontio project, hopefully they'll also back the club proposal and so they're more minded to approve the plans rather than reject them and will only do it if there's a specific legal issue that it'll cause.

[LiamG]

The old Debenhams building would of been a good location for a nightclub even if not a students union, and its still for sale!

[dronkula]

The Students Union have just announced a temporary deal with Hendre Hall so that the usual SU nights will be hosted there until they can come up with a permanent replace for Time and the SU bar.

Also, noticed in last weeks local newspaper there was this:

http://www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bango...6580-27170326/

Bangor community group supports students over new union building

Sep 1 2010 by Daniel Bissett, Bangor and Anglesey Mail

A COMMUNITY group in Bangor has backed the Students’ Union’s call for planning permission to be granted for the Robinson Building to be developed into a new SU headquarters.

Recently SU President Jo Caulfield outlined the impact that the loss of Amser/Time will have on the student body, but the People of Bangor Community Group also feel that it’s not just students who will miss out if planning permission is not granted.

Group chairman Nigel Pickavance said: “There are constant complaints made about the lack of provision for Bangor’s younger generation, the loss of the nightclub means less choice in evening entertainment and the loss of a club that many local residents attend for the variety that it offers, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-friendly nights and Welsh music nights.

“Activities for other age groups will also be lessened.

“Student Volunteering Bangor, who run six children’s projects and four projects for vulnerable adults, have in the past used money collected on the door of the nightclub and in the cloakroom to fund their efforts.

“Without the nightclub a significant source of income will be lost to this organisation, which provides activities for over 250 of the area’s most vulnerable every week.”

Mr Pickavance agreed with Miss Caulfield’s comments that it isn’t the volunteering groups that rely on this fundraising, but the sports clubs and societies too, which is another way that the people of Bangor stand to lose out.

“The Student Treborth Action Group and People and Planet societies get involved in environmental projects in the area, the sports clubs help run sessions in local schools through the Dragon Sports Scheme, and the guides and scouts society put students in touch with local groups that wouldn’t be able to continue without student leaders.

“The students in our community have a lot to contribute to Bangor, and with our strengthening links with the Students’ Union we hope to take advantage of some of the skills and expertise that the students have to offer.

“It would be a shame for Bangor to miss out because of a few petty and single-minded officials who choose to focus on the few negatives rather than the amazing work and opportunities that these people, and their facilities, provide.”

Responding to residents and the city council’s objections to the proposed new building, Miss Caulfield had said it was “absolutely imperative” the Robinson Building gets planning and licensing approval.

She added that if the development didn’t go ahead Bangor may struggle to attract undergraduates and postgraduates and this would undoubtedly have a huge impact on the city, local economy and the wider community.

So, nice to see a local group actually supporting this and the Uni instead of just the usual knee jerk 'we hate students and don't want them around here' complaints that other groups have.

[LiamG]

The thing with Hendre Hall will never work, You know the reason for choosing Hendre? Because it can hold 1000 people apparently!

Should of just used Base Nightclub!

[dronkula]

Positive progress on the Robinson planning application.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-n...wales-11476360

An application to turn a Bangor University building into a night club is being recommended for approval despite objections

I think the actual vote was tonight on this so hopefully we'll find out about final approval tomorrow when some news websites for Bangor get around to updating themselves. Although after seeing far too many other planning applications that have been recommended for approval actually get rejected because of political issues, I wont believe it'll get approved until it really has been.

[LiamG]

Did it get accepted?

[dronkula]

I'd been checking my various sources about this and nothing seemed to have happened.

Finally one of the news websites ran the story though - the decision was deferred after the Uni asked for more time to clarify something.

http://www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bango...6580-27452080/

[dronkula]

Good news on the Pontio project

http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk...ts-centre.aspx

£27.5 million cash boost to raise curtain on Bangor arts centre

PLANS for the construction of a cutting-edge arts and innovation centre in Bangor were handed a massive boost today with the news that £27.5m has been secured for the project.


Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones revealed that the Pontio centre, the successor to the now demolished Theatr Gwynedd, was being backed by £12.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund and £15 million from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Further funding from the Arts Council of Wales and Bangor University itself will complete the package.

This means that it's now fully funded so, as long as it doesnt go over budget, this should be up and running in 3 years.

[LiamG]

And the new students union has been given the go ahead

[dronkula]

Ok - the new Student Union nightclub was officially approved on Monday with conditions. Yeah!

The conditions are fairly predictable and are basically that noise is to be monitored from the nightclub to make sure it doesn't increase ambient noise in the area once it's in operation.

[dronkula]

Hmm...

Spoke too soon it would seem.

So the University now have planning permission to build the new Student Union with the night club. What else do they need though? Oh yeah - the license to sell alcohol...

More controversy over Bangor’s proposed Student’s Union nightclub
http://www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bango...6580-28049833/
Jan 26 2011 by Daniel Bissett, Bangor and Anglesey Mail

CONTROVERSY over the proposed new Student’s Union nightclub in Bangor continued this week when councillors met to discuss the premises licence for the venue.

Gwynedd Council’s Central Licensing Sub Committee were looking at the application for the licence at the Robinson Building which would allow the club to “permit plays, film, live and recorded music, dancing and the sale of alcohol and the provision of late night refreshment between 7pm-2am, Monday to Thursday, 7pm-2.30am on Friday and Saturday, with the premises closing half an hour later”.

The application, like the plans for building itself, has met with opposition from Bangor City Council and local residents.

Bangor town clerk Gwyn Hughes said: “The city council considers that the proposed development would result in excessive noise and disturbance at unsocial hours to the detriment of the amenities of the surrounding area.

“It could also seriously affect the amenities of the area by creating issues of crime and disorder and would encourage antisocial behaviour in the area late at night by individuals affected by the prolonged and excessive consumption of alcohol at these times.”

Cllr John Martin, chairman of the Upper Bangor Society, said the society felt the “large number of pedestrians that would be generated on the nearby main road would present a safety hazard”.

I would seriously expect this to not be a problem in anyway whatsoever. This is just a last desperate attempt by those against Students to try and stop this but as the Bangor City Council were supporting the redevelopment of the old Post Office site which would include a new bar and that's about 200 yards down the same 'busy road' that they're now concerned would be a safety hazard for any bar there?

[LiamG]

It's just people trying to stop it going ahead, if they had there way i bet they would have no nightclubs in bangor at all!

[conrad83]

Any North Walians got any news/photos of this beast - last time i was up there they were still carrying out groundworks?

[conrad83]

Doesnt look much different

http://www.pontio.co.uk/timeline/webcam.php.en

Strange not to have any progress as i thought funding was secured

[LiamG]

Most the groundwork is done, The structure will start to go up soon, i dont know how soon though!

[dronkula]

Just a quick update

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-n...wales-17449636

Construction work on a new £40m arts and innovation centre will begin in early summer, says Bangor University.

Pontio will house a new theatre, studio theatres, cinema, restaurant, bars, Student Union and several teaching and learning spaces in Bangor.

The 10,000 sq m structure will provide a link from the city's Memorial Arch up a steep slope to the university's main building.

Bangor has been without a theatre since Theatr Gwynedd closed in October 2008.

An opening date of 2014 has been put on the project.

In December 2010 it was announced that the Bangor University-led Pontio project would receive £12.5m from the European Regional Development Fund, and £15m from the Welsh government towards a cost of £37m.

Other funds would come from the Arts Council of Wales and the university.

The overall figure for the project is now quoted as £40m.

An university spokesperson said: "The plan has slipped, mainly because European purchasing processes are particularly complex.

"We have also sought best value for the project without affecting the quality of the plan."

The spokesperson added the £37m did not include certain costs such as aspects of demolition and site clearance plus other costs.
'Cultural beacon'

"This is a large and complex project and in total the capital expenditure will amount to £40M plus," the university added.

When the project was officially launched Bangor University said the scheme would create or safeguard 450 jobs during the construction phase, 100 more during the operational stage, and a further 330 jobs through the innovation hub.

It would be a "cultural beacon for Wales and a champion of the Welsh language", the university added.

In August, the chief executive of the project, Robert O'Dowd, left his post just months after being appointed.

A meet-the-contractor event is to be arranged to promote opportunities for vocational training during the construction period.

[dronkula]

Looks like they've finally started work on this

http://www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bango...6580-31567854/

Work underway on £44m Bangor arts centre
Aug 8 2012 by Daniel Bissett, Bangor and Anglesey Mail

WORK on a long-awaited multi-million-pound arts centre has finally got underway.
Pre-contract work on Bangor University’s £44m Pontio centre began in July following receipt of £3,250,000 from the Arts Council of Wales.

The building will feature a 450-seat auditorium theatre, a cinema space, a 120-seat studio theatre and an outdoor performance space.

It is expected to open in 2014 and will become a “cultural and economic powerhouse for the city”, according to the Arts Council.

[LiamG]

About time too!

[dronkula]

Just checking the webcam link above. There's definitely diggers on site doing stuff!