RESIDENTS of a Bangor sheltered housing estate claim that a parking dispute with a nearby club has put them in a ridiculous situation.
Mary Williams said that her fellow Llys Dewi Sant residents and visitors had little space to park after Glanadda Pensioner’s Club recently installed a chain link to stop them from park on their land.
“It’s a ridiculous situation,” she said. “Carers can’t park here all have family that visit us- where are they supposed to park?”
She added that doctors and the emergency services would have trouble reaching the reaching elderly residents because of the lack of parking space.
The club was opened in 1984 and holds events including bingo nights for pensioners on Monday and Thursdays. It has also been used as a polling station.
Dave Holyfield, 51, who works part-time as a bus driver, said that his car was blocked regularly when he headed off for work.
“This is a childish situation” he said. “All they had to do is say that they didn’t mind us parking there but could we do them a favour and move when they are open.”
Llys Dewi Sant, which houses 23 mostly elderly residents, has been owned by Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd since April.
Residents believe that a piece of land near Llys Dewi Sant could be turned into extra parking spaces.
Residents received a letter from Gwynedd Council which stated that the land where the club and car park stand were donated by the former Arfon Borough and was designated for use by the club and residents.
The Club’s Trustees wrote a letter to residents stating that the land was donated by the council in 1974, before Llys Dewi Sant was built.
The residents received another letter from Gwynedd Council earlier this year stating that the car park was now owned by the club.
The residents wrote to the club’s trustees to ask for permission to use the car park when the it is not being used but did not receive a reply.
Glanadda Pensioners’ Club trustee Councillor E.T Dogan maintained the club’s stance in its letter to residents.
“The trouble was that people would park there at all times and the elderly people who use the club couldn’t park there,” he said. “It’s like somebody parking on your garden and the committee decided that enough is enough.”
A spokesperson for Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd confirmed that residents could not park on the club’s land.
She added that a feasibility study was being carried out to provide more parking spaces on site.