Fresh plans have been unveiled for a much-loved social club that has been closed for five years.

Described as “the heart of a community,” planning permission was granted in 2017 to tear down Bangor’s Maesgeirchen Social Club to make way for flats, despite a huge local effort to keep the institution open.

But with no work having taken place on the plans for a ground floor shop and 10 one bedroom flats above it, fresh proposals have now landed on the desk of council planners.

The plans involved the alteration, remodelling and extension of the existing building on Penrhyn Avenue to turn it into a convenience store, which developers Shilling and Shoker Enterprises Ltd say would create eight full-time and six part-time jobs.

The supporting documents note that the plans would represent a sustainable use for the future and create much needed employment, extending the site by approximately 50 square metres.

But a local councillor has questioned the plans, claiming that not enough parking places are provided and that it would have an adverse impact on businesses already rooted in the area.

Cllr Dylan Fernley, who represents Marchog, added, “It will only cause potential problems with access, safety of community and anti social behaviour as they seek late opening  across the road from old people’s home and sheltered accommodation. It’s unsuitable on many levels.”

The authority’s highways department has also raised concerns over the lack of parking spaces, claiming that a development of its size should provide 11 spaces but only five are included in the plans.

Officers noted: “Whilst the parking standards should be used as maximum standards and local circumstances should be considered when considering applications, the result of providing less than half the normally acceptable level of off street parking is likely to result in a high level of on-street parking.

“Parking for the development dominates the site’s frontage therefore any on-street parking will occur along the adjacent road. The site lies near a road junction to the South and traffic calming features to the north and a high level of on-street parking may affect the nearby road junction or lead to footway or verge parking, causing obstruction to pedestrians or damage to soft ground.”

But the applicants’ supporting statement, notes:  “The proposed scheme provides a measurable and tangible benefit. It will bring a prominent property which has stood vacant for a number of years back into use and secured the long term future of the building.

“The property in recent years has suffered from a lack of investment and has become an eyesore and dumping ground.

“The proposed development will require investment which will restore the external fabric of this prominent property and will also create much needed employment for the area.

“Customer car parking is being provided to the front of the property and is accessed off Penrhyn Avenue along with a secure cycle storage area to encourage sustainable transport.”

Gwynedd Council had initially refused the plans to demolish the site and replace it with 10 flats and a ground floor store, citing concerns over the proposed 24 hour opening and the associated noise and sheer “overdevelopment.”

But this was overturned by the planning inspectorate, which felt that the plans were acceptable and “would not harm the locality,” describing councillors’ concerns as “poorly founded.” 

It’s expected that Gwynedd Council’s planning department will consider the new application over the coming months.