A controversial plan to scrap a seafront park in order to build a car park has gathered more than 100 formal objections from furious locals – and just a single letter of support.

The past months have seen a huge outcry over the fate of Marine Gardens in the heart of Bangor, which faces the axe after plans for a £60m overhaul of the area changed.

Already in construction, one of the Queen’s Parade redevelopment project’s first acts was to demolish a 200-space free car park – but developers Bangor Marine now say they need one after all, and are to knock down Marine Gardens to build a new pay and display facility.

Alterations include an expanded children’s play area, with the developer insisting the car park is vital to making it work.

placeholder image — Marine Gardens on Bangor seafront could be paved to make way for a car park, as part of a £60m revamp that's already scrapped a neighbouring 200-space facility. Photo: Save Marine Gardens

A ‘Save Marine Gardens’ campaign kicked off from locals hoping to protect the green space, which saw them staging multiple protests outside Bangor city hall while demanding the council call off the wrecking ball.

A formal planning application that would scrap the park was lodged at the end of last month. Over the last three weeks, it picked up a total of 104 objections from people who want the area saved, with just a single person backing the demolition.

Speaking out against the removal of the park, in objections locals describe the area as “a vital, historic and irreplaceable asset to our coastal town” and argue the car park plans “will destroy the character and appearance of the seafront, which is a major attraction and draws hundreds of people both locals and visitors into the area”.

Stated one objector: “Destroying a healthy, established green ecosystem to create a landscape of asphalt and vehicle emissions is a massive step backward.”

Others pointed to the existence of other car parks a few minutes’ walk away from the site, while pleading with planners to not give a green light to the destruction of an area they described as popular with families for relaxation and recreation, as well as a prime place for dog walkers.

The lone voice in support of the car park characterised losing Marine Gardens as “a very modest trade-off”, stating: “We are exchanging an underused half-acre of open space for a destination that will encourage families to spend entire days in Bangor rather than simply passing through. That is exactly the kind of investment our city centre has needed for years.”

The altered plan was approved by councillors in April, despite some concerns it was being rushed through, with Damian Mitchell from developers Bangor Marine telling politicians that any delay could scupper the whole £60m project.

The park demolition still has to win planning approval, however, with campaigners hoping the large number of objections will help persuade officials that it should be blocked.

As the controversy raged earlier this year, angry residents demanded to know why existing car parks weren’t considered instead of axing Marine Gardens.

Campaigners had suggested one of the city centre’s multiple existing pay-and-display facilities could be given to Bangor Marine, in particular pointing to one near the Queen’s Parade site that’s rarely used.

Officials ruled it out, the area’s council stating it couldn’t justify the loss of money from handing one of its nine pay-and-display facilities over to the private sector.