Tribute to tragic teen Jaidyn Rice blocked by council red tape: District only approves 20 memorial benches a year
A touching memorial to tragic Jaidyn Rice has been set back by red tape from the late teenager’s local council.
Jaidyn’s native Bangor was rocked by her death last summer, which sparked waves of sorrow while a huge crowd of mourners at her funeral brought the Co Down city to a standstill as her devoted family and loving friends paid tribute to her life.
Aged just 16, she was an Army cadet who was deeply involved in youth and community work, had recently started in her first job and was widely looked on as a great future leader in the voluntary sector.
The July 2025 tragedy saw Jaidyn killed when she was hit by a car while she was walking near her home. The alleged driver is awaiting trial on criminal charges.
In April of this year city politicians voted to set up a memorial bench honouring her contribution to the community in the Clandeboye part of Bangor, tasking officials to work with the Rice family to create a “a place of reflection, connection and outreach” in Jaidyn’s memory.
To be built on council-owned property, it’s to include QR codes pointing people towards the local authority’s own app ‘Here to Help’, which provides details of support services for issues including victims of domestic abuse and substance abuse, as well as counselling services..
But that tribute has been paused due to red tape, including a firm limit on the number of benches Ards and North Down Council will allow to happen.
According to officials, the council has a policy of only approving 20 benches every 12 months, and applications start being approved every April. The quota has reportedly caused a backlog of bereaved relatives who in some cases wait years for memorials to their loved ones.
Jaidyn’s grieving family have now been told they’ll have to apply for the bench themselves, state officials, rather than the council working with them to set it up – considerably setting back the tribute.
The situation was revealed in a recent council meeting, during which the UUP’s Pete Wray stated the family understand they have to follow the council’s normal processes, but added he found it the delay “frustrating”.
“In an ideal world the bench would have been there before now,” he said, while thanking the Rice family for their patience.
Mayor Craig Blaney argued the policy is too limited, as it doesn’t allow for exceptional circumstances. “I see it as compassion, trying to move heaven and earth to help people that have suffered terrible losses,” he said. “To me, this policy seems very cold.”
The council is thinking of raising its 20-bench limit, the DUP’s Alistair Cathcart revealing at least one bereaved family has been stuck on a memorial waiting list for around 10 years.
It was stated that officials have spoken to Jaidyn’s family about a separate memorial to all road collision deaths in the Ards and North Down district, which would also promote traffic safety.
Jaidyn died at the scene of the crash on July 8, her home town plunged into shock by news that a vibrant and much-loved teenager with a promising future was gone.
She was renowned as an inspirational figure at DICE Project, a youth futures scheme that works with kids from several housing estates around Bangor.