Menai Bridge & District Civic Society held a Public Meeting on 9 th February 2023 in Ysgoldy Capel
Mawr. 50 people attended the bilingual meeting to discuss “The Isle of Anglesey’s Conservation
Area Character Appraisal (Supplementary Planning Guidance) for Menai Bridge”. The Civic Society is
asking ‘is it still fit for purpose’? The Conservation Area was designated in 2004 and the ‘Guidance’
that was adopted by the Council in 2012 is due for review.
It soon became apparent that a serious cause for concern from the audience, is the change being
brought about by town houses becoming second homes, or becoming holiday lets. A sense of
community within the town is being threatened when we lose full time residents. Tourism is vital to
the area but not at the expense of community cohesion.
The recent development on Ynys Faelog, where its two former properties are now at the high end of
the holiday letting business will add considerably to the tourist trade and the hospitality outlets in
the town and island, but how much further will this push house prices within the ‘Conservation
Area’?.
The other topic raised by the public is the state of dereliction of some properties, particularly the
former Moreia Chapel. It was partially demolished 12 months ago, as it was classed as a danger to
the public, leaving the part of the centre of the town derelict.
The Civic Society, celebrating its 50 th year still has much to consider. Menai Bridge has many
hospitality outlets, and a thriving retail area recovering from Covid difficulties. It needs people and
support following the Bridge closure, but if we lose too many resident house owners what will we
become?
Further information about the Society, or to comment : see menaibridgecivicsociety.org.uk/ or our Facebook page.