The vast majority of you called for the reopening of Cascades Leisure Centre with one person describing its closure as ‘the final nail in the coffin’ for Portadown.
Many of you recalled Portadown when it was ‘buzzing’ with shops and felt Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council wasn’t doing enough to promote the town with high rates blamed by most as a reason for businesses shutting.
Others felt the town centre should be completely pedestrianised with plenty of sheltered seating and town centre market. Some suggested a free tram service from the outskirts of the town to the centre and others wanted more bars and cafes, particularly cafes which open in the evening. Some suggested a cinema and bowling alley to liven up the town. Many felt that there is too much graffiti.
Here is a snapshot of some of your views.
5. Calls to bring back Portadown market
Portadown has been a market town centuries with its first linen market dating back to 1762. For decades it was the covered market in William Street which was incorporated in later years into the Millennium Court Centre. Many people have called for a return of the covered market. One reader said: "Portadown needs to reopen their market and it will encourage shoppers back into the town and benefit lots of traders. It also needs the council to manage not those in Portadown 2000. Another person suggested: "What about an outdoor market once a week in front of church." Another said: "Make it like a Christmas market in the town centre every Saturday and Sunday with plenty of BBQ food, selling different foreign and local food. Make the town smell good with lots of nice food and look good with lots of lights too." Photo: Contributed
6. Portadown is full of litter. Calls for charges to clean up branded litter
Portadown is full of litter says many of our readers. One person said: "The town is looking very unkempt with litter everywhere, particularly outside fast food outlets. It's about time people started lifting their own rubbish and putting it in bins." Another said: "Why do people think it is Ok to dump their rubbish on the pavement. And why are the bins not emptied regularly. Some of them are bulging with rubbish and smell disgusting." One person suggested: "Why not charge carry out food for litter branded with their names on the roads. A simple bar code identifies the buyer and littering fines need to be £200 per time." Photo: Chris Leech
7. Call for more CCTV footage to help combat anti-social behaviour and crime
Calls have been made by many readers for more CCTV in the town centre area to help combat anti-social behaviour and help make the area feel safer for people to shop and socialise in. One person said: "A suggestion from me is to involve small businesses and work with the authorities to make the community a safer and less intimidating place - especially outside shops and street entrances." Another said: "It will also be much appreciated if the car park near the play park at Tesco could be locked as the amount of young racers doing donuts, revving their engines and more recently letting off fireworks there is atrocious. We live nearby so the noise carries late at night. The speeding around the town could be better monitored too." One reader suggested: "I'd like to say that we need a safe town most of all. You can see many groups of young adults/teenagers walking around, smoking and drinking and their behaviour is just not acceptable. The signs are covered in graffiti, although you couldn't even call it that. Maybe more CCTV in town and police on the streets could help with that? There should me more organised groups helping kids and teenagers with their free time, like Oasis or Scouts." Photo: Photo courtesy of Google
8. Call for even more coffee shops, particularly ones which open in later in the evening
Many of you are keen on more coffee shops and restaurants in the town centre area and very keen on more venues which open later in the evening. One reader said: "Make Portadown a better place by having somewhere for people to go on these dark nights coming in. Why do coffee shops always close early especially on weekends ect. Not everyone wants to get drunk on a weekend. Open a late night coffee shop for people to have somewhere to chat to their friends." Another person asked for: "More new restaurants. This would mean we wouldn't have to go to Craigavon. I would like coffee shops to stay open longer and more new coffee shops." Photo: Photo courtesy of Google