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.
9. Plea for more facilities for young people including mental health support
As we are recovering from the Pandemic, many people feel there aren't enough facilities for our young people and not enough support for those struggling with their mental health. One teenager said: "Some kind of mental health support team that does walks around Saturday making share that young people like myself stay safe." Another said: "We need something for all ages to do in the evenings ie bowling, cinema, a few new restaurants. This would mean we wouldn't have to go to Craigavon. A third said: "Would be more nice if there would be places where you can go with kids for a walk or just to spend time let them play." A fourth said: "We need safe town most of all. you can see many groups of young adults/teenagers walking around, smoking and drinking and they behaviour is just not acceptable. there should me more organised groups helping kinds and teenagers with their free time, like Oasis or Scouts. Photo: Google
10. Should Portadown be fully pedestrianised?
Many of our readers believe Portadown town centre should be fully pedestrianised with some imaginative ideas for its future. One local said: "The idea of the town centre needs completely reimagined. The town centre should move towards a community space, with events, crafts, concerts, outdoor cinema styled events, fairs, fêtes, town markets, fitness initiatives; all things to bring the town together. Portadown town centre should be permanently pedestrianised and perhaps some sort of rain shelters built throughout." Another said: "Pedestrianise the town centre except for deliveries, disabled bays etc. Put a cycle lane through the town centre. Force shops to turn their upstairs into living quarters. Put a small play park in the square outside St. Marks. Run a free/cheap tram from Bachelors Walk to Shamrock Park through the town centre. Make the town centre somewhere that people gather, play, socialise. More trees/grass, less road/tarmac." However one man disagrees saying: "Should have been parking to pop into shops. Council idiots killed the town." And one woman said: "I think for starters the pavements urgently require to be given back to pedestrians. This afternoon I spoke to a young local male who was cycling very fast and came very close to knocking me down. He was one of 4 young lads who were cycling and messing about on High Street and West Street." Photo: Google
11. Call for a bowling alley in Portadown
A bowling alley in Portadown would be a welcome addition to the town, according to many of our readers. One local said: "We need better shops, the swimming pool reopened. Something for all ages to do in the evenings ie bowling, cinema, a few new restaurants. This would mean we wouldn't have to go to Craigavon." One resident added: "What about some 10 pin bowling or even a games arcade. The town needs something and things like that could bring life back to it." Photo: Photo courtesy of Airtastic, Craigavon
12. Plea to bring back the cinema
The site of the old Regal Cinema in Portadown, Co Armagh. Many of you would like to see a cinema back in the town centre again. One person said: "It would be great to have a cinema nearby as it is expensive to get out to Craigavon. Plus it would be somewhere for the young ones to go to instead of running about the town aimlessly." Another said: "I miss the old cinema. It was great to be able to go in the afternoon and watch something good." A third person said: "We need somewhere in the town that is good for socialising and that doesn't involve drinking. Bring back the cinema." Photo: Photo courtesy of Google