The £3.4 million redevelopment of Pickie Fun Park in Bangor will no longer include a family rollercoaster or dedicated wet play area, after residents raised concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour.

Ards and North Down Borough Council's Place and Prosperity Committee agreed to remove the two attractions and instead enhance the Pickie Puffer train with an enclosed all-weather tunnel featuring audio-visual elements. New proposals add a zorb pool, a sensory trail replacing the nature walk, and an improved amphitheatre for events and seasonal use.

Councillors also agreed to reallocate £375,000 from a cancelled phase-two expansion of Bangor Court House to fund the revised Pickie plans. The move levered £266,000 in private investment from the park's operator.

Head of economic growth Steven Ferguson told the committee that most attractions will be pay-to-use, though the cafe, nature play zone and sensory trail will remain free. He said the park's opening hours have been reduced and the council is satisfied noise and anti-social behaviour should not pose a problem. There is no permanent alcohol licence for the site; the operator must apply for any evening events through the normal council process.

Alliance councillor Chris McCracken, who raised residents' worries about noise and over-intensification, questioned whether the park would become entirely paid-for. DUP councillor Jennifer Gilmore said the current splash zone is not always reliable and is difficult to fix, and urged efforts to preserve Pickie's legacy.

Mayor Craig Blaney acknowledged some residents opposed the rollercoaster, but said it would be a shame if children had no splash area in Bangor. Mr Ferguson noted that the zorb pool provides a wet play element and that further wet play could potentially be included in the waterfront public realm.

The Court House scheme collapsed because the owner of a neighbouring vacant property declined to sell. Mr Ferguson said every option had been explored but no viable alternative existed. The Pickie redevelopment remains part of the wider Bangor Waterfront project, which also includes Ballyholme Yacht Club Watersports Centre, the urban waterfront and Bangor Marina. Work is expected to begin in 2027 and take one year to complete.