Jonathan Grieve

The former Hippodrome site could be turned into a mixed-use development with retail and accommodation.

The potential sale of the former Hippodrome site could help
re-energise Wrexham town centre. The site is due to go up for auction on Tuesday, having been vacant for more than 10 years.

Three restaurants from the region are to battle it out to have the official 2018 Year of the Sea dish for North East Wales. Over the last four weeks, 12 restaurants and cafes in the region have served up their interpretations of the classic fish and chips with a twist or their surf and turf dishes – all taking inspiration from the ‘Year of the Sea’ theme and working with local producers where possible.

New visitor signage has been installed along an important tourist route in the Ceiriog Valley. Working with Wrexham’s Destination Management team, Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley Partnership identified a number of old village signs that needed replacing and successfully applied for funding from the local community councils to support the work.

The search is still on for town centre ambassadors to highlight all Wrexham has to offer. Volunteers are being sought to  go out and about in Wrexham Town Centre, wearing a tabard to identify themselves, hand out flyers, promoting activities and events and helping visitors by answering questions and giving directions.

One of Wrexham’s Aldi stores could be set to almost double in size. The firm has submitted a planning application to Wrexham Council to expand its store on Plas Coch by 40 per cent, though parking spaces would be reduced by 34 from 161 to 127.

A community group looking after the former Brymbo Iron and Steelworks Site near Wrexham has been awarded just under £1.1 million in funding. The cash, from the Big Lottery Fund Wales, will help support the group's Brymbo Heritage Area: A 300 Million Year Story project.

Wrexham AFC fans are being asked to put their hands in their pockets to help their cash-strapped rivals. Chester FC has been plunged into financial crisis with the club in desperate need to raise £50,000 to avoid going out of business 'within months'.

Wrexham AFC bosses are hopeful of bringing the stars of international football back to the “cradle” of the Welsh game. A decade since the last time the Welsh national team played at The Racecourse, club director John Mills told the Leader that although there is much to be done to make it a reality, work was ongoing behind the scenes.

A former carpet store could be taken over by a national coffee chain or turned into a restaurant. A planning application has been lodged with Wrexham Council seeking a change of use permission for the old Carpet Direct in Regent House, Regent Street, which closed down in May 2014.