COMMUNITY leaders are “over the moon” after two potential sites for a new gipsy camp were kicked off a shortlist drawn up by Wrexham Council.

Members at a full council meeting voted overwhelmingly to remove two potential locations – Black Park, Chirk, and Coed-y-Felin, Brymbo – from a list put forward for a new traveller site as part of its new Local Development Plan (LDP).

Residents from both villages had turned out in force at a number of public meetings called to discuss the LDP to make clear their opposition to their communities being on the three site shortlist for a new 15-pitch camp.

And on Wednesday they finally got what they wanted as a vote in favour of the amended LDP, with only the proposed location on Ruthin Road remaining on the shortlist, was passed by 35 votes to five, with one abstention.

Paul Rogers, county councillor for Brymbo who put forward the successful amendment, said: “I’m over the moon. It was quite a strong vote in the end.

“It’s very good news for Brymbo, it will help the regeneration of the village and also provide opportunities for Chirk.”

Ken Monti, chairman of Brymbo Community Council, said: “Thanks must go to the people of Brymbo for their outstanding support.”

Chirk North councillor Ian Roberts said: “I’m very pleased and it makes very good sense for Wrexham County Borough. The land (in Chirk) was far too valuable to be turned into a travellers’ site.

“It has got far more uses, such as the proposal for the dragon structure.”

“The LDP will now be put out to public consultation with a final decision to be made by a Welsh Assembly inspector.

Concerns were raised, however, at Wednesday’s meeting that a shortlist of just one site would be judged unacceptable by an inspector who would instead choose an entirely different site.

Cllr Rogers said he believed putting forward just the Ruthin Road location was “less of a risk” than removing all three locations from the shortlist.