AFTER wating five years councillors  have unanimously backed a plan to completely refurbish a resource centre to improve facilities.

An £800,000 centre had originally been planned on Rhosnesni playing field in Wrexham but there was widespread objection because of the loss of green space.

Five years later Acton Community Council has agreed to provide the money for Wrexham Council to go ahead with a second plan – an extensive refurbishment of
the existing community centre off Chestnut Avenue in Acton.

The community council has already put aside more than £60,000 for the much needed facelift and has now agreed an additional £30,000.

Chairman Cllr Brian Kyffin said the refurbishment would not only give the community much improved facilities but would also provide additional income from bookings.

That would have an effect on the community council’s annual contribution and the cost of the project would then not be too much of a burden on council tax payers.

Councillors agreed that for what the community would be gaining there would only be a minimal council tax increase.

Cllr Olive Simm said the community had waited long enough for the centre to be improved and it was essential that Wrexham Council pushed on with the scheme as soon as possible.

Dylan Hughes, Wrexham Council’s libraries officer who attended the community council meeting, said the playgroup, which had its own premises 150 yards from the community centre and had originally made clear it did want to move into the centre, had now had second thoughts.

Talks were planned with officials and if the playgroup did move to the centre it would help the community council to cut costs.

He said he would have to hold meetings with planning officials and the council’s executive board at the Guildhall and if everything went well he envisaged a start on
work at the centre early in the New Year.