A MONUMENT to a village’s rich mining history is set to dominate the main road into the village.

Wrexham’s planning committee has given the go-ahead to an application by Ruabon Community Council to site half a colliery wheel on the roundabout at the junction of the A539 and the B5605, just south of the village.

Standing at just under 11ft and around 16ft long, it would be located close to the Wynnstay Colliery, which closed down more than a century ago.

A number of the massive wheels, which lowered miners down to the coal face, taken from various local collieries, have been kept by Wrexham museum service at the former Bersham pit.

They were originally built in two halves and the Ruabon community was able to choose the one it wanted from a number available.

The half-wheel will be mounted on a plinth built from Ruabon red brick on the busy roundabout where it will be seen by the hundreds of motorists who pass by each day.

In a prime position at the entrance to the Dee Valley and the World Heritage Site, it is also expected to attract tourists to the area.

Cllr Barry Price, a member of Ruabon Community Council, said: “Gaining planning consent was the first hurdle and now we will have to look at exactly how we do it.

“We have already appointed a contractor for the scheme and he will liaise with the council and the museum on the details.

“One of the first jobs will be sandblast and re-paint the half-wheel.

“It will then have to be decided exactly how we lift it into position on to the roundabout.

“We do know there are no utilities running beneath the site, so that helps.”

Similar wheels have been placed in a number of locations around the area, such as the ones at Rhos, Chirk and Bersham.

Cllr Price said he had been particularly inspired by the Rhos one at the bottom of Gutter Hill, which has been painted bright blue.

He added: “The one we are planning for Ruabon will be the very first icon the public will see as they head into the World Heritage Site and it will also show Ruabon as a welcoming village.”