SHOPPERS are being put off from coming to Wrexham town centre by the bad behaviour of some people, a council meeting has heard.

Former mayoress Mollie Beresford said Wrexham had become “a rough town”, with both shoppers and shopkeepers sharing her sentiments.

Cllr Beresford told Rhosddu Community Council, which covers a large part of the town: “I am very concerned that people are not coming to town because of the bad language being used. It is terrible.

“Wrexham has become a rough place. People are going elsewhere to shop. Wrexham has become a rough town and that is such a pity as people are going elsewhere.

“I have spoken to other shoppers and also shopkeepers and they feel the same about the bad language,” she said.

The community council’s chairman, county councillor I David Bithell, said he hoped that new public space protection order measures recently brought in by Wrexham Council would help deal with the issues highlighted by Cllr Beresford.

The Leader took to the streets of Wrexham to find out what some shoppers thought of Cllr Beresford’s comments.

“It is terrible, absolutely disgusting. I have lived here all my life and it has got a lot worse,” said Pauline Davies, 68, of Brymbo.

“There are gangs of young lads drinking and smoking and they go up to the old people and hassle them for money and people are frightened.

“They want to make Wrexham a city. All they’ve done is make it a ghost town.

“They leave bottles of beer and cigarette ends and there are needles left lying around the place child could die if they stepped on one.”- 

Lottie Hilton, 27, of Hightown said: “I would not say it’s a rough town. But it can be when you are out and about at night and there are groups of people hanging around the place.”

Charles Powell, 86, of Wrexham, said: “Empty shops are the biggest problem, it does not look very good. We need more shops in the town centre.” 

 Karen Hewitt, 54, who is visiting Wrexham from South Africa, said: “It is my first time back in three years – and I have to say I think the place has improved since then. I think it looks a lot better.”

 Sid Powell, 68, of Wrexham, said: “It’s not great in town. The place is just full of charity shops and pound shops. And they want city status. They’re having a laugh.”

 Jeanette Powell, 64, of Wrexham, said: “When I moved here in the ‘70s it was a lovely town. 

“I think Eagles Meadow has taken people and shops out of town and the centre is just not nice.

“In the evenings it can be a bit rough, but it’s not so bad in the day.”