A LANDOWNER says his plans to build a traveller site on disused land in Bwlchgwyn should not alarm the community.

Around 250 residents packed a public meeting at the village hall to hear details of the proposals for the site on land next to Graig Wen Farm at Brymbo Road.

Billy Evans, who owns the land, says he plans to move seven mobile/chalet homes from a council-run traveller site at Ruthin Road in Wrexham onto the new development to house his extended family.

He also plans to build a shower/toilet block with hardstanding and parking at the one-acre plot.

Local councillors have been contacted by residents expressing their concern about the development, but Mr Evans says he wants to dispel their fears.

"The pitches are for my family and no-one else. It will be a private site and all I want to do is provide a home for all my family," said Mr Evans, who attended the meeting to explain his case.

"I have nowhere else I can go, but I want to work with the local people and the council on this.

"I have worked in the community as a painter and lived all my life in the Wrexham area."

Mr Evans says there will be a cost saving for Wrexham Council if he moves from Ruthin Road site onto his own site.

"By 2020 the council has to increase the number of pitches in the borough for travellers to move to," he pointed out.

"There are my five children and my sister, so the site won't get any bigger. We are trying to blend in and I don't want any trouble."

The land at Brymbo Road has been left derelict and rubble and other debri has accumulated on it while an old caravan has been abandoned.

Cllr David Kelly, lead member for planning and corporate services, who also attended the meeting, says there may be issues with land contamination when the plans are inspected fully.

"It is a former lead mining area so there is possible contamination and there are issues with the track access but our officers will look into that," he said.

"There is concern in the community but the meeting was very civil and the questions were answered."

Brymbo Cllr Paul Rogers added: "I have had concerns expressed to me about the planning application by local residents."

Planners are consulting about the application for a change of use of disused agricultural land to residential accommodation for the traveller site.