By Reg Herbert

COMMUNITY leaders have distributed hundreds of letters to residents urging them to join the protest against university plans to sell off land for housing,

Glyndwr University is submitting a planning application to Wrexham Council to go ahead with selling land for development on the Holt side on the former Wrexham Rugby Club ground at Dean Road, Rhosnesni.

Any objections to the plan must be in by Monday, July 16 and the letter is in the form of an official objection to Wrexham Council.

Local councillors claim the field is used for football by several junior teams.

Games are played simultaneously, and they say leaving one pitch would not be sufficient, and that play provision is slowly diminishing in Wrexham.

At their meeting this month members of Acton Community Council expressed concerns that losing this space would accelerate that situation, leaving youngsters with nothing to do and a potential rise in anti-social behaviour.

Other concerns are that a loss of open green space to allow people to exercise and for walking dogs away from traffic pollution caused by exhaust fumes.

Acton is already below the recommended open green space provision and impact upon our health and environment could be significant.

If more than 70 houses were constructed as part of a future development this would increase the amount of traffic by another 100 or more cars.

Holt Road is already heavily congested during the day. Additional cars trying to access Holt Road during peak periods will increase the risk of accidents and further congestion.

Members queried Wrexham Glyndwr University promoting an ethical, moral and environmental message to its students and the wider community, yet proposes to reduce the green space within the community, against national recommended guidelines and against the wishes of Acton residents, ignoring the potential environmental impact on the local community.

When the university unveiled plans to sell of the land to help fund a revamp of its facilities, Glyndwr vice-chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar said the university would be willing to engage with those who have concerns, and urged people to take part in the public consultation.