A COMMUNITY leader has described shop closures in Eagles Meadow and Wrexham as a "shambles and a scandal".

The complaint was made by Councillor Linda Subacchi, former chairman of Offa Community Council.

She told colleagues at their monthly meeting: “Some time ago Wrexham was a busy vibrant and nice place to shop – but not now."

She mentioned the shops and stores which had closed or were closing at Eagles Meadow and added: “It is a shambles and a scandal.

"Something has happened in Wrexham which has not happened in many other places."

She mentioned some towns in the North of England which had kept their character and small businesses and nearby she added Mold was also a busy place with lots of small shops.

Cllr Subacchi said: “I don’t really know the answer for Wrexham now, but I am almost lost for words to describe my feelings for what has happened.

"I am lucky and I have a car and can get around but I feel very sorry for the elderly who cannot.

"Where can they shop and how do they get around? It is dreadful for them."

County Cllr Graham Rogers said: “There is nothing to come into the town for these days and I have lived here for more than 30 years.

"Sights on the streets are not nice with druggies and homeless, and the cuts in public transport (buses) has not helped people getting around like they did."

Cllr Sarah Roberts said Oswestry had kept its small businesses and was a really nice place to shop.

She added shopping online was one of the things that had affected local shops and stores in Wrexham.

County Cllr Alun Jenkins said Wrexham Council could not be blamed for the high business rates as they were set in Cardiff and collected by Wrexham and sent back to the Welsh capital from where they were distributed.

Community council chairman Cllr Alex Jones, who also chairs Wrexham Business Forum, said he was due to have talks about Wrexham’s situation this week.

He also said landlords of property in the town protected their portfolios and assets.

In addition to a number of shop fronts being boarded up now in Wrexham town centre, some of the leading outlets in Eagles Meadow are in the process of abandoning the shopping complex as part of nationwide policy reviews by their parent companies.