A REPORT into the performance of a £4.5 million market and arts hub has been described as a “slap in the face” to traders.

It comes as Wrexham Council has published an overview of the running of Ty Pawb, which opened in the town in April.

Business owners have strongly criticised the local authority in the past over the disruption caused by ongoing building works at the flagship centre, as well as delays in handing out contracts.

The council’s deputy leader, Cllr Hugh Jones, admitted the project had encountered a “wobble” at the start, but has insisted it is now back on track.

However, a former trader believes the report does not give an accurate reflection of the issues they faced.

Andy Gallanders, who ran the Blank Canvas coffee shop before closing it in September to return to another premises on Bank Street, has disputed the claim that some businesses left because of “issues affecting the High Streets of the UK”.

He said: “We didn’t leave Ty Pawb because of struggles on the High Street, neither did fellow traders.

“We left because of poor management and communication from the very top of the project.

“A ‘wobble’ is a terrible admittance to their failings.”

According to the report, the centre’s financial outlook is positive despite a predicted deficit of more than £173,000 during its first year.

That figure is set to be offset by payments from the council’s arts service budget of around £139,600, resulting in a shortfall of £33,492.

Visitor numbers for the first seven months are estimated at close to 53,000, 10,000 of which attended the opening day celebrations.

Cllr Jones said that amount was an improvement on the 50,000 people expected through the doors during the whole first year.

However, Mr Gallanders slammed the authority’s decision to reduce several targets which were written into the original business plan by consultancy firm Fourth Street.

He said: “The fact the business plan has been rewritten is a slap in the face to every trader and person of Wrexham.

“If you read the footfall figures, remove opening day and large events, then the facility is pulling less than 200 people a day for three food outlets, 15 stalls, a shop and gallery.

“Simply not good. The quicker this facility goes into trust the better.”

Cllr Jones, whose portfolio the hub comes under, said a number of problems experienced in its early days had now been fixed.

He also highlighted several well-attended events as an indicator of its success, including a record fair which attracted more than 1,400 visitors last weekend.

He said: “I think it’s a fair challenge that there was an issue around the tenancies and we can’t get away from that because it’s well documented, but we responded to it.

“Any business that starts up, there are always unforeseen issues that come to light in the development of that business.

“You’ve only got to go in there now and there is a real buzz about the place.

“We’ve kept the vision alive and we’ve stuck operationally to what we said we’d do.

“There are a group of people who, whatever we do or whatever we say, will not accept that Ty Pawb is a success.”