A FORMER resident of a children’s home at the centre of an abuse scandal has spoken of his sadness at plans to knock it down.

Wrexham Council paved the way for the demolition of the Bryn Estyn, where youngsters suffered physical and sexual abuse during the 1970s and 80s, by agreeing to a series of surveys at a meeting earlier this week.

The Jillings report, which was finalised in 1996 but was not made public until 2013, found there was “extensive” mistreatment of youngsters at the home, which closed in 1984.

However, former councillor Keith Gregory, who has spoken of being abused there, said the building was not to blame for what happened and wanted it to be saved.

He said he had been left ‘upset’ by the authority’s decision and claimed those who experienced abuse had not been kept informed of the proposals.

He said: “The council is saying it’s full of bad memories, but it’s not all bad memories.

“For people who didn’t have parents it was still their home.

“I’ve spoken to that many survivors of abuse and not one of them has had a phone call.

“It’s terrible the way they’re treating us.”

After closing, the property later became known as the Erlas Centre and was used as office space for workers at Wrexham Council.

A review carried out in 2011 found it was surplus to requirements, but plans to remove it have not moved forward until recently.

Lead member for education, Cllr Phil Wynn, said keeping the site mothballed was costing the authority £36,000 a year, which he described as a ‘waste of public money’.

However, Mr Gregory said it was a place of solace for survivors of abuse and believed alternatives should have been be explored.

He said: “I went into care in January 1972 and I’ve been going there every year, usually on New Year’s Day, because I know it’s quiet and there’s no-one about.

“You gather your thoughts and think about people who are no longer with us.

“It’s upset me more than anything else.

“I would like to go in the building before it’s destroyed if that’s what they want to do, just to see it for one last time.”

Members of the council’s ruling administration were told this week that the site could be used as the location for a new primary school.

It would serve land earmarked for 1,600 new homes in the area’s Local Development Plan.

In response to Mr Gregory’s comments, Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of the council, said the authority had been in contact with officers from Operation Pallial, an independent National Crime Agency investigation into allegations of abuse in the North Wales care system, to discuss the proposals.

He said: “We have and will continue to work closely with Operation Pallial – which liaises with those agencies supporting former residents of Bryn Estyn – throughout this process, discussions for which have been taking place for some years, with proposals for demolition initially examined back in 2015.

“Operation Pallial were also informed that the option of demolition would be revisited by the Executive Board in the New Year.

“I understand Mr Gregory’s view, however, the main Erlas House and adjacent derelict semi-detached cottages have not been used for some time and are costing the council considerable money, as such we believe the vacant premises should be demolished and the site retained for future determination by the executive board.

“The principal’s house and associated structures will be included in scope, subject to the outcome of the adult social care review.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Pritchard said the building was expected to be knocked down by September 2020.