A PUBLIC meeting has been called as concerns over a proposed Gypsy/Traveller site in a Wrexham village rumble on.

At a meeting of Llay Community Council, the proposed location of the site on Pont Y Capel Lane was discussed at length with councillors still furious about the plan to remove Green Wedge status from the land.

Wrexham politicians gave their backing to the submission of the Local Development Plan (LDP) to an independent inspector back in November and the public have until February 18 to submit comments about any aspect of it, including the proposed location of the proposed Gypsy/Traveller site.

Cllr Rob Walsh said one of the key problems with using the site on Pont Y Capel Lane was the fact it is designated as Green Wedge land and that the council had been “sneaky” in trying to take it away.

He said: “As long as it’s Green Wedge, the Planning Committee cannot give authorisation to build on that land. To counter that problem, our planning policy department want to remove that Green Wedge status and not just on that field, but on a few others around there too.

“The fact they can even suggest doing this is proof enough that the proposal for this site shouldn’t be taken forward. I know people might be reluctant to provide responses again but these will go directly to the inspector so it’s important people make it clear that this plan just isn’t acceptable.

Cllr Sharon Roberts said the land had been designated as Green Wedge for a reason and that there was no valid justification for it to be taken away in this instance.

She said: “The only justification they have for removing it is to get the development to meet the requirements and that’s the only reason they’re trying to take it out.”

Cllr Bryan Apsley said it was important for the people of Llay to keep up the fight as the residents of the village provided the highest proportion of feedback of any ward in Wrexham to the council during the LDP public consultation process last year. He said: “I’d like to say congratulations to everyone who contributed to the public consultation, but we do want responses on this as well, because it does count.

The meeting is set to take place at the Llay Royal British Legion on Wednesday, February 6 at 6.30pm.