CIVIC leaders have set out an eight point plan to drive investment into Wrexham town centre.

The document has been drawn up by figureheads from 13 different organisations and its main aim is to build confidence in the future of the area.

Among the ideas put forward is for an entrepreneurial loan fund to be created to support small businesses.

The group also wants to focus on bringing empty properties in the town back into use through a separate pot of money.

Wrexham Council’s chief executive Ian Bancroft is one of the people behind the vision and said it was crucial for different bodies to join together to improve the main employment areas.

He said: “We’re trying to get a more united common vision for what we want to do in Wrexham.

“It’s a group of interested people who are chief executives of public organisations, private organisations and voluntary and social organisations.

“The area they all wanted to focus on was really just promoting Wrexham as a vibrant place and a town centre ready for further investment.

“What it felt was that something which is a bit more glossy like a brochure to encourage people to invest in Wrexham was something that was missing.

“As a result, this is a first brochure to say here’s a common purpose that a key number of chief executives across sectors believe in.”

The vision will be presented to members of the local authority’s executive tomorrow (Tuesday) to secure their support.

Organisations involved include Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham AFC, Glyndŵr University and North Wales Police, as well as local businesses such as Net World Sports, The Bank Bar and The Lemon Tree Hotel.

Mr Bancroft said the Development Bank of Wales was also on board and could help to lend smaller sums to local enterprises.

He said: “If you look at the Baltic Quarter in Liverpool, the regeneration happened there basically by small loans to cultural industries and other businesses.

“(These are) not the sort of major loans you get that are quite high interest rates, but just those small loans that maybe allow people like those who set up Lot 11 to come into the town and drive it.

“There’s some bigger ideas in there in terms of a financial fund to actually look at demolishing and buying property.

“We’ve got key buildings in the town centre which, unless there’s some intervention outside of the private sector, those buildings will sit.”

After launching the prospectus, Mr Bancroft said the next phase of the vision would be to improve infrastructure through initiatives such as the Mold Road Gateway scheme.

The group would then look to transform the town through investment in property and connecting the main hub to villages and the industrial estate.

Executive board members on the council will be asked to endorse the vision and free up officer time to support its delivery.