THE leader of Wrexham Council says ambitions for the city that were ‘a pipe dream’ years ago are now becoming reality.
A report is to be introduced to a meeting of the council’s executive board next week by lead member for economy and regeneration, Gwenfro Cllr Nigel Williams (Ind) on a Placemaking Plan to develop the city’s public spaces, improving happiness and wellbeing.
Key city centre areas are identified in the plan such as the Regent Street corridor (including Mold Road), the heart of the old town centre (including the markets, the High Street, and St Giles) and the Civic Quarter (including council buildings, parking facilities) that could be in line for improvement.
In addition, following scrutiny, the Gwenfro Brook area has also been earmarked for improvements at Bridge Street and Brook Street in the city. If approved at executive board level, the plan will go to public consultation next year.
Separate big projects are also happening around the city centre including development of a football museum, Wrexham AFC’s new Kop stand, and Glyndwr University campus revamps.
Speaking at a media briefing, the authority’s Chief Executive Ian Bancroft said communication between the council, the university and the football club is key going forward.
He said: “There is a large amount of communication. We sit with the university on the full Wrexham Gateway Partnership where plans are tied together in relation to Glyndwr’s plans.
“We then involve the football club as part of those discussions around that plan so we tie it all together with the gateway plans.
“We’re all signed up to a common purpose to see Wrexham develop with those key schemes.”
This was echoed by Leader of the council, Esclusham Cllr Mark Pritchard who said: “I can’t speak highly enough of our partners, we all work together to take Wrexham forward as capital of North Wales, to improve it as a place and a destination.
“These were pipe dreams some time ago but they are coming to fruition now and we will achieve them. That all comes down to partnership working.”
Mr Bancroft added: “There’s plenty to come, do and see in Wrexham and we want to encourage people to spend your pound locally because that helps grow Wrexham and improve it as a destination.
“As a council we’ve got an active role in thinking about redundant properties that we want to try and bring back into use which is really critical. You’ve obviously seen that with the Hippodrome site in terms of that being used as a flexible events space.”
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Cllr Pritchard added that it was vital the city gives developers confidence that Wrexham is serious about growing and improving.
He said: “I remember having a conversation with a developer who felt he was being treated harshly in Wrexham because elected members were demanding 106 agreements (planning obligations) and payments on them.
“I think we have to be supportive and help businesses as much as we can – spend your Wrexham pounds in Wrexham.
“We never stop on this, for example we give away free parking after 11am but there has to be an understanding that Wrexham, the city centre and old town will have to change but the businesses themselves will have to work with us.
“Developers won’t come here unless they have confidence in the planning process and have confidence that Wrexham is serious about evolving and improving. Wrexham can’t just stand still – it just can’t.”
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