Bid to discuss alternative use of Chirk dragon site is approved
A bid to discuss alternative uses for council owned land earmarked for an 80ft bronze dragon sculpture has been approved.
The site, which lies next to the A5 in Chirk, has also been set aside for a 12,000 square foot cultural centre.
However, a local councillor has raised concerns that the tourist scheme has not progressed since planning permission was granted in 2011.
A Charity Commission investigation into the Frank Wingett Cancer Relief Fund, which has invested £410,000 in the project, is also ongoing.
Last year, it was revealed the organisation run by Simon Wingett was being looked at amid concerns about a lack of donations to the region’s health board from the proceeds of a shop it operated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
In the meantime, Cllr Rodney Skelland made a request for other potential uses of the council-owned land to be considered.
Speaking at a scrutiny committee meeting in Wrexham on Wednesday, he said: “I put this topic request form in because I’m quite concerned really about how long it’s taking.
“It’s been on the go now for 10 years. It’s a council owned site, it’s 20 acres, it’s a really prestigious site and nothing’s happened.
“This belongs to Wrexham Council and it’s 20 acres of possible employment land that could bring a lot of jobs to the area.
“I do really think we need to keep the pressure on over this site.”
Cllr Skelland’s request to find a different way forward for the former Black Park Colliery site was met with a cool response from council officials.
The authority’s head of corporate and customer services advised members of the employment, business and investment scrutiny committee against adding it to their workload.
Sioned Wyn Davies said: “The point I would just invite members to bear in mind is that this is a site which has already got planning permission.
“I appreciate there have been delays in bringing that into fruition but there is a planning permission which may still be developed.
“If that does not proceed, the site, because it falls within the open countryside, the presumption against development would be applied in planning terms.
“Spending and devoting time, both by officers and members of this committee, on the site may be a distraction from other matters which it might be more fruitful for you to focus on.”
However, the majority of councillors voted in favour of Cllr Skelland’s request to examine the site.
It came after they were told permission had also previously been granted for a hotel, petrol station and ambulance station on the land.
Chirk North representative Cllr Frank Hemmings said: “As a local member to the area, I think there is a need to resolve the matter so that we can progress because there’s a lot of expectation in the area.
“We’ve talked about petrol stations and hotels and none of those things have materialised and yet a few miles down the road across the border they’ve done all of those things.
“We’re well behind what Shropshire are doing, for example. There is a need to bring it to a head I think.”
Head of Legal tells Cllrs there is planning permission on the dragon site, and if that ceases it is a rural site (not in LDP) so unlikely to be developable, 'Devoting time by officers and committee maybe a distraction from other matters'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Clr Skelland says he is 'quite concerned' as its almost a decade and a 'council owned site'. As we noted, the project itself claims the land has been 'acquired'. Who is right?!
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Clr Skelland notes plans granted for a Travelodge in 1999 on same site, petrol station, 2003 ambulance station and access and parking granted in open countryside, ‘gypsy and traveller site mooted on the very same site’. Says it is ‘a little negative’ to advise against debate.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Cllr Skelland wants to keep topic of chirk dragon land on work programme, Clr Lowe agrees ‘it needs to be resolved’. Clr Jenkins unsure ‘what problem is to be resolved’. Clr Skelland says not a Part 2 debate ‘so cant discuss in depth’, ‘Q of if the council should be in support’.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Clr Lowe adds “As elected representative it is our duty to make best of assets of council, owned by public” adds need to “seek a way to resolve it, in the councils interest, and the publics opinion of the council.” Clr Hemmings adds there is a ‘need to resolve the matter'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Clr Pritchard wants public debate not a secret Part 2. Cllr Davies points to the applicant to get on with it, and thinks the committee has nothing to scrutinise as it is an issue ‘separate’ from the council.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Clr Skelland says there are ‘things going on in the background’ as a result of the topic request, wants to ‘keep the pressure on’ as it is a council asset and therefore says it is relevant to the committee. Clr Hemmings agrees the land ‘could be creating an income to the council’
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
Chair Clr Paul Roberts brings debate to end, says there is ‘no support’ asks Clr Skelland to withdraw proposal. That is refused ‘as it is so important’. Clr Hemmings steps up to 2nd, so there is a VOTE. Lots of hands go up, so there IS support and it goes on the work programme!
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 6, 2019
By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme) / Wrexham.com
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